ALBANY, 03/29/12 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) today commented on the education aid portion of the 2012-2013 state budget:

“Providing our upstate rural schools with the resources they need to help our students achieve more in the classroom has always been a high priority of mine.  This year I fought diligently to funnel more state dollars to high need, low wealth districts – keeping in mind New York’s fiscal condition.  The final per-pupil aid figures reflect that successful effort.”

The final legislative budget agreement provides an additional $480.80 in state aid per pupil to students enrolled in low wealth districts, while average wealth districts will receive an additional $225.88 per student and high wealth districts will receive only an additional $91.84.

Senator Seward also helped redirect $200 million of the governor’s proposed $250 million in competitive grants to reduce the gap elimination adjustment and provide additional foundation aid bringing the total direct year-to-year education aid increase to $755 million.

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The complete school run list can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/87247907/School-Runs.