Senate Education Chair Shelley B. Mayer Responds to Governor Cuomo’s FY 2021-2022 Executive Budget Proposal

Governor Andrew Cuomo released the FY 2021-2022 Executive Budget Proposal on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Click here to watch the Governor’s presentation.

Senator Shelley B. Mayer, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, said, “Thank you to Governor Andrew Cuomo for his continued advocacy for New Yorkers. With so much uncertainty about federal aid for New York State, one thing is clear: our children cannot continue to bear the burden of the pandemic’s economic impact. This past year, we have seen incredible sacrifice from students, parents, teachers, and administrators. We cannot balance a budget at the expense of our public schools. We should commit to increasing education funding by sharing the burden equitably with those who can afford it. We must also fortify other essential programs and services necessary for educational quality and equity. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Governor’s Office to find a path forward that recognizes the acute need for additional school funding—and does not rely on supplanting the state’s obligation with the aid appropriated from the federal government to New York. Additionally, we must build back stronger from the scourge of the pandemic. The reconciliation of the COVID crisis must include the expansion of full day Pre-K for districts outside of New York City; free broadband for every student across the state; and ensure adequate resources for compensatory education initiatives to help students meet learning benchmarks, particularly for students with special needs.”