[Fwd: Public Agenda Alert - Judge Rules NYC Schools Lack Funding]

[Victor Steinbok <aardvark69@EARTHLINK.NET>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Public Agenda Alert - Judge Rules NYC Schools Lack Funding
Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2001 14:41:31 -0500
From: public-agenda-online-alert@lists.lyris.net
Reply-To: "Public Agenda Online Alert" <public-agenda-online-alert@lists.lyris.net>
To: "Public Agenda Online Alert" <public-agenda-online-alert@lists.lyris.net>

==============================================
Public Agenda Alert -- Jan. 11, 2001
* In the Headlines: Judge Rules NYC Schools Lack Funding
* Yahoo! Chat Today on New Religion Survey
http://www.publicagenda.org
==============================================
In the Headlines:
Judge Rules NYC Schools Denied Adequate Funding

A New York state judge has found state funding of New York
City's public school system to be inadequate, denying its students a
"sound, basic education" under the state constitution. Justice
Leland DeGrasse also declared the school financing system
violated federal civil rights laws by disproportionately hurting the
city's minority students. The city's students comprise 73 percent of
the state's total minority student population, and more than 60
percent of the state's poor children attend New York City schools.
The lawsuit was filed in 1993 by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a
coalition of parent, teacher, education and civics groups. The
organization's lawyer, Joseph Wayland, argued that though 37
percent of the state's public school students attend New York City
schools, the city's schools receive only 34 percent of the money
allocated to education. He also said that in the 199697 school
year, New York spent an average of $9,321 on each public school
student statewide, 14 percent more than the city's average spending
of $8,171 per child. State lawyers argued that social background,
not funding differences, are to blame for academic problems in
New York City, where 30 percent of students never graduate from
high school. The judge ruled that the state Legislature has until
September 15 to come up with a new funding system that will
allow New York City schools to reduce class size, hire better
teachers, improve school facilities, and get new supplies. The state
attorney general is still considering whether to appeal the ruling.
Other urban districts in the state hope the ruling will also help
them get additional funding. Additional information on school
funding is available in our issue guide on Education.

- Public Opinion: Most Americans say minorities receive an equal
education in local schools, but more than half of black parents call
underachievement among black students a "crisis"
- Public Opinion: Most Americans say they support increased
funding for schools even if it means paying higher taxes
- Public Opinion: But people also want higher standards and more
discipline, and some groups say these changes would help schools
more than money
- Fact File: High school dropouts
- Fact File: Spending per pupil
http://www.publicagenda.org/headlines/headline.htm

In the Headlines is now updated daily! This week's headlines
include:

- Jan. 10, 2001
U.S. Agrees to Repay Large Part of Its U.N. Debt
http://www.publicagenda.org/headlines/headline011001.htm

-  Jan. 9, 2001
Study Finds Parents Loathe to Discuss Money With Kids
http://www.publicagenda.org/headlines/headline010901.htm

- Jan. 8, 2001
OPEC may reduce oil production to counter falling gas prices
http://www.publicagenda.org/headlines/headline010801.htm

===================================
Yahoo! Chat Tonight on New Religion Survey
If you'd like to ask questions about Public Agenda's new survey,
"For Goodness' Sake," co-author Tony Foleno will be participating
in a Yahoo! chat session tonight at 6 p.m. Eastern (3 p.m. Pacific).
Log in at :
http://chat.yahoo.com

If you want to refresh your memory about the survey before the
session, you can find the survey at:
http://www.publicagenda.org/specials/religion/religion.htm


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