Giving Compass' Take:

· Reema Amin at Chalkbeat takes a look at two major education issues to watch in New York City as we welcome in the new year. 

· How can donors support school funding in New York City? What's to come for the controversial specialized high schools admissions exam?

· Read and learn more about education in New York City. 

As New York’s state lawmakers make their way back to Albany for the next legislative session on Jan. 8, they’ll be mulling two big New York City education items: school funding and specialized high school admissions.

In a way, both are perennial issues.

State lawmakers annually argue over how much money should go toward school districts — the largest expense of the state government. But this year, officials are expecting a $6 billion deficit and that’s likely to make for a thornier battle with Gov. Andrew Cuomo over increasing Foundation Aid — a funding formula that sends extra dollars to high-needs districts like New York City.

Increasing diversity at the starkly segregated specialized high schools, where admission is based on a single test, heated up a few years ago. The concern over how few black and Hispanic students are offered spots at the schools opened a Pandora’s box about the admissions exam. The city’s plan to eliminate the test, which needs state approval, has failed twice in Albany. A group of lawmakers now want to  repeal the law that mandates the admissions test – taking the matter out of the state’s hands entirely. But there are still efforts to preserve the test.

Read the full article about big NYC education issues to watch by Reema Amin at Chalkbeat.