Classroom Stipend Cuts Fuel Brooklyn Rally
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Education advocates rallied in Brooklyn Wednesday to save a teacher stipend that's used to help purchase classroom supplies.
They gathered outside PS 8 in Brooklyn Heights, saying the Teacher's Choice Fund is vital.
It's a $150 stipend for extra supplies, learning aids or any other teaching materials teachers decide are necessary for their class.
Advocates say the money has been eliminated in the new city budget.
"It gives the teacher the ability to buy exactly what they need. Every classroom is different, every child has different needs, and you can't do that through general ordering for a school," said Michael Mulgrew of the United Federation of Teachers.
"It's a terrific program and it makes sure that dollars go directly to the classroom, directly where they're needed," said City Councilman David Yassky. "The mayor's budget for this year zeros out the Teachers Choice program, eliminates it completely -- not a little cut, not everything's gotta shrink by a little bit, this gets rid of it completely. We can't have that."
The teacher's choice fund was started more than two decades ago.
The Department of Education says it's the City Council that funds the program.
NY1 has reached out to the Council for comment.