In 2001 I stood before you and called our school finance system a dinosaur. I said we should scrap it altogether and create a new school aid formula that is fair, simple, and sustainable. This year we are presented with an historic opportunity to answer that call, and indeed, we must do so by July 30th. To assist in this effort, we have assembled a group of our most capable, talented, and creative minds from across the State. This Commission On Education Reform will develop sweeping changes so that all our children have the opportunity to receive the first class education they need to meet the challenges of the 21st century...

First, we must finally throw out our archaic system of education finance. This year, let's replace it with a new formula that is fair, sustainable, and understandable.

Second, our new education finance system must appropriately focus resources, as they become available, on New York City and our other high need school districts.

Third, our efforts must not pit one family against another in a divisive Robin Hood approach. We cannot be taking resources from one school district to meet the needs of another. Fourth, recognizing the fiscal challenges the State faces this year, working together with each of you, and with educators, parents, and community leaders, we need to build consensus on a multi-year commitment of resources that will ensure that our reform effort is sustainable and successful in the years to come. And finally, New York's new funding system must be linked to reforms in the education system as a whole.

Reform is the key to our effort to provide every child in New York with the best possible education. We cannot simply provide additional resources and maintain business as usual. Rather, we must enact broad based reforms that ensure more of the money we spend on education makes it to the classroom, and that someone is accountable for how it's spent and how it helps our children."

Gov. Pataki.

State of the State Message.

Jan. 8, 2004