<HTML>Today, trial judge Leland DeGrasse issued his decision in the case of Campaign for Fiscal Equity v. the State of New York. The decision could not have been a more thorough victory for equity advocates if it had been written by ourselves. DeGrasse wrote, in summary: "The Court holds that the education provided New York City students is so deficient that it falls below the constitutional floor set by the education article of the New York State Constitution. The Court also finds that State's actions are a substantial cause of this constitutional violation." "...the Court finds that the State school funding system has an adverse and disparate impact on minority public school children and that this impact is not adequately justified by any reason related to education." Although the State is sure to appeal this ruling, it is especially important because it contains findings of fact by the trial judge, as well as remedies. While a superior court may overturn the trial judge on matters of law, they will not be able to reverse his findings of fact -- which are extraordinarily favorable to equity advocates. The entire decision is available, in PDF format, at the Campaign for Fiscal Equity homepage. <A HREF="http://www.cfequity.org/bottom.htm">Click here: Campaign for Fiscal Equity</A> Leo Casey United Federation of Teachers 260 Park Avenue South New York, New York 10010-7272 (212-598-6869) Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has, and it never will. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its waters. -- Frederick Douglass -- </HTML>