Report Sparks Parade and Rally in Albany

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New York State ranks fifth in the nation in the gap between rich and poor school districts based on spending per pupil. That's the finding in a new report prepared by school reform advocates who will put on a parade and a rally in Albany today.

The report from the Alliance for Quality Education says the gap between spending from the state's wealthiest to poorest school districts is 86-hundred dollars per pupil. That gap, and the corresponding lack of programs and course offerings leads to a graduation gap as well. With twin sons ready to enter pre-kindergarten this fall, Angelica Rivera of Western New York  says she can see what's in store.

They've cut a lot of these after-school programs, they've cut a lot of these art programs, things that I know that my kids will benefit from.

Rivera will be speaking this afternoon at a rally preceded by a parade featuring high school marching bands and concerned advocates calling for a restoration of funding cuts in the pending budget.