by Dr. Rick Timbs, Executive Director SSFC
Executive (Governor’s) run not same as February run
There are some differences. Look for differences related to demographics and student weighting in Foundation Aid and expenses driven aids in particular. You may also see small changes in the textbook, library, software, and the like aid categories.
Most of the changes are related to updated student counts and weights since the ordinal October submissions by school districts.
Save- Harmless school districts:
The numbers of Save-Harmless school districts have risen substantially over the last few years, despite the most recent changes in the formula for 2025-26 Foundation Aid. Absent significant changes to the underfunded Foundation Amount (Adjusted Foundation Amount (AFA)) as well as other changes such as major increases in weighting of students with special needs (SWD weighting) and increased weighting for students such as the economically disadvantaged and ELL areas for instance, joined with additional financial considerations for homeless and foster care students, Save-Harmless school districts designations for 2026-27 could continue to rise compared to 2025-26.
About two-thirds of all school districts are now Save-Harmless. The Foundation Aid formula needs a lot of work to make it adequate and equitable. Using more of the Rockefeller Foundation Study suggestions would help.
The Bus mandate is still in effect... the state not listening m(they are not acting either!.
Please see the January newsletter for a summary of this issue.
My recent studies with school district points to significant limitations of revenue increases, vs. significant cost increases on the horizon. This spells trouble for school districts long-range. This also makes their ability to buy Zero-Emission buses more remote and financially antagonistic.
Ask legislators to return to their willingness to address state aid with their one house budgets back in March of 2025:
This year, as in all election years, we again look for a robust Executive budget proposal in January 2026, and support from the New York State Senate and Assembly in their one house bills to follow. It is hoped that no further economic downturns will befall the state financial picture and that revenues will continue to have a healthy increased trend to offset current projected deficits for next year and the years thereafter.
FOUNATION AID AND OTHER FINANCIAL ISSUES AT BUDGET TIME March 2026
The Senate wants to increase Foundation Aid to a due minimum of 3%.
Increase the amount per pupil for Universal Pre-K
Raise the ceiling for capital outlays in Building Aid from $100,000 to $250,000.
resume funding for payment of prior year aid adjustments owed to school districts with appropriations of $18,600,000.
repeal the Community Schools set-aside within Foundation Aid and establish a new Community Schools grant program funded at $105 million. provide $6 million for districts with tax certiorari and tax levy issues.
provide a $70.2 million increase for the Learning and Enrichment After-School Program Supports.
support compliance with federal courts that school districts provide free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities until they reach age 22.
The Assembly wants to increase Foundation Aid to a due minimum of 2.9%.
Proposes increased weighting for English Language Learners from .5 to.65
Provides for a change in the Income Wealth Index metric by elimination of the .65 floor over a three-year period.
Increase the amount per pupil for Universal Pre-K
resume funding for payment of prior year aid adjustments owed to school districts with appropriations of $18,660,000.
provide a $100 million increase for after-school programs in school districts which primarily provide for economically disadvantaged students.
o $2 million to support school regionalization efforts.
Serious Issues Remain
Foundation Aid:
Still Generally Outdated
Still the Wrong Metrics
Still Arbitrary
Increase in number of Districts Save-Harmless?
Homeless Enrollment
Equity Adequacy
Perception of School Finances
School Budgets:
Escalations of Student and Family Mission
Escalation of Costs- Health insurance, Pensions, Labor, Equipment, Capital Work
Depletion of Reserves
Legal and Political Issues/ State and Local:
Leadership Turnover
Boards of Education
Administration and Senior leaders and educators
Practical Regional Issues
School Labor Force Issues
Bus Drivers, Bus Monitors, Bus Mechanics
Business Officials, Superintendents
Upper-Level Math and Science teachers
o Cleaners, Custodians, Maintenance Mechanics
New Pre K mandate information:
From Association of School Business Officials of New York:
Important Information About the Executive Budget Universal Prekindergarten Proposal
“First, the proposal is indeed for all four-year-olds to be eligible for prekindergarten through a requirement that by 2028-29 districts provide a full-day slot to any 4-year-old child whose parents have requested it. This requirement can be met through either district- or CBO-operated programs.
Second, for 4-year-olds, there is no cap on the amount of aid received or the number of slots you may provide. Aid is the greater of $10,000 or your current selected Foundation Aid per pupil for all 4-year-old students in full-day UPK programs (these per pupil amounts are halved for students served in half-day programs). Districts that previously received Statewide Universal Full-Day Prekindergarten (SUFPK) awards would no longer receive these awards beginning in the 2026-27 school year, as the Executive Budget effectively consolidates SUFPK into the UPK program.
Third, the Executive Budget does not change the current UPK program for 3-year-olds. Districts’ funding for 3-year-olds would be maintained at its current per pupil levels. Districts that receive UPK funding for 3-year-olds must continue to serve their maximum eligible 3-year-old pupils in order to receive their maximum 3-year-old UPK grant amount.
Fourth, because this is an expansion of existing programs and the entire universe of 4-year-olds who will join these programs is not known, your state aid run amount in 2026-27 is an estimated proxy of what the State anticipates you may be able to provide in 2026-27; it is not a limit on the amount of aid you will receive or the number of slots you can or must provide.”
Nice concept but....
· How does a district plan and budget for the unknown, strategically and logistically?
· Does every school district have the “room” for these additional sections?
· What about transportation aid for this?
· Interesting, but I don’t believe Kindergarten is mandated...
· Has this mandate been studied?
· For many school districts this will be a “heavy lift”. Think of the related costs.....
Other state aid and financial initiatives
· Permit Transportation Aid for Pre-K programs
· Excess Cost Aids are aid categories that have not been updated in years and continue to be unrealistically frozen or simply without merit in terms of equity. These aids categories should be addressed for equity and adequacy.
· All aid due to school districts in the “Prior Year Aid Queue” must be paid on an accelerated basis. $308 million is owed due to claims corrections.
· Increase RPTL §1318 to at least 10% … 4% is SIMPLY TOO LOW!!! How about 10%?
· The state must reevaluate its state aid initiatives every 2 years for equity, adequacy, and sustainability. (The Rockefeller Report Agreed to this type of reevaluation)
What is next?
Produce a lobby plan and talking points. I encourage you to seek allies from parents, key community leaders, and others to help you lobby. Often school district residents can provide valuable support as voters toward mutual goals!
See you soon,
Be well,
Rick
