Before Budgets Are Set, Speak Up For School Communities

As threats to public education intensify at the federal level - with Linda McMahon now confirmed to lead the Department of Education, and on track to underfund our schools and dismantle the Department itself - our state leaders must respond quickly to protect funding supporting New York's students. Right now, the State Assembly and Senate are preparing their own budget proposals in response to the Governor's budget plan released in January, and they face a major choice: protect the funding our schools need or allow incomplete changes that will result in cuts. Email your representatives in the legislature to make sure they continue to make the right choice. If these cuts happen, New York City alone stands to lose $350 million - a devastating blow to a city that educates nearly half of all public school students in the state. The Governor's proposed changes to the Foundation Aid formula, while addressing some outdated data, are not enough and still leave some districts, including New York City, Albany, Central Islip, Cortland, and Potsdam, with smaller funding increases than expected. This is especially concerning for higher-need schools already struggling to provide essential services like after-school programs, mental health support, and special education. To truly meet the needs of every student, the Foundation Aid formula must be accurately updated. While the Governor's proposal to adjust the poverty measure is a step in the right direction, it doesn't go far enough. In districts like New York City, one in eight students experiences homelessness and many face housing insecurity and foster care placement. These issues, which impact students across numerous districts, must be reflected with additional weights in the formula. Additionally, the regional cost index needs to be revised to correct current mismeasurements that lead to inequitable funding distribution, ensuring resources are allocated more equitably. Public schools are the safety nets of our communities. As our state leaders prepare to release their budgets, they need to hear from you urgently. Email your representatives in the legislature to make sure they protect our kids and our communities. In solidarity, Marina Marcou-O'Malley + Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari Co-Executive Directors, Alliance for Quality Education Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Alliance for Quality Education, please click here.