City Budget's Impact on Ulrich's District by Tonia Cimino - The Queens Courier

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After the passage of the city’s budget, and despite the proposed cuts to various agencies, City Councilmember Ulrich announced funding for dozens of local community groups and programs throughout the 32nd District, along with 18 capital projects totaling $4.2 million.

“Unlike Albany, the City of New York has once again passed an on-time, balanced budget that does not include any tax increases,” said Ulrich. “Thanks to years of responsible budgeting and smart planning, the city’s strong fiscal position has allowed us avoid drastic cuts to areas that would have had a devastating impact on the lives of nearly every New Yorker.”

Capital projects funded within District 32 include:

● Installation of guardrails along Cross Bay Boulevard’s southbound approach to Broad Channel;

● Improvements at London Planetree Park, including a skate plaza, fitness equipment and refurbishment of the old basketball courts;

● Resurfacing and new fencing at the Rockaway Beach handball courts;

● Fifteen security cameras at John Adams High School;

● Sidewalk repair and tree planting throughout the district totaling $1.2 million.

Ulrich has also secured funding for technology projects at the following public schools: John Adams H.S., M.S. 137, M.S. 202, M.S. 210, P.S. 108, P.S. 146, P.S. 317, P.S. 60, P.S. 63 and P.S./M.S. 47. In addition, electrical upgrades at P.S. 207 and funding for a new science lab at P.S. 232 are included in the budget.

Through discretionary spending allocations, funding is also earmarked for many community groups and programs that serve the district and borough, including Bridge to Life, Inc., Forest Park Trust, Franklin K. Lane H.S., Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation, Lindenwood Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps, New Hamilton Beach Civic Association, Point Breezy Volunteer Fire Department, Queens Symphony Orchestra, Woodhaven Intramural Soccer Club, Woodhaven Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Broad Channel Athletic Club, Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, Blessed Trinity Parish (for senior services), Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services (to support four local senior centers), Forest Park Senior Citizens Center, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA), Locust Grove Civic Association of Queens County, Bobbi and the Strays, Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation, Nativity BVM Youth Basketball League, New York Families for Autistic Children, Our Lady of Grace (youth soccer camp), Ozone Howard Little League, South Queens Boys and Girls Club and Works Little League.

In addition, funding has been secured for SAT prep courses at John Adams, Franklin K. Lane, Scholars Academy, Channel View School for Research, Robert H. Goddard High School of Communication Arts and Technology and Beach Channel High School.

Other projects and programs include movie and family nights offered through the Parks Department, and 50 premium trash cans will be installed along 101st Avenue.

In all, Ulrich secured approximately $576,000 in discretionary funding to support local initiatives.

New York City's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30.

State's Elementary and Middle School Social Studies Exams Are on the Chopping Block by Yoav Gonen - NYPOST.com

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Regents Eye Axing Test

New York's social-studies tests may soon be history.

The annual history and civics exams given to public-school students in grades 5 and 8 are set to fall victim next week to state Education Department's budget cuts, The Post has learned.

The Board of Regents will likely vote to eliminate the tests -- given to more than 440,000 kids a year in New York -- as part of a plan to eliminate an $11.5 million deficit for the coming school year.

"Obviously, we are concerned," said city Department of Education spokesman David Cantor.

The social-studies tests were first administered statewide in 2001 as part of a Board of Regents effort to raise standards.

But unlike the annual English, math and science exams given to students in grades 3 to 8, the social-studies tests aren't mandated by the federal government's accountability system.

Judging by the measure up for approval Tuesday, eliminating the tests in the lower grades would spare some of the high-school Regents exams that had been on the chopping block several months ago -- including two in social studies.

The decision to spare some of the high-school exams stems from a meeting of state and union officials earlier this year, a memo written by Deputy Education Commissioner John King Jr. says.

"While there was no consensus of opinion among stakeholders, one message we heard fairly consistently was to try to avoid making cuts in assessments that would impact high-school graduation," he wrote. "To the extent practicable, the proposals included in this item respond to that request."

However, if Albany doesn't pony up an additional $7 million in next year's budget for the state's testing program, then a second series of cuts might eliminate all foreign-language Regents exams besides French and Spanish.

The secondary proposal also calls for eliminating the option for kids to take one of the Regents exams in January rather than June or August.

Notable Documents 2009: Civics Flash Cards « Government Book Talk

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I would love to see and I dare all tea-baggers to take the following test to see if they qualify to be an American citizen...I truly wonder how well would they do..? Click here and take the test, if you dare...

Each year, Library Journal, “the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field,” selects what it considers to be the most notable government documents, including those produced by the Federal Government. For 2009, 15 Federal Government publications got the nod, and I plan to discuss them here over the next few weeks.

According to Library Journal, “This year's list of Notable Government Documents includes titles on history, government policy, mental and physical health, biology, global warming, and environmental protection, among other topics.” One of the more unusual items is a new edition of Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test, a publication from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This set of 100 questions and answers is used by USCIS officers to administer orally; an applicant will be asked 10 of these.

The cards cover the nature and structure of the Constitution, the Federal Government and some basic American history. The questions range from “What is the name of the President of the United States now?” (pretty easy) to “How many amendments does the Constitution have?” (uh-oh). Well, that’s why these cards exist: so someone seeking citizenship can, by practicing, be prepared to take and pass the naturalization test. USCIS deserves credit for putting together such an informative and useful publication. I think it would also make a great study guide for use in schools.

You can purchase the Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test here or view them online here. There’s also a do-it-yourself version here.

Note: Many of the questions have more than one correct answer, luckily for me.