Last spring, the people of New York State won a historic victory for their public schools: the state legislature finally began fulfilling a more equitable school funding formula, known as Foundation Aid. This win is near and dear to our hearts at Schott, as we were one of the first grantmakers to support this bold campaign at its start in 1993 and have supported the efforts ever since.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced her proposed budget, which serves as a reminder that even after winning, advocates must keep up the pressure on policymakers to follow through. The proposed increase in Foundation Aid for New York City Public Schools is $349 million, but the majority of that, 57%, would go to institutions that only serve 14% of the student population: charter schools.

The per-pupil funding disparity in New York City is not new: it has been baked into state law for years. According to estimates by Schott grantee partner, the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), school funding increases have significantly skewed toward charter schools. From 2019-2021, public schools received an average increase of $471 per student, while charter schools received an average increase of $2,325 per student.

This is the hidden danger behind the otherwise good news of increased funding for schools: unless inequities are rooted out of state and district financing policies, every new dollar increases unfair disparities.

Pushing for more equitable Foundation Aid policies isn’t the only thing on AQE’s agenda: they’re also advocating for statewide universal child care, a $5 billion investment in New York’s children and the care workers who provide for them. The funding is there, from the $6.4 billion budget surplus to billions in federal support and new tax revenue. As AQE Executive Director Jasmine Gripper co-wrote in the NY Daily News, the state would see “up to $16 in benefits every year for every dollar of public money targeted towards high-quality education and care.”

Fair funding. Childcare. Ending the school-to-prison pipeline. Culturally responsive curriculum. Parents, youth, and educators across the country are seizing this moment to shift public education in profoundly more just and equitable directions. These moments don’t last forever, which is why Schott supports them through grants, research, and technical assistance. To join us, give to the Loving Communities Response Fund, a participatory fund in which grassroots leaders themselves help determine where your generous donation can best be spent.