The assemblywoman was one of 92 state legislators signing a letter opposing a proposal in the executive budget that calls for the repeal of the Foundation Aid formula.
"While the executive budget has taken a critical step forward by calling for the elimination of the harmful and arbitrary floor in the Income Wealth Index, the spending plan takes several steps backwards by including a provision to stall Foundation Aid increases at 2017-2018 levels," she said.
"While I will be the first to agree that the Foundation Aid formula could be altered to be more equitable and drive more money to North Country schools, the executive's budget proposal is devastating for our schools," Assemblywoman Jenne charged.
"Scrapping the Foundation Aid formula altogether for what amounts to a cost of living adjustment does nothing to repay our schools for all the lost resources from chronic underfunding and the Gap Elimination Adjustment," she argued.
Assemblywoman Jenne said Foundation Aid is a critical resource for most of the schools in the 116th Assembly District and the rest of the North Country.
"Taking a look at the schools located within my district, which includes a high percentage of high-needs school districts, the governor has proposed a Foundation Aid funding increase that is nearly $4.5 million less than last year’s," she said.
"In many cases high-needs districts like those in the North Country are struggling to provide a basic education, and they cannot afford a drop in state support," according to Assemblywoman Jenne.
"In an era when the gap in per-pupil spending between rich and poor students has risen to $10,000, this reduction in state funding is a slap in the face to the students, parents, teachers and communities who can afford it least," she added.
The Foundation Aid formula was enacted in response to the 2006 Campaign for Fiscal Equity Court of Appeals decision, which found that the state was violating students’ constitutional right to a 'sound basic education,'" according to a release from the Alliance for Quality Education.
However, in the decade since the CFE lawsuit, the Foundation Aid formula has been perpetually underfunded by New York State, and Governor Cuomo’s 2017 executive budget proposal repeals the Foundation Aid formula completely. The New York State Board of Regents says New York State public schools are owed $4.3 billion in Foundation Aid, according to the AQE release.
"New York State has a proud tradition of educational excellence that is under threat at a time when we can least afford to let our students down. During this period of radical economic transition that has seen manufacturing jobs replaced by service sector and information technology jobs, it is imperative for us to ensure New York’s children are given a competitive edge that starts on their first day of school," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.
The lawmakers were joined at Thursday's event by representatives from the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York and the League of Women Voters of New York State.
IN THE PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (front row, far left) takes part in an event Thursday morning at the state capitol calling for the state to fully fund the state's poorest school districts.
"Taking a look at the schools located within my district, which includes a high percentage of high-needs school districts, the governor has proposed a Foundation Aid funding increase that is nearly $4.5 million less than last year’s," she said.
"In many cases high-needs districts like those in the North Country are struggling to provide a basic education, and they cannot afford a drop in state support," according to Assemblywoman Jenne.
"In an era when the gap in per-pupil spending between rich and poor students has risen to $10,000, this reduction in state funding is a slap in the face to the students, parents, teachers and communities who can afford it least," she added.
The Foundation Aid formula was enacted in response to the 2006 Campaign for Fiscal Equity Court of Appeals decision, which found that the state was violating students’ constitutional right to a 'sound basic education,'" according to a release from the Alliance for Quality Education.
However, in the decade since the CFE lawsuit, the Foundation Aid formula has been perpetually underfunded by New York State, and Governor Cuomo’s 2017 executive budget proposal repeals the Foundation Aid formula completely. The New York State Board of Regents says New York State public schools are owed $4.3 billion in Foundation Aid, according to the AQE release.
"New York State has a proud tradition of educational excellence that is under threat at a time when we can least afford to let our students down. During this period of radical economic transition that has seen manufacturing jobs replaced by service sector and information technology jobs, it is imperative for us to ensure New York’s children are given a competitive edge that starts on their first day of school," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.
The lawmakers were joined at Thursday's event by representatives from the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York and the League of Women Voters of New York State.
IN THE PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne (front row, far left) takes part in an event Thursday morning at the state capitol calling for the state to fully fund the state's poorest school districts.