Senator Mayer Joins Rally for Equity in Foundation Aid Funding [Journal News]

We need new assessments of poverty and more," Senator Mayer said. "But we can't start by compromising on the amount of money needed for equity."

Now Democrats leading the Assembly and Senate are expected to change the game.

State Sen. Shelley Mayer, D-Yonkers, the new chair of the Senate Education Committee, came to Saturday's rally and said Cuomo's budget proposal, which would increase foundation aid by $338 million, is not a serious starting point for negotiations. She wants to start with the state Board of Regents' proposal that would increase state education aid by $2.1 billion, including $1.66 billion in foundation aid.

Once the money is there, she told me, legislators and education officials can look at updating and improving the foundation aid formula itself.