State Budget Passes, Bringing Record School Aid
New York Charter Schools to see per-pupil increase in 2026-27
The New York State Legislature passed the long-awaited state budget on May 28, 2026, agreeing on a $268.5 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2027 that delivers the highest level of state school aid in New York history.
How will this impact your school? Every NY public charter school will see an increase in per-pupil funding in the 2026-27 school year. To see how this increase affects your school’s projections, click here to use our updated Charter School Tuition Calculator.
Note: The link above confidently provides unofficial projections for 26-27. With the extreme lateness of our budget, SED will confirm final numbers soon but in the meantime, the calculations we provided can and should be used for budgeting purposes.
This is one of many positive outcomes across the state. Select the topics below to find highlights. We will share more detail on the latest budget as they become clear.
Devotes $39 Billion to School Aid
This brings a record investment into New York’s public district and public charter schools, along with a meaningful expansion of free college access and a new statewide investment in adolescent mental health.
2% Increase in Foundation Aid
Every district and charter school is promised a 2% increase to Foundation Aid, totaling $27 billion. This means every public charter school will see an increase in per-pupil funding.
Adjustments to Foundation Aid Formula
Slight adjustments to the Foundation Aid Formula provide additional aid for English language learners, students in foster care, and students experiencing homelessness.
$1.6 billion for Universal Pre-K Aid
$1.6 billion in total for the 2026-27 school year builds toward universal Pre-K statewide by the 2028–29 school year.
Continued cellphone restrictions
The statewide ban on smart devices in the classroom will continue, adding flexibility to how districts implement their policies.
Other education spending
$4.5 billion for child care and pre-kindergarten services statewide, including an increase to funding for universal, affordable child care by $1.7 billion
$17.5 million to make Teen Mental Health First Aid training available to all 10th graders across New York State, a first-in-the-nation action
$35 million for career and technical education programs
$395 million for Universal Free School Meals
This funding will support all K-12 students, marking the second consecutive year of the program