Loss of State Aid

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Dear editor
I hope you will put this under its own topic. Thanks
"State legislature bows to pressure from the state teachers union and Lose chance to get 700million dollars in school aid"

Gov. David Paterson said Monday he wasn't surprised that New York missed out on up to $700 million in federal education grants, but he believes the Legislature can act to give the state a strong entry for the next round of funding.


New York State ended up at the bottom of the list for Race to the Top funds -- the federal program the dolls out money for "compelling and comprehensive education reform."

The Obama administration Monday awarded $600 million dollars to Tennessee and Delaware, based on education reform efforts undertaken in those states. But New York ranked 15th on the list of 16 finalists, winning none of the coveted education dollars in Round 1 of the program.

"Nobody should be surprised," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg , who had led the battle for reforms in New York State's education system. The Obama administration made it clear there were certain prerequisites to win Race to the Top funding, including lifting the cap on charter schools. The State Legislature, however, failed to eliminate the cap.

New York's failure to garner up to 700 million dollars during Round 1 of the grants will make it that much harder to balance this year's State Budget, which clearly will not be passed on time. The deadline is April 1st, but the Legislature left Albany on Friday with no plan to return until after the Passover and Easter holidays.

Critics speculated that the Legislature had bowed to pressure from the powerful United Federation of Teachers. President Michael Mulgrew argued against lifting the cap, insisting that New York could still qualify for Race to the Top without lifting the cap.