A New York state judge has denied a mother’s attempt to win public money to finance her children’s private school tuition.
Justice Leland DeGrasse rejected the request of Diane Payne, of New York City, to intervene in the state’s 13-year-old school finance case. In a 2003 opinion, the state’s highest court declared that the state inadequately finances the city’s public schools and ordered the legislature to solve the problem.
The state missed the court’s July 1, 2004, deadline and is appealing Justice DeGrasse’s order to increase the New York City schools’ operating budget by 44 percent over four years.
In January, Ms. Payne requested $26,000 to pay the private school tuition of two of her children because the state has failed to comply with the 2003 order. (“N.Y. Parent Seeks Tuition From Judge in Aid Case,” Jan. 25, 2006)
Justice DeGrasse rejected her request on Feb. 2 without issuing an opinion.
