Here are education highlights from New York's state budget
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Loading... - Cecile Sanchez
- 12 Apr 2022
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New York state lawmakers passed a budget over the weekend that will boost funding for New York City schools by about 4% per pupil next school year.
The city’s public schools will receive just over $12 billion in state funding. State funds represent roughly 40% of the city’s education operating budget.
School funding is usually a bitter battle among lawmakers and advocates during budget season. But lawmakers reached a deal last year to fully fund Foundation Aid, the formula that sends more dollars to high-needs schools.
As a result, even the most fervent school funding advocates shifted their attention to expanding other programs and initiatives. One of the largest pushes went toward expanding free child care across New York.
The final budget deal calls for $7 billion in early child care funding over the next four years, which could pave the way for universal child care and greatly expand access for New York City families. But some advocates and lawmakers were disappointed by that level of funding and are frustrated that it still excludes children who are undocumented.
Lawmakers also passed legislation to mandate electric school buses and instituted some funding changes for private special education programs, which serve public school children with the most challenging disabilities and have been struggling to retain teachers.
Here are highlights from the state budget.
NYC schools get $56 million less than proposed
New York City schools will see about $475 million more in state funding next school year. That figure is $56 million less than what Gov. Kathy Hochul had proposed; it wasn’t immediately clear why the final budget sent less money to the city. Read More...
