83% of Schools Welcoming Newcomer Students Faced Budget Cuts Earlier This Year, NYC Comptroller Analysis Finds

New York, NY – A new analysis from the NYC Comptroller’s Office found that the majority of schools welcoming new students from families seeking asylum faced budget cuts earlier this year and many are due far more in per pupil funding than they have yet received from the Department of Education. The Comptroller’s office analysis estimated that 368 schools enrolling newcomer students are due more than $39 million in Fair Student Funding, calculated using the enrollment-based formula that provides schools with their budgets and factors in weights for various student needs.

“New York City schools are opening their arms to new students as only this city of immigrants can, but they need all the help they can get to meet this challenge,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “As the city moves beyond standing up emergency measures in response to the arrival of asylum seekers in NYC, it’s time to make comprehensive funding plans to meet the needs of these students and ensure that the schools welcoming them have the programming and support staff needed to help them succeed.”

On October 31st, DOE released School Allocation Memorandum 65, which provided $12 million for schools with 6 or more newcomer students ($2,000 per student) that can be spent for per diem or per session staff, but not new permanent teaching staff, counselors, social workers or paraprofessionals. The memorandum showed that students are concentrated in a small number of schools based on shelter proximity, not necessarily based on preexisting capacity (bilingual teachers, dual language programs, social emotional and wellness supports) to meet these students’ needs.

Of the schools welcoming new students, 83% saw FSF budget cuts already this year, and 36% faced a cut of 10% or more of their FSF funding. Schools that are already operating at a deficit of resources are now stretching as dozens of new students enroll. For example, one District 2 school saw a 35% cut in FSF funding this year. The school has welcomed 61 newcomer students and is receiving a SAM 65 allocation of $122,000, far less than the estimated $435,000 in per pupil FSF funding for these students, which usually comes after the mid-year enrollment adjustment.

The Comptroller called on the Department of Education to develop a plan to provide schools with ongoing funding for newcomer students including allowing principals to hire staff with the new SAM 65 funding and prioritizing schools with newcomer students for the full amount of FSF funding their new enrollment entitles them to now rather than the 75% they typically receive in November.

The analysis is available here: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/students-from-families-seeking-asylum.

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