skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, February 7, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Critics: Proposed NYS funding formula shortchanges districts

play audio
Play

Monday, January 27, 2025   

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2026 education budget proposal changes school funding, and some critics say it's unfair.

The formula hasn't changed in almost 20 years and uses poverty data from the 2000 census.

While advocates say the new formula improves school funding, some believe it could shortchange New York City Public Schools.

Randi Levine, policy director with Advocates for Children of New York, said this is because the formula uses the federal poverty measure.

"Making ends meet as a family of four on $30,000 is incredibly difficult in New York City, and means something very different in New York City than in other parts of the state," said Levine. "But, there are no updates in the formula to take into account those regional variations."

She said the formula's regional cost difference index is outdated too, but there are calls to update it.

Legislators will take a look during the elementary and secondary education budget hearing on January 29. Those looking to testify can learn more online at nyassembly.gov.

These concerns stem from a Rockefeller Institute study about updating New York's school funding formula. Levine said the study mentions other options that could fund schools statewide more fairly.

This includes giving higher weight to districts with higher student poverty rates. Levine said lawmakers must come together to fill the funding gap.

"We need our New York City state legislators to do all they can to ensure New York City students get the resources they need," said Levine. "It is not acceptable for New York City to lose funding that is supposed to go to helping low-income students get a high-quality education."

She added that the current formula's reliance on data from free and reduced-price lunch forms is outdated, since New York City has universal free meals.

Levine pointed out that another formula change, proposed by Hochul, is replacing eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch with a broader definition of economically disadvantaged students - which may more accurately reflect some students' needs.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


play sound

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Environment

play sound

Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …


Florida immigrant advocacy groups are intensifying efforts to help undocumented individuals navigate encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. (David Peinado/Pexels)

Social Issues

play sound

Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …

Social Issues

play sound

The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

Gov. Kathy Hochul's free community college proposal would apply to people pursuing first-time associate degrees for jobs in high-demand fields, including nursing, teaching, technology and engineering. (Adobe Stock)

play sound

New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Social Issues

play sound

Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021