Assemblyman Garbarino Rejects Education Budget Bill

Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R,C,I-Sayville) today emphatically rejected an education budget bill that does not adequately fund Long Island schools and doubles down on the governor’s disastrous Common Core mandates. Garbarino issued the following statement:

“Long Island’s parents, students, and teachers should be outraged at the direction the governor has decided to take public education. School districts in my district and across the state are still struggling under the weight of the education cuts enacted in 2010. Any shortcomings in our schools can be explained by the governor’s complete refusal to fully fund our schools, not the supposed inadequacies of our dedicated teachers.

“In addition, this budget takes the governor’s ill-conceived Common Core program and entrenches it even further. The teacher evaluations are based on Common Core testing that has already wreaked havoc in Long Island classrooms. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities to the governor’s education agenda. I cast the most emphatic NO vote of my time in the Assembly against this education budget bill, and my only regret is that I cannot vote no twice.

“To the students and teachers who must cope with the fallout of this education agenda, I want you to know that we stand together in defense of Long Island schools. Opposing the governor’s education agenda is now my top priority, and I will be doing everything I can to reverse the disastrous course the state is now taking our schools.”