By Paul Heiser
Research Analyst

The state Board of Regents is asking for an extra $1.9 billion in state aid in next year’s state budget, with almost three-quarters of it going to school districts in disadvantaged areas to help close the achievement gap.

The vast majority of the aid – $1.8 billion – would go to the foundation aid formula implemented last year that takes into consideration a district’s wealth. Foundation aid is based on the cost of programs, and then adjusts for difference in student need, regional cost variations, and an expected local contribution. 

About 73 percent of the aid increase would go to “high needs” schools, up from the current 65 percent. However, all school districts would see an increase of at least two percent.

The proposal also calls for additional funding for English language learners by weighting the foundation formula to reflect their academic needs. It also calls for expanding career and technical education programs, especially in the Big 5 districts of New York City, Yonkers, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. About 20,000 more students could be served through a $6 million grant program.

The Regents also propose increasing prekindergarten funding by $104 million to $535 million and continued funding of the Contracts for Excellence, in which 1,648 schools in 56 underperforming districts receive extra funding.

Some other proposed major new initiatives:

• $20 million for PreK-16 Regional Education Alliances in high-need communities to link school districts with colleges and universities, libraries, museums, and other service and community organizations.
• $100 million for the Smart Scholars program to give at least 12,000 disadvantaged students the support to graduate from high school on time with as much as 30 college credits and graduate from college in three years.
• $25 million to prepare 1,000 new teachers for high need schools in shortage-area subjects.
• $6.5 million for Parent and Family Outreach in high-need areas to involve parents and families in their children’s education.