David Steiner was recently appointed as New York’s education commissioner and with his appointment comes a chance to reform our educational system, bring in federal grant money and, as a result, make New York’s students the best and the brightest in the nation.
Every year, New York has consistently spent more money per pupil than any other state. In fact, for three straight years, we have led the country in per-pupil spending, at about $16,000 per student. However, even though this is an extraordinary amount to spend per pupil, the funding has not translated into better results from our students. In fact, according to the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test, New York ranked 15th in fourth grade reading proficiency, 17th in fourth grade math proficiency, 23rd in eighth grade reading and 33rd in eighth grade math.
This information clearly shows that higher funding does not necessarily translate into improved academic performance and that we need to find a formula that works to ensure our young people are receiving the first-rate education they deserve. In order to do this, we need to develop programs that will challenge our students and prepare them for the standardized tests that they must successfully complete before they head off to college.
Last week, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced a new set of “Race to the Top” grants totaling $4.35 billion for states willing to introduce new and effective policies in their schools. These grants have the ability to completely transform our schools with the much-needed funding, and also streamline New York’s educational system so that our children are getting the most out of their education while not driving up property taxes, which are already at astronomical levels.
One area in which “Race to the Top” will aid our children’s learning experience is a requirement of high standards and rigorous assessments. While New York’s academic standards have been set very high, our assessments and scoring do not compare. Levels for passing grades on our state tests have been lowered, so while our state scores look good, on a national scale our progress is not up to par.
In addition to higher standards, “Race to the Top” will increase the amount of institutions that have the authority to certify teachers. The program will allow providers, other than higher education institutions, to have the ability to provide certification.
While Albany seems to be consumed with partisan bickering, this is one issue where I believe all lawmakers can find common ground, and it is pivotal that we do so. Property taxes are continuously rising and we need to find a solution to lower taxes while not sacrificing the level of education that our children receive. I believe that “Race to the Top” is an excellent first step toward this goal.
As always, if you have questions or comments about this or any other state issue, please contact me at either my Johnstown office at (518) 762-6486 or Herkimer office at (315) 866-5058.