New New York State education aid formula negatively impacts funding for New York City schools.
A newly revised formula for allocating .4 billion in Foundation Aid to New York school districts has emerged as a point of contention, particularly for New York City, which is set to receive significantly less funding than anticipated. This reform was touted as a necessary update by educators and public advocacy groups, who have long called for improvements to the state’s school funding model.
The budget agreement, passed recently by state lawmakers, will yield a reduction of approximately 0 million in aid for New York City compared to previously established figures. Despite this decline, the city’s public schools will still see an overall increase of approximately 5% in Foundation Aid, as reported by the governor’s office.
Advocates for Children’s executive director, Kim Sweet, expressed concerns regarding the limited changes made in the revised formula, highlighting that these adjustments ultimately fall short of adequately addressing the needs of students in New York City. The budget bill incorporates updates to the poverty weight used in the formula, moving away from outdated census data to a newer metric known as the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. This change aims to more accurately reflect the economic circumstances of students.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of using contemporary data to promote fairness in funding distribution. However, the Adams administration has cautioned that these adjustments do not sufficiently account for the local cost of living, which significantly impacts poverty levels across different regions, particularly in urban areas like New York City.
While some stakeholders view the funding increase as a positive step forward, others remain skeptical. Senator John Liu, chair of the Education Committee, acknowledged the increase but reiterated the necessity for more substantial reforms to the Foundation Aid formula. There is widespread agreement among educators and lawmakers that the formula, which has been in place for nearly two decades, is in need of a comprehensive overhaul to prevent further financial inequities.
In addition to changes in Foundation Aid, the budget establishes new educational standards for religious schools and implements regulations addressing school cellphone use, backed by a state investment of .5 million for effective enforcement of the new policies.
Going forward, discussions around educational funding reform are expected to continue, as various stakeholders advocate for a more equitable allocation model that better meets the diverse needs of schools across New York State.
