Provides that the gap elimination adjustment be determined based on the 2010 federal census

BILL NUMBER:S4316A

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the gap elimination adjustment

Summary of specific provisions

Section one amends subitems (b), (c), (d) and (e) of item 1 of clause (G) of subparagraph (viii) of paragraph b of subdivision 17 of section 3602 of the education law to require the use of the two thousand ten federal census.

Section 2 states the enactment date.

Justification

Technology has progressed significantly in the past twenty years. With these advances has come the ability to compile and use data almost in real time.

Unfortunately, the current school aid formula is inconsistent in that it relies upon stale data. The state aid formula, particularly the gap elimination adjustment (GEA) uses census data that is over twelve years old as a component of the formula.

The enacted state school aid formula for the 2012-13 school year uses a GEA based on the year 2000 federal census. Therefore, schools are being funded based on their school need and demographics as measured in the year 2000 which, by January 2013, is a gap of 13 years.

The significant discrepancy between more relevant, current data that exists, but is not used in the formula, and the older census data, is causing a disconnect between state school aid, and the funding schools are authorized to raise from a local share of aid. This differential makes it difficult for schools to meet the educational needs of their current population of students, especially in the face of a fluctuating and weak economy.

This legislation, will enable schools to receive state school aid consistent with the most current census data available. Rather than being based on data more than a decade old, GEA formulas would be based on the most recent census data.

Prior legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.