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NY Board Of Regents Recommends $2B School Aid Increase

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- The state Board of Regents gave final approval to its 2015-16 state school aid proposal, calling for a $2 billion increase in state aid. The plan also calls for more equitable funding for high-need school districts, funding directed to restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment and increased investments in programs to ensure that school districts can improve performance. 

The state Board of Regents approved a school aid proposal for the 2015-16 school year.

The state Board of Regents approved a school aid proposal for the 2015-16 school year.

Photo Credit: File

“The Regents' state aid proposal strikes the right balance, driving more money to school districts with the greatest student needs and addressing the Regents’ priorities,” Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch said in a statement. “The proposal includes funding to help create multiple pathways to graduation, improve services for English language learners and support early childhood learning, while at the same time working to restore the GEA that unfairly penalizes many districts."

The state aid proposal reflects several emerging policy issues and outlines how it can be used to address the board’s goals, including:

  • Support for the high-quality career and technical education programming that will create new opportunities under the Multiple Pathways initiative.

  • A more coordinated early childhood system that enhances access to high-quality education programs statewide.

  • Improved services for English language learners.

  • Support for the education of recent immigrants.

  • The need to invest in new instructional materials that reflect college and career ready standards.

  • Professional development for teachers that relies on teacher leaders with proven classroom success to serve as coaches and mentors for their colleagues.

The proposal also recommends the use of a portion of the $4.8 billion available through nonrecurring legal settlements.

The funds would help eliminate the current lagged reimbursement process that limits the ability of many upstate districts to participate in the new Statewide Universal Full-Day Prekindergarten program. In addition, some of the funds would go to support an accelerated payment of certain aid claims from previous school years. 

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