NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5463B
SPONSOR: Brindisi TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to the
computation of foundation aid and successful schools aid for small city
school districts
PURPOSE:
To amend computation of foundation aid and successful schools aid in
small city school districts sufficient to insure funding of a meaningful
high school education.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
To add small city successful schools aid for the following uses:
a) Class size reduction b) Academic intervention services
c) Response to intervention services
d) Dropout prevention
e) Incarcerated youth services
f) Parent involvement programs,
g) Extended day and extended year programs, and h) Psycho-social test-
ing.
To amend computation of foundation aid to add a small city poverty
concentration count and lower the income wealth index.
JUSTIFICATION:
Small city school districts face unprecedented educational and fiscal
challenges. These challenges have threatened the capacity of many
districts to provide a meaningful high school education as required by
the state constitution. Current provisions in the foundation aid formula
do not deliver the aid to all districts necessary to enable them to meet
this requirement fully. Moreover, current education aid does not
adequately compensate for the burdens facing these districts from the
high concentration of poverty in the cities. These districts serve as
centers providing not only educational services but also health, civic
and public safety uses. These services and uses cause an overburden
which is not adequately supported by existing education aid.
The state constitution requires and promises that a meaningful high
school education be provided to all children wherever they reside and
whatever school district they attend. This bill would make it possible
to fulfill that promise.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015 - Education Committee.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.
