Plugged In To Education

May 30, 2025

Coverage of updates in lower education, higher education & human services.

What’s Inside

  • Updates on New York State Universal Free Meals & Summer EBT
  • Governor Hochul Announces $56.5 Million to Provide At-Risk Youth With Jobs, Skills and Training This Summer as Part of FY 2026 Budget
  • OPWDD to Host 2025 Strategic Planning Forums
  • Governor Hochul Announces Launch of 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative
  • Attorney General James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Updates on New York State Universal Free Meals & Summer EBT

The 2025-2026 Executive Budget amended New York State Education Law by adding Section 915a Universal Free School Meals. Beginning in school year 2025-2026, New York State School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the federal school lunch and/or breakfast programs are required to provide reimbursable school meals at no cost to all students. The state will reimburse SFAs up to the combined state and federal reimbursement rate for a free meal for each federally reimbursed reduced-price and paid meal claimed. Schools and districts not currently enrolled in federal meal programs must apply to the New York State Education Department, Office of Child Nutrition by July 31, 2025, to participate in the 2025-2026 school year to provide free school meals. Click here for a memo sent to school food service directors/managers.

In addition, the Office of Child Nutrition will provide guidance and technical assistance directly to SFAs during this transition. A webinar has been scheduled for June 5, 2025, at 1:00pm. Please call 518-473-8781 or email your CN representative for additional assistance.

In addition, join Hunger Solutions New York and No Kid Hungry New York for a discussion with the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance about plans for Summer EBT in 2025. Learn about key messages to families, opportunities for outreach, and other important updates to the program for this coming summer. The webinar is scheduled for Monday, June 9, 10 a.m. Register here.

Governor Hochul Announces $56.5 Million to Provide At-Risk Youth With Jobs, Skills and Training This Summer as Part of FY 2026 Budget

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $56.5 million to help approximately 21,000 young people from low-income households enter the job market this summer through New York State’s Summer Youth Employment program. As part of the FY 2026 State Budget, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is distributing funding to all 57 counties and New York City to implement a Summer Youth Employment Program to introduce at-risk youth to New York’s workforce, where they will gain professional training and develop useful skills that will help them improve educational performance and explore possible career paths. To be eligible for the program, youth must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and have a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which varies by household size and, for example, is $53,300 for a family of three. The FY 2026 State Budget included an increase of $1.5 million for the program over last year to address minimum wage increases. The program served more than 21,000 young people last summer.

OPWDD to Host 2025 Strategic Planning Forums

The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is hosting 2025 Strategic Planning Forums focused on the 2023 – 2027 OPWDD Strategic Plan and the agency’s progress to date. These forums are an opportunity to learn more about the agency’s work and to share your thoughts and ideas for the future.

Each forum will include:

  • A brief update on OPWDD Projects & Activities from the past year
  • Question & Answer session where you can submit your questions for OPWDD in advance
  • Public Comment where you will be given three minutes to share your ideas and suggestions with OPWDD

The Forums are scheduled as follows:

Governor Hochul Announces Launch of 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council Initiative (REDC). Since 2011, the REDC has been the cornerstone of a bottom-up approach to economic development that allows the State’s 10 Regional Councils to support projects that advance strategic regional and statewide priorities. New in 2025 is the Governor’s $150 million Advancing Collaboration for High-impact Initiatives for Economic Visions & Expansion competition — ACHIEVE — aimed at empowering the REDCs to advance catalytic economic development projects backed by enhanced implementation funding to jump-start regional growth. Additionally, the Governor announced the appointment of New York Secretary of State, Walter T. Mosley, as Chair of the REDC Initiative. The CFA portal is now open for the 2025 programs. For programs subject to the deadline, applications must be submitted by Thursday, July 31 at 4 p.m. Open enrollment programs are not subject to the July 31 deadline and will continue to accept applications on an ongoing basis until funds are exhausted. The 2025 REDC Guidebook, the 2025 Resources Available, and other key documents are available here.

Attorney General James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Prevent Youth Substance Abuse

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general from across the country in calling on Congress to pass the Youth Substance Use Prevention and Awareness Act, bipartisan legislation to reduce youth drug use through research-based public education campaigns and strategic community outreach. In a letter to Democratic and Republican leadership in the House and Senate, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize the importance of proactive, science-based prevention efforts at a time when young people face increased risk of exposure to dangerous dangerous drugs like fentanyl and xylazine.

Funding Opportunities

New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced funding for up to four pilot Youth Safe Space Programs targeting individuals ages 12–24. This program will create standalone Safe Spaces and designate other community spaces—such as libraries, OASAS Youth Recovery Clubhouses, Boys and Girls Clubs, Park & Recreation Centers, etc.—as Safe Spaces through an application and funding process. Applicants are not required to be licensed OMH providers to participate. Due June 3, 2025

The School Food Service Equipment Grant is intended to improve the infrastructure of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). This will be achieved by providing the opportunity for schools to purchase equipment to serve healthier meals, improve the overall quality of meals, improve food safety, expand participation in school meals programs, and help to support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program. School Food Authorities (SFA) in New York State (NYS) that were not awarded this grant in Fiscal Years (FY) 2020, 2021, 2022, or 2023 are eligible to apply for funding. Due June 16, 2025

The purpose of the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Act is to ensure that all homeless children have equal access to the same free appropriate public education, including public preschool education, provided to children and youth who are permanently housed. New York State local educational agencies (LEAs), which for the purposes of this RFP are public school districts, charter schools, and BOCES, are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity. BOCES may only apply as a part of a consortium.  Due June 25, 2025

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is inviting eligible entities to apply for funds through the FreshConnect CSA for SNAP Grant Program, which will allow SNAP participants to access the Community Supported Agriculture model by partially subsidizing the cost of weekly share purchases. Eligible Applicants Include: • Not-For-Profit Organizations • Indian Tribal Organizations • Public Educational Institutions • Local or Municipal Governments. Due July 22, 2025

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), acting upon the recommendation of the New York State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), seeks applications to create the first ever Transformative Youth Justice Hubs (Hubs) in New York State. Nonprofit community-based organizations, local municipal education agencies, or institutes of higher education may apply for up to $4 million to fund approximately four Hubs designed to support youth justice prevention efforts in rural or urban areas in New York State. DCJS anticipates that each award will total approximately one ($1) million, over a three-year period. Due July 30, 2025

State Register

State Education Department

  • Execution by Registered Professional Nurses of Non-Patient Specific Orders (Emergency)
  • Reimagining the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Accountability System (Emergency)
  • Licensing Examinations and Testing Accommodations in the Social Work Professions (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Moral Character of Certificate Holders (Adoption)
  • Standing Committee Name Change (Adoption)
  • Adding the Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.) Degree As a Registered Degree in New York State (Proposed)
  • State Aid for Library Construction (Adoption)
  • Designation of a Deputy Commissioner of Education (Adoption)
  • Relating to the Requirements for Licensure as an Athletic Trainer (Adoption)
  • Content Core Requirement for Additional Teaching Certificates in Certain Areas (Adoption)
  • Evidence-Based and Scientifically Based Reading Instruction (Adoption)
  • Relating to the Application of Topical Fluoride Varnish by Registered Dental Assistants (Adoption)
  • Incorporating Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education to Teacher Preparation Program Requirements (Proposed)
  • Mandatory Peer Review Program in the Profession of Public Accountancy (Proposed)

Coming Up

Upcoming Regents Meeting Dates

  • June 9 – 10
  • July 14 – 15
  • August – Recess
  • September 8 – 9
  • October 6 – 7
  • November 3 – 4
  • December 15 – 16

State Board Meetings

  • Occupational Therapy: June 27, 2025 (Albany, New York City & Syracuse)
  • Pharmacy: June 26, 2025 (Albany)
  • Podiatry: June 13, 2025 (New York City, Albany, Syracuse)
  • Veterinary Medicine Board: June 13, 2025 (New York City)
  • Nursing: June 12, 2025 (New York City, Rochester, Albany) – Cancelled
  • Social Work: June 11, 2025
  • Mental Health Practitioner: June 6, 2025
  • Medicine: June 6, 2025 (New York City)
  • Pathologist’s Assistant Committee: June 5, 2025 (New York City)
  • Engineering, Land Surveying & Geology: June 5, 2025 (Buffalo, Albany, Hauppauge, New York City)

Not-For-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee

  • June 10, 2025
  • September 16, 2025
  • October 28, 2025

Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) Meeting

Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board

  • September 12, 2025- 1450 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • October 16, 2025- 1450 Western Avenue, Albany, NY 12203 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Plugged In to Education is prepared by Hinman Straub P.C. and is intended to keep our clients informed about news and Legislative and regulatory developments that may affect or otherwise be of interest to them. The comments contained herein do not constitute legal opinion and should not be regarded as a substitute for legal advice. If you prefer not to receive these updates, please alert us so we may remove you from our distribution list. © Hinman Straub P.C. 2025. All rights reserved.