New York school system

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The New York public school system (prekindergarten-grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards members and superintendents. New York has 709 school districts.

The New York state constitution requires that the state offer a "support of a system of free common schools, wherein all the children of this state may be educated."[1]

[edit] School revenues, expenditures and budget

See also: New York state budget
New York's education costs more than 1/3 of the state budget

The total New York state budget is $78.74 billion for 2009-10, compared to a $78.17 billion budget for 2008-2009. Education costs account for $21.92 billion pf the total budget for 2009-10. Education costs are expected to rise to $22.5 billion in 2010-11, $24.0 billion in 2011-12, and $26.2 billion in 2012-13.[2] According to the state Department of Education, general fund operations total $50.2 million, a $5.5 million decrease from the 2008-2009 school year.[3]

[edit] Impact of budget woes

In light of the state's approximately $14 billion budget deficit, state departments have had to overall budget cuts.[4]

  • The 2009-10 Executive Budget recommended: eliminating state employee salary increases, a 5-day state employee furlough and modified health care contributions for future retirees.[3]
  • For education recommended budget cuts included: adult literacy, aid to independent colleges and universities program, aid to public broadcasting, aid to public libraries, county secondary education and vocational boards and more. Additionally, after school programs, apprenticeship training program, math and science high schools, missing children education program, Rochester Children's Zone, transferring success program and workplace literacy were all recommended for elimination; about $18 million in savings.[3]

[edit] Personnel salaries

According to the New York State Education Department, the median elementary and secondary school classroom teacher salary in the 2008-2009 school year was $65,236, $2,904 more than a year prior. Compared to the 2000-2001 school year, teachers had a median salary of $14,216 less than 2008-2009.[5]

School Year Median Salary
2008-09 $65,236
2007-08 $62,332
2006-07 $59,557
2005-06 $55,942
2004-05 $55,665
2003-04 $55,181
2002-03 $53,017
2001-02 $51,020
2000-01 $51,020

[edit] Role of unions

The maine union related to the New York school system is New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA). For the 2003 tax period NYSUT had: $85.84 million in total revenue, $85.19 million in total expenses and $102.93 million in total assets.[6]

List of local New York school unions:[7]

[edit] Role of school boards

The State Board of Education comprises of 17 members, all elected by the State Legislature. Board members are elected for 5 year terms. One member is elected from each 13 judicial district and 4 members serve at large. Board members do not receive a salary but they are reimbursed for travel and related expenses. The board is responsible for the general supervision of state education related activities. Additionally, the board presides over the New York State Education Department.[8]

[edit] Taxpayer-funded lobbying

See also: New York taxpayer-funded lobbying

The main education taxpayer-funded lobbying organization is the New York State School Boards Association.

[edit] Transparency

See also: New York transparency headlines

The state of New York has two transparency resources that monitor government spending: Open Book New York, created by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, and Project Sunlight, created by State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

[edit] Reports

A 2009 study, Leaders and Laggards, conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workplace, Frederick M. Hess of the conservative American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, and the Center for American Progress, gave New York: "C" in academic achievement; "C" in truth in advertising about student proficiency; "A" in rigor of standards; "B" in post-secondary and workforce readiness; "A" in for its teacher workforce policies; "C" in data quality.[9]

[edit] Audits

In 2009 it was discovered that approximately 700 teachers are "paid to do nothing." Because of strict union contracts with New York public schools teachers, teachers are hard to fire. Instead, any teacher facing a disciplinary hearing must wait for months or years in a temporary reassignment center.[10] During this wait, teachers receive full pay of $70,000 or more and full benefits, and while they may not continue their daily tasks as teachers, they are allowed no unrelated work.[10] The offenses range anywhere from insubordination to sexual misconduct.[10] There are currently about 700 teachers in these centers.[10]

[edit] Academic performance

The chart below reveals details on New York schools' 2007-2008 performance according to the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report, which is used by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program to determine the academic performance of schools.[11] Schools with "Y" denotes schools that met the minimum academic requirements, while "N" represents schools that failed to meet the minimum requirements and are considered to be "failing." To see results, click on "show".

[edit] School choice

School choice options include:

  • Charter schools: in the state of New York are publicly funded and open to all students via an admissions lottery. The schools are governed by a not-for-profit board of trustees. Unlike state public schools, charter schools can design their own educational programs.[12]
  • Public school open enrollment: in New York, the state has two open enrollment policies: intra-district and inter-district open enrollment. In other words, students are permitted to enroll in any school within their neighborhood school district or in any alternative district in the state.[13]
  • Online learning: the state of New York does not have a state-led online program, however Boards of Cooperative Educational Services does offer some online options.[13]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Additional reading

[edit] References

  1. ↑ New York Constitution,"Article XI, Section 1," retrieved September 11, 2009
  2. ↑ State of New York,"2009-10 Financial plan first quarterly update," July 30, 2009
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 New York State Education Department,"Highlights of the 2009-10 Executive Budget Recommendations," retrieved September 10, 2009
  4. ↑ Star-Gazette, State Deficit Grows by $1.2 billion, February 11, 2009
  5. ↑ New York State Education Department,"Median Salary Of Public Elementary And Secondary School Classroom Teachers," retrieved September 10, 2009
  6. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"New York State United Teachers," retrieved September 4, 2009
  7. ↑ Center for Union Facts,"New York teachers unions," retrieved September 4, 2009
  8. ↑ New York State Department of Education,"About the Board of Regents," retrieved September 4, 2009
  9. ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute,"New York Education Report Card," retrieved November 17, 2009
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Associated Press, "700 NYC teachers are paid to do nothing", June 22, 2009
  11. ↑ New York State Education Department,"List of self assessment outcomes for 07-08," retrieved September 11, 2009
  12. ↑ New York State Education Department,"What is a Charter School?," retrieved September 10, 2009
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 The Heritage Foundation,"School Choice in New York," retrieved September 10, 2009
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