The new state budget continues a commitment to the 4-year Campaign for Fiscal Equity plan, delivering a $644 million increase for New York City schools.

This demonstrates the Assembly’s ongoing dedication to improving New York City schools, especially by rejecting an elimination of building aid for 2008-09 and saying “no” to a proposed 18-month lag for building aid for current projects.

This historic aid should help improve our city’s schools – as long as the city remains committed as well.

The final budget helps all of New York’s children:

• Provides $450 million for the implementation of universal pre-K, an increase of $96 million

• Allocates $1.1 million for school personnel background checks

• Adds $2 million for bilingual education and secures more bilingual teachers as part of the Teachers for Tomorrow program

• Adds $10 million for after-school programs