Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Deadline Approaching - Submit Your Written Testimony on Foundation Aid

Hi Ashley,

Last week the Rockefeller Institute wrapped up its in-person hearings, but it isn't too late to make your voice heard! You can still submit your written testimony until September 6. Use our resources to help you craft your testimony. We need students, parents, teachers, and community members to share how Foundation Aid has impacted classrooms and communities.

During this past month's hearings, many members of our community shared powerful testimonies. Kayla, AQE's Programs and Training Associate and a parent with three children in Albany public schools, described how the current system fails to meet the needs of Black and brown students facing challenges like housing and food insecurity. Kaiser, our New York City Organizer, highlighted persistent disparities due to the state's failure to fully fund the Foundation Aid formula until this past autumn, calling for an updated formula that reflects the true cost of education in 2024. Niasha, a community organizer in Buffalo, emphasized the urgent need for restorative justice and mental health services in the wake of the pandemic, sharing stories of students with critical needs who still lack adequate support.

Kayla, last week, at the Guilderland hearing.

Kaiser, at Rockefeller's first hearing in New York City.

Niasha, at the second of five hearings, in Buffalo.

Your input could be crucial in shaping a funding mechanism for the future that fosters a more inclusive and supportive education environment for every child in New York State. Please take a moment to submit your written testimony before September 6.

Thank you for your continued commitment to ensuring a just and equitable education for all.

In solidarity,

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Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari

Co-Executive Director

 

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