New York’s teachers’ unions are expressing alarm as the state revisits its Foundation Aid formula, a key mechanism for funding public schools. The Rockefeller Institute, commissioned to revise the formula, held its final hearing Wednesday in Guilderland, near Albany.
Union leaders, including Melinda Person of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and Michael Mulgrew of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), criticized the review’s focus, arguing it prioritizes state fiscal concerns over students’ educational rights. “The guiding question should be how we can fund our schools to provide all of New York’s students with the education we promised them,” said Person.
The review was prompted by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push to modify the formula, although she backed off from eliminating a key provision that ensures districts don’t receive less funding than the previous year. The Rockefeller Institute is expected to present its recommendations by December.
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