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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Debra Freeman, Chair of Education Working Group at Four Freedoms Democratic Club
10:28:17
ยท
4 min
Debra Freeman, representing the Four Freedoms Democratic Club, testified on the importance of prioritizing and increasing public school funding in New York City. She emphasized the need for continued support of essential programs, particularly in arts education, mental health services, and support for immigrant students.
- Called for baseline funding of programs previously funded with federal stimulus money
- Highlighted the lack of arts teachers in 379 NYC schools and insufficient arts education in middle schools
- Expressed concern over proposed changes to the foundation aid formula that could result in $350 million less funding for NYC schools
Debra Freeman
10:28:17
Okay.
10:28:18
Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to you today.
10:28:24
I am really grateful to Chair Joseph and to the council for all of the hard work that you do supporting education.
10:28:33
My name's Deborah Freeman and I'm testifying on behalf of For Freedoms Democratic Club as chair of its education working group.
10:28:41
At this challenging time with our schools anticipating devastating cuts in federal funding and struggling to address student mental health challenges and the overwhelming needs from record levels of homeless and immigrant students, the budget should prioritize and increase public school funding, including funding for arts education in order to prepare students for success and to stabilize the economy.
10:29:08
While we appreciate the investments that have been made to sustain many essential education programs funded with stimulus funding.
10:29:16
We are really concerned that many essential programs funded for one year only will be totally cut if the city fails to extend funding in June.
10:29:25
Unless the city takes action, programs at risk of cuts include arts programming that research shows expands student access to the arts, supports social emotional well-being, enhances academic achievement, and provides preparation for creative careers.
10:29:41
Three k programs.
10:29:43
And we know how many people are waiting for more of those programs.
10:29:48
Community schools providing wraparound services.
10:29:51
Mental health care and we've heard today how important that is to our students to help them during this mental health crisis.
10:29:58
Immigrant communication, restorative justice programs.
10:30:01
Again, we've heard how important that is.
10:30:03
Tutoring to provide necessary academic support.
10:30:06
So we joined the coalition for equitable education funding in asking the city to baseline funding for essential programs previously funded with federal funding so that students can continue to benefit and rely on these programs.
10:30:22
We also ask the students the city to make additional investments that are needed to support students including expanded access to arts education ensuring that every school has at least one certified arts teacher.
10:30:37
Sadly, though there's so much research showing how important the arts are to supporting social emotional development, school engagement, school attendance, academic achievement, yet there are three seventy nine schools in the city that don't even have one arts teacher.
10:30:56
Not one, We're talking no teacher, not just visual arts but we're talking music, theater, dance, things that students will remember for the rest of their lives that will help them prepare for college and they don't even have one.
10:31:09
We also have the situation that has gone on for years that middle school students, the vast majority of them are not meeting the standards for the arts.
10:31:18
So I wanna add that we also support additional funding for literacy support.
10:31:26
We've heard how there are students who get to high school who still can't read.
10:31:30
Clearly, we're not doing enough in literacy support.
10:31:33
We need to do more.
10:31:34
And mental health, we need to do more than just what we did last year.
10:31:39
We need more school based mental health clinics.
10:31:41
The kids just don't have enough mental health support.
10:31:45
And I need to add that we are deeply concerned that the proposed changes to foundation aid formula by the governor would result in New York City schools getting $350,000,000 less than under the current formula.
10:31:58
So we urge you to work with the governor and the state legislature to ensure that any changes to the foundation aid formula result in more money for New York City schools, not less.
10:32:09
With drastic changes to federal education funding anticipated and proposed changes to the foundation aid formula threatening state funding, this is not a normal budget season.
10:32:19
So we ask you to go above and beyond to do everything possible and look at new ways to increase investment in New York City public schools meeting this challenging moment and getting past the chaos.
10:32:32
Our children are worth the investment.
10:32:34
Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify.