Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) has been appointed to serve as the Minority Conference representative on the 2016-2017 Education Budget Conference Committee. The committees will convene throughout negotiations to highlight priorities for this year’s final budget.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to represent not only my conference, but the many teachers, students and parents who have voiced concerns with our state’s education system,” said Ra. “It is critical that negotiations include the input of representatives throughout the state, and are not solely conducted behind closed doors.”

Ra highlighted the importance of completely eliminating the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) in this year’s budget, rather than the two-year phase-out proposed in the governor’s Executive Budget.

“We need to get rid of the GEA, once and for all,” said Ra. “Our schools deserve the millions in funding that they are owed to help secure talented educators, ensure necessary resources and protect influential programs that offer students great opportunities. With both houses of the Legislature keeping a full restoration of these funds at the forefront of their priorities, I am optimistic that this is the year we will be successful.”

As the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Committee on Education, Ra has long advocated for appropriate, high-quality educational standards for students throughout New York State and a reduction in our over reliance on high stakes standardized testing.

Assemblyman Ra represents the 19th Assembly District. For more information, visit Assemblyman Ra’s website.