By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The leader of the Buffalo Teachers Federation says New York State has some of the worst rankings in the nation when it comes to funding the education of poor children and children of color.
BTF President Phil Rumore revealed results of the most recent analysis of education funding at a news conference Tuesday morning. He says the state's lack of funding is an "obscene and immoral secret."
"We have a situation in New York State where our poor children are the most discriminated against in the United States," Rumore said. "The study was started in 1996, and we have been last, next to last or third last since then."
Rumore says they are calling on the state Legislature to correct the funding gap for school districts like Buffalo's. He says if the state fails to act, they are calling on the courts to issue severe penalties to cover education funding.
Governor Pataki has appealed and vowed to fight the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court case that demands the state provide needed funding for a basic education.