New York Faces Scrutiny Over School Funding Formula and High Per-Pupil Spending

A state-commissioned report calls for significant updates to outdated funding formulas as education spending soars while enrollment declines.

The Rockefeller Institute's report highlights New York's per-pupil spending at nearly $30,000, the highest in the nation and almost double the U.S. average.
Total school spending in New York increased 41% between 2012 and 2022, despite a 10% drop in student enrollment over the same period.
The study recommends overhauling the Foundation Aid formula, which relies on outdated data, including factors like poverty metrics from the 2000 Census.
Proposed changes include modifying inflation adjustments, addressing declining enrollment funding policies, and updating metrics for student needs such as disabilities and poverty.
Governor Hochul has reversed her earlier position on cutting funds to schools with shrinking enrollment, citing concerns over stability and re-election pressures.