2014-2015 Proposed Funding

We've posted school aid estimates for 2014-15. 

NYSUT Board Passes "No Confidence" Resolution

The NYSUT Board of Directors on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution declaring "no confidence" in the policies of SED Commissioner John King and calling for his removal by the Board of Regents. The resolution withdraws NYSUT's support for the Common Core standards as implemented and interpreted in New York state until SED agrees to major course corrections, including a three-year moratorium on high stakes consequences from state standardized testing.

This historic NYSUT vote comes after more than two years of vigorous and steadily escalating NYSUT action sounding the alarm on the widespread problems caused by SED's failed implementation of Common Core. The resolution goes to the NYSUT RA in April.

See additional media coverage from Politico, an article and editorial in the AlbanyTimes Union and a blog item by Diane Ravitch.

Wait... What?

Tax cap gets smaller with 1.46 percent CPI increase for 2013

The controversial property tax cap will fall even lower next year as it adjusts to the Consumer Price Index, worrying some who say schools and social programs will suffer and local governments will be harder pressed to balance their budgets with even less revenue.

According to new guidelines recently released by the state Comptroller's Office, the state property tax cap will be reduced from 2 percent to 1.46 percent; affecting all local governments and school districts that rely on tax levies for their funding beginning the new fiscal year on January 1, 2014.

The state's property tax law limits annual property tax increases to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. This year, the Consumer Price Index is less than 2 percent. 

Districts must submit their calculation to the state comptroller by March 1st.

(source NYSUT/NYSASBO)

NYSUT hosting 2014 Advanced Placement Summer Institute

NYSUT is sponsoring the Advanced Placement Summer Institute® July 21-24 in the Conference Center at NYSUT headquarters, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road Latham, New York.

Course offerings include:

• AP® Biology
• AP® Calculus AB
• AP® English Language & Literature Combined
• AP® European History
• AP® US History

Classes are held from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. You must attend each day to receive in-service credit.

The institute is designed for those new to AP® courses or experienced educators desiring new strategies and methods to improve their teaching.

The fees are $725 for inservice credit $650 if register before June 2. Tuition fee includes course materials, continental breakfast and lunch each day. Lab fees are extra. Cancellations must be received in writing by July 11, or the full registration fee will be charged.

For more information, download the FAQ and the Flyer, visit www.nysut.org/elt or call ELT at 1-800-528-6208.

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• Download Flyer (152K PDF)
• Download FAQ (18K PDF)

NYSUT President Dick Iannnuzzi Calls for a "No Confidence" Vote on NYSED Commissioner John King Jr.

ALBANY, N.Y. January 13, 2014 - New York State United Teachers today said failures by the State Education Department and Education Commissioner John King Jr. to properly implement the Common Core learning standards have corrupted the framework needed to establish a valid and fair teacher evaluation system.

"Once again, the commissioner is deliberately attempting to deflect attention from his failed implementation plan and obsession with testing by blaming everyone but himself," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "NYSUT, like many stakeholders, committed to a framework that had the potential to make the Common Core about raising standards, and teacher evaluations about improving classroom instruction. The commissioner and SED have corrupted both with their obsession over standardized testing and data collection, instead of teaching and learning. Teachers and principals should be held accountable and students should be striving to reach higher standards but, sadly, the commissioner and State Education Department are more interested in playing the corporate numbers game than improving the educational experience for students and educators."

Last week, Iannuzzi said "mounting frustration" over King's refusal to listen to concerns from parents and teachers, and make necessary course corrections would lead him to seek a "no confidence" vote from the union's Board of Directors this month, and from NYSUT's Representative Assembly in April.

NYSUT is calling for a three-year moratorium on high-stakes consequences for students and teachers from standardized testing to give SED time to "get it right." Iannuzzi said a three-year moratorium "would allow New York State to make amendments to the Common Core, incorporating input from experienced educators in curriculum development and achieving better alignment of assessments and instruction before attaching high-stakes consequences."

New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members. Members are pre-K-12 teachers; school-related professionals; higher education faculty; other professionals in education, human services and health care; and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.

Source: NYSUT Media Relations

General Meeting of the Association; January 22nd!

The winter general meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday January 22nd@ 3:45 in the High School Choir room. We have many important issues which need you input, so please plan on attending! 

Also, Kathy Welch, our Labor Relations representative will be here to update us on several important topics.