Hi John,

Back in April, Governor Hochul chose the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at SUNY to conduct a $2 million study on New York State’s Foundation Aid school funding formula, as part of the state budget. The Foundation Aid study process officially kicked off Friday, with an announcement from Rockefeller of the five dates and locations for the public hearings that it will hold over July and August.

Unfortunately, many of the locations selected for these hearings are far from the largest communities with some of the state’s highest-need public schools — the schools that depend the most on Foundation Aid — and have no public transit access. For many families, the nearest hearing could be hours away and only accessible by car. But we won't let that stop us from being heard.

From the start, we have been clear that any process to review the Foundation Aid formula must engage families, students, and educators across the state. Now it is even more important now that we make sure Rockefeller Institute hears from as many parents, students, and educators as possible during this study — especially those from the many districts where no hearings will not be held at all, including Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, Utica, Brentwood, East Ramapo, Albany, and many, many more.

We agree that the formula, which was created nearly 15 years ago, is in need of an update so it can more accurately capture student needs today. But Governor Hochul has tasked Rockefeller with evaluating whether the formula is “fiscally sustainable” — a goal that could allow budgetary thriftiness to overshadow the constitutional obligation to provide every student with a sound basic education. We’re concerned that the language in the budget and the Governor’s rhetoric in negotiations pose a threat to the very principles on which the current Foundation Aid formula is based.  

We need your help in ensuring that the study and its outcome centers families, students, community, and educators, and protects the integrity of the Foundation Aid formula:

Testify as part of the Rockefeller Foundation Aid Study

We are looking for parents and community members to attend and testify, whether in writing, in person, or virtually:

  1. Submit your written testimony or comment directly to the Rockefeller Institute via the written comment submission form. All testimony submitted this way will be reviewed by Rockefeller as part of the Foundation Aid study. The deadline to submit written comment is Friday, September 6, 2024.

  2. If you are interested in testifying in person at one of the scheduled hearings, fill out Rockefeller’s speaker registration form now, and then let us know by emailing _______. We will be working to coordinate parents, educators, and community members to testify in person at the hearing closest to them.

The locations and dates are:

  • Manhattan (New York City)
    High School of Fashion Industries, 225 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011 July 16, 2024
  • Buffalo (Western New York)
    North Park Community School, 780 Parkside Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 July 25, 2024
  • Farmingdale (Long Island)
    Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Vancott Ave, Farmingdale, NY 11735 July 30, 2024
  • Laurens (Central New York)
    Laurens Central School, 55 Main St, Laurens, NY 13796 August 8, 2024
  • Guilderland (Capital Region)
    Guilderland High School, 8 School Road, Guilderland, NY 12085 August 14, 2024

Email the State Education Chairs

Email the Education Chairs, Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblymember Michael Benedetto. Let them know your disappointment in the chosen locations for the hearing and how they will once again disenfranchise Black, Brown, and low-income families from your school district.

From the outset, AQE has been deeply involved in this fight for equitable funding, ensuring all students, regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status, have access to a quality education. We know our public schools have long worked to meet students’ diverse needs with limited resources. From providing meals and mental health support to offering after-school programs and bridging the digital divide, our schools are the backbone of our communities. We would love to hear any thoughts or concerns you’re feeling about the study process — if you would like to share them with us, please fill out this form. By taking action together, we can ensure that the voices of students, working families, and educators are heard.

In solidarity,

Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari
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