Serino Makes Good on Promise to Invest in Student Success

SERINO MAKES GOOD ON PROMISE TO INVEST IN STUDENT SUCCESS

ALBANY, NY – Senator Sue Serino (R,C,I—Hyde Park) announced today the new State Budget for 2015-16 will include an increase of $1.4 billion in State Education Aid, making good on her promise to ensure that the final budget make a real investment in local students.

“Since taking office, I have toured local schools and met with countless teachers, parents, officials, and students to hear first-hand about their needs,” said Senator Serino. “If there’s one thing that we can all agree on, it’s that investing in the success of our students should be our top priority and this budget does that.”

“With this major funding increase, our schools will be able to make significant new investments in our students, pressure on property taxpayers will be reduced, and our schools will have access to resources they need to ensure our kids become successful in our highly competitive global economy.

Further, the final budget will drastically reduce the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) by well over fifty percent. Serino noted that as part of the 2015-16 budget negotiations, she joined her colleagues in proposing the complete and total elimination of the GEA, while the Assembly proposed only a partial reduction.

“GEA isn’t exactly a buzzword, but residents of the 41^st District should know that since its implementation in 2010, it has cost our local schools over $160 million dollars in funding,” Serino said. “That’s $160 million that could have gone toward providing vital services to our students.”

Serino continued, “Eliminating the GEA is good for taxpayers, it’s good for our schools and it’s great for our students. While halving it was a major accomplishment, I will continue to fight for its full elimination.”

Serino concluded by noting that the Budget will also include significant new education reforms:

 “Increased school aid, while important, is only part of the equation. The final budget will include measures aimed at improving performance in the classroom, reducing over-testing—a major priority of both educators and officials—and promoting excellence in teaching.”

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