NEW YORK, NY May 23, 2008 —How state education funding should be spent has pitted state officials and education advocates against the Bloomberg administration. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: A brawl has broken out over the $620 million that the state is due to give the city this year as part of an education equity lawsuit.

The city says it wants flexibility, or dozens of top schools will face millions in cuts.

Midday yesterday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver responded. He said the current formula helps the neediest schools and called the city's threatened cuts "unconscionable."

But late yesterday, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein upped the ante by releasing a list of 74 schools facing up to 6% cuts, including Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant High School, and the Frederick Douglas Academy.

Advocates say Klein is pitting the middle class against the poor, but Klein says he's just facing budgetary reality.

For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.