Affordability is the buzzword of the moment, and Governor Hochul rightly is zeroing in on the affordability crisis facing New York’s families. But naming the problem is not enough: New Yorkers need the Governor and State Legislature to meet this moment with the urgency and investment that it requires in the state budget. And public schools are contending with the escalating costs of living and loss of federal funding right now, too.
Right now, Governor Hochul has proposed fully funding Foundation Aid, or school operating aid, but her proposal does NOT include any of the updates that are long overdue to ensure that schools are getting enough resources to meet students’ needs. Going another year without addressing issues with the Foundation Aid formula, such as the absence of an updated regional cost index (RCI) and the increase in students experiencing homelessness or housing instability, perpetuates structural problems and inequities.
Worse still, last year’s state budget included some limited changes that left some districts, including New York City, receiving less funding than they would have received had the State made no changes to the formula at all. The enacted budget must include an increase to the RCI and changes to the formula to help correct this shortfall and more accurately reflect the cost of meeting students’ needs today.
