ELC Calls on New York State Legislature to Reform School Funding Formula
On January 29, Education Law Center submitted written testimony to the New York State Legislature’s Joint Budget Hearing on Elementary and Secondary Education, urging New York to update and reform its school funding formula.
ELC praised Governor Hochul’s FY27 State Budget proposal to increase school aid by $1.6 billion, with a proposed increase of $779 million for Foundation Aid, which funds a majority of public school operations, and a $561 million increase in Universal Prekindergarten Aid.
However, ELC wrote that, “we remain concerned that the Foundation Aid formula remains out of date and is not accurately capturing the true cost of educating New York’s students, especially those who need the most support, such as students from low-income families, those experiencing homelessness, and emerging multilingual students.”
The testimony noted that ELC, together with many state partners, has advocated for an in-depth review of the Foundation Aid Formula that engages both respected school finance experts and members of communities statewide.
“The Formula, enacted 16 years ago, needs to be updated to reflect advancements in the field of school finance, changes in the state’s curricular standards, and evolving expectations of the programs and services needed to support students’ academic and social-emotional wellbeing,” said ELC Senior Attorney Wendy Lecker, who prepared the testimony, along with ELC Research Director, Danielle Farrie.
Finally, ELC urged the Legislature to commit funding in this year’s budget for a proper analysis of Foundation Aid, “as a necessary step towards a more equitably funded school system that provides all students with an opportunity to succeed.”
Related Stories:
ELC CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF NEW YORK’S FOUNDATION AID FORMULA
REPORT DETAILS CHANGES TO MAKE NY’S SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA MORE EQUITABLE
Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240