Building a state budget requires a delicate balancing of priorities. While compromise is necessary to keep our state running smoothly, one thing we can never back down on is our children’s education. The significant investments included in this year’s budget reflect our continued commitment to helping every child in New York State learn and flourish on a daily basis.

Measures in this year’s budget enhance every stage of learning in New York State, from early childhood through grade school and college. For the youngest, the budget provides $340 million toward developing and instituting a statewide universal pre-kindergarten program. For those on the cusp of adulthood, we’ve rejected proposed tuition hikes for the state’s public colleges and universities, instead freezing SUNY tuition for the upcoming academic year while increasing state funding to these vibrant institutions of higher education.

One particularly triumphant development included in the budget is the complete elimination of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA). The GEA, a long-standing reduction in state education funding designed to make up for past budget shortfalls, caused hardship in schools and placed an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. Doing away with the GEA will help mitigate those problems, prevent layoffs and keep important educational programs in place. In addition, local schools will see an aid increase of more than $16 million, which is nearly 6 percent more than last year.

Some of the best specialized education programs in our area are supported in the budget. The New Innovation Tech School at Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES, where high school students focus on real-world skills through the lens of cutting-edge technology, will get $200,000.¹ In addition, $100,000 has been allocated to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), which is working to cultivate a heartier variety of the American Chestnut Tree.²

Finally, our true commitment to equality and opportunity is evident in the $400,000 the budget allocates for On Point for College, a program that improves access to higher education for low-income youth in Central New York.³ Too many smart, hardworking students lack the support necessary to help them achieve their higher education goals; many of those are the first in their family to pursue a college degree, making that support network all the more necessary. On Point for College offers the training and mentoring services they need and sticks with the students through graduation, from college applications to the career search. This additional funding will ensure more young people get the support they deserve.

These and several other measures in the budget demonstrate our commitment to putting our children’s education first so we can all enjoy a more equal and innovative future.

If you have any questions or concerns about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 452-1115.

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