Hundreds participate in parade for equitable school funding - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Hundreds participate in parade for equitable school funding

ALBANY, N.Y. - Hundreds of parents, teachers and community leaders from across the state took part in a Parade for Public Education led by the Cohoes High School marching band Tuesday morning.

The goal was to urge state lawmakers to address a growing gap in funding levels between rich and poor school districts across the state. The parade marched around the state Capitol and culminated with a rally at the West Lawn of the Capitol.

Advocates at the rally, including the Educate NY Now campaign, expressed that schools are in crisis and cannot afford a fifth straight year of cuts.

According to Alliance for Quality Education, the Governor proposed a 4.4 percent restoration this year, which is almost the same amount as last year's cuts.

Alliance for Quality Education is calling for $350 million in additional school aid distributed fairly and equitably based upon student need and $203 million in Fiscal Stabilization Funds, proposed by the Governor, to be distributed equitably through either the Foundation Formula or the Gap Elimination Adjustment.