Local Education Officials React to State of the State

1/10/2013 (Updated 11:06:34 PM)

In his State of the State address Wednesday, Governor Cuomo called for a strengthening New York's education system--which includes a call for a longer school year.

Local education officials are waiting for details before deciding whether to endorse the Governor's proposal.

The proposal would give school districts the choice of longer school days or more days in the school year, with the State picking up 100% of the additional cost.

But that funding may come in the form of competitive grants, which some fear could lead to inequality in funding.

"I'm concerned that our public education and the quality of our public education will be based on a competitive situation. I think we have to decide to fund public education so that everyone has an equal chance," said Alan Buyck, Superintendent of Broome-Tioga BOCES.

"The devil is in the details. I think there's things that have to be worked out. It's not a one size fits all. I think there are places where some of these ideas will work and there are places where it will not," said Catherine Klein of the New York State Union of Teachers.

Other Cuomo educational proposals included instituting a bar-exam type of  test for teachers, and funding for full-day pre-kindergarten.