Rockefeller Institute holding hearings on Foundation Aid

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The SUNY Rockefeller Institute of Government announced public hearings on New York's Foundation Aid formula for funding education. They'll hold five hearings across New York in July and August.

They're conducting a study, and want New Yorkers to comment on the formula and take part in discussions about how to modify it. Although hearings are open to the public, the Rockefeller Insitute would especially like to hear from students, school families, teachers, staff, administrators, and school board members.

Check out the dates and times of the hearings:

Interested in giving feedback? You can participate in two ways:

• Sign up to speak at a public hearing
• Comment online by September 7

If you register to provide input at a hearing, the Rockefeller Institute will follow up to confirm your spot. Each confirmed speaker gets two minutes to present, and their testimony will be recorded and shared publicly. At each of the hearings listed above, organizers will also invite speakers. They'll speak at the hearings starting at 2 p.m., and registered speakers from the public will start at 5:30 p.m.

After the hearings, the Rockefeller Institute will incorporate submissions into their study assessing the Foundation Aid formula. That study is scheduled to be presented in December to the governor and the heads of both houses of the legislature.

"These hearings provide an opportunity for all concerned New Yorkers to make their voices heard," said State Sen. Shelley Mayer, whose 37th district lies just north of New York City. "I encourage all interested parties to use their voice and participate in these hearings."

Enacted in 2007, the Foundation Aid formula determines how resources go out to each school district. Previously, thirty separate school aid programs distributed funds. The current formula allocates roughly $25 billion to local districts. Contact the Rockefeller Institute via email if you have any questions.