State Tax Revenues Fall, 5th Straight Quarter

State tax collections fell for the fifth straight quarter on a year-over-year basis, but the decline during October-December 2009 was not as sharp as those during the three preceding periods, according to the Institute’s latest report on state finances. A few states are now seeing modest revenue growth.
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Education Commissioner: Focus on Content

In a thoughtful and provocative public policy forum on Feb. 24, New York State Education Commissioner David Steiner outlined his vision for education reform, saying the current practice of designing school courses to meet standardized outcomes “is actually backwards.” The commissioner called for a focus on curriculum before assessments.
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Drawing Lines for New York Voters

Speakers at a Feb. 9 forum addressed how a shift in New York toward more Downstate residents is likely to play out in the redistricting process that will follow this year's census. Critics charge the process has been unfairly driven by incumbent politicians' interests in holding on to power.
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Nonresident SUNY Tuition: Costs & Impacts

Increases in nonresident tuition and fees do not always yield gains in total revenues for universities, and may reduce out-of-state enrollments enough to offset new income from such students, education scholars conclude in this Institute study.
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From Our Experts...

Fiscal Realities in an Uncertain State

By Robert B. Ward
Uncertainty at the Capitol increases the risk that New York State leaders will lose sight of the need to act decisively on the state's chronic, structural budget gaps. But the need to do so is critical. The fiscal trouble looming now is worse than any in recent history.

A Dropout Crisis: Teachers Leaving Schools

By Kenneth R. Howey
The student dropout problem is a real crisis. And there is a second major dropout problem, which has not been chronicled as widely — teacher dropouts. The exodus of teachers is highest in urban, high-poverty schools, where they are leaving in increasing numbers and early in their careers.