Federal Funds Shrink for Low-Income Students

More New York City public schools have qualified for federal funding to support low income families over the last decade, but the government dollars have dwindled, according to a new report from the city’s Independent Budget Office.

The city received more than $1 billion in funds in Title 1-A funds, which account for most Title 1 allocations in the 2005-2006 school year. In the 2016-2017 year, the aid amount shrunk by 38 percent to $650 million, despite a nearly 30 percent increase in eligible schools over that period.

“You have a smaller pot of funding on the city level that needs to be dispersed around to a larger group of schools,” said Erica Vladimer, who authored the report.  

Title 1 funds are used toward after-school programs, health services, and parent engagement initiatives. They comprise the largest pool of federal money to elementary and secondary schools.