What's happening
This bill changes the calculation of the "pupil wealth ratio" for school aid by factoring in large non-public school student populations in certain districts.
Why it matters
Expands state aid consideration for districts with large non-public school populations. The bill targets districts where non-public school enrollments are more than twice the public school enrollments (and public enrollment exceeds 1,000), allowing a portion of non-public students to be factored into state aid calculations. This could increase aid for certain districts with significant private or parochial school attendance.
Aims to adjust perceived district “wealth” for fairness. By including 25% of non-public school students in the “pupil wealth ratio,” the formula may better reflect the true tax burden and resource needs of districts where many families opt out of public schools. This could help address the funding inequities in areas with an unusually high concentration of non-public school students.
Potentially shifts funding distribution among school districts. Districts meeting the new criteria might see increased state funding, while others could experience relative decreases if overall aid pools remain flat. This adjustment may respond to longstanding concerns from certain communities about being "penalized" for high non-public school attendance.
Could influence district and family decisions. The change may impact how districts plan budgets and how families perceive the benefits of public versus non-public education, possibly affecting future enrollment trends and local education policy debates.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change School Wealth 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.
Update School Funding 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
7168
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 10, 2019
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.
LBD05283-01-9
A. 7168 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.