We came across a great article by the Empire Center on New York State’s public education spending and performance.
A few highlights:
“For another consecutive year, New York ranks #1 in the nation when it comes to spending on education. The state’s per-student spending, which rose to $26,571 in 2021, was 85 percent above the national average of $14,347 per-pupil, 17 percent higher than Connecticut, 20 percent higher than New Jersey and 30 percent higher than Massachusetts.”
“Student achievement is declining on both state and national measures. New York scored below the national public average in multiple categories on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) last year. The state ranks 46th in the nation for 4th grade math and has demonstrated “no meaningful improvement” in 4th or 8th grade reading or math for over a decade.”
“This year, less than half of students scored proficient on our state’s own grade 3-8 assessments, with some districts scoring at 0% proficiency for entire grade levels in certain subjects.”
The entire article is truly worth reading if you already haven’t.
In New York State, we find ourselves in a state of affairs where exorbitant amounts are invested in education spending, yielding disappointingly poor results. Surely this is a scandal. Surely our educational establishment is working all hours of the night to find ways to bring New York’s education levels to the top of the nation, or at the very least, make services more efficient so tax payers aren’t paying out the nose for poor service.
Well, luckily a Blue Ribbon Commission (yes, they really called it that) established by the Board of Regents has identified the supposed need “to create equity in New York State public education,” as the most important issue facing our schools. We note here without comment that of the 8 members of the Blue Ribbon Commission Steering Committee, only 1 is from Upstate. Telling.
And instead of focusing on doing the hard work of improving student performance, New York State is pursuing the approach of lowering or eliminating objective testing standards altogether—a strategy akin to reducing crime statistics by refraining from making arrests.
Without delving into the intricacies of graduation requirements and the validity of standardized tests like the Regents exams, the overarching concern remains: New York State consistently spends vast funds for subpar performance. Whether examining education, economic development, or healthcare, a recurring pattern emerges—high spending accompanied by declining results.
This isn’t necessarily a left – right issue. There is a reasonable case to be made for higher spending on education. But it seems logical to expect, in exchange for this investment, actual improvement in student performance.
The most disconcerting aspect is the apparent lack of acknowledgment of this pattern as a scandal and a crisis. Rather than actively working to improve student performance or cutting spending, the state opts for the troubling path of permanently lowering standards. This perpetuates a culture of gradual decline, all while a leadership class seems unwilling to confront the issue, let alone admit its existence.
Upstate Independence aims to break free from this pattern of gradual decline and evasion of reality. It advocates for confronting the challenges head-on, taking meaningful actions to address them, and holding leadership accountable for the outcomes. The call is for a new political structure that can genuinely address the issues at hand.
For those who value education, the future of their children, and the prosperity of the region, the message is clear: seek solutions outside the confines of New York State. Support a new political paradigm that can earnestly confront challenges and be held accountable for results. It’s time to abandon half measures and Blue Ribbon Commissions. Take control of the future and support Upstate Independence.
