What the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) really means for our schools

Mar. 4, 2013

Have you been hearing about the Gap Elimination Adjustment, or GEA, but are not really sure what it is and how it's impacting school districts?

You are not alone.

Many state and school budget issues are difficult to fully grasp, but hopefully the video below will give you a better understanding - and perhaps just make you want to advocate a little bit more for public education. But first, here's some background information:
The Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) law was first introduced for the 2010-11 fiscal year by then-Governor Paterson as a way to help close New York’s then $10 billion budget deficit. Under the legislation, a portion of the funding shortfall at the state level is divided among all school districts throughout the state and reflected as a reduction in school district state aid. The GEA is a negative number, money that is deducted from the aid originally due to the district. And it means that many school districts have a gapping hole in their budget due to this reduction in aid. Learn more by watching the video below.

GEA- Statewide from Justin Cortese on Vimeo.