ALBANY, N.Y. January 3, 2012 - New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today reacted to the unexpected suspension of School Improvement Grant (SIG) funding for 10 school districts:
"The State Education Department's decision to now immediately suspend funding to all 10 districts working on their school improvement plans - even those districts that filed on time - is shocking. This action will have an immediate negative impact on those students and classrooms that can least afford further disruption.
"SED and Commissioner King have demonstrated that they have totally lost their way in shepherding real, meaningful reform. Reform aimed at helping New York's most vulnerable students requires support and encouragement, not NCLB-styled sanctions. NYSED is obviously more interested in being a bully than providing leadership.
"NYSUT expects Commissioner King and SED to heed Governor Cuomo's call to 'put the kids first' and reconsider their dictatorial approach to reform."
NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
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