New York City parents filed a lawsuit against Governor Andrew Cuomo and Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. for unconstitutionally withholding $250 million in education funding. The loss of funding is the penalty imposed by Governor Cuomo for the failure of Michael Bloomberg and the United Federation of Teachers to reach an agreement on teacher evaluations.
Michael Rebell, the attorney for the parents who is known for his successful work with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE), said, "I am outraged that New York City students are being victimized as pawns in a power struggle between the 'grown-ups'. I think this is a clear violation of the CFE decisions, as well as the due process and equal protection guarantees of the New York State constitution. We have requested that the law allowing the State to impose this $250 million penalty on our children be declared unconstitutional and invalid, and we are seeking a quick ruling and a preliminary injunction to make that happen."
"Our schools are already underfunded. Losing $250 million will result in cuts to school programs and academic intervention services for our children," said Jacqueline Colson, a plaintiff, public school parent and member of Community Education Council 25 in Queens.
Read the complete press release from the New York City Parents Union here.
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