Providing essential funding for our children’s education

Historic investment in school aid

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton knows there is nothing more important than the future of all our children. She’s worked hard to provide our school districts with the funding they need to give our kids a top-notch education.

State Aid Changes. Changes in total school aid in the adopted 2007-08 budget for Cortland County school districts

State Aid Changes. Changes in total school aid in the adopted 2007-08 budget for Tompkins County school districts

A better school aid formula

The state is changing the school aid formulas, driving more money to the poorer districts in a process that begins this year and will continue for the next three years. Lifton will fight to make sure that all our school districts get the increases they need and that the formula for school aid is a fair and equitable one.

Raising standards, raising excellence

Lifton led the fight to make sure the governor’s Contract for Excellence allowed school districts in good standing greater flexibility in their use of state funding. School districts will be able to focus on successful strategies like reducing class sizes and improving teacher quality.

Additional funding for universal prekindergarten

Cortland County schools will receive $629,392 for pre-K, which will ensure every 4-year-old has the opportunity to begin his or her education early, including:

• $542,898 for Cortland

• $86,494 for McGraw

Tompkins County schools will receive $1.6 million for pre-K, which will ensure every 4-year-old has the opportunity to begin his or her education early.