FINANCE

NEW YORK — Education Commissioner Betty Rosa defended the Cuomo administration's 2023-2024 budget proposal for elementary and secondary education before a joint legislative hearing Wednesday, emphasizing the need to streamline fragmented funding systems and address chronic underfunding in special education while opposing a controversial plan to transfer healthcare professional licensing to the Department of Health. Rosa outlined six budget priorities: early childhood programs, teacher certification reform, high school career opportunities, funding equity, student health and well-being, and data system modernization. She highlighted structural problems in the state's pre-K system, which operates under two laws and six separate funding streams, resulting in approximately $12 million of a $25 million allocation for full-day pre-K for 4-year-olds outside New York City going unused. Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Education Committee, pressed Rosa on implementation delays in the RECOVS mental health program, noting that funds approved in the previous budget had not reached schools a year later. Rosa acknowledged that RFP approval processes can take 9-10 months and pledged to streamline bureaucratic procedures. She also defended the department's work on Regents exam reform, clarifying that no decisions have been made and that a 64-member task force including educators, business leaders, and parents is reviewing graduation requirements. Assemblyman Michael Benedetto questioned whether New York State's reading instruction methods align with current brain research, while also expressing frustration with chronic underfunding of special education schools. Rosa acknowledged that the special education tuition methodology is "broken" and has contributed to the loss of residential programs since 2014. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner challenged the Executive Budget's proposed $3.5 million cut to library aid, noting that funding is $6 million below its 2008 peak. She questioned the zeroing out of funding for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Langston Hughes Community Library. Rosa's staff indicated support for reinstating those funds and proposed increasing the mortgage recording fee by $10 per transaction to support libraries and cultural education programs. The hearing, held in Hearing Room B of the Legislative Office Building in Albany, was the third in a series of joint fiscal committee hearings on the Governor's budget proposal. Additional testimony from school district leaders, teachers' unions, and education advocates is scheduled to follow. NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DEFENDS BUDGET PRIORITIES AMID CONCERNS OVER CHARTER EXPANSION, CLASS SIZES, AND BULLYING NOTIFICATION State Education Commissioner Nilda Rosa testified before a joint legislative committee on Wednesday that the 2023-2024 executive budget represents a historic achievement in fully funding Foundation Aid for the first time, but faced pointed questioning from lawmakers over charter school expansion, class size monitoring, and parent notification of bullying incidents. Sen. John Liu pressed Rosa on whether the state adequately monitors class sizes, which were cited in the landmark Court of Appeals decision that led to Foundation Aid as a barrier to providing a sound, basic education. Rosa acknowledged the state monitors class sizes but noted that decisions are made at the local level based on available funding. Sen. Jim Tedisco raised concerns about the lack of mandatory parent notification when bullying is reported to the state education department. Citing the case of Jacobe Taras, whose parents were unaware of daily bullying that preceded his suicide, Tedisco argued that parents should be required to know if their child is bullying others or being bullied. He noted that legislation on this issue passed the Senate almost unanimously. Sen. Robert Jackson questioned the rationale behind the Governor's proposal to eliminate regional caps on charter schools, which could allow over 100 new charters in New York City. Rosa expressed uncertainty about the proposal's logic, noting that the state has declining student enrollment and already has 12 approved charters that have not yet opened. Other concerns raised included limitations on universal pre-K funding—only $12 million of $25 million was requested in the first round because districts lack space and cannot use the funds for capital improvements—and proposed cuts to library construction aid despite an estimated $1 billion need for facility upgrades. Sen. Hoylman-Sigal urged the state to track and publish data on book banning in school libraries and advocated for universal dyslexia screening at the K-3 level, citing a low-cost screening tool that costs $1.25 per student. The hearing was held February 8, 2023, before the Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Education Committee. NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FACES SCRUTINY ON LITERACY, TEACHER SHORTAGES, AND CHARTER SCHOOL EXPANSION AT BUDGET HEARING The New York State Legislature's joint Finance Committee hearing on the 2023-2024 Executive Budget for elementary and secondary education revealed significant tensions between lawmakers and education officials over reading instruction, teacher recruitment, charter school expansion, and infrastructure mandates. Senator Weik raised alarm about declining literacy in New York State, citing statistics showing that dyslexia affects 20 percent of the population and represents 80-90 percent of learning disabilities. She noted that New York's reading comprehension scores have declined this century while neighboring Massachusetts and New Jersey have maintained higher scores. Commissioner Rosa acknowledged the issue but emphasized New York's larger English Language Learner population and the importance of early identification and brain research-informed instruction. Teacher shortages dominated much of the discussion. Senior Deputy Commissioner Baldwin reported that the department received $1.3 million last year to improve the Office of Teaching Initiatives and has made significant adjustments to teacher certification requirements approved by the Board of Regents. However, he acknowledged that enrollment in teacher prep programs has declined. Commissioner Rosa emphasized the need to change the narrative around teaching and suggested reconsidering the "Lone Ranger" model of single teachers in classrooms, advocating instead for cooperative teaching with more support staff. Charter school expansion sparked pointed exchanges. Assemblyman Pirozzolo argued that charter schools "save lives" for minority and low-income communities, citing a statistic that 95 percent of students in some schools don't meet state standards. However, Commissioner Rosa raised structural concerns, noting that some charter schools operate like private schools, lack financial transparency, don't serve proportional numbers of special education and English Language Learner students, and are concentrated in communities of color. She questioned why charter schools aren't embraced in other communities if they're such a successful model. Assemblyman Ardila challenged the diversion of over $2 billion from public schools to charter schools, asking what public schools could have done with those funds. Commissioner Rosa acknowledged the issue, using Wyandanch as an example of a district that had a fiscal monitor and now faces potential charter competition, which she called "devastating." Senator Stec raised concerns about a state mandate requiring all new buses purchased in 2027 to be zero-emission. He cited estimates of $8-15 billion in costs to taxpayers with only $800 million available from state and federal resources, meaning 90 percent of costs fall to local taxpayers. He noted that electric providers say the grid cannot handle the mandate and that electric buses perform differently in extreme cold. Commissioner Rosa acknowledged this is "one of the issues that's keeping us up at night" and invited Stec to future conversations. Senator Martinez, a former educator, asked pointed questions about bullying and DASA reporting, sharing a personal anecdote about a student suicide due to bullying. She questioned whether DASA reporting is accurate and whether schools receive adequate resources to address bullying. The hearing revealed significant gaps in the Executive Budget proposal, including no specific funding for reading instruction professional development, no appropriation for local planning on the bus mandate, and concerns about underfunding of the office responsible for developing New York State learning standards, which hasn't been updated in 20 years. The hearing was held February 8, 2023, before the joint Finance Committee of the New York State Legislature. State Education Department officials faced pointed questioning from lawmakers on Wednesday over the Governor's 2023-2024 education budget proposal, with particular criticism focused on proposed cuts to fiscal monitors, library capital funding, and special education schools, even as the administration touts a 10 percent increase in overall school aid. During a joint Senate-Assembly Finance Committee hearing, Commissioner Rosa and her team defended the budget's Foundation Aid proposal while acknowledging significant gaps in funding for critical programs. The most contentious issue centered on the Executive Budget's proposal to eliminate the regional charter school cap and permanently authorize all charter schools, which drew sharp opposition from multiple lawmakers who argued it dismantles the public school system and increases segregation. Assemblyman Carroll delivered an impassioned critique of literacy instruction in New York schools, citing data showing two-thirds of New York City students read below grade level and the state ranks 45th nationally in reading attainment despite spending the most per pupil. He argued that most schools use debunked curriculum methods rather than science-based instruction, calling it "unconscionable." Chairwoman Krueger raised concerns about the Executive Budget's proposed reduction in library capital funding from $34 million to $14 million, noting that close to one in five libraries lack ADA accessibility. The Regents have proposed $45 million for library capital instead. The hearing also highlighted funding challenges for vulnerable student populations. Chairwoman Krueger questioned whether the state's funding mechanisms can flexibly address rapid enrollment increases from migrant students, particularly in Midtown Manhattan schools. CFO Morris explained the Regents' proposal for enrollment adjustment aid to provide current-year funding rather than requiring districts to wait a year. A long-standing issue resurfaced when Assemblyman Smullen raised concerns about the $30,000 BOCES CTE salary cap, unchanged since 1990-1991. He calculated that inflation would suggest the cap should now be $65,000. Deputy Commissioner Baldwin, a former district superintendent, confirmed the cap is causing districts to avoid BOCES participation. The hearing also revealed staffing challenges at SED itself. Executive Deputy Commissioner Cates-Williams disclosed that SED currently has 2,549 employees against an original authorized level of 3,200, with particular gaps in IT infrastructure that has not been funded in many years. On special education, the budget proposes cutting funding to 4201 schools serving blind and deaf students despite the 10 percent overall increase, drawing criticism from Assemblyman Ra. The hearing also addressed a proposal to study the 853 school rate-setting methodology with a $2.5 million appropriation and a July 2025 deadline. The hearing revealed deep concerns about whether the budget adequately addresses racial disparities in education, with Assemblywoman Jackson questioning what specific plan exists to help Black and brown students catch up to their white and Asian counterparts in graduation rates. Commissioner Rosa emphasized the need for intentional, targeted funding through a new Foundation Aid formula rather than general investments. NEW YORK — Chancellor David Banks of the New York City Department of Education faced pointed questioning from state legislators on Wednesday over his handling of a class-size mandate and the financial pressures posed by charter school expansion, during a joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 state education budget. Banks testified that implementing the state-mandated class size limits—capping K-3 classes at 20 students, down from the current average of 22.2—would require hiring at least 7,000 additional teachers over five years. He warned that schools would face "very difficult choices" in Years 3 through 5 of implementation, potentially forcing cuts to arts, music, and other programs. But Sen. John Liu (D-Queens) rejected Banks' characterization of the mandate as an unfunded burden, noting that the 20-23-25 student limits originated from the DOE's own Foundation Aid calculations 15 years ago. "This is not a problem of your making, but it is a problem that you have to address," Liu said, emphasizing that the city has received $1.2 billion in additional Foundation Aid since the legislation passed and demanding the DOE develop comprehensive solutions including school construction, not simply direct principals to comply. Banks also disclosed that NYC spent nearly $3 billion on charter school costs last year, including $200 million in rent, with 146 charter schools collocated in traditional public school buildings. Sen. Shelley Mayer pressed him on whether lifting the charter cap—as Gov. Hochul has proposed—would further strain resources for traditional public schools. Banks acknowledged the expansion "presents challenges" but deferred the policy decision to the mayor and legislature. On education priorities, Banks highlighted a $205 million investment in proven programs for students with disabilities and announced the nation's largest dyslexia screening initiative, with all NYC students to be assessed and provided specialized instruction. He also noted that 65 percent of Black and brown children in the system never achieve reading proficiency, calling it "outrageous." Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon pressed for details on dyslexia training and compensatory services for students with disabilities, with First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg committing to provide information on communication plans to families. The hearing, held before the Assembly Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees, comes as the state considers major changes to education funding and charter school policy. NEW YORK — The New York City Department of Education faces a confluence of budget pressures that could force difficult trade-offs between expanding mental health services, reducing class sizes, and maintaining existing programs, according to testimony before a joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 executive budget Wednesday. Chancellor David Banks disclosed that the DOE is currently serving approximately 12,000 to 13,000 migrant students—a population the agency did not anticipate when budgeting for the current year. The influx has already cost $20 million in supplemental services, with an additional $80 million in per-pupil allocations, totaling roughly $100 million. Notably, neither the supplemental nor per-pupil costs appear to be covered by additional appropriations in the Governor's Executive Budget, according to testimony from DOE CFO Seritta Scott. The migrant student costs represent just one of several unfunded mandates facing the agency. Sen. Robert Jackson raised concerns about a $700 million funding cliff as federal stimulus money expires, particularly for social worker positions that the DOE has committed to placing in every school. First Deputy Chancellor Dan Weisberg acknowledged that replacement funding has not yet been identified. Class size reduction emerged as another major budget driver. A state law requiring class size reductions across all grades K-12 will cost approximately $1 billion in Years 3 through 5, Chancellor Banks testified. However, several senators expressed skepticism about the DOE's reliance on citywide averages. Sen. Iwen Chu, representing Southern Brooklyn, noted that schools in her district operate at 125 percent capacity with classes of 30 to 33 students—a situation that has persisted for over a decade. "Our kids, their education being in a crowded situation over a decade," she said, pushing back against the Chancellor's suggestion that the DOE might have to sacrifice arts and music programs to fund class size reductions. Charter school expansion poses an additional fiscal threat. If the state removes the charter school cap and reinstates "zombie charters," the city would face $1.3 billion in annual operating costs, according to data cited by Chair Liz Krueger. The DOE currently spends $200 million annually on rental assistance for existing charter schools, and approximately 146 charter schools are collocated with traditional public schools. On the positive side, Chancellor Banks highlighted mental health and safety initiatives, including the expansion of Community Schools from 325 to 400 (a net increase of 75), the launch of Project Pivot in 130 schools to provide safe passage and mental health support, and a forthcoming tele-mental health program for high school students in crisis. The DOE has also ensured that every school in the city has funding to hire a social worker. Sen. Tedisco, a former special education teacher, raised concerns about bullying and school violence, advocating for legislation that would mandate parental notification of bullying incidents—a requirement that currently does not exist in state law. Chancellor Banks expressed support for such legislation. The hearing underscored the tension between the DOE's commitments to expand services and the fiscal constraints it faces, with multiple senators requesting detailed cost analyses and follow-up data on everything from Gifted & Talented program availability to the tracking of students who leave charter schools after the October 31st enrollment cutoff. NEW YORK — NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks faced pointed questions about artificial intelligence in education and defended his administration's approach to charter schools during a joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 state education budget Wednesday. Banks acknowledged that ChatGPT and similar AI tools pose unprecedented challenges to academic integrity, with students able to generate essays that exceed teacher quality. "We have entered into a whole new world," he told lawmakers. The DOE has placed holds on the technology in schools but conceded students access it at home and teachers already use it. Banks said the department is "grappling" with guardrails and best practices, noting that vendors themselves are adding protections to mark AI-generated work. On charter schools, Banks defended the DOE's 146 collocations of charter and traditional public schools, arguing they allow the city to maximize existing facilities rather than lease expensive private space. He rejected characterizations that the DOE wasn't listening to community concerns about specific locations, saying proposed collocations are "always thorny issues." Teacher unions strongly opposed any charter expansion. NYSUT President Andy Pallotta presented Hart Research polling showing New York voters do not support charter growth and cited data showing 21 school districts with over 5% charter enrollment saw payments increase $1.2 billion in five years—with 60% of Foundation Aid increases going to charter payments. UFT Vice President Karen Alford called for closing charter authorization loopholes and promoted Community Schools as an alternative, citing a six-to-one return on investment. Banks committed to making Diwali a school holiday if legislation removing Brooklyn-Queens Day passes, and announced that a pilot program for Asian-American history curriculum will expand citywide this September. He also pledged to phase out whole-language and three-cueing reading instruction in favor of science-based literacy approaches. COO Emma Vadehra detailed the DOE's reliance on federal stimulus dollars: $3 billion spent last year, $2 billion this year, and $1 billion next year before the funding expires. The largest investment is the 3-K program at $450 million annually. The declining stimulus funding represents a significant fiscal constraint as the city faces budget pressures. Sen. John Liu pressed Banks on holiday equity, noting the inconsistency of recognizing Juneteenth on Monday when it fell on Sunday but not extending the same courtesy to Lunar New Year. He suggested the DOE use its remote learning buffer day to accommodate Diwali without waiting for legislation. School administrators and teachers' unions testified before a joint Assembly-Senate committee on February 8 that while they support the Governor's $2.7 billion Foundation Aid increase, the proposed expansion of charter schools threatens to undermine those gains by diverting resources from public schools. Henry Rubio, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, warned that approximately 100 of New York City's 1,700 schools lack an assistant principal due to a 300 percent increase in principal retirements and resignations. He called for legislative support to strengthen the pipeline of school leaders. Andy Pallotta, president of the New York State United Teachers, presented data showing that in some districts like Green Island, Menands, and Watervliet, charter school payments exceed the Foundation Aid increases the Legislature and Governor are providing. He cited the SUNY Charter Institute's decision to override local community opposition to charter schools in Suffolk County as an example of the lack of local control. Karen Alford of the United Federation of Teachers raised concerns about 'zombie charter schools'—those whose charters were previously surrendered, revoked, or terminated—being resurrected, noting that $153 million have been diverted from schools due to facilities charges. Cindy Gallagher of the School Administrators Association of New York State reported that 62 percent of building administrators statewide anticipate leaving within five years, signaling a critical shortage in the educator pipeline. The panel also highlighted the need for expanded mental health services, social workers in schools, and universal free meals. Sen. John Liu pressed administrators on charter school oversight, while Sen. Robert Jackson requested documentation of students returning from charter schools to track the impact on public school districts. The hearing underscored tensions between the Legislature's commitment to Foundation Aid and concerns about charter school expansion draining those resources. NEW YORK — Education advocates and superintendents from the state's largest urban school districts testified before the Legislature on Wednesday about the 2023-2024 executive budget, warning of an impending funding crisis as federal pandemic relief funds expire and pressing lawmakers to address charter school saturation in their communities. The hearing before the joint Finance Committee revealed stark disparities in how districts are managing the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Yonkers Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada testified that his district hired 221 certified support staff positions—including psychologists, counselors, and social workers—using federal funds, addressing a 20-year gap in essential services. When those funds expire, Yonkers faces a $33 million budget shortfall. Similar concerns were raised by superintendents from Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Sen. Mayer validated the superintendents' use of temporary federal funds for permanent positions, noting that while ARPA money was intended for nonrecurring COVID-related expenses, it was "absolutely mandatory to meet the needs of our community." She pressed the districts on charter school expansion, which has reached concerning levels: Buffalo at 28 percent of students, Rochester at 25 percent, and Syracuse just under 25 percent. Buffalo Superintendent Tonja Williams testified that her district spent $143 million on charter schools last year while maintaining 60 schools to accommodate students who leave charters midyear. Rochester Superintendent Dr. Carmine Peluso reported his district will pay over $100 million in charter tuition and associated costs in 2022-23, and requested reinstatement of $1.2 million in school health services funding cut from the governor's budget. Education advocates from the first panel, including representatives from the United Federation of Teachers and NYSUT, discussed the need for teacher pipeline programs, expanded mental health services, and concerns about multiple grant funding streams that create implementation confusion. They also debated whether Community Schools funding should remain separate from Foundation Aid to ensure it is actually used for those programs. Sen. Liu questioned whether districts with a quarter of their students in charter schools should consolidate buildings, and asked how charter schools are approved over local objections. The hearing underscored tensions between charter school expansion and the financial sustainability of traditional public school systems in New York's largest urban centers. NEW YORK — Specialized schools serving students with disabilities and mental health challenges pleaded for increased state funding and workforce investment during a joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 education budget Wednesday, warning that fiscal instability is forcing closures and preventing them from serving thousands of students. Dr. Ed Placke, president of the 853 Coalition representing 60 schools serving students with significant behavioral and emotional issues, testified that the tuition rate-setting methodology funding these schools has been "absolutely broke" for nearly two decades. He noted that Green Chimneys, a residential program he directs, receives 1,000 applications annually but can only accept 40 students due to funding constraints. "There are a number of youngsters we should be helping that we can't, regrettably," Placke said. Dr. Bernadette Kappen of the 4201 Schools Association, which operates schools for blind, deaf, and severely physically disabled students, requested $30 million over three years for salary increases to compete with public schools. Teachers at 4201 schools earn $15,000 to $20,000 less than their public school counterparts, she said, leading to recruitment challenges. Kappen also asked lawmakers to reject the Governor's proposal to eliminate $2 million in funding and to allow schools to maintain fund balances for emergencies. Randi Levine of Advocates for Children of New York outlined approximately $107 million in funding recommendations, including $100 million for expanded mental health services, $1 million for a bilingual educator pipeline, and elimination of a "cost-neutral" requirement on a tuition rate study. She noted that only 65 percent of English language learners graduated high school in four years in 2022, and flagged concerns about the expiration of $700 million in federal COVID relief funding in New York City alone. Robert Lowry of the New York State Council of School Superintendents expressed support for full Foundation Aid implementation but urged expansion beyond the proposed 3 percent minimum increase. He cited survey data showing 82 percent of superintendents plan to improve mental health services and 79 percent will improve academic support with new funding. Sen. Shelley Mayer pressed witnesses on whether a budget-neutral tuition rate methodology could address years of underfunding, while Sen. Robert Jackson expressed strong personal support for the schools' work, citing his family's experience with disability services. The hearing, held by the Senate Finance Committee, is part of ongoing legislative review of Gov. Hochul's executive budget proposal for elementary and secondary education. New York State education advocates and school officials testified before the joint legislative Finance Committee on February 8, 2023, urging lawmakers to expand funding for universal school meals and mental health services while reforming the Foundation Aid formula to better serve high-need districts. Kyle Belokopitsky, executive director of the New York State Parent Teacher Association, told legislators that 726,000 students lost access to free meals when federal funding ended in September, and called for the state to implement universal school meals at an estimated cost of slightly above $200 million. "Hungry kids can't learn," Belokopitsky testified, noting that families earning $51,400 are deemed over-income for federal meal assistance. She also urged increased funding for school-based mental health services beyond the $10 million proposed in the executive budget, citing a PTA survey identifying anxiety, depression, bullying, and suicidal ideation as major youth mental health crises. While school officials praised the governor's commitment to fully funding Foundation Aid, they raised concerns about equity. Dave Little of the Rural Schools Association pointed out that while one Westchester district is receiving a 52 percent increase, high-need rural districts are limited to the 3 percent minimum. He warned that without updating the Foundation Aid formula now, the state will default to "the singularly most inequitable way" to fund schools—across-the-board allocations. Dan White, superintendent of Monroe 1 BOCES, highlighted critical workforce shortages in career and technical education, noting that BOCES instructors earn an average of $67,000 annually based on a $30,000 aidability cap that has remained unchanged for 30 years. He reported 10-15 percent waitlists in some trades programs, representing 1,500-2,000 students unable to access CTE training. Senators pressed witnesses on implementation costs. Sen. Murray expressed frustration with the BOCES pay cap, calling it "embarrassing," while Sen. Liu sought clarity on whether Foundation Aid formula reform would require additional state spending. Brian Fessler of the State School Boards Association requested restoration of $20 million in annual funding for prior-year aid claims that have waited upwards of 10 years for payment. Sen. Tedisco raised concerns about bullying and parent notification, referencing his "Jacobe's Law" bill and questioning why parents are not mandated to be informed of bullying incidents despite being involved in other school matters. New York State legislators heard sharply divided testimony Wednesday on Governor Hochul's 2023-2024 education budget, with school transportation officials warning that the state's mandate for 100 percent electric school buses by 2035 faces significant obstacles despite strong support from the Senate Finance Committee chair. School bus contractors and transportation officials testified that electric buses cost three to four times more than diesel buses—$400,000 to $450,000 versus $125,000—and that available funding of roughly $1 billion can replace only 6 percent of the state's fleet. They estimated $15 billion is needed for full conversion. Nicholas Vallone, acting president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association, and David Christopher, executive director of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, raised concerns about grid capacity, lack of rural pilot programs, and infrastructure challenges including fire suppression requirements for lithium-ion batteries. Assemblyman Manktelow pressed witnesses on the lack of trials in rural areas, where winter weather, mountainous terrain, and long routes create different challenges than urban districts. Ms. Belokopitsky, a school official from rural Rensselaer County, noted that students in her district spend over two hours daily on buses in extreme cold and snow, raising questions about electric bus feasibility. Chairwoman Liz Krueger countered with data showing 551 electric buses already operating in winter climates including Alaska and Minnesota, and noted that average school bus routes of 63 miles fall well within the 150-mile range of current electric buses. She emphasized the state has until 2035 for implementation and that the mandate creates market demand for manufacturers. On other education funding issues, library advocates warned that proposed budget cuts would devastate aging infrastructure. Max Prime of the New York Library Association noted that over 50 percent of the state's public libraries are 60 years old and that the proposed $14 million for library construction represents a $20 million cut. He requested $147.1 million in State Library Aid and $69.4 million for construction. School district officials opposed a proposed high-impact tutoring set-aside, arguing it ties their hands and prevents addressing other priorities like bus driver recruitment. A survey cited by Mr. Lowry showed 79 percent of superintendents believe their budgets would improve with extra academic help, but many districts struggle to find qualified tutors and have other pressing needs. The New York State Community Schools Network requested $100 million in categorical aid to expand community schools statewide, citing data showing returns of up to $20 for every $1 invested through improved attendance, reduced discipline, and better test scores. The hearing, held jointly by the Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee, revealed fundamental disagreements about the feasibility and funding of the electric bus transition, with rural and suburban officials expressing skepticism about timelines while state leadership emphasized long-term market development and environmental necessity. NEW YORK — A joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 executive budget for elementary and secondary education revealed deep concerns about funding shortfalls across libraries, nonpublic schools, and school transportation, with testifiers warning that proposed allocations fall far short of actual needs. School librarians testified that the Governor's proposed $70 million STEM reimbursement program, while an increase from $58 million, remains insufficient. The previous allocation was fully exhausted annually with 1,800 applications, and full funding would require $100 million, according to Teach NYS representative Sydney Altfield. Library materials funding has remained flat at $6.25 per pupil since 2007, despite rising costs—a nonfiction children's book now costs approximately $22, making the requested $11 per pupil increase "pretty modest," Mr. Prime of the School Librarians Association testified. Nonpublic school advocates raised alarm about mandated services funding. Rabbi Silber of Agudath Israel warned that the Executive Budget's $193 million allocation for MSA and CAP programs falls $17 million short of the State Education Department's estimate of $210 million needed. More troubling, he said, is proposed budget language that would limit state liability for mandated services—a first in state history. "Schools are mandated to provide certain services... yet they wouldn't get fully reimbursed for fulfilling a state mandate," Rabbi Silber testified. Catholic school leaders presented stark enrollment data: the archdiocese has declined from 845 schools 25 years ago to fewer than 420 today, with enrollment dropping from approximately 400,000 to fewer than 200,000 students. Jim Cultrara of the Catholic School Superintendents opposed the Governor's proposal to raise the charter school cap absent tuition assistance, arguing that "for every charter school that has opened, a Catholic school has closed." School bus operators warned that the electric bus transition mandate faces significant obstacles. The timeline requiring purchases to begin in 2027 for a 2035 deadline is "a little aggressive," said industry representative Vallone, noting that 10 percent annual replacement is typical. Charging infrastructure costs $400,000 to $450,000 per bus, with charging stations running $30,000 to $70,000 each. Some districts operating electric buses have increased their fleets by 20 percent due to dependability issues, Mr. Christopher testified. Sen. Jackson expressed strong support for Community Schools, libraries, and buses as interconnected education investments but took a firm stance on yeshiva compliance with state education law, stating schools receiving state money must comply with regulations. He noted that parents in Buffalo are being paid to drive children to school due to driver shortages. The hearing, held by the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance on February 8, 2023, highlighted the gap between executive budget proposals and the actual costs of maintaining and improving New York's education infrastructure. NEW YORK — A joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 elementary and secondary education budget revealed sharp divisions over charter school expansion and school meal funding, with testimony highlighting both the promise and controversy surrounding education policy in New York. Governor Hochul's proposal to remove the regional cap on charter schools while maintaining the statewide cap of 460 drew passionate support from charter school advocates and parents, who framed the issue as a civil rights matter affecting low-income families and communities of color. Yomika Bennett, executive director of the New York Charter School Association, testified that charter schools serve more than 170,000 students across 350 schools and called for increased per-pupil funding, facility and transportation support, and a $200 million Education Equity Fund to encourage charter school founders from historically disadvantaged communities. However, senators expressed skepticism about charter school claims. Sen. John Liu challenged charter school representatives on accountability and transparency, noting that the Commissioner of Education has raised transparency concerns. He also disputed funding figures presented by James Merriman of the New York City Charter School Center, correcting his claim that Foundation Aid would increase 12 percent—the actual increase for New York City is 2 percent, Liu said, while charter reimbursement is 4.5 percent, not the 3.3 percent Merriman cited. Sen. Jabari Brisport raised concerns about charter school practices, citing Success Academy-Fort Greene's "got-to-go list" of students to be removed and questioning whether charter schools should be subject to the same 4 percent fund balance restrictions as traditional public schools. He also noted that his district, representing 10 percent of New York City's population, has 20-30 charter schools, raising questions about geographic saturation. Meanwhile, testimony on school meals revealed a crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Jessica Pino-Goodspeed, representing the Healthy School Meals for All New York State Kids Coalition of over 250 organizations, reported that 726,000 children across New York lost access to free school meals when federal pandemic waivers expired at the start of the school year. About 2,000 schools reverted to needs-testing, leaving families earning less than a living wage ineligible for free meals. Patrick Kenneally, a school lunch director and chef, testified that a small rural school district with 880 students faces $18,000 in meal debt this year. He noted that families of four earning $51,400—below a living wage—do not qualify for free meals, forcing families to choose between food, transportation, and school lunch bills. Research cited in testimony shows school meals improve attendance, reduce tardiness, and improve test scores in spelling, reading, and math. Separate testimony addressed controversies surrounding Orthodox Jewish schools. Rabbi Silber disputed New York Times reporting, arguing that a $1 billion figure cited by the Times was misleading because it represented four years of funding, not one year, and included COVID relief, transportation, and food money. He noted that the state budget allocates $34 billion for education in a single year. He also defended schools' zero-tolerance corporal punishment policy, noting only a dozen allegations over five years compared to 16,000 complaints in public schools. Chairwoman Krueger raised concerns about special education funding fraud, noting that the New York City Board of Education stopped doing business with 20 firms affiliated with special education funds to yeshivas, involving approximately $60 million. Rabbi Silber acknowledged that if wrongdoing is found, money should be returned, but emphasized that this represents individual misconduct rather than systemic issues. The hearing, held before the Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Education Committee, underscored ongoing tensions between education stakeholders over school choice, funding equity, and accountability in New York's education system. NEW YORK STATE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE — School meal directors and education advocates urged lawmakers on Wednesday to increase funding for student nutrition programs and overhaul the state's outdated education funding formula during a joint legislative hearing on the 2023-2024 executive budget. Megan Bates, a school lunch director from Niskayuna, testified that the state has not updated school meal reimbursement rates since 2007, while grocery costs have surged 11.8 percent since December 2021. "If they are hungry, they can't learn, they're not taking anything in," Bates told the committee, urging lawmakers to support universal school meals for all students. Ms. Pino-Goodspeed of the New York State Education Department reported that nearly 92 percent of schools eligible for the federal Community Eligibility Provision are participating, but about 300 schools remain eligible but unable to afford their local cost-sharing obligations. Sen. Mayer pressed for details on how to incentivize participation and better leverage federal funding. Michael Rebell, former counsel in the landmark CFE education funding case, called the Foundation Aid formula "totally out of date," noting it was written in 2006 and still uses 2000 Census data for poverty calculations. He urged the Legislature to establish a permanent standing commission to conduct a thorough reanalysis of education funding needs, arguing the current formula fails to account for homelessness, pandemic impacts, and other contemporary challenges. Jasmine Gripper of the Alliance for Quality Education highlighted a funding disparity: New York City charter schools received $200 million of the $348 million Foundation Aid increase despite serving only 14 percent of students. She called for a new costing-out study to update the formula. Amshula Jayaram of the Solutions Not Suspensions Coalition presented data showing students lost 913,811 days to suspensions in the past year, with an average of 766 students suspended daily. She called for passage of legislation that would eliminate suspensions for pre-K through 3 students and cap suspensions at 20 days for older students. Sen. Tedisco expressed strong support for school meal funding, stating that investing billions in education is pointless if students lack adequate nutrition. Sen. Krueger emphasized that universal meals are critical for poor and rural districts outside New York City and the Big 5. The hearing, held February 8, also included testimony on charter school funding equity, nonpublic school oversight, and concerns about New York City Department of Education policies. Lawmakers signaled openness to addressing funding disparities and updating education formulas, though no specific legislative action was announced. NEW YORK — Legislators heard competing proposals for overhauling the state's school funding formula and strengthening oversight of charter schools during a joint budget hearing on elementary and secondary education Wednesday evening. Michael Rebell of the Academic organization AQE proposed establishing a standing commission to continuously review school funding needs, citing precedents from Oregon, Illinois, and Maryland. The commission would conduct thorough, zero-based analyses every two years—or potentially annually—to address emerging issues like English language learners and migrant students. Rebell argued the current system, which has gone 17 years without a major formula update, fails to meet constitutional requirements for a sound basic education. The proposal contrasts with the State Education Department's one-time assessment approach, which was not included in the Governor's budget proposal. Testimony also focused on charter school accountability. Ms. Gripper detailed methods used to extract profits from nonprofit charter schools, including above-market rent charges for board-member-owned buildings and contracts with for-profit management companies. She cited examples from Albany. Ms. Jayaram testified in support of the Solutions Not Suspensions bill, which would require charter schools to follow the same discipline rules as public schools. She noted that data on charter school suspensions is unavailable, making transparency a critical issue. "We don't really know what is happening in the charter schools," she said. Sen. Jabari Brisport pressed Gripper on profiteering mechanisms and asked Jayaram about charter school discipline practices, signaling skepticism about charter accountability. Sen. Shelley Mayer expressed support for the ongoing commission model and called for flexibility in negotiating the Solutions Not Suspensions bill. Sen. Robert Jackson, closing for the Senate, took a hardline stance on nonpublic schools not complying with regulations, stating: "Cut them off. Cut the money off." He emphasized the long-term nature of education reform efforts. The hearing concluded at 8:40 p.m. after the final panel of testimony.