The state Education Department and Board of Regents are working to secure additional federal taxpayer for local school districts.

When the state Legislature approved the state’s 2020-21 budget in April, state aid to schools was kept at the same level as the 2019-20 budget with the understanding that if state revenues decrease, state aid to schools and other local governments would also be decreased. The federal CARES Act included additional federal funding, but local school districts are finding that the additional federal money is replacing state aid that was allocated in the state budget.

“The CARES Act, as part of the enacted budget this year, the governor announced a pandemic adjustment which takes into account the CARES Act funding to offset the state aid for local school districts across the state,” said Shannon Tahoe, interim state education commissioner.

Regent Fran Wills expressed concern that additional federal stimulus money to schools is being to offset existing state aid rather than augmenting state aid. Phyllis Morris, state Board of Regents chief financial officer, said there were two funding streams for schools in the CARES Act. One provided $1.037 billion through the Elementary and Secondary Relief Fund while another is a Governor’s Fund that includes $164.2 million. New York’s allocations through both funds have been programmed.

“This aid is very flexible,” Morris said. The federal funds are allocated via the Title 1 Part A formula so they can be used for broader purposes. Districts can use the funds for a variety of purposes. The challenge will be that is replacing what they would otherwise have been receiving from state funding. I understand the concern.”

Tahoe said the state Board of Regents is working to secure additional federal funding for schools.

“This is something that everybody is concerned with,” Tahoe said.

“We know all of our schools are being asked to do more than ever before with nutrition, child care for our first responders, so many various different things providing distance learning, making sure their teachers have the resources they need, the training they need to support that. I spoke to the federal government last week, we’re also going to be providing a federal government letter requesting additional federal funding to support our school districts. That’s something the chancellor and I are committed to and we’ve discussed. You’re absolutely right. We need add resources for our schools to provide theese critical resources to our students.”