Assembly Seeks $1B For Education
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan announced the Assembly passed a state budget proposal that would increase aid to schools by nearly $1.1 billion for SFY 2014-15, the largest increase in six years.
According to Nolan, that is $402 million over the executive budget’s formula, for a total of $22.2 billion in state aid. Included in the increase is $335 million to accelerate the phasein of Foundation Aid and $367 million for Gap Elimination Adjustment restoration, providing much-needed funding for schools.
The Assembly’s proposal (E.914) is the first step in a multi-year plan that would provide schools with an increase of approximately $1 billion annually over each of the next four years.
“This year’s budget proposal reaffirms the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that New York’s students receive the highest possible quality education from pre-K all the way through 12th grade,” Nolan said. “In addition to providing support for critical programs and resources, our one-house budget addresses the funding challenges that many school districts face across the state, all the while ensuring that each and every child is given the same chance at a bright and successful future.”
Investing in full-day UPK
The Assembly’s budget proposal earmarks $100 million in universal, full-day pre-K funding for high-need districts. Under the plan, any unspent funds would be placed in a reserve account which would be available to districts in following years. That money could be used to establish full-day kindergarten if needed. Funding for this program would total $1.5 billion over the next five years.
“The Assembly’s commitment to pre-K will provide more children with the opportunity for quality early education, preparing them for success in school and beyond,” Nolan said.
The Assembly budget authorizes the city of New York to impose a small income tax surcharge (0.534 percent) for those making over $500,000 in order to fully fund fullday UPK and expand after-school programs.
“All kids deserve the chance to have an early education that puts them on the path to success,” Nolan said. “The Assembly budget makes this possible by giving New York City the opportunity for significant, recurring, sustainable, full-day UPK funding.”
Restoring funding for education programs
The Assembly’s budget proposal expands the $2 billion Smart School Bond Act proposal by an additional $317 million in an effort to update technology in the classroom, provide necessary connectivity, build pre-K classrooms and replace transportable classroom units. The additional funds would be used to include nonpublic schools, approved private schools, special act schools and schools for the blind and deaf.
In addition, the Assembly budget proposal:
– restores $14.3 million for teacher resource and computer training centers;
– provides an additional $11 million to nonpublic schools, which includes $5 million to address prior year claims for the CAP program, for a total of $153.8 million;
– maintains funding at $5 million for the Pathways in Technology and Early College High School (PTECH) program, and includes Career and Technical Education (CTE) High Schools as eligible grant recipients;
– restores $1.5 million for the Consortium for Worker Education;
– increases funding for bilingual education grants by $1 million;
– restores $1 million for adult literacy education; and
– restores and increases funding to $475,000 for the Executive Leadership Institute.
“The proposal put forward by the Assembly brings us closer to realizing the Assembly Majority’s goal of providing every student with the sound, quality education they deserve,” Nolan said. “I’ll continue fighting to make sure the focus remains on our children and providing schools with the resources they need.”
Investing in our libraries
The Assembly budget proposal restores $2 million of the executive’s $4 million cut to libraries, for a total of $84.9 million.
“Libraries aren’t just a great learning resource for our children, they provide many valuable services, including free Internet access for those living in poverty,” Nolan said. “It’s important that we fund these key neighborhood hubs.”
