Encouraged by the plaintiffs in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, it’s conventional wisdom in the State Capitol and New York’s City Hall that Justice Leland DeGrasse’s final order must form the basis for any legislative action to improve the “adequacy” of education in city schools.

DeGrasse has ruled the state should spend $5.6 billion mnore in annual in aid to city schools, plus $9.2 billion more for capital expenditures on school buildings.

But does the judge really have the power to force the Legislature into adopting such a specific remedy? Are there alternatives that would pass constitutional muster?

To explore those and other questions revolving around the CFE case, the Empire Center for Public Policy is sponsoring a Breakfast Forum in New York City on Tuesday, June 28. Panelists will include David Schoenbrod, a law professor at New York Law School and co-author of Democracy by Decree: What Happens When Courts Run Government; former Deputy Mayor Anthony Coles; and William Phillips, president of the New York Charter School Association.

Space is limited, so attendance is by invitation only. For further information, go to our events page.

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About the Author

Tim Hoefer

Tim Hoefer is president & CEO of the Empire Center for Public Policy.

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