Albany, N.Y. April 9, 2022 — New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued the following statement today on the approved 2022-23 state budget:
“This budget delivers historic resources for education and continues the promise to fully fund Foundation Aid, a critical step years in the making. It provides funding to hire mental health staff to support students at every level and to bolster professional learning for educators through teacher centers and implicit bias training. But redefining public education as a system that truly supports every child is unceasing work, which is why we’ll continue fighting for dedicated funding for community schools that would deliver transformative supports for families in every community.
“We also need to tackle the ongoing teacher shortage, which this budget takes important action on. That includes the first steps toward critical retirement system reforms that will ensure public servants in Tier 6 have access to a high-quality, fair pension. This gives us yet another tool for attracting the next generation of teachers, School-Related Professionals and public employees into state and local service.
“Significant resources for SUNY and CUNY two- and four-year colleges mark a step toward transformational change for our public higher education system. And the promise to cover debt service for SUNY hospitals, the backbone of the state’s pandemic response, is essential for continued quality public health care for New Yorkers.
“The legislative session is not done yet, so neither is our work. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our members and those they serve as we strive to move our state and our future forward.”
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.
