First and foremost, the fantastic news is that every public school district in New York will finally receive their full entitlement under the state’s education funding formula.
However, there’s a downside to this achievement: the formula itself is severely outdated, which means the fight for school equity is far from over.
The foundation aid formula was established following a 2006 court ruling that concluded the state was not adequately funding its neediest public schools, thereby violating students’ constitutional right to a “sound, basic education.”
In response to the court’s order to provide sufficient funding to all schools, the Legislature devised a model aimed at improving equity among districts by directing more aid to those with greater needs. This formula considers factors such as a district’s cost of living, poverty rates, and the number of special-needs students and English language learners.
Undoubtedly, it was a commendable idea, but unfortunately, it was implemented just before the Great Recession. As a result, foundation aid fell victim to the state’s substantial budget cuts.
Although the economy eventually recovered, the funding for education never fully rebounded. This led to years of finger-pointing and manipulation of numbers. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo went as far as labeling the commitment to funding as “outrageously high” and blamed any disparities among schools on the poor budgeting of local districts. Consequently, districts never received the promised level of aid from the Legislature.
Finally, in 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul made a commitment to gradually restore foundation aid to its full amount over the next few years, a promise fulfilled with this year’s budget. There’s no denying that it’s about time and encouraging that we have come this far.
However, let’s pause and consider this: Is your town exactly the same as it was 16 years ago?
No town remains unchanged over such a long period. Time moves forward. Kids who entered kindergarten in 2007, when the foundation aid was approved, are now on the verge of completing their final year of college.
Yet, the formula continues to rely on poverty metrics from the 2000 census and a Regional Cost Index based on 2006 data. Using free school lunch as a gauge of district poverty is also problematic since many districts now offer lunch for free to all students. Additionally, at the time the formula was implemented, there were no property tax caps in place, thereby limiting what districts can generate from local funding. Moreover, factors such as inflation, changes in population, and an increase in English language learners impact the equation.
You’re likely familiar with the concept of “garbage in, garbage out” in computing. If the input is flawed, the output will be as well. Considering that the data used in the foundation aid equation is outdated, the results are inherently inaccurate. The court ordered the state to provide districts with what they currently need, not what they needed 16 years ago.
This year, lawmakers missed an opportunity to include a study on the foundation aid formula in the budget. However, it’s imperative that it be included in next year’s budget, along with establishing a procedure for regular reviews and updates to foundation aid. Such measures would bring us closer to the ideal of public education as the great equalizer.
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