THE NEW YORK ADEQUACY STUDY:
COSTING OUT A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION IN NEW YORK STATE

Supported by more than 30 organizations statewide, including CFE, NYSSBA, NYSUT, NEA, and the Business Council, the New York Adequacy Study is the most extensive costing-out study ever done. Nearly 60 superintendents, principals, teachers, school business officials, and special education directors from communities across the state participated extensively in the professional judgment panels that formed the core of the study. Their recommendations for greatly expanded pre-kindergarten programs, dramatically lowering elementary school class sizes, and extensive time on task and expanded services for secondary school students were then "costed out" by an independent team of national education economists. The study determined that statewide an additional $6.7 to $9 billion, phased in over four years, would be needed to provide all students a true opportunity to meet the Regents Learning Standards. These figures are based on actual student needs, as determined by well-considered professional judgment, in contrast to the abstract statistical calculations used by Standard and Poor's for the Zarb Commission study.

• Final Report of the New York Adequacy Study*
  • Appendices of the New York Adequacy Study*
  • Table: Actual Spending and Projections of "Adequacy" costs for 517 Districts Not Spending at "Adequate Levels"*
• PowerPoint Presentation of the Results*
• Summary of the New York Adequacy Study*
  
• Press Release*

Proposal of the Governor's Commission on Education Reform

• Final Report of the Governor's Commission on Education Reform*
• S&P's Resource Adequacy Study for the Governor's Commission on Education Reform*

*All documents in PDF Format require Adobe Acrobat Reader.