What's happening
This bill changes how the "pupil wealth ratio" is calculated for school aid, factoring in certain non-public school enrollments.
Why it matters
Targets school districts with large non-public school populations. The bill specifically affects districts where the number of resident students in non-public schools is more than twice that of public school students, and the public enrollment exceeds 1,000. This means it is focused on districts with significant private/parochial school attendance.
Alters state aid calculations by expanding the "wealth base". For qualifying districts, a portion (25%) of non-public school students will now be factored into the denominator when calculating the "pupil wealth ratio." This could make these districts appear less wealthy per pupil, potentially increasing their eligibility for state aid.
Could shift aid distribution among districts. By changing the pupil wealth ratio formula for certain districts, this bill may lead to more state resources being directed to areas with large non-public school populations, potentially reducing aid available to other districts or changing statewide funding priorities.
Acknowledges financial impact of non-public schooling on districts. The amendment recognizes that districts with many resident students in private schools may still bear financial and community responsibilities related to those students, and adjusts the funding formula to partially account for this reality.
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Who cares
School districts with high non-public enrollment
Districts with more than 1,000 public school students and resident non-public enrollment exceeding twice resident public enrollment would add 25% of resident non-public students to the pupil counts used to calculate four school-aid wealth ratios.
Public school boards and budget officials in qualifying districts
The larger pupil counts would lower their districts’ property-wealth and income-based ratios, including those used for total foundation aid.
State education commissioner
The bill would change the district-level calculations underlying wealth ratios while retaining the commissioner’s annual statewide averages and reporting requirements.
Headline styles
Change School Aid Formula
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Change School Aid Formula
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1661
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the calculation of the "pupil wealth ratio" for school aid purposes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs a and b of subdivision 3 of section 3602 of the education law, as amended by section 13 of part B of chapter 57 of the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
a. (1) "Pupil wealth ratio" shall mean the number computed to three decimals without rounding obtained when actual valuation of a school district divided by, when applicable, the sum of the total wealth pupil units and, if the district's number of resident students enrolled in non-public school is more than twice the number of resident students enrolled in public school and if the public school enrollment is over one thousand, twenty-five per centum of the resident students enrolled in non-public school of the district, is divided by the statewide average actual valuation per total wealth pupil unit as computed by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such statewide average actual valuation per total wealth pupil unit shall be established each year by the commissioner using the latest single year actual valuation computed under paragraph c of subdivision one of this section. Such statewide average shall be transmitted to the school districts. Such statewide average shall be rounded to the nearest hundredth and shall include the actual valuation and total wealth pupil units of all school districts eligible for aid pursuant to this section except central high school districts. For the purposes of calculating such statewide average the data for the city school district of the city of New York shall be citywide data.
(2) "Pupil wealth ratio for total foundation aid" shall mean the number computed to three decimals without rounding obtained when the selected actual valuation of a school district divided by, when applicable, the sum of the total wealth pupil units and, if the district's number of resident students enrolled in non-public school is more than
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01799-01-7
A. 1661 2
twice the number of resident students enrolled in public school and if the public school enrollment is over one thousand, twenty-five per centum of the resident students enrolled in non-public school of the district, is divided by the statewide average selected actual valuation per total wealth pupil unit as computed by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such statewide average selected actual valuation per total wealth pupil unit shall be established each year by the commissioner using the selected actual valuation computed under paragraph c of subdivision one of this section. Such statewide average shall be transmitted to the school districts. Such statewide average shall be rounded to the nearest hundredth and shall include the selected actual valuation and total wealth pupil units of all school districts eligible for aid pursuant to this section except central high school districts. For the purposes of calculating such statewide average the data for the city school district of the city of New York shall be citywide data.
b. (1) "Alternate pupil wealth ratio" shall mean the number computed to three decimals without rounding obtained when the adjusted gross income of a school district for the calendar year two years prior to the calendar year in which the base year began divided by, when applicable, the sum of the total wealth pupil units of such district and, if the district's number of resident students enrolled in non-public school is more than twice the number of resident students enrolled in public school and if the public school enrollment is over one thousand, twenty-five per centum of the resident students enrolled in non-public school of the district is divided by the statewide adjusted gross income per total wealth pupil unit. Such statewide average gross income per pupil shall be established each year by the commissioner and shall be transmitted to school districts. Such statewide average shall be rounded to the nearest hundredth and shall include the adjusted gross income and total wealth pupil units of all school districts eligible for aid pursuant to this section except central high school districts. For the purposes of calculating such statewide average the data for the city school district of the city of New York shall be citywide data.
(2) "Alternate pupil wealth ratio for total foundation aid" shall mean the number computed to three decimals without rounding obtained when the selected adjusted gross income of a school district for the calendar year two years prior to the calendar year in which the base year began divided by, when applicable, the sum of the total wealth pupil units of such district and, if the district's number of resident students enrolled in non-public school is more than twice the number of resident students enrolled in public school and if the public school enrollment is over one thousand, twenty-five per centum of the resident students enrolled in non-public school of the district is divided by the statewide selected adjusted gross income per total wealth pupil unit. Such statewide average selected adjusted gross income per pupil shall be established each year by the commissioner and shall be transmitted to school districts. Such statewide average shall be rounded to the nearest hundredth and shall include the selected adjusted gross income and total wealth pupil units of all school districts eligible for aid pursuant to this section except central high school districts. For the purposes of calculating such statewide average the data for the city school district of the city of New York shall be citywide data.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.