Hi John,
I’m excited to join AQE as the new NYC Community Organizer and am thrilled to be working alongside you in the fight for justice and equity in our public schools.
The next hearing in the Foundation Aid review process will be in Buffalo on July 25 at North Park Community School. We encourage you to participate and give testimony to ensure your voice is heard in this process, just remember to fill out a speaker registration form in advance.
You can also submit testimony in writing, which can be prepared in as few as ten minutes with our easy-to-follow testimony guide (in English or Spanish). The deadline to submit written testimony is September 6. If you’re unable to attend in person, each of the upcoming hearings will be livestreamed, so you can still tune in virtually. And if you were unable to attend our prep sessions last week, you can find all the resources you need for your own testimony on our website.
This past week, I had the honor of delivering testimony at the first Foundation Aid hearing, where the Rockefeller Institute is gathering statewide feedback to make nonbinding recommendations for improvements to the Foundation Aid formula.
Senator Robert Jackson’s assertion that “public education is a tool that uplifts all people” underscored a key theme of the hearing. Many speakers echoed this sentiment, focusing on the need for greater community engagement and inclusivity. Tanesha Grant, founder of Parents Supporting Parents NY and Ed Warrior Alumna, criticized the lack of diversity among Rockefeller Institute staff conducting the study. Paulette Healy, a recent Ed Warrior graduate, emphasized the need for increased and differentiated weights in the formula for students with varied disabilities. Kulsoom Tapal from the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families called for updated measurements for student poverty levels. Other advocates and allies in the room - such as Randi Levine of Advocates for Children, Andrea Ortiz from the Dignity in Schools Coalition, Dr. Kaliris Salas-Ramirez of Rutgers University, and City Councilmember Rita Joseph - spoke out for the need for greater supports for our students.
Your personal story, like others who have begun testifying already, can have a profound impact on the future of our children and schools. We encourage you to share your experiences, either in person or online, during this vital process. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to education justice.
Best regards,
Kaiser
NYC Community Organizer
Alliance for Quality Education
