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N.Y. must go after $700M in fed school aid

    The deadline for New York to apply for a share of the $4 billion in federal education aid being made available through President Obama’s Race to the Top program is next week, but the state Legislature’s self-imposed cap on charter schools is standing in the way.
    Gov. David Paterson proposed lifting it last week, along with some other education reforms, but because the proposals are unpopular with the teachers unions’, legislators are not expected to go along with them — certainly not those in the Democrat-controlled Assembly, anyway. That’s unfortunate because the state needs the money, and the $700 million it could qualify for under Race to the Top would be a big help at budget time. In fact, it would be enough to save thousands of teaching jobs that are otherwise likely to be lost because legislators have already spent this year’s share of the federal stimulus program’s education aid.
    Paterson says U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently made it clear that states that limit their number of charter schools will disqualify themselves for the special education funding. That is reason enough for New York to eliminate the cap, which is at 200 and quite close to being reached. ...............>>>>................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00702&AppName=1

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/index.html?src=gu

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ED currently administers a budget of $62.6 billion in regular FY 2009 discretionary appropriations and $96.8 billion in discretionary funding provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—and operates programs that touch on every area and level of education.

Imagine how much easier it would be to support our schools on a local basis (since there's nothing in the Constitution about it) if the Federal Department of Education was closed and disbanded.

Quoted from Kevin March

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/index.html?src=gu


Imagine how much easier it would be to support our schools on a local basis (since there's nothing in the Constitution about it) if the Federal Department of Education was closed and disbanded.

we allowed it to exist.....if there is no fed oversight/control via $$ then individual local areas without a mix of population could
stay more like their 'old-time/county' culture......

I say we stop asking for the dam $$.....get the unions off our backs and start over.......

Quoted from Kevin March

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/index.html?src=gu


Imagine how much easier it would be to support our schools on a local basis (since there's nothing in the Constitution about it) if the Federal Department of Education was closed and disbanded.

President Reagan tried it and should have pushed it over. Add the useless State Education Department to the disband list-they can't even take over the dysfunctional City schools. BTW, what does the Constitution say about national health insurance? lol-

It is all about the unions and $$$$$$. It clearly has nothing to do with better education for our kids.

The sweet irony. The horrible City schools were jumping up and down with delight when the one Charter school in this County was shut. They didn't like the competition. They said they could do a better job with the tax largess-lol-

    Now they need more Charter Schools because Obama said so and there is a $700 MILLION honey pot for NYS. Watch for a quick pivot with politicos falling all over themselves to open more charters up.

Of all the charter schools in Albany, only one is really successful.  Charter schools just duck up the money that should be going to public schools.

No matter what, charter schools or not.....the fact remains, that our schools have increased 100 fold or more for the boomer generation and we are having
a very difficult time shrinking them to current population or refuse the #'s given us........if the population has decreased then the cost should have
decreased, but the fact remains....I CANT AFFORD YOU  AND YOU CANT AFFORD ME........bigger classes with bigger salaries,,,,WHY?????

15$ HOUR gets you a house WITHOUT the taxes added.......AGAIN---I cant afford you and you cant afford me.......

......GET OFF MY BACK........UNION AND ALL........

But alley, were the city schools doing oh so well before the charter school?   They were doing so bad that a charter school was started, and unfortunately it wasn't a good company.  We need a Brighter Choice to come and operate schools in Schenectady.   At least with charter schools they can get funding from the private sector and reduce the cost per pupil that they need from the government.  

And why should choice in school be allowed only for the rich.  If you are low income, why MUST you send your child to public school?  Why should you be denied the choice merely because you don't have the financial ability to pay $4,000 tuition a year (after receiving financial aid).

If a grade school is so bad, the no child left behind and all those programs say parents can choose another school, at that level, you can choose a different magnet school.

But alley, with the hig school having only a 50% grad rate and being the most dangerous school in the state, what do you say to a low income parent?  DO you tell them , tough s**t, you will have to risk your child getting bullied, beat up, or whatever.   What other school can a parent send their hibh school student?  What choice do they have?

Why is it you can send your child to a private college and get government assistance with tuition, but you can't get assistance at the high school level?   Why is it if you are low income, you can get assistance paying for preschool, nursery school, day care in a private or religious setting, but not when the child starts kdg?

I suspect some of these questions are rhetorical.  But Brighter Choice is the only one that does well.   The problem is the loss of money to the school district.  Charter schools get paid $12,000 per kid in Albany.  Still the only one that works is BC.  As for parochials schools, the Roman Catholic Diocese stands on their head to help parents afford to send their kids to Catholic schools.  The problem in Albany has been at the middle school level and I believe continues to be.  Albany High almost runs two different schools within the school.

With all the charter schools in Albany the same problems still exist and only one school is making it.  New Covenant always ran poorly and now will close.  Early on, one of their children committed suicide.  He was 10 I think.

The best run, most fiscally responsible schools are run by the Roman Catholic Diocese. The fact remains that in this County, there must be a Charter School option. Not every family can afford private schools.

     For the horrible City schools to slam any other school is hilarious. They spent over $160 MILLION and graduate half the students. On top of this is the Federal money-no new charter schools no new Federal money. We need an option and we can't afford to refuse additional federal aid.

The public school system with all of it's government regulations on education, union control and millions of taxpayer dollars......they have failed miserably!!!

I say bring in as many charter schools as possible. Let the parents decide what school is best for their kids.....NOT THE GOVERNMENT!At least the parents would have a 'voice' in the charter schools. As it is now.....no one has a voice regarding public schools.....except the unions!

I'm all for charter schools!