New York City — Elizabeth Sullivan, Executive Director of the League of Education Voters of America, a national issue advocacy organization dedicated to engaging voters in the fight for fair funding for public schools, today announced the formation of NY EdPAC – a multi-million dollar independent expenditure effort targeting New York state legislators in the 2006 election.
“Throughout New York State, our schools are falling behind as Senate Republicans continue to play politics with our children’s future,” stated Sullivan. “Almost two years ago the Court of Appeals ordered the legislature to come up with a funding formula that provides an adequate education for every child in New York. The Assembly has taken a major step towards meeting the court’s order with the introduction of the Schools for New York’s Future Act (A-100). Now it’s time for Senate Republicans to work with the Assembly and stop obstructing a funding formula that meets the court’s order.”
“Our school funding crisis has real impacts on student achievement. New York State’s high school graduation rate is a crisis. According to the Center for American Progress and the Institute for America’s Future, only 64% of our high-school students graduate on time – ranking New York a dismal 40th in the nation,” stated Sullivan.
“Mayor Bloomberg has forcefully called for an immediate school funding solution from Albany. We are announcing that we will join his call by bringing the fight for fair funding for all of New York’s public school children to the ballot box in November,” stated Sullivan. NY EdPAC is on course to raise and spend $3 million to target legislators who are refusing to adequately fund New York’s public schools.
Standing before a chart (attached) of thirteen members of the State Senate’s GOP majority, Sullivan detailed how much public school aid each Senator is holding up to the county / counties he represents. “This fight is not just about New York City – this is about how we guarantee that every child across New York State gets the education they deserve. Senator Joe Bruno is trying to make this a fight between New York City and the rest of the state – but parents in the suburbs and upstate won’t be fooled. They know that a real solution to CFE means more funding for children all across New York State.”
NY EdPAC has retained BerlinRosen Ltd., a public affairs and campaign management firm, to manage their electoral work and political spending in New York State. “Over the next few months we are going to identify and engage voters in these districts to hold their legislators accountable for their inaction on fixing New York’s school funding formula,” stated Valerie Berlin, a principal in BerlinRosen Ltd. “We expect to strongly support pro-education challengers as well as oppose obstructionist incumbents through aggressive paid media, field organizing and direct political contributions,” stated Berlin.
“In the next few weeks individuals in all of these districts will begin to decide whether or not to run for State Senate in 2006. We are here with a very simple message for them: if you are ready to run to fight for public schools across New York State – then get in the ring. We’re ready and willing to support you in any way we can,” stated Berlin.
Sullivan also offered a caution to members of the Assembly majority. “NY EdPAC is a nonpartisan organization with one goal: improving public education across New York. In the current climate the Senate Republican majority stands in the way of a real solution to adequately fund public schools, but we will continue to monitor the efforts of the Assembly and of individual legislators in both parties to pass the Schools for New York’s Future Act and are fully prepared to oppose Democrats and support Republicans on this issue.”
New York City — Elizabeth Sullivan, Executive Director of the League of Education Voters of America, a national issue advocacy organization dedicated to engaging voters in the fight for fair funding for public schools, today announced the formation of NY EdPAC – a multi-million dollar independent expenditure effort targeting New York state legislators in the 2006 election.
“Throughout New York State, our schools are falling behind as Senate Republicans continue to play politics with our children’s future,” stated Sullivan. “Almost two years ago the Court of Appeals ordered the legislature to come up with a funding formula that provides an adequate education for every child in New York. The Assembly has taken a major step towards meeting the court’s order with the introduction of the Schools for New York’s Future Act (A-100). Now it’s time for Senate Republicans to work with the Assembly and stop obstructing a funding formula that meets the court’s order.”
“Our school funding crisis has real impacts on student achievement. New York State’s high school graduation rate is a crisis. According to the Center for American Progress and the Institute for America’s Future, only 64% of our high-school students graduate on time – ranking New York a dismal 40th in the nation,” stated Sullivan.
“Mayor Bloomberg has forcefully called for an immediate school funding solution from Albany. We are announcing that we will join his call by bringing the fight for fair funding for all of New York’s public school children to the ballot box in November,” stated Sullivan. NY EdPAC is on course to raise and spend $3 million to target legislators who are refusing to adequately fund New York’s public schools.
Standing before a chart (attached) of thirteen members of the State Senate’s GOP majority, Sullivan detailed how much public school aid each Senator is holding up to the county / counties he represents. “This fight is not just about New York City – this is about how we guarantee that every child across New York State gets the education they deserve. Senator Joe Bruno is trying to make this a fight between New York City and the rest of the state – but parents in the suburbs and upstate won’t be fooled. They know that a real solution to CFE means more funding for children all across New York State.”
NY EdPAC has retained BerlinRosen Ltd., a public affairs and campaign management firm, to manage their electoral work and political spending in New York State. “Over the next few months we are going to identify and engage voters in these districts to hold their legislators accountable for their inaction on fixing New York’s school funding formula,” stated Valerie Berlin, a principal in BerlinRosen Ltd. “We expect to strongly support pro-education challengers as well as oppose obstructionist incumbents through aggressive paid media, field organizing and direct political contributions,” stated Berlin.
“In the next few weeks individuals in all of these districts will begin to decide whether or not to run for State Senate in 2006. We are here with a very simple message for them: if you are ready to run to fight for public schools across New York State – then get in the ring. We’re ready and willing to support you in any way we can,” stated Berlin.
Sullivan also offered a caution to members of the Assembly majority. “NY EdPAC is a nonpartisan organization with one goal: improving public education across New York. In the current climate the Senate Republican majority stands in the way of a real solution to adequately fund public schools, but we will continue to monitor the efforts of the Assembly and of individual legislators in both parties to pass the Schools for New York’s Future Act and are fully prepared to oppose Democrats and support Republicans on this issue.”