Provides for inclusion of the school district's regional cost index in calculating the supplemental education improvement plan grant amount for Yonkers city school district.
Summary
This bill amends the Education Law to change how the supplemental educational improvement plan grant is calculated for the Yonkers City School District. Under current law, the district receives a fixed annual grant amount of $17.5 million; the bill would require that amount to be multiplied by the district’s regional cost index, as defined in the Education Law, before being paid each year. The grant would continue to be funded through appropriations and distributed under the existing state payment schedule for school aid.
In practical terms, the measure would increase or otherwise adjust the Yonkers grant to reflect local cost differences, rather than leaving it at a flat dollar amount. The bill takes effect immediately and is narrowly targeted to one school district, making it a specific aid formula change rather than a broad statewide school finance overhaul.
Impact
The bill would amend section 3641 of the Education Law to revise the statutory formula for the Yonkers City School District’s supplemental educational improvement plan grant. It would tie the grant to the district’s regional cost index under section 3602, which could increase the annual payment above the current fixed amount depending on the index value. The change affects state education aid calculations and the distribution of appropriated funds to Yonkers, while leaving the existing payment mechanism in section 3609-a in place.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal debate or roll-call sentiment is available. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears technical and supportive of the Yonkers school district, with an apparent policy goal of aligning aid with local costs. The absence of opposition or recorded controversy suggests the bill may be routine or district-specific rather than broadly contentious.
Contention
The main substantive issue is whether the Yonkers City School District should receive a grant based on a fixed dollar amount or one adjusted by the regional cost index. Supporters would likely argue that using the index better reflects the district’s actual operating costs and provides more equitable funding. Potential critics, if any, could raise concerns about increasing state aid for a single district or about setting a precedent for other districts to seek similar formula changes. No specific objections are documented in the provided record.