December 2024
The New York State Board of Regents’ 2004-05 State Aid Proposal put forward the idea of instituting Foundation Aid as a response to concerns about the sufficiency of state education funding then being provided to local school districts. In 2007, prompted by legal action, a call for reform by the Regents, and the election of a new governor with a mandate for education reform, New York State implemented its Foundation Aid formula as the primary vehicle for distributing state education aid to school districts.
Much academic research has been done on state-level education financing; important studies that are relevant to New York’s funding model and current efforts to reform it are covered extensively in this report. The approach other states are taking on education funding, which could inform discussions about how best to reform New York State’s Foundation Aid formula, were examined and summarized as well. A snapshot comparing New York’s education spending over time and compared to other states also is included for greater context.
Informed by this research and by the substantial amount of public and stakeholder input received by the Rockefeller Institute over the course of this work, numerous ideas to amend and improve the Foundation Aid formula were developed.
View the five recorded public hearings and read the written comments received as part of the Foundation Aid Study.
