Power of Ten Update
Special Edition: State Aid Analysis and Action
As a result of the fiscal monitor’s report, which detailed the reckless mismanagement of the school board over the past eight years, NY State is currently considering helping East Ramapo with more funding. The school board has been lobbying hard for a change to the “formula” which is used by the state to decide how much money to give to school districts. Is this the right way to help East Ramapo? The wealthiest districts in New York get much less state aid, averaging less than $2000 per pupil, while the poorest get over $10,000. East Ramapo has been getting about $6,000 per pupil, less than the terribly poor districts upstate, but about double our closest neighbors in Rockland. That’s because the aid formula takes into account that we have more non-public school students, more English language learners, and more low income students. An analysis is available at http://poweroften.us/state-aid-q-and-a/
Money will be needed to resolve the problems caused by the school board’s actions. That money must come with controls to prevent a repeat of the last eight years. Fortunately, there is already an existing program that does exactly that. It is called the “Contracts for Excellence” grant program. The Contracts for Excellence (C4E) Program was established in 2007 to provide additional accountability for increased State Aid for low performing school districts. C4E is a comprehensive approach to targeting fiscal resources to specific allowable programs proven to raise the achievement of the students with the greatest educational need. Districts required to enter a contract must document the schools, programs, and student subgroups to be targeted for funding, along with specific, achievable performance improvements that will result.
Sign the petition at: http://poweroften.us/demand-excellence/ to urge NY State decision makers to require East Ramapo to enter into the C4E program as a way of providing more funds that are targeted to our needs.