School Funding
Equal is not the same as equitable, and schools with students who require additional support require greater funding than other schools. This is especially true in the post-pandemic climate, as systemic racism continues to exacerbate pre-existing inequities. Inequitable school funding allocations take a disproportionate toll on students who are underserved by the education system, students of color, students experiencing poverty, students living in temporary housing or foster care, multilingual students, and students with disabilities.
Our Equity-Centered Approach
To ensure equitable school funding, we champion efforts to increase spending transparency statewide about how schools are funded in New York State. We advocate for improvements to the Foundation Aid formula that center students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and students experiencing homelessness or foster care. We empower parents, educators and other stakeholders in education by providing resources to advocate for equitable funding and see how schools are spending funds per student and broken down by demographics and student outcomes.
Latest Resource
Testimony: EdTrust-New York Calls for Changes that Further Promote Equity in the Foundation Aid Formula
New York State’s 2025 Enacted State Budget called for the Rockefeller Institute of Government to conduct a study to assess Foundation Aid — the primary source of state funding for public schools to support high-need school districts — and discuss potential modifications to the formula. Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, executive director of EdTrust-New York submitted a testimony focusing on how any changes to the formula must be equity-centered. The testimony provides recommendations on how to meet that standard.
Featured Reports and Resources Over the Years
Interactive Data Tool: School Funding
Statement: EdTrust-New York Calls for Essential Updates to Foundation Aid Formula
Statement: EdTrust-New York Calls for Continued Stakeholder Engagement with Foundation Aid
Parent Resource: Questions to Ask Leaders About School Funding
Data Snapshot
New York City public elementary and middle schools with the highest share of multilingual learners spent
<0.5%
more in funding ($28,460) per student than schools with the lowest share of multilingual learners ($28,356).
Yonkers public high schools with the highest share of students from low-income backgrounds spent
%
less in funding ($21,890) per student than schools with the lowest share of students from low-income backgrounds ($23,255).
Syracuse public elementary and middle schools with the highest share of multilingual learners spent
19%
less in funding ($24,955) per student than schools with the lowest share of multilingual learners ($20,982).
Rochester public schools with the highest share of students with disabilities spent
%
less in funding ($22,318) per student than schools with the lowest share of students with disabilities ($24,713).
Buffalo elementary schools with the highest share of multilingual learners spent
%
less in funding ($19,573) per student than schools with the lowest share of multilingual learners ($20,174).
More Resources
EdTrust-New York Criticizes State Budget’s Foundation Aid Changes as Step Backward for Equity
We are deeply concerned that the Governor adopted only one recommendation from the Rockefeller Institute’s Foundation Aid study, updating how the state measures poverty, while ignoring its equally critical proposal to progressively increase the weight for concentrated poverty.
EdTrust–New York Condemns Final State Budget for Failing to Invest in Educational Equity Despite Urgent Student Needs
EdTrust–New York acknowledges some positive developments in the final budget, but we are deeply disappointed that state leaders failed to invest in key educational equity priorities, such as literacy. We are also concerned that changes to the Foundation Aid formula will reduce school funding for high-needs districts.
Event Recap: Moving New York Forward: A Look at EdTrust-New York’s Recent Impact
On April 3, EdTrust-New York’s executive director Arlen Benjamin-Gomez joined Lisette Nieves, president of the Fund for the City of New York, and Denise Forte, president and CEO of EdTrust national, to discuss EdTrust-New York’s recent impact report and how the organization can build on the momentum to act with urgency and speak truth to power in the coming years.
Event Recap: The New Presidential Administration’s First 50 Days: What We Know, What We Need to Do
On March 18, EdTrust-New York and Educators for Excellence hosted an event, The New Presidential Administration’s First 50 Days: What We Know, What We Need to Do. Individuals and organizations who share a passion for advancing educational equity in New York State joined us at a moment when public education is under attack and students’ civil rights protections are at risk.
New York Must Act Now to Ensure Equity for All Students as President Trump calls to Eliminate the U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education plays a key role in upholding equality protections for students. Without it, New York risks rolling back progress in addressing systemic inequities, leaving students unprotected from discrimination.
The Elimination of the Department of Education and Its Devastating Impact on New York’s Students
Instead of allowing political games to dismantle the education system, New York leaders must focus on solutions that strengthen education and address the real challenges we face such as underfunded schools, teacher shortages, and post-pandemic recovery.
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