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NYSASCSDHome
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Directory Newsletters
Officers
Upcoming Meetings
Legal Opinions
Staff
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Small city school districts are defined in New York State Law as the school districts of each city which according to the latest federal census has less than one hundred twenty-five thousand inhabitants (Education Law §2501). There are currently fifty-seven small city schools districts throughout New York State. Small city school districts serve more than a quarter of a million children and employ more than 20,000 teachers and staff. Small city school districts have many of the same demographic characteristics as the large city school districts in New York State. Those characteristics include higher percentages of disadvantaged students, limited English proficient students, dropouts and students with special educational needs. Small city school districts are also typically characterized by higher percentages of families living on incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, minority children, unemployment and single parent families. The New York State Association of Small City School Districts (NYSASCSD) was organized in 1985, and incorporated in 1986, by a group of concerned superintendents and board members. NYSASCSD opposed reforms which would have (1) changed the small city school district budget process; and (2) eliminated funding for programs through the "sunsetting" of HURD Aid. In 1987 the Association was successful in obtaining passage of legislation which preserved this $100 million a year aid program through enactment of a Hurd Aid formula. In 1995 and 1996 the Association was successful in obtaining an imposition of a temporary "save harmless" which further saved districts no longer on the formula significant revenues. In addition, the Association has consistently worked for new funding to education which would address the additional burdens and needs of its less advantaged student populations. More recently, the Association has taken a lead role in developing support for changes to asbestos removal legislation and regulations (AHERA), and has spearheaded amendments to the Public Authorities Law to require sharing of PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) from payments from Industrial Development Agency (IDA) projects with school districts. Success in this effort concerning IDAs has driven millions of dollars of new local revenues to education each year. In 1996, legislation was approved (Chapter 171) requiring budget voting in and imposing an administrative cap on small city districts for the first time. The Association has led the effort to develop State Education Department regulations and policies and to help districts understand and implement the new law to increase the likelihood of successful budget votes. Small city school district superintendents and board members who are members of the New York State Association of Small City School Districts have traditionally looked at education issues from a small city's perspective with a particular focus on the children and parents living and working in our urban settings. Small city school districts continually strive to further develop fiscally responsible and developmentally appropriate educational programs for all of their students. Many of the key legislative issues that united small city districts in 1985 remain key association concerns today.
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