If you’re reading this post from anywhere in the state of New York, immediately take yourself outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. Strike that. Read the Rundown first, then absolutely go outside!

Opinion: No Rich Child Left Behind (New York Times)

Letter: Teachers simply want fair evaluation process (The Buffalo News)

Is New York’s property-tax cap working? (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

NY state seeks to dismiss teachers’ tax-levy cap lawsuit (Ithaca Journal)

AFT president: Don’t link tests to evaluations…yet | Opinion: Weingarten has it correct on Common Core (Daily News)

The education of the future starts now with Common Core standards (Sycacuse.com)

Groups to hold forum on high-stakes tests, Common Core standards (Syracuse.com)

Opinion:Common Core values are exactly what New York students need (Daily News)

Teachers Need So-Called Tenure More Than Ever (Education Week)

No traction for municipal consolidation (Albany Times Union)

Schools seek ways to make healthier lunches more appealing (Glens Falls Post Star)

The Coming Revolution in Public Education (The Atlantic)

Opinion: It’s a 401(k) World (New York Times)

Hope you all had a great week. Let’s get right to this week’s Rundown.

A deal was reached on the budget between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders this week, but there are still questions to be answered (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

With a big part of the proposed state budget being the pension stabilization plan, this piece talks about how the smoothing plan is a re-work of an existing model (Albany Times Union)

In this letter to the editor, a parent writes about how suburban schools are hurting because of aid cuts. (Albany Times Union)

State Education Commissioner John King this week defended the role of standardized testing in New York’s public schools, saying the assessments are designed to improve classroom instruction. (Kingston Daily Freeman)

According to a report released late last week by NYSSBA, in order to boost school safety, students need greater access to mental health care. (The Journal News)

In a related piece, is bullying being kept of the DFAS books? (Albany Times Union)

Ed Speaks brought you a breakdown of the sequester cuts a few weeks ago. This article delves into the groups that the cuts could affect the most: special needs students and poor kids. (The Atlantic)

An interesting story out of Rhose Island as several dozen state legislators, city officials, professors and others sat down for several hours at a library to take a standardized test – and they weren’t too fond of it. (Washington Post)

New findings based on more than 20 years of research suggest that despite decades of controversy, elementary school teachers now feel fine placing students into “ability groups.” (USA Today)

Earlier this week, Governor Cuomo offered his solution to the school fiscal crisis: Merge. (WNBG) Well, according to NYSCOSS, that’s one answer, but not the answer. (EdVANTAGE Blog)

Here’s a fun one – once class is dismissed for the day at this Rochester school, running in the hallways is not only allowed — it’s encouraged. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)

High school vocational education on the upswing, coaxing students away from traditional colleges. (Huffington Post)

Happy Friday. Let’s get right to it!

State budget discussions are really heating up. Here’s how things seem to be falling into place. There is disagreement over how $290 million in school aid will be allocated, but officials are hopeful a deal can be reached by Sunday. If you haven’t reached out to your legislators, now is the time to do so! Learn more about how by visiting our advocacy page.

Formula for Success? Strapped School Districts Divides GOP Lawmakers: Our favorite part of this article? The last two paragraphs which start, “And then there are the parents,” which talks about how parents are becoming more engaged in the process of fighting for their schools. Which they do at events like this one which we wrote about on Wednesday. And this one at Thomas A. Edison High School in Elmira Heights last Saturday where more than 600 people gathered to fight state budget cuts.

This letter to the editor calls on state leaders to reform state aid to public schools.

Even the New York Times says the state needs to increase school aid.

This editorial from the Times Herald record in the Hudson Valley calls on taxpayers to be part of the solution to help save our schools.

A survey by the New York State School Boards Association found the cost of new teacher and principal evaluation systems will likely exceed federal funding allocated to pay for the new procedures.

Here’s an interesting op ed on exploring the idea of county-wide school districts.

ICYMI: NY’s broken school funding formula is getting some attention

School board blasts excessive testing.

And finally, here is cityandstateny.com’s education expert round table, in which New York State Education Commissioner John King, John Flanagan Chair of the New York State Senate Education Committee, and others answer questions about public education in NY.

Have great weekend!

Have you dug out from all of the snow yet? We hope you’re all safe. Here’s a little reading material for you on this snowy Friday.

According to its federal tax and labor disclosure forms, the majority of NYSUT’s full-time employees earn six figure salaries (Times Union)

On Wednesday, Ed Speaks broke down the impact of the sequestration cuts. You can get caught up here. WTEN-News10 in Albany also has some coverage of the cuts.

Students, parents, educators and community leaders gathered for the Parade for Public Education at the Capitol in Albany this week (NYSUT)

The school spending gap is coming under some fire, as a report shows that richer districts are paying $8,600 more per student than the poorer districts. (Journal News)

With the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards this year, some school leaders are expecting standardized test scores to drop this year, highlighting a “transition period” as the main reason. (Kingston Daily Freeman)

Another Voice: Outrage over guns, but not about school funding? (Buffalo News) Diane Ravitch also examines the issue.

Speaking of Diane Ravitch, the historian and former assistant education secretary has joined with other education advocates to form a group that will grade and endorse political candidates. (NY Times)

Can a tablet computer replace the contents of a student’s backpack? (Ithaca Journal)

Guest Viewpoint: Budget sets up schools for failure (Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin)

Assembly Democrats to seek more education aid in budget (Journal News)

Is college really worth it? Skipping Out On College And ‘Hacking Your Education’ (NPR)

Can a School Project Make a Difference In a Community? (Yahoo! News)

Wow. We can’t believe it is March already! Here’s what you may have missed as you were enjoying the final days of the shortest month:

An editorial calling for healthier snacks in our schools.

A report from the state comptroller found that millions of tax dollars are being lost on New York state’s School Tax Relief program

An editorial on why our senior statesmen need to step up for schools.

According to a national survey nearly three-fourths of the nation’s teachers say they personally would  not bring a firearm to their school if allowed, but most educators
believe armed guards would improve campus safety.

There was this article on the benefits of single-gender education.

Parent advocacy on things like testing and mandate relief is heating up in the Westchester/East Putnam region.

This editorial reminds us that inequity was around long before the tax levy cap.

The Syracuse City Schools superintendent spoke out against the part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s school aid plan that requires districts to submit grants for funding.

Rondout Valley, Onteora officials say school aid distribution is unfair.

And then there’s sequestration:

• Sequester Cuts Would Mean Millions Lost in Education Funds
• Sequestration and Education: 12 Frequently Asked Questions
•  State-by-state impacts of sequestration
• Educators Brace For Sequestration
• And of course, to further fuel inequity,the poorest schools will face the deepest cuts from sequestration.
• Apparently, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s claims on how sequestration would impact education jobs may not be quite accurate.
• And just who is to blame for the sequester?

As always, if we’ve missed anything, let us know in the comments! Have a great weekend.

Here’s a rundown of education headlines you may have missed this week.

State legislators and educators assembled on Wednesday morning to advocate a plan that would end the pain school districts feel from the state’s Gap Elimination Adjustments. Check out some of the coverage:

• The Daily Gazette
• Albany Times Union
• The Daily Mail
• The Saratogian
• WNYT NewsChannel 13

The New York State Union of Teachers (NYSUT) filed a lawsuit challenging the 2011 property tax cap, claiming that the law creates inequity between poor and affluent school districts. Here’s a recap of some of the coverage:

• Albany Times Union
• YNN
• New York Times
• Syracuse Post Standard
• The Ithaca Journal

Judge Blocks Cuomo Cuts for Schools (Wall Street Journal)

Letter: Cuomo’s strong-arm tactics won’t improve public schools (Buffalo News)

Opinion: If New York state was serious about education… (Buffalo News)

Editorial: Property-tax cap has holes beyond a lawsuit (Poughkeepsie Journal)

Lawmakers push for carbon monoxide detectors in schools (Utica Observer Dispatch)

NYSUT supports smooth ride on pension financing (Times Union)

Spending cuts will have broad impact in New York (Ithaca Journal)

There was quite a bit of education news this week. No worries if you missed anything. We have you covered in this week’s Rundown.

On Monday evening, Niskayuna High School was the site of a regional advocacy workshop that was attended by hundreds of school district stakeholders. Here’s a media recap of the workshop:

• Albany Times Union
• The Daily Gazette
• WTEN – News 10
• WNYT – NewsChannel 13
• WXXA – FOX23 News
• WRGB – CBS 6
• YNN

Letter: School districts need real reform (Albany Times Union)

Dicker: Cuomo losing his mojo (New York Post)

President Obama’s education proposals in his State of the Union focused on the nation’s youngest and oldest students (Huffington Post)

Here is the part of President Obama’s State of the Union address related to education. (Washington Post)

President Obama’s call in his State of the Union address to “make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America” rallied advocates across the country. But few states are looking to extend preschool to all 4-year olds. (New York Times)

Governor Cuomo also talked education on Thursday, re-emphasizing points he made in his budget address a few weeks ago. (Patch.com) However, one state democrat slammed Cuomo’s budget. (The Daily Gazette)

At one Capital Region school district, budgeting in the face of cuts to aid might seem like performing emergency surgery. But one result of tough times is that some students are taking it upon themselves to deal with minor nicks and bruises. (Colonie Spotlight)

School state aid proposal floated (The Daily Gazette – Paid subscription required)

The six educators killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School received the nation’s second-highest civilian honor this week (New York Daily News)

How can a school board self assessment improve a board’s performance? NYSSBA has the answer.

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
but the fire is so delightful,
and since we’ve no place to go,
let’s all read the Rundown!

Why are so many school districts worried about insolvency? (EdVANTAGE Blog)

Commentary: Some students’ achievements mean nothing to educators obsessed with testing (Albany Times Union)

Letter: Transfer tax will aid poor schools (Albany Times Union)

Local school districts are using an online reporting system to curb bullying (Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin)

New rules aim to get rid of junk foods in schools (Glens Falls Post Star)

With caution, local leaders may back state pension plan (Elmira Star Gazzette)

Letter: Address poverty in public schools (Albany Times Union)

Another Voice: Cuomo’s plan opens door to improved performance (Buffalo News)

Letter: Cuomo is undermining our educational system (Buffalo News)

Cuomo closing off best Pre-K hope (New York Post)

10 Ways to Improve Governor Cuomo’s budget (NYSSBA) 

Finally, don’t forget to RSVP to your district’s Superintendent’s office if you are interested in attending Monday night’s Advocacy Workshop at Niskayuna High School. This workshop promises to offer effective “how-to” strategies and techniques for helping parents, teachers and taxpayers like you reach out to lawmakers and take that important step in advocating for educational change.

We hope to see you there. Stay safe this weekend!