A yearlong campaign to Educate NY Now! launched today. After having just been through two days of rain in the Capital Region, the superintendent of Cohoes had the best comments. Here’s what Robert K. Libby said:

The common ground we stand on feels a lot like quick sand. The erosion of state aid to low-wealth districts like Cohoes is threatening to rob a generation of students of the kind of education they deserve. I am hopeful this collaborative, year-round effort will serve as a reminder of the importance of equity in education and can ultimately make a difference for our students now and in the years to come.”

Libby is one of about 50 groups that have signed on to the campaign to demand state government fulfills New York’s constitutional obligation to provide all students with a quality education.

Here’s what a few others had to say:

Public education has a rich history as a vehicle for economic mobility and social justice in New York State. Sadly, that promise is endangered today for tens of thousands of students by regressive state funding policies that threaten to both economically and educationally bankrupt schools in our lowest wealth communities. Educate NY Now is a diverse coalition that shares one common goal – educational equity and opportunity for all of New York’s children. I look forward to working with coalition members and others in the fight for educational excellence.” —Mike Glover, Genesee Valley BOCES Superintendent

Public education is the key to building a strong economy. When we look to a region of the state to encourage business to expand, we first look to the school system. What programs are offered? What opportunities are present to advance our youth and ultimately our future economic power? The state drastically cutting and limiting its commitment to classroom funding is part of a pattern of starving regions of the state including ours. We demand change in the direction that leadership is taking our state. Our children deserve equal opportunities for quality educational programs and extracurricular activities, no matter where they live.” Doug Wyant, Superintendent, Hornell

New York ranks 44th in the nation in education funding equity, according to a 2011 Rutgers University study. The massive cuts in 2011-12 and 2012-13 education aid have exacerbated this spending gap between poor and wealthy districts and relegate our neediest children to underfunded schools. Small city school districts, with their needier student populations and lower property wealth, rely most heavily on state aid for providing core educational services. Thus, these unprecedented cuts to education funding have dealt a heavy blow to already ailing schools. The Educate NY Now! campaign calls for prompt solutions: Our children suffer an irretrievable loss each year that they are denied their right to basic educational opportunities.” – Robert Biggerstaff, Executive Director of the state Association of Small City School Districts.

My children attend public school in Yonkers. My older child had an excellent experience with pre-kindergarten which helped him succeed in school. This year, pre-kindergarten for my younger child is only half day. Pre-kindergarten in Yonkers has been proven to increase high school graduation by 13% to 15%. This devastating cut in children’s opportunity to succeed is the result of the misguided education policies coming out of Albany that are hurting our schools. According to the NY State Constitution, my children are guaranteed a ‘sound, basic education.’ That is why I am joining with parents, teachers, school leaders and communities all working together in this campaign that will make sure Albany fixes the problems it has created.” Lekia Hill, parent, Yonkers

The Alliance for Quality Education is, of course, involved. Executive Director Billy Easton had this to say.

Polls show New Yorkers agree that Albany is taking our state’s schools in the wrong direction, this coalition is designed to give voice to the vast majority of New Yorkers who want all our students to have quality public schools and to receive the ‘sound, basic education’ that is their constitutional right. New York State has been steadily passing the burden down to local taxpayers but cutting its share of classroom funding, the state has to shoulder up its fair share for our kids.”

(It should be no surprise NYSUT is involved with this campaign. We will be getting locals more information about how they can help in this effort) Executive Vice President Andy Pallotta said:

This coalition will add strength to the voice of parents and community members who, like the education community, are gravely concerned about the deep cuts to their schools over the last three years and the undemocratic tax cap that is stifling their ability to provide students with the programs and services they need.”