March 24, 2015. The governor’s Executive Budget proposal would increase school aid by $1.07 billion. The increase in school aid is contingent on passage of a package of changes to teacher evaluation, tenure, and other procedures called the Education Opportunity Agenda. The budget also includes an Education Tax Credit which would provide a large credit for donations to schools and the Dream Act which would provide tuition assistance to undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children. The Assembly’s proposed budget would increase school aid by $1.8 billion without contingencies and includes the Dream Act but not the Education Tax credit. The Senate’s proposed budget would increase school aid by $1.9 billion and includes a modified Education Tax Credit but not the Dream Act.
The Executive Budget would also establish a grant program for pre-Kindergarten for 3 year olds and raises the charter school cap and a small increase in funding. Neither the Assembly nor the Senate included the grants for pre-Kindergarten for 3 year olds. Only the Senate would raise the charter cap and increase their funding.
Click here for details on the Executive, Assembly, and Senate education proposals.