Western New York schools are getting more funding thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2022-23 state budget.

More than $169 million is slated to be spent on schools in the region. The money will help expand universal pre-K classes and will assist in created 1,300 new pre-K slots locally.

"Through the past two years, nearly every aspect of life — from the drive to work, to kids at school, to affordable child care for middle-income and low-income families — has been impacted," Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said. "This year’s budget delivers a victory to those families and to our state’s students, who have endured hardship as a result of a consistently changing school calendar and with learning trends constantly in flux. By fully funding Foundation Aid, reducing the financial burden for our college students, increasing the number of universal Pre-K spots, and boosting child-care funding by $5 billion over the next several years, the NYS Legislature has shown it is committed to the next generation of our state’s workforce."

State Senator Sean Ryan says this money will ensure that every child in New York State has access to a quality education.

"This year’s budget includes a major investment in our schools, and by extension, a major investment in the future of New York," Sen. Ryan said. With the continuation of our plan to fully fund Foundation Aid and more than 15,000 new universal pre-K spots statewide, we are ensuring that every child in New York has access to a quality education."

The $169.2 million is 7% more than what schools in the region received last year.

"As a former teacher, I am proud of New York State's ongoing commitment to fully funding Foundation Aid for our schools, particularly as we recover from the pandemic, which disrupted learning, exhausted teachers, staff, students, and families, and impacted young people's mental wellness," Assemblymember Bill Conrad said. "Educators are tasked with an enormous responsibility and deserve adequate tools, not only so they can help students tackle the curriculum, but so they can make sure kids are nourished, safe, supported, and able to learn. I am proud, too, that we are expanding access to universal prekindergarten, which we know gives youngsters a solid head start in life, nurturing their cognition, literacy, and social health. There is simply no better investment a community can make than in its schools and schoolchildren."