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Rochester leaders urge fair charter school funding boost in state budget
(Depositphotos)
(Depositphotos)
Rochester leaders urge fair charter school funding boost in state budget
Listen to this articleRochester-area charter school students deserve the same funding fairness as their peers across upstate New York, local business and community leaders say.
They are calling on Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Education Committee Chairman Michael Benedetto, Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley B. Mayer and members of the Rochester legislative delegation to correct what they call a longstanding funding inequity affecting nearly 10,000 charter school students in the region.
Currently, Rochester-area charter schools receive $14,277 per student, the lowest per-pupil funding level among upstate charter schools. By comparison, charter school funding levels are significantly higher in other upstate cities: Buffalo receives $16,140 per student, Syracuse $15,472, Albany $19,196, and Poughkeepsie $18,612, according to data provided by Rochester Area Business Leadership Stands United.
To address this disparity, Rochester leaders are urging state policymakers to begin correcting the imbalance in the 2026-2027 New York State budget. They say a fair and reasonable solution would be to raise Rochester charter funding to at least the average upstate charter funding level of $16,739.40 per student.
This adjustment — an increase of $2,462 per student — would help ensure charter schools have the resources needed to continue improving academic performance and expanding opportunities for local students.
“Rochester’s call for fairness is both justified and necessary in educating our future workforce,” the group stated.
Organizations and leaders supporting this effort include the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Enterprise and UNiCON Rochester, along with numerous business and community leaders throughout the region.
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