Tax Watch

On Tuesday, school budgets will go to the voters for the first time under the new state-required property tax cap. As my colleague, Gary Stern, writes in today’s edition of The Journal News and LoHud.com, all but one of the 53 public school districts in the Lower Hudson Valley will… Read More →

More students than ever are taking Advanced Placement exams, which will be taken by thousands of Lower Hudson Valley students starting next week. But an achievement gap persists, particularly among black and Hispanic students, according to a report by the College Board, which administers the test. Last year, the majority… Read More →

Despite the Great Recession, most school budgets throughout New York state passed even as the economy weakened. In 2011, the budgets in 45 districts statewide failed, but that was just 6.7 percent of the 678 school districts with budget votes. In fact, a higher percentage of school budgets failed in… Read More →

The state Board of Regents, which sets education policy, is meeting in Albany today and tomorrow. One item on its agenda will surely be closed watched by school districts that have their “unfunded mandate” radar on. The Regents will consider creating two new high-school graduation options—alternatives to the Regents diploma…. Read More →