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 Analysis Finds NYC Improved Class Size Funding Equity Per Student This Year, but Structural Challenges Remain
EdTrust-New York’s new analysis, “NYC Makes More Equitable Class Size Funding Decisions but Faces Long-Term Equity Risks,” finds that New York City improved the equity of its FY27 class size reduction funding by allocating more resources to schools with the greatest needs. At the same time, larger enrollments led the City to allocate higher average funding per school to schools with lower-poverty, creating ongoing equity challenges as New York City implements the state’s class size reduction law. During the 2025-26 school year, New York City brought approximately 64% of classes into compliance with the law. The Legislature extended the full-implementation deadline from 2028 to 2030, giving the City additional time to address workforce, facilities, and fiscal challenges.
NYC Makes More Equitable Class Size Funding Decisions but Faces Long-Term Equity Risks
New York City has made class-size funding more equitable, but long-term implementation risks could still divert resources from students and schools with the greatest needs.
Testimony for New York City Council – Fiscal Year 27 Preliminary Budget – Education
As the largest district in the state and nation, serving nearly 1 million students, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is a key focus of EdTrust-New York’s commitment to advancing equity-focused educational efforts across the state. Such investments are even more critical this year due to federal funding cuts and attacks on critical educational equity programs.
Testimony for New York City Council Committee on Education Fiscal Year 27 Preliminary Budget – Education
As the largest district in the state and nation, serving nearly 1 million students, New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) is a key focus of EdTrust-New York’s commitment to advancing equity-focused educational efforts across the state. Such investments are even more critical this year due to federal funding cuts and attacks on critical educational equity programs. The following are our top priorities for the FY27 budget.
Statement from EdTrust-New York on NYC Class Size Reduction Implementation Report
EdTrust-New York welcomes this new analysis from the Urban Institute on New York City’s class size reduction law and agrees it highlights critical challenges in implementation. While the city has made progress, reaching 64 percent compliance, this report reinforces our longstanding concerns about equity, funding, and feasibility.
EdTrust-New York: Proposed ELL Funding Changes Would Deepen Inequity and Jeopardize Student Success
As threats to Title III funding and federal protections for ELLs/MLLs grow, EdTrust-New York strongly opposes proposals that reduce resources, urges New York State to strengthen its commitment and plan for disruptions, and highlights that inequities shown in its New York School Funding Data tool demand bold solutions and a fully funded formula.