NO SCHOOL: Holiday Recess 12/23–1/1
2021-22 budget information
The City School District of Albany begins its budget-development process in the fall, looking ahead to the following school year. These initial steps include working with building and department leaders to establish priorities for the year to come that are aligned with the district’s vision, mission and goals, developing and advocating for legislative priorities, and developing the annual budget calendar.
2021-22 budget updates
Virtual Community Budget Presentation (May 15)
Virtual Community Budget Presentation (May 11)
Board of Education budget presentation (May 6)
- View video presentation (Budget presentation begins at 1:41.06)
- View the presentation slide deck
CANA community presentation (May 5)
NAACP community presentation (April 27)
Board of Education update (April 22)
Board of Education update (April 19)
Academic plan discussion
Budget discussion
Board of Education update (April 15)
Academic plan discussion
Budget discussion
Board of Education update (April 1)
Board of Education update (March 29)
Board of Education update (March 18)
Board of Education update (March 4)
Board of Education update (Feb. 11)
Board of Education update (Jan. 21)
We're sorry, no events were found for this calendar.
Voting information
The district will return to in-person voting for this year’s vote, with an important additional absentee option due to COVID-19.
For more information, please visit our voting information page.
Community Budget Committee
New this school year, the Community Budget Committee is participating in the district’s budget-development process with a goal of providing input to the Board of Education on community priorities and areas residents would like to see resources directed for the 2021-22 school year.
The process allows committee members to work alongside district employees to develop an understanding of district revenue sources, mandated programs and services, and resource allocation in support of the district’s vision, mission and goals.
Resources from the meetings are available below.
In addition to the recording below, you can also download a .pdf of the slide deck from the presentation.
In addition to the recording below, you can also download a .pdf of the slide deck from the presentation.
In addition to the recording below, you can also download a .pdf of the slide deck from the presentation.
In addition to the recording below, you can also download a .pdf of the slide deck from the presentation.
Legislative priorities
At the start of each school year, the Board of Education’s Government Relations Committee takes the lead in shaping the district’s top legislative priorities for the next fiscal year in partnership with the superintendent and staff.
Committee members then engage in an active cycle of legislative advocacy throughout the fall, winter and spring to educate state leaders on the district’s top priorities and the related benefits for students and families.
These are the district’s top legislative priorities for the 2020-21 school year:
Our foremost concern at this time is the current fiscal year. If state aid reductions are necessary due to the fiscal impact of COVID-19, the City School District of Albany is urging the state to implement them equitably to minimize the impact on high-needs school districts like Albany.
This is critical now more than ever as COVID-19 threatens the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable communities. We also urge the state to ensure that reductions are implemented fairly between public schools and charter schools. Reductions that impact public schools more severely would be hugely inequitable for the students we serve – who comprise nearly 85% of the students attending publicly funded schools in Albany.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
New York has made progress in improving the equitable distribution of aid to schools. This
is commendable – and the right thing to do for students and families statewide. However, we receive only about 75% of our Foundation Aid funding, and only 45% of our total budget comes from state aid. We recognize that the fiscal concerns of COVID-19 must take precedent at the current time. Nevertheless, the Foundation Aid formula continues to be inequitable and, without reform, will continue to lead to disparities between districts. We urge our state leaders to focus on equity through the development of the 2021-22 budget and by re-evaluating the Foundation Aid formula.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
The state’s current funding formula for pre-K is more than a decade old and penalizes districts like Albany that were early implementers of full-day pre-K. More than half of our pre-K seats are funded at the old UPK base allocation of $4,105, less than half of some current pre-K funding streams. We strongly advocate raising our pre-K funding to be equitable with more recent funding streams, such as EPK ($7,882). This would allow districts like ours to attract and retain high-quality, certified pre-K teachers, allowing students to receive an even stronger foundation as they begin their academic journey.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
Supporting social-emotional and mental health needs is critical now more than ever amidst the uncertainty of COVID-19. Anxiety and depression over financial instability and the health risks of this disease are compounding the stress teens already encounter, especially in communities like Albany in which the impacts of poverty are pervasive. The state’s recent justice reforms – which our district fully supports – also have come with unintended consequences such as a dramatic increase in justice-involved students in schools. Students and families need additional services, and our district needs support to provide those services so we can do our part to build and support a healthy, successful community.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
A perfect storm of fiscal and social factors looms in 2021 for cities like Albany that serve as federal relocation communities. Due to the COVID-19 economic crisis, our district has significantly restructured our unique Albany International Center program, taking away critical in-person academic and social-emotional supports. Now, the outcome of the presidential election promises welcome changes to immigration policies as soon as January, which could lead to a renewed increase in refugee and immigrant families moving into our city. The funding to restore the supports this vulnerable student population badly needs will be critical for our school district in 2021-22 if we are to meet these needs.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
Our district is a strong advocate for sustained Community Schools funding. Our $4.5 million Community Schools funding allocation for the current fiscal year has helped us continue to develop this model and become better able to engage students and families in meaningful ways. Together with our community partners we are expanding afterschool academic and enrichment programs, as well as medical, dental, mental health and social services. We urge the state to maintain support for Community Schools.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
Transportation is critical for addressing chronic absenteeism, a leading indicator of low student performance. The state’s current transportation law limits our ability to provide bus service for many children who do not have a safe route to walk to school. We continue to advocate for the passage of A7242/S5719, which addresses this matter. The Senate has approved it and it is pending in the Assembly. We also continue to advocate for the state’s transportation regulations to align with current state law by adding industrial properties to the criteria used to evaluate potential Child Safety Zones.
To learn more about this legislative priority, you can view the following document(s):
