NEW YORK—$129 million will be going directly into New York City classrooms to restore earlier budget cuts made by the Department of Education (DOE) in May. City Hall Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the decision June 26th.
With nearly the same baseline budget from before the schools closed, some schools may even have increased budgets when State funding is taken into account.
Quinn used the last five weeks working with the Council's Budget Negotiating Team and the Bloomberg Administration on ways to conserve the schools funds.
"Even in the toughest financial times, New York City cannot afford to reduce our commitment to education, especially when our schools are finally moving in the right direction," Quinn said. "Last month the City Council made a promise, eliminating $129 million in cuts that would have been devastating for teachers and students around the city."
New initiatives target middle schools, English Language Learners (ELL), and class size reduction.
"The Council was able to keep the promise to New York City's children, by working together with the Mayor to restore the proposed education cuts to the classroom - cuts that would have had a negative effect on our City's kids," said Council Finance Chair David Weprin.
Feeds