Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing a $35.3 billion school aid package, representing a 2.4% increase over the previous year. A significant point of contention is the “Save Harmless” provision, which aims to prevent districts from experiencing a decrease in Foundation Aid funding. Critics argue that changes to this provision would impact districts with declining enrollment, while proponents believe it helps redistribute funds to districts with higher needs. Concerns remain about potential impacts on districts dealing with issues beyond academics.