What's happening
This bill changes how the "pupil wealth ratio" is calculated for school aid by including some non-public school students in certain districts.
Why it matters
Alters school aid formulas for certain districts. By including a portion of non-public school students in the "pupil wealth ratio" calculation—but only in districts where non-public enrollment is more than double public enrollment and public enrollment exceeds 1,000—the bill changes how a district’s relative wealth is assessed for state aid.
Could increase state aid for select districts. Districts meeting these criteria may appear "less wealthy" per pupil under the revised formula, potentially qualifying them for more state funding, which could impact local property taxes and resource allocation.
Targets districts with large non-public student populations. This change is especially relevant for areas with significant private, parochial, or other non-public school attendance (e.g., certain suburban or urban communities), acknowledging that these students’ families contribute to the local tax base even though their children do not attend public schools.
May shift funding dynamics between districts. By modifying the calculation in only a subset of districts, the bill could lead to redistribution of state education funds, potentially affecting funding levels for both qualifying and non-qualifying districts across the state.
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Change School Aid Formula
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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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 Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
782
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01799-01-7
S. 782 2
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 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.
S. 782 3
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to the calculation of the "pupil wealth ratio" for school aid purposes
Purpose
This bill would amend tie calculation of the combined wealth ratio to take into account certain characteristics of unique school districts.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends paragraphs a and b of subdivision 3 of section 3602 of the education law as it relates to amending the calculation of the combined wealth ratio. Certain districts that have more than twice as many non-public students than public students and have at least one thousand public students will add twenty five percent of the non-public students with the total wealth pupil units when calculating the combined wealth ratio.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
The combined wealth ratio measures the wealth of a school district using factors of income and home values within the district. These measures are divided by the public students in the district and compared to statewide averages. In certain districts that have large non-public student populations, the combined wealth ratio does not accurately represent the district's actual wealth. The combined wealth ratio can be skewed because it does not account for the uniqueness of certain school districts.
This bill will provide an exception for school districts that meet the following criteria: 1) the non-public enrollment is more than double the public enrollment and, 2) the public enrollment is at least one thousand students. If a school district meets these criteria, the combined wealth ratio will utilize the total public school enrollment plus twenty five percent of the non-public enrollment in its calculation.
Legislative history
2015-16: S1187/A1637 - Education/Education 2013-14: S4796/A6879 - Education Committee/Education Committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.