Advocates Blast Education Cuts as Regressive

ALBANY—A coalition of education groups this afternoon released analysis that they said demonstrates that education cuts proposed by David Paterson are regressive.

Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, said at a press conference that while the percentage of proposed aid reductions proposed is higher for wealthier districts, they will lose fewer actual dollars per pupil than their poorer counterparts.

He said districts classified by the State Education Department as "low need" will be reduced by an average of $231 per pupil; New York City's school aid will be reduced $252 per pupil and the largest upstate school districts - Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers - will see a drop of $372 per pupil.

Easton also gave a glimpse of what's coming tomorrow: over 1,000 demonstrators from around the state will come to Albany for a noon rally on over 30 buses. The demonstration is being organized by two groups: One New York Fighting for Fairness and the Better Choices Budget Coalition.