After Negotiations Fail, CFE v. State Appeal Proceeds

The Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) announced on December 2, 2002 that settlement talks it had been pursuing with legal representatives of New York Governor George Pataki have reached an impasse, and that CFE is now preparing to file its brief with the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court.

During the recent election campaign, Gov. Pataki announced his interest in settling the case after coming under criticism based on the Appellate Division ruling in June 2002 that an eighth-grade level education was all that the state owed schoolchildren. CFE Executive Michael Rebell said, "We can no longer delay proceeding with our appeal and are seeking from New York State's highest court a prompt ruling that will ensure that all children receive what our state constitution guarantees them-the right to a sound basic education."

Due to the settlement talks, the Court of Appeals has extended the date for the filing of CFE's brief to January 31, 2003. CFE will now meet that final filing date. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for May 8, 2003. CFE is looking for a decision before the Court's current term ends in June 2003.

Adapted from the CFE website December 3, 2002