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Michael A. Rebell

Executive Director and Counsel, Campaign for Fiscal Equity

Michael A. Rebell is an experienced litigator, administrator, researcher, and scholar in the field of education law. He is also co-counsel for plaintiffs in Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Inc. ("CFE") v. State of New York, 86 N.Y. 2d 307 (1995) ( "CFE I") and Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Inc. ("CFE") v. State of New York, 100 N.Y. 2d 893 ( 2003) ( "CFE II"). In these cases, the Court of Appeals, New York State's highest court, has declared that all children are entitled, under Article XI of the state constitution, to the "opportunity for a sound basic education." In CFE II, the court upheld plaintiffs' challenge to the constitutionality of the state's current system for financing public education and gave the state until July 30, 2004, to reform the system.

He has taught courses on law and education for many years at the Yale Law School, and is currently an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in law at Teachers' College, Columbia University, and Columbia Law School. Mr. Rebell is the co-author of Equality and Education and Educational Policy Making and the Courts, and has published dozens of articles on issues of law and education.

CFE Decision Demands 'Sound, Basic Education'

Michael A. Rebell, Executive Director for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, Inc. (CFE), briefly summarized the events following the decision issued by Justice DeGrasse in the CFE lawsuit. The Special Masters appointed by the Court recommended $5.63 billion more in operating aid and $9.2 billion for facilities to provide a sound, basic education for the students in New York City. However, the Special Masters have not dealt with the rest of the state or with reforming the state school aid formula. CFE is planning to use the recommendations of the Special Masters to draft a bill for presentation to the State Legislature to ensure adequate funding for all school districts in New York State. The CFE concept of a sound, basic education is based upon equity for all students throughout the state.