The Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) posted its "State of the Schools 2012" address, a riposte to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's annual "State of the State" speech. Nikki Jones, the organization's Communications Director, says the state's poorest districts are the most vulnerable to cuts in the state's education budget and describes conditions in some schools as appalling. “When Albany slashes school funding, as it has for three years in row, wealthier districts are so much better equipped to protect schools that poor districts," Jones says. "What we are now seeing in poor districts is appalling: crowded classrooms; greatly reduced class offerings and the elimination of tutoring and other programs. These are severe impacts that must be addressed.” She also challenged the Governor's continued emphasis on testing. “Judging school based primarily on test scores in two subjects has resulted in teaching to the test, narrowing of the curriculum and a dumbing down of public education,” Jones said.