We appreciate that the education budget includes long overdue updates to the State’s education funding formula, which has remained largely unchanged for almost two decades. We are pleased that State leaders have, for the first time, recognized that schools need additional funding to meet the needs of students who are homeless or in foster care. Adding a new weight for these populations, who face significant barriers to success in school, represents an important step forward. We are also grateful for the inclusion of an increased weight for English Language Learners (ELLs). Together, these changes to the Foundation Aid formula will drive much-needed resources to New York City, where more than 150,000 students experienced homelessness last year and one in every six students is learning English as a new language.

We thank the elected officials, parents, students, educators, and advocates who fought tirelessly for these important updates. While there is more work to do to ensure the formula appropriately reflects rising costs and the full needs of today’s students, we appreciate the progress made in this year’s budget and look forward to continuing to work together to realize the promise of Foundation Aid: an equitable education funding system that ensures all students, including those who need the most support, receive the high-quality education they deserve.