2005-06 Legislative Budget: K-12 Education
April 4, 2005
See also: 'State budget's a done deal.'
New York Teacher, April 13, 2005.
OVERALL INCREASE OF $848 MILLION IN GENERAL SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS
- Added $322 million to the Governor's proposed increase of $526 million.
- Overall increase in computerized aid of $830.43 million over 2004-05.
FLEX AID
- Agreed to the Governor's Flex Aid proposal to combine six aid formulas: comprehensive operating aid, extraordinary needs aid, educationally related support services aid, limited English proficiency aid, summer school aid, and minor maintenance aid.
- Governor proposed $8.43 billion for Flex Aid, which was a $114 million increase in total for the six aid categories. The Legislature accepted this amount and added $66 million for an overall increase of $180.03 million.
- All districts will receive an increase between .5 percent and 2.5 percent depending upon a district's wealth.
SOUND BASIC EDUCATION AID
- Agreed to the Governor's Sound Basic Education Aid of $324.87 million.
- High-Need School Districts will receive 86% of this aid, including New York City, which will receive $195.65 million or 60.2% of the total aid amount.
EDUCATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to require all school districts to adopt a three-year comprehensive Sound Basic Education (SBE) plan.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to eliminate tenure for school administrators.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to create a new Office of Education Accountability.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to establish a value-added accountability system.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to expedite teacher disciplinary hearings and to create a new process for teachers charged with incompetence.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to authorize mayors of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany to appoint school board members.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to require bond resolution votes to occur on the statewide school budget voting day.
- Agreed to the Governor's proposal to establish a single voting day for budget revotes (3rd Tuesday in June).
TRANSPORTATION AID
- Funded at current law level of $1.21 billion, an increase of $62.85 million.
BOCES
- Restored BOCES and Special Services Aid to present law level of $689.73 million for 2005-06, an increase of $42.12 million.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to eliminate BOCES Aid for "routine administrative services".
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to require BOCES to demonstrate savings by making comparisons with existing state contract prices for "telecommunications and other services".
- Enacted a "maintenance of effort" provision for career education spending pursuant to federal requirements.
BUILDING AID
- Funded at $1.46 billion for 2005-06, an increase of $50.68 million.
- Increased Building Aid reimbursement ratio for projects approved after 7/1/05 for high-need school districts, including New York City.
EXCESS COST AID
- Restored to current law level of $2.58 billion, an increase of $74.94 million.
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to reduce the average state aid ratio used to calculate aid for private special education programs from 85% to 49%.
TAX LIMITATION
- Funded at $135.44 million for 2005-06, an increase of $87.45 million-accepted the Governor's proposed increase of $30 million and added an additional $57 million.
- Additional aid is targeted to districts based on wealth and local effort.
TEACHERS PROGRAMS
- Continued Teachers of Tomorrow program at $20 million.
- Continued Teacher Support Aid at $67.48 million.
- Continued Teacher Centers at $31 million.
- Continued Teacher Mentor-Intern Program at $6 million.
EARLY GRADE CLASS SIZE REDUCTION
- Continued at $137.97 million.
UNIVERSAL PRE-K
- Continued at $201.77 million* .
- Delayed implementation of the requirement for certified teachers for another year.
SCHOOL SPENDING CAP
- Rejected the Governor's proposal to have all school districts adhere to an annual spending cap.
BKB/sh/52315
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