2016-17 Conceptual Regents State Aid

Proposal
Board of Regents
State Aid Subcommittee
November 16, 2015

Conceptual Proposal Highlights

$2.4 Billion total increase

$2.1 Billion in formula aids, prioritized to increase Foundation

Aid and restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment

$300 Million in additional investments

Expanding Universal Prekindergarten
Support for Struggling Schools
Education of English language learners
Family and Community Engagement

Additional reimbursement in 2017-18 for new expenses

College and Career Pathways
Professional Development
Digital Learning
Commitment to full Foundation Aid Phase-in by 2018-19
2

$2.1 Billion Formula Aids

Methodology

$2.1 billion in formula aids will fund continuing costs of

education, as well as an expansion of services,
particularly in the area of academic intervention

School district costs are projected to increase by

slightly more than 3 percent in 2016-17
With limited local revenues, the state should
provide the additional funding
This aid increase of $2.1 billion, or 10 percent,
will support only a modest 3 percent increase in
spending. This is enough to sustain current
programs and expand services

Total district spending tends to increase annually;

increases have been at a modest rate in recent years
$64.0

Total School District Spending

$61.50

$62.0
$60.15

$ in billions

$60.0
$58.0

$58.43

2011-12

2012-13

$56.94
$55.71

$56.0
$54.06

$54.0
$52.0

$58.09

$51.56

$50.0

$48.0
$46.0
2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2013-14

2014-15

$2.1 Billion Formula Aids

Foundation Aid

Foundation Aid
The Board of Regents proposed Foundation Aid as a
means to support instruction with proportionally greater
State funding flowing to districts that need it the most
The Subcommittee has historically maintained its
commitment to the Foundation Aid approach.
At this time, the Subcommittee should consider renewing
its commitment to a phase-in of Foundation Aid within a
reasonably short timeframe, beginning with a substantial
increase in Foundation Aid in 2016-2017.
7

Progress has been made in Foundation Aid,

but there is still more to be done.

2015-16
Foundation
District
Needs/Resource Foundation Aid Phase-in
Category
Aid
Remaining
$11.2B
$3.4B
High Need
$3.9B
$0.7B
Average Need

Full
Foundation
Aid
$14.6B
$4.6B

Low Need

$0.8B

$0.3B

$1.1B

Total State

$15.9B

$4.4B

$20.3B

Additional Multi-year Investments

Supporting Readiness to Learn

Struggling Schools ($75 million in 2016-2017):
Support for necessary interventions in struggling
schools, doubling existing funding.
Education of English language learners ($65 million
in 2016-17): Support for age- and language-appropriate
materials for students who are learning English,
professional development for teachers who serve
English language learners and other critical supports.

10

Expanding Family and Community

Engagement
Family and Community Engagement ($50 million,
reimbursed in 2017-2018): Recognizing the critical role
families and communities play in supporting schools, the
Department is seeking funding that can facilitate and
support active, research based Family and Community
Engagement strategies.

11

Improving Access to High Quality

Instruction and Specialized Coursework
Expand Universal Prekindergarten ($125 million each
in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018): Continue to expand
access to high quality prekindergarten programs to all
students in New York State.
Support for the Transition to Digital Learning ($50
million, reimbursed in 2018-2018): Increase access to
devices, online content and instruction and provide
professional development to teachers consistent with
the recommendations of the Online Advisory Council.

12

Improving Access to High Quality

Instruction and Specialized Coursework
College and Career Pathways ($75 million,
reimbursed in 2017-18): Increase support for career
and technical education through BOCES and in large city
and other districts that do not belong to BOCES.
Professional Development for Teachers and
Principals ($35 million, reimbursed in 2017-18): Fund
skilled resources in BOCES that will deliver locally
developed and state-approved professional development
models in every region of the state to partner with local
district master teachers and coaches.

13

Use of One-time Settlement Funds

14

Aid Adjustments Owed to Districts are Growing

Every Year:
Claim approvals are outstripping funds appropriated, growing the deficit.
$350

$ in millions

$300
$250
$200

$317.9

$150

$259.6

$100

$50

$78.7

$109.4

$165.7

$164.3

$183.1

$0
Nov 2009 Nov 2010 Nov 2011 Nov 2012 Nov 2013 Nov 2014 Nov 2015

If funding remains constant for the coming years, new claims approved in
November 2015 will not be paid until the 2032-33 school year17 years
from now.

The vast majority of outstanding aid adjustments go to

High & Average Need Districts
$200

59%

$180

$ in millions

$160

$140
$120
$100

$185.0

29%

$80
$60

$92.8

$40
$20

12%

$38.7

$0
High Need

Average Need

Low Need