Subject:
Take Action! It is time to make the Foundation Aid formula fairer for every student!
Message:
Dear Legislator:
As a constituent who cares deeply about the educational opportunities and resources available to students in our public schools, I am writing in support of changes to the Foundation Aid Formula.
While the changes proposed in the executive budget are a good start, the state should implement additional changes to provide greater opportunities and resources to New York's public school students. Specifically, I would ask that you consider: adding growth aid to address current-year enrollment increases; modifying the weighting for English language learners to reflect the actual costs of providing appropriate services; exploring methods of funding special education to reflect actual time and resources spent supporting these students; examining and possibly updating regional cost index changes; and adding Universal Pre-Kindergarten to the formula to increase its use and availability throughout the state by building capacity in school districts and revising school success measurements.
The Foundation amount per pupil serves as the base figure used to calculate Foundation Aid for all school districts. While the executive budget makes no recommendation regarding changes to the Foundation amount, I would ask you to use graduation rates rather than grades 3-8 standardized tests as the measurement of "successful schools," contrary to the Rockefeller Institute's recommendations. Graduation rates measure the education system as a whole, and the New York Court of Appeals in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit determined that a meaningful high school education—as measured by the graduation rate—was the appropriate measurement of a school district's "success" level.
I urge you to implement these changes to the Foundation Aid formula to ensure the greatest chance for student engagement, enrichment and success.
I respectfully ask that you bring up these issues with your conference and advocate for students, their educators and our communities.
Sincerely,
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