Panepinto fights to ensure school districts receive essential state funding

State Sen. Marc Panepinto called for the State Senate to pass legislation that would decouple performance reviews from state aid. Panepinto and the Senate Democratic conference are supporting bipartisan legislation (S.7632) that has been introduced by the GOP. They urged the Senate Republican majority to bring the measure to the floor for a vote.

"We must work together to prevent school districts across the state of New York from losing vital school aid," Panepinto said. "It would be irresponsible for this measure to not be voted on before the end of the legislative session. We must not allow hundreds of school districts to lose out on essential state education aid because they have refused to implement the flawed and misguided teacher evaluation system."

Currently, only 121 out of the over 700 school districts in the state have submitted teacher evaluation plans. This means that, under current law, the overwhelming majority of school districts will be denied state aid unless they implement a teacher evaluation system by this September. The legislation supported by Panepinto would ensure all school districts receive state aid and extend the deadline to implement a teacher evaluation system.

Panepinto concluded, "Our children's education is too important to be treated like a game of political football. I urge my Senate colleagues to work with the Senate Democrats to ensure all New York school districts receive the essential state aid they've been promised. "

Panepinto represents the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo as well as communities in both the north and the south towns.