"A politician is known by the promises he keeps" — author unknown.

For months, NYSUT's legislative staff, volunteer lobbyists and advertising campaigns have implored state lawmakers to "keep the promise" — a promise they made in last year's historic education budget. Our message has been consistent: Despite a rollercoaster economic climate, providing a quality public education to New York's children needs to remain a priority.

In fact, an investment in education should rightly be viewed as an economic investment as well. And, despite a shaky Wall Street and enough distractions to fill the New York City tabloids, the legislators listened, and they responded.

As this New York Teacher went to press, lawmakers in Albany were ironing out the final details of a 2008-09 state budget that included an increase of nearly $1.8 billion for K-12 schools, with every district expected to receive an increase in Foundation Aid of at least 3 percent. The Legislature also restored cuts to BOCES, High Tax Aid and funded teacher centers.

Restorations and increases in health care were also part of the developing budget, including more for nursing homes, home health services, in-patient hospital services and insurance coverage for poor children.

Gov. David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Silver and Senate Majority Leader Bruno are to be commended for crafting a spending plan that "keeps the promise." These leaders worked together in some difficult times to make some difficult choices.

Their action speaks volumes about the value they put on education, health care and the future of New York state.

Of course, despite some important — and positive — agreements, NYSUT hasn't packed up and left the Capitol just yet. We are working aggressively to ensure that the Foundation Aid formula, developed last year, remains intact.

This was the formula that most directly provided more resources to high-needs districts — resources that would best assure a fair and equitable education for all students.

Higher ed cuts

NYSUT is particularly concerned about funding for the State and City universities of New York. While we were making inroads in restoring some cuts made early in the process — especially for the state's community colleges — public higher education in New York appears to be a target for cost-conscious budgeteers.

Frankly, it's baffling. Late last year, the Higher Education Commission — appointed by the former governor — acknowledged that higher education in New York has been critically neglected and underfunded for too many years. The commission also found that SUNY and CUNY are crucial to local economies. In fact, recent research shared with me by United University Professions President Phil Smith indicates that, for every dollar invested in a college campus, $8 is returned to the community.

In other words, it makes absolutely no fiscal sense to cut higher education, particularly when the economy is in desperate need of a boost.

Working with UUP and the Professional Staff Congress, we will bring that message to lawmakers with all our energies until it is heard and higher education is finally treated with the respect and dignity it deserves.

We are also anticipating the creation of a fund to support a public higher ed endowment. It may take some time to get the funding we need, but this is a step in the right direction.

Going forward

Higher-ed funding is not the only issue we'll continue to discuss even after the deal is done. While we were disappointed that the so-called "millionaire's tax" was not built into the final budget package, the Assembly proposal did open up a meaningful dialogue about a more progressive income tax.

The Assembly proposed — and Gov. Paterson and the Senate opposed — a temporary surcharge of less than 1 percent on those who earn more than $1 million a year, generating an estimated $1.5 billion for education and health care. The change would have affected fewer than 75,000 taxpayers, 46 percent of whom live outside New York. There is successful precedent for an income tax surcharge.

According to independent polls, this temporary tax had the support of the vast majority of New Yorkers. Most citizens share NYSUT's opinion that those who can pay more should pay more in order to help close the state's $4.6 billion budget gap while, at the same time, continuing to provide vital programs and services. It would also restore some fairness to New York's state vs. local property tax system — a regressive system that sometimes has little relevance to a property owner's ability to pay.

NYSUT has long been a champion of a progressive income tax and we view discussion and consideration of the "millionaire's tax" as an important step toward that goal. With that in mind, we will make sure the conversation continues.

Tenure talk/squawk

Amid the discussions about budgets, deficits and program restorations emerged yet another attack on tenure. It came about when state lawmakers rightly attempted to clarify language on new accountability provisions that were put into place a year ago.

Of course, our critics — led by New York City Chancellor Joel Klein and the state's School Boards Association — didn't see it that way. They went on the attack, resurrecting many of the myths about tenure and suggesting it was fair to evaluate teachers based on student test scores.

Even if these tests could accurately measure student progress — and there is much evidence that they don't — they say little about a teacher's abilities and effectiveness.

Using a test designed to diagnose student strengths and weaknesses to take measure of a teacher is a lot like using a car's emissions test to determine if you need new brakes. It's not going to work.

The new language doesn't make it harder to deny tenure: It helps establish a statewide approach to granting tenure that helps standardize the process and authorizes the Regents to create regulations that embody New York's commitment to the highest teacher quality and performance.

It should be an effort embraced by the school boards that, instead, appear too eager to abdicate one of their most important decision-making responsibilities in favor of another inappropriate test.

It is hard to understand why the many dedicated school board members would tolerate their association's advocacy for "a quick way out" rather than joining NYSUT and others in advocating for the time, resources and comprehensive high standards needed to guarantee that every child has the highest quality teachers.

Eye on the gap

With a few exceptions, it has been a fascinating few weeks in Albany as policymakers have tried to address, in one way or another, issues that impact NYSUT's top organizational priority — the achievement gap.

Resources for education and health care, higher standards and a more thoughtful tenure process for teachers, and serious consideration for a fairer, more progressive income tax are all part of a multi-dimensional solution to the gap.

As we've said all along, the gap won't close without a commitment from all of us: educators, community activists, business leaders, health professionals and elected officials.

It's a commitment — a promise — that must be made … and kept.