About This Section

Find the latest Advocacy-related news, contacts, and resources for both State and Federal. 

Latest Advocacy News

Important Dates to Remember

Find out what’s due when and get resources to help you succeed.
Latest Advocacy News

State Budget Resources

2022-2023 Budget Year

2021-2022 Budget Year

2020-2021 Budget Year

2019-2020 Budget Year

State Budget Resources

State Legislative Issues

2024 Legislative Season

2023 Legislative Season

2022 Legislative Session

2021 Legislative Session

2020 Legislative Session

2019 Legislative Session

Important Dates to Remember

Find out what’s due when and get resources to help you succeed.
State Legislative Issues


Latest Council News


Easier to Read School Aid Run

January 24, 2024

Questions? Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director
E:  advocacy@nyscoss.org

ALBANY, NY – The Council's version of an easier to read School Aid run for Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget is now available online.

To access the spreadsheet, please copy this link into your browser https://www.nyscoss.org/nyscossdocs/Advocacy2324/2401_BT_Report1.xlsx.The spreadsheet includes table which will produce four reports for any district (hitting "Ctrl P" on any tab will print a report for that tab):


“All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2023-24 and proposed 2024-25 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year change and percentage change. The format makes it easy to identify categories experiencing increases and decreases and which categories may be most influencing the bottom-line total change.

"Save-Harmless Summary" is a first-time addition to our spreadsheet. This tab will show how much, if any, a district is due to receive as save-harmless funding and the reduction in Foundation Aid it would experience as a result of the proposed changes to save-harmless. To illustrate the potential impact of the reduction, this report calculates the reductions as percentages of 2023-24 district total general fund expenditures and 2023-24 district tax levy, providing a sense of the magnitude of budget cuts or tax increases need to offset the aid loss. 

“Foundation Aid Analysis” shows Foundation Aid amounts as calculated under the Governor’s proposal and under the formula as under current law and the difference between the two calculations. As explained further through the link at the end of this article, the Governor proposes two changes to Foundation Aid—lowering an inflation factor and cutting save-harmless. For nearly all districts not on save-harmless, the lower inflation adjustment reduces the size of the increases by about 1.4 percentage points from what they would receive under current law. This tab also shows how some of the key district variables in calculating Foundation Aid have changed over time.

"Estimate Change Over Time" shows whether calculated aid amounts by category for 2023-24 have changed since the time the current state budget was enacted last May. Any variances are due to changes in data, not actions by policymakers. This tab also shows differences by aid category for 2024-25 between the Governor’s proposal and what districts would receive, if current formulas were continued without change. Here, variances can be due to proposed formula changes, but the only formula the Governor proposes to change is Foundation Aid.

Here is a one-page piece which explains the proposed changes to Foundation Aid.

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.

 


Our version of an easier to read School Aid run. The spreadsheet will produce four reports for any district.

Statement of NYS Council of School Superintendents on Governor Hochul's Proposed 2024-25 State Budget

January 17, 2024

Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
C:  518.435.5996
E:  boblowry@nyscoss.org

Albany, NY - New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick issued the following statement on Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 state budget:

“Governor Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 state budget would undermine one of the signature accomplishments of her administration—achieving full funding of the Foundation Aid formula.

“The proposal would reduce by over $400 million the Foundation Aid level called for by the formula now in law. That proposed increase—2.1%—would be less than what the budget forecasts for inflation in the coming year. Districts strain now to find resources to offer pay needed to keep and recruit necessary employees.  

“The Foundation Aid changes would further imperil already struggling districts. Past Foundation Aid increases and now expiring federal assistance have enabled widespread improvements in key student services. But repeatedly we hear from superintendents that their schools have taken on helping students and families with many needs beyond academics—health care, child care, after school care, mental health services, food assistance, and more. Many say they cannot meet all the needs in their community. Many, especially in rural areas, say their schools are the only agencies where families can find that help. 

“We thank the Governor for proposing to maintain full funding of reimbursement aids for schools and for prioritizing improving mental health services for schoolchildren and other New Yorkers in need.

“We look forward to working with the Governor, legislators, and partners in education to produce a final budget that does our very best to support all students, everywhere in our state.”

###
The New York State Council of School Superintendents is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents and assistant superintendents in New York State. The Council provides more than 875 members with numerous professional development opportunities, publications and personal services while advocating for public education and the superintendency.


Read the New York State Council of School Superintendents' Statement on Governor Hochul's 2024-25 State Budget.

Easier to Read School Aid Run - and Foundation Aid Analysis

February 9, 2023

Questions? Contact:

Robert Lowry, Deputy Director
Greg Berck, Esq., Assistant Director
E:  advocacy@nyscoss.org

ALBANY, NY – Check out our version of an easier to read School Aid run. The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district:

“All Aids” shows aid results by category with 2022-23 and proposed 2023-24 amounts presented side-by-side, with year-to-year dollar and percentage change. This makes it easier to identify which formulas are driving changes in total aid.

“Foundation Aid Analysis” shows each district’s base year and proposed Foundation Aid amounts and what its funded Foundation Aid would be if there no save-harmless or minimum percentage increases in aid. It also presents key aid factors for 2023-24, 2022-23 and 2007-08 -- the year the formula became law. This can help illuminate what a district is projected to receive a large boost in aid or in the proposed 3% minimum increase. 

"Estimate Change Over Time" shows how estimates for each aid category for the 2022-23 school year have changed between April, when the current state budget was enacted, and now. 

Here is a link to access and use the spreadsheet. It may take a while to load. Once it does, enter a district’s six digit BEDS Code to create a report. To look up a code for any district, click on the tab named “CODE LIST” at the bottom of the screen. 

Please write to advocacy@nyscoss.org with any questions or suggestions.
 


Our version of an easier to read School Aid run. The spreadsheet will produce three reports for any district.

State Legislative Committee

Data pager
Data pager
 Page 1 of 4, items 1 to 8 of 31.
Show all 31
Committee PositionCommittee Member Contact InfoTerm StartTerm End
Data pager
Data pager
 Page 1 of 4, items 1 to 8 of 31.
Show all 31
Co-ChairMr. Michael R. Cornell
Superintendent of Schools
Hamburg CSD
5305 Abbott Rd Hamburg, NY 14075-1699 UNITED STATES
7/1/2021 
Co-ChairDr. Joseph S. Famularo
Superintendent of Schools
Bellmore UFSD
580 Winthrop Ave Bellmore, NY 11710-4200 UNITED STATES
7/1/2018 
MemberAndrew Cook
Superintendent of Schools
Hartford CSD
4704 State Route 149 Hartford, NY 12838
7/1/2021 
MemberMrs. Maureen E. Donahue
Superintendent of Schools
Southwestern CSD
600 Hunt Rd Jamestown, NY 14701 UNITED STATES
7/1/2013 
MemberDr. Tom J. Douglas
Superintendent of Schools
Horseheads CSD
143 Hibbard Road Horseheads, NY 14845
7/1/2021 
MemberMr. John P. Evans
Superintendent of Schools
Roscoe CSD
6 Academy Street PO Box 429 Roscoe, NY 12776
7/1/2021 
MemberDr. Joseph S. Famularo
Superintendent of Schools
Bellmore UFSD
580 Winthrop Ave Bellmore, NY 11710-4200 UNITED STATES
7/1/2013 
MemberDr. Nick Fitzgerald
Superintendent of Schools
Canajoharie CSD
136 Scholastic Way Canajoharie, NY 13317
7/1/2021 

Your Advocacy Team

 

Robert Lowry, Jr.
Deputy Director, NYSCOSS
BobLowry@nyscoss.org
Greg Berck, Esq.
Assistant Director, NYSCOSS
Greg@nyscoss.org

Do You Know Who Represents Your School District?

Advocate for your school district and community. Find your senator and representative here.

Advocate Today