Episode 146: Funding Public Education
Four years ago, L. Joy began #SundayCivics with a conversation on the importance of, and lack of funding for Public Education. Zakiyah Ansari came to the front of the class back then to educate us on her years long advocacy around public education funding. In one of our many full circle moments, Ansari is coming back to the front of the class because the billions allocated to states for public education in the CARES Act, the COVID relief package in December of 2020, and the American Rescue Plan may mean an end to the fight for funding, but the fight for how that money is allocated on the ground continues. L. Joy also revisits our interview with Dr. Lester Young, Jr. for history and context on the great equalizer, public education.
Our Guests:
Zakiyah Ansari is the Advocacy Director of the New York State Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), the leading statewide organization that has been fighting for educational justice in New York State. She has 20 years of experience in organizing and advocacy for education justice as both a leader and staff member.
Being a parent of eight children who went through the NYC public school system, Ansari was well positioned to be a leading advocate on organizing, campaigning & strategy, and policy around public education. She uses those skills to help craft advocacy for AQE around a range of education justice issues including equitable funding, ending the school-to-prison pipeline, culturally-responsive education, community schools, school governance reform and progressive revenues to fund schools, as well as other important issues. In 2017, Zakiyah was named one of City and State magazines "25 Most Influential in Brooklyn".
Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr. Lester W. Young, Jr. is the New York State Board of Regents chancellor, the first African American to be elected to the position, which oversees all educational activities in the state and sets policies for the State University of New York as well as the New York State Education Department, with its more than 700 school districts.
He was appointed by the state Legislature to the Regents in 2008 and then unanimously elected chancellor at the beginning of this year, taking over at a time when the state's education system is reeling from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, budget cuts, and equity gaps, among a number of big issues. He says he is cognizant that the state leadership's response to these issues could transform the current education systems.
Homework: Read the Bills and find out about the funds coming to your state.
CARES Act https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr748/BILLS-116hr748enr.pdf
COVID relief 12/2020 https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ136/PLAW-116publ136.pdf
American Rescue Plan https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr1319/BILLS-117hr1319enr.pdf
