More money could be on the way to NYS schools

The New York State Board of Regents revealed major initiatives Tuesday to close the achievement gap in schools. This comes on the heels of proposed increased state aid to the tune of $1.9 billion dollars in 2008-2009.

High-need districts including Rochester will soon be getting a big financial boost from the State Board of Regents.  Every school district would see a 2% increase in funding. The poorer districts like Rochester would be sharing in 73% of that pie, which translates to a slice of $1.8 billion of $1.9 billion dollars. On Tuesday, the Board of Regents announced how some of that money will be used.

The initiatives include, giving $20 million dollars to Regional Education Alliances, whose job is to raise achievement of disadvantaged students through their college career.  Literacy Zones that link school districts with colleges and universities, libraries and museums. Smart Scholars, a $100 million dollar program that would allow high school students to earn a high school and bachelor's degree in only seven years. $25 million dollars would be given to prepare 1,000 New Teachers who would commit to working in high need schools for four years.  $6.5 million dollars would be directed to Parents and Family Outreach Services and Planting the Seed, where teachers mentor at-risk students.

"We need all of our young people to thrive as kids, to grow up, to complete high school, to emerge as adults ready to work, ready to be good citizens, ready to continue their education and it needs to be a P16 partnership and that's what Regents propose," said Richard Mills, the Commissioner of the NYS Board of Regents.

In the meantime, 22 suburban school districts have followed through with their threat to sue Monroe County, over a plan which would reduce the amount of sales tax revenue given to schools. That suit was filed just Tuesday. School officials plan to speak more about it Wednesday. They're also expected to talk about how the Regents funding boost will affect their budgets.

Stay with News 8 Now and we'll bring you that story Wednesday.