Southern Tier, NY–The New York State Senate Majority, in partnership with the New York State Assembly and Governor Kathy Hochul, enacted the FY 2026-2027 State Budget, delivering historic investments in education from early childhood through higher education to support students, families, educators, and schools across New York State.

Said Senator Lea Webb, “Education is the foundation of our future. This budget makes important investments in our public education system that will help our children work towards a better life while simultaneously creating a more affordable present. Programs like the Foundation Aid and the Child Care Assistance Program are essential to providing the kind of supportive, high-quality education that our children and families deserve.” 

The SFY 2026-27 Budget makes transformative investments in childcare and early learning programs to expand access and reduce costs for working families. This includes $2.4 billion for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), a nearly 40 percent increase over last year, with the potential to add 100,000 childcare seats statewide, including $630 million in supplemental funding to support local childcare access and affordability across the state.

The enacted budget also advances universal childcare initiatives, including $66 million in new funding for childcare pilot programs in Broome, Dutchess, and Monroe counties focused on infant and toddler care. The budget significantly expands Universal Pre-Kindergarten funding by $561 million, bringing total UPK funding to $1.6 billion and increasing the minimum per-pupil reimbursement rate for four-year-olds to $10,000 per child. It also requires school districts to provide programming to all eligible four-year-olds by the 2028-29 school year, getting New York closer toward the goal of universal pre-kindergarten access.

To strengthen K-12 education, the budget continues record investments in Foundation Aid, including a 2 percent minimum increase for school districts, enhanced support for English Language Learners, and new funding weights for students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care. Total school aid funding will reach $39 billion statewide, including $27.4 billion in Foundation Aid. The enacted budget also increases support for students with disabilities by adding $7.1 million for schools serving students who are blind and deaf, including the New York School for the Deaf and the Henry Viscardi School. In addition, the budget delays the Electric School Bus mandate by 5 years, giving school districts more time for implementation.

The New York State Senate Democratic Majority remains committed to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education, expanding opportunities for academic success, and investing in the future of New York’s families and communities.

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