In 2007, we celebrated one of our largest victories after winning a seven year battle for a foundation school aid formula that distributes school aid throughout the state by need and not politics.  Citizen Action, ACORN, UFT, NYSUT, CFE and other statewide organizations created the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), the coalition that led the campaign, in 2000.  AQE was created to provide an organizing campaign to complement the lawsuit initiated by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity in 1993.

“Seven years ago, when we all came together, we found the challenges that New York City districts were facing were similar to those of the urban and rural districts throughout the state,” explained Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York and AQE co-chair. “By organizing tens of thousands of people from Buffalo to Long Island and everywhere in between we successfully changed the public debate from one that was about New York City versus upstate to one that focused on a funding formula that serves all the children.” Click here to read the full press release now!

For up to the minute information on our education campaign, click the links at the right, or visit The Alliance for Quality Education at www.aqeny.org.

(April 4, 2008) AQE & CFE submit Comment on Proposed Final Proposed Contract for Excellence Regulations. Click HERE to read. 

(March 19, 2008) Thousands Rally At City Hall to Protest $800 Million in Budget Cuts Threatening New York City Public Schools
(New York, NY)— Thousands of concerned parents, educators, students, elected officials and other supporters of public education descended on City Hall today for a spirited rally to protest $800 million in current and proposed city and state education budget cuts and reductions targeting New York City public schools.
 
Demonstrators gathered outside City Hall Park on Broadway to listen as members of the broad-based Keep The Promises Coalition warned about the crisis facing city schools if the cuts are allowed to stand. The coalition is a diverse group of parents, educators, education advocacy groups, community organizations, civic groups, clergy, labor unions and elected officials that formed in reaction to the immediate and proposed cuts. Click HERE to read the release in full.

(March 17, 2008) AQE and CFE Express strong objections to proposed final regulations excluding advocacy organizations from participating in district Contract For Excellence development. Click HERE to read the letter sent to Commissioner Mills requesting a revision of the proposed regulations

(FEBRUARY 14, 2008) AQE releases  "Will Education Promises be Broken?", a report detailing how cuts in promised aid disproportionately hurt poor students, students of color and English language learners. 
Click HERE to read report