Maureen Lane
Death by 1,000 (education) cuts
Yesterday, the Utica News reported, "The state faces a potential budget gap of $2.5 billion next year, the state's budget director said Friday, which could force cutbacks in funding for education, health care and other popular programs." New York State has met shortfalls with cuts to vital programs all too often in the past. Here we go again.
Cutting funds to education, for example, makes no sense and in the long run, saves no cents. New York's poverty rate is up and we have lost 120,000 industrial jobs over the last decade. How can we lay down the foundation for a brighter future in New York without much better access to education for all New Yorkers?
The Center for Law and Social Policy reports that women who have moved from welfare and are earning $8,000-12,000 annually, below poverty incomes for families of 2 or more, have low benefits and experience little income growth. Income increases significantly with education. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, adults with advanced degrees earned $72,824; bachelor's degree holders $51,194; high school graduates $27,280 and non-graduates, $18,826. In addition, adult education programs currently meet less than 3% of the real need for classes and services.
The governor (like all governors) calls education important and has the data to show its proven value to in building the almighty economy. Yet, his response has not sufficiently increased funding and or come up with coherent public policy. Indeed, here in New York, the governor's budget diretcor is saying that what education spending we have is up for cuts.
With tuitions going up and financial assistance remaining static or being cut, many are worried that fewer and fewer lower and middle-income families will be able to afford higher education. Which sounds, to me, a lot like the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer in New York.
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Posted at 11:56 AM, Oct 18, 2005 in Education
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