Rochester Leaders Push for Charter School Funding Parity as Budget Talks Continue

A coalition of Rochester-area business leaders is calling on state lawmakers to address disparities in charter school funding, arguing that current formulas leave local students at a disadvantage compared to their peers in other upstate cities.

The push comes as New York’s state budget negotiations enter their final stages, with education funding emerging as a key issue.

Dozens of business leaders and organizations have signed a letter urging Albany to increase per-pupil funding for charter schools in Rochester, where advocates say funding levels lag behind cities such as Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany.

Charter school supporters are seeking an increase of roughly $2,500 per student, which they say would bring Rochester closer to the upstate average and allow schools to expand staffing and academic programming.

“We want to be on equal footing with all the charter schools in the state,” charter school advocate Howie Jacobson told 13WHAM.

Advocates argue that the issue extends beyond education policy and into economic development, saying stronger schools can help build a more prepared workforce and attract business investment to the region.

“If students understand early on what it’s like to have a job waiting for them, it can make a big difference,” Jacobson said in the interview.

State Sen. Jeremy Cooney acknowledged the funding gap and indicated that discussions are ongoing in Albany, though no specific increase for Rochester has been finalized.

“We want to make sure that if you are a student and a parent who has chosen a charter school option that you get your fair share, Cooney said.

Rochester has become a focal point in the statewide debate due to its high concentration of charter schools and the financial pressures facing the broader public education system.

Officials with the Rochester City School District have previously raised concerns that increasing charter funding without boosting overall education aid could deepen budget challenges for traditional public schools, which serve a high number of students with greater needs.

Supporters of charter funding increases, however, argue that many of their students come from the same underserved communities and deserve equitable access to resources regardless of the type of public school they attend.

As negotiations continue, lawmakers are facing competing pressures to balance fairness, fiscal constraints and the needs of both charter and district schools.

The final state budget is expected in the coming weeks, with advocates on all sides watching closely for potential changes that could reshape education funding across Rochester and beyond.