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.

Guilderland — Aug. 14, 2024

Melinda Person, President, New York State United Teachers

“We're seeing greater and more complex mental health conditions among our students, that require care from specialists, counselors and psychologists.

Children cannot learn when they're hungry. They cannot focus when they're worried about whether they will have a place to sleep at night. They cannot rise to their true potential when they're dealing with untreated health conditions.

Our current formula, which uses old data, does not properly account for the fact that schools are doing more than ever before, and our schools have become the social safety net for New York's children and families.”

Mike Mulgrew, President, United Federation of Teachers

“We are committed to making this the best formula in the country. But I know it's not gonna be easy. I know the timeline, the legislature puts you under was not, let's just say it really wasn't fair, because this is a very complex issue, but we need to get this right on behalf of all of the children of our state.”

Laurens — Aug. 8, 2024

Alyssa Hardy, President, Brainbridge-Guilford Teacher Association

“In a rural district like ours, we naturally have more students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who come in needing extra supports. This has increased in the past several years, and we need more interventions to help close the widening gap that often separates them from their peers in wealthier districts.”

Erin Wehrli, President, Deposit Teacher Association

“When we can’t provide in-person field trip experiences, we have to bring in resources to campus. Because of our geographic isolation, this costs MUCH more for schools with sparse populations and high poverty numbers…even if the land wealth is high… I urge you to do what is right for students who are at a greater need for resources due to their rural isolation; they shouldn’t be punished or overlooked just because of where they are living.”

Farmingdale — July 30, 2024

Kevin Coyne, NYSUT Board Member and President of Brentwood Teacher Association

“In communities like Brentwood, schools are the central hub. We provide all services normally associated with schools, but our community needs drive us to go above and beyond. Our schools are family centers, with pantries for food and clothing, counselors to provide help with housing, jobs, and connections that will assimilate families into our school community. These expenses, on top of the rising costs to educate students, place an enormous financial burden on our school community that can ONLY be met by a Foundation Aid formula that accounts for our special circumstances.”

Cordelia Anthony, NYSUT Board of Directors Member and President of Farmingdale Federation of Teachers

“We were just starting to see the effects of what meeting some of the proper funding requirements could look like. We are excited about the future when we think of getting the resources to properly support our English language learners and students with disabilities. Now we are already worried about having to go back to not being funded appropriately. We don’t need a complete overhaul of the formula right now, but we can make sure that the formula is based on updated and more accurate census data. And I know that could help us better serve our Farmingdale community and provide for all of our students’ needs.”

Buffalo — July 25, 2024

Richard Nigro, President, Buffalo Teacher Federation

“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, NYSUT Board Member and President of Williamsville Teacher Association

“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.”