Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Education Chair Catherine Nolan today announced the SFY 2013-2014 Budget agreement allocates $21.2 billion in aid for local school districts for the 2013-2014 School Year (SY). Formula Aid will be distributed in the amount of $20.8 billion. This is an increase of $936 million over SY 2012-2013.

Foundation Aid will increase by $171.3 million and Gap Elimination Aid will increase by $517.4 million over SY 2012-2013.

"The Assembly Majority has always put the children in our classrooms first. This budget takes important steps to protect quality education programs in districts across the State. From critical prekindergarten programs and support for students with special needs to reinforcing our core curriculum, we are providing our students and teachers access to the tools they need to build the knowledge and the skills to compete against the world for the jobs and opportunities of tomorrow," said Silver.

"I am pleased to work with my colleagues in the Assembly Majority to deliver a budget that preserves critical assistance to New York State's schools. The education of our children remains our top priority. This investment in public education, which strengthens our schools, encourages innovation and fosters positive learning environments, is an investment in the future of the Empire State," said Nolan.

The budget agreement includes $25 million for the creation of additional half-day and full-day prekindergarten slots as well as $20 million for Extended Learning Time.

In addition, the enacted budget will include:

• $14.26 million for Teacher Resource and Computer Training Centers;
• $86.9 million in Aid to Public Libraries;
• $137.5 million in Aid to Nonpublic schools;
• $4.5 million for Safety Equipment for Nonpublic Schools;
• $693,000 for the conservation and preservation of library materials and the Talking Book and Braille Library;
• $16.8 million for summer programs for the Blind and Deaf in order to prevent the up-front cost shift onto school districts for these programs;
• $5.16 million for the administration of the High School Equivalency Diploma exam;
• $5.2 million for Adult Literacy Education;
• $1 million for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) transition funding;
• $150,000 for the Executive Leadership Institute;
• $250,000 for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards;
• $6.9 million for Supplemental Valuation Impact Grants;
• $250,000 for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at SUNY Albany; and
• $450,000 for the Council of the Humanities.

Districts that were subject to the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) penalty in the current year will not sustain the penalty in successive school years. Therefore, the APPR penalty to New York City and other districts will be addressed with the restoration of $240 million for future years.

The budget agreement also authorizes the State Education Department to establish a teacher and principal bar exam and require higher quality student teacher experience.