State Foundation Aid: ThoughtExchange Findings

The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District recently asked the community for feedback on an anticipated 21.4 percent increase in state foundation aid for the 2023-24 school year. That’s an increase of $2,098,322 from the previous year. 

Foundation aid is the amount of aid distributed to a school district as determined by the state budget. Given the proposed historic increase in state aid, the district asked for input from parents/guardians, staff, and other stakeholders on the best ways to utilize the funding through a ThoughtExchange.

Participants were able to indicate which immediate needs they felt should be a priority when it comes to utilizing state funding. Here are the results:

    • 54% – addressing student social-emotional health
    • 47% – providing support for students who are at risk of not meeting state learning standards in core academic subject areas
    • 38% – reduce class sizes
    • 29% – other 
    • 28% – provide resources to English language learners, students with disabilities and students experiencing homelessness
    • 20% – increase graduation rates and eliminate the achievement gap
    • 9% – detailed summaries of investments in current year initiatives and balance funds spent in priority areas
    • 8% – goals and ratios for pupil support

The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District values and appreciates this feedback. 

The proposed 2023-24 budget will address a number of these areas including moving elementary ELL students to their home schools, an increase in curriculum and professional development funding, continued social-emotional health supports, and safety related upgrades. 

District residents will vote on the proposed budget May 16. Absentee ballots will be available.