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| Students at SUNY Canton. |
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, announced the Assembly’s state budget proposal delivers significant increases in state funding to North Country schools in order to reduce the local tax burden on families while helping educators gain access to the resources they need to provide the education our students deserve.
Education Funding
The Assembly’s budget proposal provides a $1.8 billion increase in education funding for a statewide total of $23.95 billion for the 2015-16 school year (E.203). It increases Foundation Aid by over $1 billion and provides $456 million in restoration to the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) targeted in part based on district and student need, growth in enrollment and the disproportionate impact of GEA reductions.
“Increasing state funding for North Country schools is fair and long overdue,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “The governor blocked school aid numbers from being released to districts and it’s put many of our schools in a difficult financial situation. It’s time now to put families first, and by boosting education aid we would support our schools, lessen the tax burden on residents and keep the state on track with a balanced budget.”
Additionally, the Assembly’s budget rejects the governor’s attempt to tie school aid to his proposed changes to the teacher evaluation system recently put in place, as well as changes to teacher preparation, certification, dismissal and tenure.
Higher Education
The Assembly budget also focuses on making college more affordable by increasing the maximum TAP award by $150, bringing the total award to $5,315 per full-time equivalent (FTE) student. It would also increase SUNY community college base aid funding by $50 for a total of $2,547 per FTE student.
“I’m pleased with the steps taken in our budget to strengthen our SUNY schools and make college more accessible and affordable for students of all ages and backgrounds and I urge the Senate and governor to adopt these measures,” Russell continued.
Russell noted that the Assembly budget provides a 20 percent increase over last year for higher education opportunity programs to help economically disadvantaged students, including those from the North Country. It would also restore funding to SUNY child care centers, and provide an increase of $445,000 so that parents would have the opportunity to earn a degree with an affordable child care option.