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Cuomo to use carrot, stick to improve NY schools

By Associated Press

Story Created: Jan 17, 2012 at 1:06 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 17, 2012 at 1:06 PM EDT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans to withhold some critical state funding from school districts, including New York City's, that fail to enact tougher teacher evaluations and other reforms.

The idea is part of Cuomo's more than $130 billion budget proposal being presented Tuesday in Albany.

State Education Commissioner John King has already suspended funding to 10 districts that failed to agree with unions on new evaluations for teachers and principals by a Dec. 31 deadline. That
deadline was part of the requirements for the state to receive nearly $700 million in federal "Race to the Top" money intended to force better public school performance.

Cuomo and the Legislature have already promised to increase school aid 4 percent after cuts a year ago.

The sticking point is using student performance in evaluations.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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