ERASE RACISM STATEMENT ON THE ROCKEFELLER INSTITUTE’S REPORT ON FOUNDATION AID


Syosset, NY – December 11, 2024 – Laura Harding, President of ERASE Racism, issued the following statement today on the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s new report titled “A Review of New York State's Foundation Aid Education Funding Formula with Recommendations for Improvement.” The report, commissioned by the State of New York, follows a series of public hearings held across the state by the Rockefeller Institute. Laura Harding testified as an invited presenter at the public hearing on Long Island in July. ERASE Racism student interns from three Long Island school districts were the only students to testify at the Long Island hearings.

Laura Harding states:

“The Rockefeller Institute report is a step in the right direction; however, much like the State’s actions, it falls short of the changes needed for New York to meet its constitutional obligation to all of its students, especially those with the highest needs.

ERASE Racism is pleased with the Rockefeller Institute report’s acknowledgment that the formula is outdated and has led to inequities in funding, and an increased educational gap between wealthy school districts and those serving high-need students as a result of years of delays in fully funding Foundation Aid. All of which is evidenced by this year’s New York State Budget, which despite funding Foundation Aid at $24.9 billion, its highest level ever, still fails to provide the educational services that students in high-needs districts deserve, while favoring wealthier districts.

The report did list some important recommendations to address current inequities including, but not limited to, updating the formula and phasing out the State’s “hold harmless” approach, which perpetuates inequities by requiring that no district lose funding, even if a district has declining enrollment, thereby perpetuating deeply entrenched inequity and disparity. These findings are in alignment with ERASE Racism’s analysis and recommendations in our 2023 research report “Empire State Inequity: A decade of school funding disparity and its effects,” which documents the inequity. These recommendations are important first steps to begin moving to equitable Foundation Aid funding.

The report’s recommendations, however, are not strong or comprehensive enough to address the identified inequities, and its reticence to be bolder implies that further delay is reasonable. Yet further delay will only continue to leave students in high-needs districts without the education the State Constitution requires. It does so at a time when those districts continue to struggle with the academic, mental health, housing, and other challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s time for the State to make the important and necessary changes to the Foundation Aid formula – with a focus on addressing inequity and ensuring districts with high-needs students are treated fairly and equitably. Despite producing some important recommendations, the Rockefeller Institute was not allotted the requisite time needed for a report of this importance. The Governor and State Legislature should not accept this report as a job fulfilled or as an acknowledgement that the existing inequities have been fully addressed. Instead, they should move ahead with the half-steps recommended to change and update the formula itself, and appoint a commission of experts to continue to study the Foundation Aid formula, in light of the report, and conduct additional research for a year to resolve the identified inequities created by its past funding.”


To speak with Laura Harding, contact Henry Miller – hmiller@highimpactpartnering.com or 917-921-8034.



ERASE Racism is a New York-based civil rights organization that exposes and addresses the devastating impact of historical and ongoing structural racism, particularly in public school education and housing. It does so through research, policy advocacy, legal action, and educating and mobilizing the public – driving policy change at local, regional and statewide levels and through national coalitions. It has been recognized locally and nationally for its cutting-edge work.