What's happening
This bill changes how the "pupil wealth ratio" is calculated for school aid, factoring in districts with large non-public school enrollments.
Why it matters
Addresses funding fairness for districts with high non-public school enrollment. By adjusting the "pupil wealth ratio" calculation when a district has more than twice as many resident students in non-public schools compared to public schools (and over 1,000 public school enrollees), the bill seeks to account for districts that educate a significant portion of local children indirectly, impacting how their relative wealth is measured for state aid.
Could result in increased state aid for certain districts. Factoring a portion (25%) of non-public school students into the aid formula may lower the calculated wealth per pupil in qualifying districts, potentially making them appear less affluent and thus eligible for more state funding.
Recognizes demographic realities in specific communities. The amendment targets districts where non-public school attendance dramatically outweighs public school enrollment—a situation found in some religious or private school-heavy communities—ensuring these districts aren’t disadvantaged in state funding calculations because so many resident children attend non-public institutions.
May set precedent for further adjustments based on enrollment patterns. By acknowledging non-public enrollment in state aid formulas, the bill could prompt future debates or policy shifts about how public funds are allocated in areas with diverse educational choices.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
School districts with large nonpublic-school populations
Districts with more than 1,000 public-school students and more than twice as many resident nonpublic-school students would add 25% of their resident nonpublic-school enrollment to the pupil count used in four school-aid wealth ratios.
School district budget officials
Qualifying districts would have lower calculated property-wealth and income-wealth ratios, changing inputs used to determine school aid, including foundation aid.
State education officials
They would need to apply the new enrollment adjustment when calculating qualifying districts’ pupil wealth ratios.
Headline styles
Update School Funding Formula
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
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 Wealth Formula
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
148
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
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 selected actual valuation of a school district divided by, when applicable, the sum of the total wealth pupil units and, if the district's
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05283-01-9
S. 148 2
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.
§ 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
2017-18: S782/A1661 - EDUCATION/education 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.