NYSUT members testify on future of Foundation Aid

NYSUT members are making their voices heard in hearings across the state that will guide critical updates to the school funding formula.

Following the union’s successful campaign to protect New York schools from proposed school aid cuts in the executive budget, the Rockefeller Institute for Government was charged with hosting a series of events to gather public input on a path forward for the Foundation Aid formula.

Drawing from classroom experiences and unique perspectives in their local districts, NYSUT members are now urging officials and lawmakers to update the formula to better reflect the current needs of students.

The Foundation Aid formula is a vital mechanism for driving state support toward schools that need it the most, but some of the elements —like those defining district demographics and poverty levels — have not been edited since the formula’s creation in 2007.

Nearly two decades later, updating these measures and reevaluating other elements of the formula could finally give schools the right amount of resources to support all of our students.

The essential work of educating the next generation starts with adequate funding for our schools, and updates to the formula will benefit our students, their families and our entire communities.

NYSUT leaders and members are providing their personal insights based on their experience as educators and involved members of their communities. We've heard members passionately speak to some of our main points:

• The critical importance of school funding and how properly funded schools help entire communities.
• What does it look like when schools are properly funded compared to the years of underfunding and under-resourcing our public schools have experienced.
• How conditions in schools and with students have changed over the past several years: Students need more support, and our schools are taking on an ever-growing list of duties and requirements.
• Public schools are so much more than just places where children learn for a few hours a day—they are the centers of our communities and provide families with a wide range of supports.
• How any funding formula should consider the full scope of what schools do; not merely a standardized number applied equally across a diverse state.

Buffalo — July 25, 2024

Rich Nigro, Buffalo Teachers Federation President

“To ensure equitability, you must base your calculations on current data. If you were to create a home budget based on grocery and gas prices from 2006 or 2016, you’d find it impossible to keep your cupboards stocked or your gas tank full. By updating the Foundation Aid formula and committing to fully funding it, New York would be ensuring our schools have what they need to best serve our children and our communities.”

Michelle Licht, Williamsville, NYSUT Executive Committee

“Instead of overhauling the funding formula to focus on cost reductions, we should update formula data to better serve our students. The average per-pupil spending calculation must include factors like mental health, housing insecurity, and special education needs. In my district, over 10 percent of students are in special education, requiring extensive support. The Pupil Needs Index also needs updating to reflect current poverty data and the diverse needs of English Language Learners. My district has over 400 ELLs from 38 countries speaking 36 languages, and the current formula does not adequately support them.”