Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (D-Sag Harbor) has co-sponsored legislation with Assemblymember Sayegh to update the School Funding Formula and allow certain high-need school districts to receive an additional supplemental building aid ratio.

The package of bills co-sponsored by Assemblyman Thiele includes:

• A.67, Enacts the "Education Funding Census Update Act"; updates the census numbers used to calculate certain education funding.
• A.96, Enacts the "Rebuild Our Schools Act"; relates to the apportionment of moneys for capital outlays and debt service for school building purposes.
• A.103, Enacts the "School Aid Equity Act"; increases foundation aid for school districts in a high wealth ratio county that meet five variables impacting academic success: free or reduced lunch, English language learners, wealth ratio, enrollment and special education.

Assemblyman Thiele stated, “More and more demands are being placed on local school districts to meet higher standards. It is imperative that New York State reviews its antiquated funding formula, which is still using an obsolete 23-year-old census to proscribe foundation aid funding for school districts. To achieve better quality education for all, there must be adequate support from the state. I am proud to co-sponsor these bills, which, if enacted, would bolster necessary school capital projects and provide essential funding to our school districts here on the East End and across the state.”