Approved SFY 2022-23 Budget Includes Historic $31.2 Billion Investment in School Aid

Speaker Carl Heastie and Education Committee Chair Michael Benedetto today announced the approved State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 Budget will include $31.2 billion in funding to General Support for Public Schools (GSPS), an increase of $2.1 billion, or 7 percent over the 2021-22 school year (SY). The enacted budget also includes $21.3 billion in Foundation Aid, an increase of $1.5 billion over SFY 2021-22.

“For years, the Assembly Majority has been a tireless advocate for our public schools because we know that an investment in the education of our children is an investment in the future of New York,” said Speaker Heastie. “This historic investment reflects our continued commitment to our students and our public schools as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The Assembly Majority has always fought to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to provide every student with a high quality public education,” said Assemblymember Benedetto. “After nearly two years of interrupted education and uncertainty, this funding will ensure our students and our schools are able to not only get back to normal, but to thrive.”

The approved budget includes a $1.1 billion investment in Universal Prekindergarten (UPK), which is $125 million above last year. Additionally, UPK will grow by an additional $250 million over the next two years giving every school district the opportunity to access state funding for UPK and increasing the state’s investment in UPK by $375 million over three years.

The SFY 2022-23 Budget also includes $100 million over two years for the Recover from COVID Schools Program (RECOVS), which provides matching funds for enhanced education or mental health support and would expand the allowable source of matching funds beyond federal stimulus funds. Additionally, BOCES would be eligible to apply for these grants.

The approved budget maintains funding for Community School Aid at $250 million. Community schools take a holistic approach to educating students by acting as community hubs and offering wrap around services including academic, health, mental health, social services and afterschool programs to students and their families.

Six years ago, New York became the first state in the nation to fund the My Brother’s Keeper initiative. The initiative focuses on family and community engagement, professional development, the expansion and development of exemplary school practices and models, and addresses issues related to restorative justice and racial disparities in education. The SFY 2022-23 Budget includes $18 million in ongoing funding for My Brother’s Keeper programs, for a total of $126 million in funding since the program’s creation.