Politics & Government

Judge Blocks $260M In Cuts from DOE Budget: Report

City law officials say they are considering legal options in response to ruling.

A judge ruled Tuesday that city officials should not cut $260 million from the Department of Education’s budget despite the agency’s failure to reach an agreement on a teacher evaluation system with the teachers’ union, NY 1 reported.

The funds had been withheld by the state as a penalty after the city and the United Federation of Teachers were unable to agree on an evaluation system.

But a lawsuit was brought against the state and, then, the city, after Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans to begin cutting services.

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An injunction currently prevents the cuts until April 2, when city officials are scheduled to appear in court, NY 1 reported.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said last month that he would introduce a bill that would allow State Education Commissioner John King to have a new teacher evaluation system developed by June – and in operation by September - if the city were unable to reach an agreement with the union.

Find out what's happening in Prospect Heights-Crown Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

City law officials told NY 1 they were considering legal options in response to the judge’s order not to cut the DOE’s budget.


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