New York plans to send an additional $ 90 million to schools with a large number of migrants, other needs

Schools that serve the city’s most needy students will receive an additional $90 million under a new funding proposal unveiled Monday by the Adams administration.

Changes to the so-called Equitable Student Funding Formula will prioritize schools with students in temporary housing, including South American migrants, and high concentrations of children from poor families, with disabilities and English learners. They are based on recommendations made this fall by parents, policy experts and activists.

Immigrants arrive by bus at the Port Authority from Texas on Thursday, September 22, 2022, in Manhattan, New York.

If implemented, the overhaul would bring in $90 million in funding distributed to city schools, although the source of the new money was not immediately clear. More than 300 schools are expected to receive assistance.

“Through the work of our Fair Student Funding Working Group, we are prioritizing long-forgotten needs and voices of students, and this is just the beginning of making New York City Public Schools a thoughtful institution for all,” he said. Mayor Adams in a statement.

New York Mayor Eric Adams

Fair student funding is about two-thirds of the school’s budget. Unlike centrally funded initiatives, principals can decide how these dollars are used at the school level. Most of the funding goes to staff, supplies and other basic expenses.

The formula sends money to schools based on the number of students enrolled and their specific needs. Principals received at least $4,197 per child this school year, about $26 less than a year earlier. Students who have learning difficulties, do not speak English as their first language, or have a disability receive more.

An estimated 11,000 migrant students have enrolled in city schools since the summer and may qualify for increased funding.

Adams and Chancellor David Banks have also proposed speeding up a process where school principals can demand more money if they use the funds to staff general education classes for students with disabilities. They also promised more transparency for families and the public.

Speaker Adrienne Adams and Education Committee Chair Rita Joseph said in a joint statement that they are “emboldened by the changes to the budget appeal process and the commitment to increase transparency in how the Department of Education prepares school budgets so public and state oversight bodies are not left without basic information.” “

The city council said the administration misled them about last year’s budget cuts. Joseph’s office confirmed that next year’s money would not be taken from existing buckets, although the source of their funding was not immediately clear.

“We don’t know where the extra weight money is coming from, so we have a question,” said Caliris Salas-Ramirez, Manhattan County President’s nominee to the Education Policy Group, who was briefed on the changes Monday morning. “But overall we think this is the right move and we hope we can continue these conversations.”

The Education Policy Group will vote on the changes in April.

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