We are committed as professionals to the development of reading skills and to the on-going preparation and education of excellent teachers of reading. The New York State Reading Association is pleased to share with the Committees our observations and recommendations regarding the 2000-01 Executive Budget Proposal. First, we call the attention of legislators to the 2000-2001 budget recommendations offered by the Board of Regents. By offering enhanced educational programs and by proposing a multi-year funding strategy, the Regent's proposal succeeds in recognizing the enormous task of providing a world class education for all our children.
Major reforms are underway that demand accountability.
Accordingly, we need to make continuous investments in each of these areas over the next several years to ensure effective implementation in the interests of improved academic performance for all children. For these reasons, we strongly support the overall direction of the Regents' proposal, and again urge the Legislature to consider it in the context of the massive educational changes on-going in our schools today. Second, we are pleased that the Governor's proposal calls for funds to be earmarked by districts to increase performance on the 4th grade English Language Arts assessments. However, we are concerned that his proposal would require a re-direction of general operating aids, which are essential to maintaining the basic classroom programs of local school districts. We support additional monies for this critical area of need, particularly for programs that focus on reading development, such as are included in the Governor's budget.