Priority 1 – Issues of paramount importance

1. Reform New York’s Education finance system. New York's current school aid system fails to deliver resources to the school districts that most need them. The system also hampers districts' ability to direct resources where they are most needed within their schools. New York State public school students deserve better. The state aid distribution system must be reformed in line with NYSSBA's five standards for education finance reform: adequacy, flexibility, equity, predictability, and clarity. Toward this end, NYSSBA, together with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, is sponsoring an independent study to determine the actual cost of educating students to meet the Regents' learning standards. DCSBA has endorsed the position of NYSSBA and its partners.
   
   
2. Improve State testing and the resources available to local districts for assessment analysis.Achieving higher standards for each student in New York State is an educational imperative, most recently reinforced by the federal “No Child Left Behind” law. While assessments are a necessary and integral component of a standards-based reform effort, their content and use must help rather than hinder the cause. DCSBA and NYSSBA urge the Board of Regents to improve the state’s assessment system to ensure that its assessment instruments are crafted with care and aligned with reasonable, clearly articulated standards; serves as a way to identify students needing extra help; provides vital information to teachers and administrators about program effectiveness and measures the student’s performance rather than that of his or her school.

Priority 2 – Issues requiring continued attention

1. Reform New York State’s budget process. Continue the progress made last year on the passage of a timely budget. DCSBA members are most appreciative of the statesmanship demonstrated by our legislators on behalf of children. The Association continues to urge the Legislature and the Governor to work together to negotiate a good budget, on time. It’s good for the taxpayer, good for business and, most importantly, good for our students and New York State’s future.
   
   
2. Reduce the financial burden mandates. Education is the nation’s most regulated enterprise. The largest employer in many communities, local school districts are often mired in red tape that prevents them from operating in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Too much of recent state aid increases has been devoted to fulfilling state mandates that have little relevance to improving student achievement or operating a successful school district. School boards’ ability to govern their districts and direct resources to the learning process is threatened if we do not relieve districts and the local taxpayers who support them of many of these burdensome mandates.
   
   
3. Support local control of education and the retention of BOE authority. Education in New York State has a long history of community commitment. Local residents elect their school board members and approve local school district budgets. No other level of government has such public accountability. This accountability ensures that education decisions and policies reflect the community's goals for its children. Yet school boards are hampered by a vast array of state and federal mandates. The state and federal governments should not, for example, impose arbitrary caps on expenses, fail to appropriately fund required programs, or impose expensive mandates that apply only to public sector employers. Local school officials must be released from these kinds of restrictions and granted the flexibility to better manage resources and develop programs targeted to their students' needs. DCSBA will continue to strongly oppose all efforts to diminish local authority.
   
   
4. Support teacher quality and leadership development.
   Research shows that teacher performance is a strong predictor of student performance. Likewise strong educational leadership is the key to a school district's success. It is essential that school boards be able to retain our great educators, improve our good educators and remove those educators who cannot improve or who may pose a danger to the school community. All children deserve highly qualified teachers and administrators to give them the best opportunity for a bright future. School boards must have the tools to support quality teachers and administrators.
   
   
5. Support impact fees as an effort to assist school districts absorb the population impact resulting from residential development.Impact fees would assist in providing adequate facilities, program improvements and services necessary to serve the growth in student population. Many towns currently collect impact fees for recreational use. DCSBA urges the New York State Legislature to work with local governmental agencies to change the current
   law so that the burden of increased student population will be more equitably shared among those who benefit.
   
   
   
6. Provide relief to local taxpayers through continuance of the STAR program, maintenance of BOCES and building aid.The association remains committed to finding ways to alleviate the local burden born to meet state and federal mandates. The creation of STAR as a direct tax relief program has made a significant difference for many of our taxpayers. The categorical aids associated with BOCES and building projects must be maintained if districts are to be cost effective in meeting the needs of our students and communities.