New York's newly signed spending plan increases education aid by nearly $1.5 billion and increases Foundation Aid by a record $627 million.
More than $400 million will be allocated to eliminate the Gap Elimination Adjustment, a series of across the board spending cuts initially made at the height of the Great Recession to fill a state budget gap.
Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, who represents Washington and Saratoga Counties, says the restoration will make a big difference for upstate schools.
"The schools is my district are going to see a significant increase of six percent over last year's funding, which will really strengthen them and make sure our schools have the resources they need to do a right job for our kids," said Woerner.
Republican State Senator Joe Griffo of Rome says he is "proud that we were able to provide the most funding New York’s schools have ever received so that our hard-working teachers can offer the best education our children deserve.”
The New York State School Boards Association says that with the GEA now gone, lawmakers can now focus on a full phase-in of foundation aid in years ahead.
