New York City’s public school system has seen a substantial increase in funding since 2020, despite a significant drop in student enrollment by almost 100,000 students during that time. Per-student spending is expected to reach $39,304 for the upcoming fiscal year 2025 budget, a significant increase of 26.3% or $8,185 more per student since 2020. Mayor Eric Adams has proposed a 10.2% increase in city taxpayer funding for the public school system, which would help offset the $2.4 billion phase-out of federal pandemic aid given to the Department of Education (DOE).
According to a recent analysis by the Citizens Budget Commission (CBC), total DOE expenditures are projected to reach $39.8 billion in fiscal year 2024, marking an increase of $5.2 billion or 15.2% since fiscal year 2020. The increase in funding has been driven by rising city spending from $19.7 billion to $20.6 billion and an increase in state aid from $12.3 billion to $14.2 billion from 2020 to 2024. Additionally, federal funds funneled to the DOE have jumped from $2.1 billion in 2020 to $4.6 billion in 2024, further contributing to the rise in total expenditures.
Despite the increase in funding, the DOE has experienced a significant decrease in student enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the loss of over 100,000 students between fiscal years 2020 and 2023. The city now projects an increase of 10,355 K-12 students for the current year and the next, partially due to an influx of migrants. However, the DOE still has 94,019 fewer students compared to the pre-COVID era, according to the CBC report.
During a City Council budget hearing, members expressed a desire to increase education spending in the final budget negotiations with City Hall. The Council is advocating for additional funding for early education pre-K and 3-K programs, pushing for $170 million more than what the mayor recommended. There is also a concern about a significant gap in the DOE budget of over $200 million resulting from the loss of federal aid that was not replaced by city and state funding. Councilwoman Rita Joseph raised this issue during the hearing with Schools Chancellor David Banks, highlighting the need for additional funding to address the shortfall.
In response to the budget concerns, education officials and the Council are awaiting a report that will outline the demand for early childhood education seats and areas where additional funding is needed. The Council is prioritizing education spending and advocating for resources to support the city’s public school system, especially in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent decline in student enrollment. The push for increased funding for education programs reflects a commitment to ensuring that students in New York City receive a quality education and have access to the necessary resources and support to succeed.
