Res. No. 470
Resolution calling upon the Governor and New York State Legislature to correct the educational disparity between disabled students in wealthy areas and those in low income communities in the financing plan it establishes in compliance with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision.
By Council Members James, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, Comrie, Gennaro, Gerson, Liu, Martinez, Nelson, Palma, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Stewart and Foster
Whereas, The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) was formed by parent organizations, community school boards, concerned citizens, and advocacy groups seeking to reform New York State's school finance system to ensure adequate resources and the opportunity for a sound basic education for all students in New York City; and
Whereas, In response to a lawsuit by CFE against the State of New York, the State Supreme Court found that New York State had violated the State Constitution by failing to provide funding sufficient to guarantee a sound basic education to New York City schoolchildren and by disparately impacting minority students in violation of federal regulations; and
Whereas, On appeal, the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, confirmed that the State funding system must be reformed to ensure that every school in New York City has sufficient resources to provide its students with the opportunity for a meaningful education; and
Whereas, Approximately 1.1 million schoolchildren attend public school within the City of New York, and, according to Advocates for Children, about 160,000 of them have disabilities that affect their ability to obtain an education; and
Whereas, According to the 2002-2003 school report card on students with disabilities issued by the New York State Board of Regents, a mere 5 percent of New York City's students with disabilities met the standards on the math test given in grade 8, compared to 38.8 percent of all students with disabilities in low-need districts throughout the State; and
Whereas, The report card further revealed that while more than three-quarters of students with disabilities who live in wealthy areas were able to score 55 or above on the Regents exam in English, fewer than a third of New York City’s disabled students were able to do so; and
Whereas, All students, regardless of disability and economic situation, are entitled to sufficient resources and a sound basic education; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Governor and the New York State Legislature to correct the educational disparity between disabled students in wealthy areas and those in low income communities in the financing plan it establishes in compliance with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision.
MHG/DKL
LS #1164
July, 12 2004