Click here to see a campaign video on education (950kb)
Click here to hear the video soundtrack only (120kb)
Governor Cuomo believes that if we give to schools, they give back. His
record of achievement is built on innovation and investment -- creating many
new programs while more than doubling state aid to local schools since he took
office.
The Governor has also led the fight to make sure that the state distributes
its $9 billion in annual aid more fairly.
His innovations include: the first Community Schools program in the nation --
a model for making schools the center of community activity -- including 41
schools serving 20,000 students statewide which stay open into the late evening
providing those in disadvantaged communities a broad range of services,
including youth activities, day care and counseling; the award-winning New York
State Mentoring Program which encourages successful adults to work one-on-one
with at-risk students -- there are now 3,115 students from 214 schools in the
program; the first summer Institutes for Mathematics and Science for
exceptional students; and, the first statewide Magnet School program, which now
serves more than 70,000 children.
As a result of these and other innovations and initiatives, drop-out rates
are at an historic low.
In higher education, Governor Cuomo has made New York's Tuition Assistance
Program the most generous in the nation, helping 300,000 working-class and
needy students. New York provides more aid than the next two states combined
and our public university tuition is still lower than comparable schools in the
Northeast.
Placing a premium on high-tech research, New York has invested hundreds of
millions in university science and technology projects -- including the
creation of 13 Centers for Advanced Technology at schools like Columbia
University, Cornell University, Syracuse University and Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute.
Governor Cuomo turned to Lieutenant Governor Stan Lundine to direct the
state's Career Pathways Workforce Preparation Program providing job training
for 40,000 young New Yorkers to receive help them compete after graduation.
Since pre-kindergarten education has proven its benefits and
cost-effectiveness, the Governor has expanded these programs five-fold since
taking office, investing $47 million this year to serve 20,000 youngsters.
Since 1983, available child care slots have more than doubled.
Governor Cuomo's future plans include greater innovations. His "21st Century
Schools" are a totally new approach to education that would allow selected
schools to operate free of most state regulations. This would give local
officials and parents much greater control over their schools.
The Governor created Liberty Scholarships to provide higher educational
opportunity to deserving students starting next year. The program has
subsequently been adopted by Congress as a national model.
In 1994, the Governor announced his Excelsior Schools initiative to give
gifted high school students the opportunity to take advantage of SUNY's
existing academic and research facilities.