Plugged In To Education
November 17, 2025
Coverage of updates in lower education, higher education & human services.
What’s Inside
- Board of Regents and Department Explore and Expand K-12 Instruction to Support College, Career, and Civic Readiness
- First Lady Melania Trump Announces Executive Order on Fostering the Future, Opens New Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships
- Governor Hochul Announces $550,000 Emergency Assistance for SUNY Community College Food Pantries to Combat Ongoing Food Insecurity Crisis
- Connecting New Yorkers with “Know Your Rights” Resources
- New York State Issues First-Ever Report on Maternal Mental Health
- Governor Hochul Celebrates Success of State Parks’ Field Trip Program that Expands Youth Access to the Outdoors
- Funding Opportunities
- State Register
- Coming Up
Board of Regents and Department Explore and Expand K-12 Instruction to Support College, Career, and Civic Readiness
Earlier this month, the Board of Regents moved to officially adopt regulations requiring instruction in personal finance and climate education for public school students in grades K-12. The new instructional requirements mark a shift into Phase 2 of the implementation of the NY Inspires Plan, which advances the recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. To support implementation of the new instructional requirements, the Department collaborated with advisory committees comprised of stakeholders with expertise in personal finance education and climate education to identify key topics to be included in instruction.
According to the press release, districts will have flexibility in local implementation. Instruction in climate education can be provided through embedded instruction into existing subject areas or as a stand-alone course. Instruction in personal finance education can be provided through embedded instruction into existing subject areas, as a stand-alone course, or as part of Career and Technical Education programming. The new requirements will follow a multi-year phase-in to support planning and alignment with existing instructional programs. Personal finance education will be required starting in the 2026–27 school year for grades 5-12 and the 2027-28 school year for grades K-4. Climate education will be required starting in the 2027–28 school year for grades 5-12 and the 2028-29 school year for grades K-4.
First Lady Melania Trump Announces Executive Order on Fostering the Future, Opens New Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships
First Lady Melania Trump organized a new Executive Order entitled, “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families” to unite federal resources with public- and private-sector partnerships and provide more pathways to success for young people who have experienced foster care.
Governor Hochul Announces $550,000 Emergency Assistance for SUNY Community College Food Pantries to Combat Ongoing Food Insecurity Crisis
Governor Kathy Hochul announced an emergency investment of nearly $550,000 in assistance for SUNY community college food pantries and related efforts to help campuses address the ongoing food insecurity crisis as a result of the longest federal government shutdown in United States history. The emergency assistance announced by Governor Hochul will help the food pantries located at each of SUNY’s 30 community colleges restock supplies and support students in need.
Connecting New Yorkers with “Know Your Rights” Resources
The New York State (NYS) Department of Health is asking for help with distributing “Know Your Rights” resources from the NYS Office of New Americans (ONA). Please share with your staff and, to the extent your agency or organization works with the public, to your networks and the general public. You can do this by:
- Distributing the “Know Your Resources” flyer which includes a QR code that will direct people to the NYS ONA website.
- Distributing the materials and resources from the NYS ONA website. If your agency or organization has physical office or building locations accessible to the public (i.e. waiting room, lobby, service delivery location) and you can print and put up the flyer.
- Distributing the NYS ONA “Know Your Rights” web page URL (https://dos.ny.gov/know-your-rights).
New York State Issues First-Ever Report on Maternal Mental Health
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the release of New York’s first-ever maternal mental health report detailing the challenges pregnant women are facing and recommendations for improvements statewide. Drafted by the Maternal Mental Health Workgroup led by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), the report provides a detailed pathway to improve the mental health of pregnant women statewide, including training to help providers identify specific conditions and improved mental health screening procedures for pregnant women. The report also advocates for the use of doulas and peer support programs, calls for specialized training for 988 crisis counselors and recommends expanding the Collaborative Care Medicaid Program.
Governor Hochul Celebrates Success of State Parks’ Field Trip Program that Expands Youth Access to the Outdoors
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the Ladders to the Outdoors program, a field trip initiative expanding inclusive and equitable access to the outdoors through New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks), has served more than 60,000 youth since its inception in 2021. Created in partnership with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation in 2021, New York State Parks’ Ladders to the Outdoors program launched with a goal to have children from underserved communities experience the outdoors at state parks in Erie and Niagara counties.
Funding Opportunities
The NYS Department of Health, Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, Tobacco Control Program (TCP) announced the availability of $3,275,000 annually in New York State funds to organizations that will work to engage health care systems to improve the delivery of guideline-concordant care for Tobacco Use Disorders through systems and policy change at the health care organization level through the Tobacco Control Program. Due December 5, 2025
The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced the availability of funds for the 2026 Transportation for Youth to New York State County and Local Fairs Competitive Grants Program (the “Program”). This Program will provide funding for transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs during the 2026 fair season. Due December 9, 2025
The NYS Department of Health announced the availability of funding for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities to provide services in priority communities to implement evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies and collaboratively leverage local, regional, or state investments, partnerships, coalitions, and resources from a variety of sectors to help reduce health disparities in chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity) related to poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Under this RFA, the Department intends to have statewide reach in all five (5) regions of the state through 15 community-level Grantees for Component A and one (1) Physical Activity and Nutrition Center of Excellence (PANCE) Grantee for Component B to provide training and technical assistance to Component A Grantees including health equity approaches. Due December 12, 2025
The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announced the release of a RFP to operate Family Resource Centers (FRCs). This initiative is designed to support community-based FRC programs with the goal of strengthening and supporting families to prevent abuse/maltreatment and/or the recurrence of abuse/maltreatment, and improving outcomes for families at risk of/or experiencing child abuse. Due December 12, 2025
The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds for the expansion of a Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in Central or Western New York OMH regions. The Youth ACT team serves children/youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), who are returning home from inpatient settings or residential services, at risk of entering such settings, or have not adequately engaged or responded to treatment in more traditional community-based services. Due December 16, 2025
The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds for the Afghan Refugee Health Program to promote health literacy, coordination of mental health services, and facilitation of wellness group activities for Afghan arrivals. Many Afghans are arriving to the United States with immediate as well as long-term mental health needs. Due December 17, 2025
The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of $6 million for the expansion and/or creation of health-led community behavioral health crisis response pilot programs consistent with the Daniel’s Law Task Force (DLTF) Behavioral Health Crisis Response report established pursuant to Chapter 57 of the laws of 2023 and Chapter 53 of the Laws of 2025. This procurement seeks to establish at least three (3) pilot programs, one (1) each in an urban, suburban, and rural area. Due January 12, 2026
The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (AIDS Institute), Center for Program Development, Implementation, Research and Evaluation announced the availability of New York State funds to provide research and evaluation support to bring understanding to the research and evaluation questions described in the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute’s Research Agenda and to inform and scale-up evidence-based interventions to increase HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among Black and Brown communities in New York State. The intent of the Request for Applications is to fund $575,000 annually for three (3) years. This is a procurement which encompasses two (2) Components. Component A: Research and Evaluation Mini Grants. Component B: Inform and Scale-up Intervention to Increase HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake. Due January 14, 2026
State Register
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
- Provision of a One-Time Benefit of $1,800.00 to Public Assistance (PA) Recipients Upon the Birth of a New Child (Adopted)
Office of Children and Family Services
- Preventive Housing Subsidy (Adopted)
State Education Department
- Extending Flexibility for Incidental Teaching (Emergency)
Coming Up
The Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health Assembly Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will hold a public hearing on December 10 in New York City to examine the status of the behavioral health workforce.
The Assembly Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities, And Commissions will hold a public hearing on December 10 in New York City to receive an update on the status of the ConnectALL initiative.
- December 15 – 16
- January 12 – 13
- February 9 – 10
- March 9 – 10
- April 13 – 14
- May 18 – 19
- June 15 – 16
- July 13 – 14
- August – Recess
- September 14 – 15
- October 5 – 6
- November 9 – 10
- December 7 – 8
- Physical Therapy: November 21, 2025 (New York City)
- Medicine: December 5, 2025 (New York City)
- Speech-Language Pathology: December 5, 2025 (Albany, Long Island, New York City, Rochester & Syracuse)
- Engineering, Land Surveying & Geology: December 11, 2025 (Albany)
Not-For-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee
- December 11, 2025
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.