On Election Day, New York voters will be asked to let the state borrow up to $2 billion to help public schools buy computer hardware they don’t urgently need and create space for pre-kindergarten programs that most districts outside New York City can’t afford. Read More
"If you spend on those things," added Empire Center for Public Policy's E.J. McMahon Monday, "you have to keep spending more, and raise taxes again year after year after year — to support the tech, to get the curriculum to use it, to train teachers on how to use it." Read More
The wasteful "Smart Schools Bond Act" would tap scarce capital resources to make low-priority technology purchases. Read More
"By definition, it's use it or lose it," said E.J. McMahon, president of the Empire Center for New York State Policy. "It's the worst possible way to spend money. And it some districts, it will be free money for low-priority items." Read More
The number of teachers in New York collecting pensions jumped 9 percent between 2010 and 2013, and the average pension grew 6.5 percent over that period, records show. Read More
The data comes after the state Court of Appeals ruled last week that pension systems in New York must release the names and details of its pensioners. The state Teachers’ Retirement System, as well as New York City pension funds, had refused to release the information because lower court rulings hadn’t required it to be made public. The lawsuit that led to the ruling was brought by the Empire Center for Public Policy. The think tank received the information this week and posted it on its website,www.SeeThroughNY.net. Read More
New York once again tops the 50-state (plus D.C.) rankings of per-pupil spending in the latest U.S. Census Bureau data on public school finances. As of 2012, public schools in the Empire State spent $19,552 per pupil—84 percent above the U.S. average, according to the latest annual Census Bureau report, which was released today. The gap between New York and the rest of the U.S. has increased significantly during the latest six years for which the Census Bureau has compiled these statistics. As of 2005-06, New York’s per pupil spending was 63 percent above average. Read More
E.J. McMahon, president of the Empire Center for Public Policy, told ABC News he doesn’t know how an observer would conclude there’s no conflict here. Schmidt “is a vendor. It’s pretty clear to be there’s a conflict. This is an incredible blind spot on the governor’s part,” McMahon said. Read More