Plugged In To Education – November 10, 2020

What’s Inside

  • January 2021 Regents Examinations Cancelled
  • SUNY Implements Comprehensive COVID-19 Plan for Spring Semester
  • Funding Announced to Assist New Yorkers During Cold Weather Months
  • NYSUT Issues COVID Tracker
  • New COVID-19 Guidance
  • NYS Register
  • Funding Opportunities
  • Coming Up

January 2021 Regents Examinations Cancelled

Interim State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced the January 2021 administration of the High School Regents Examination Program has been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic. This cancellation applies to all Regents Examinations that had been scheduled for the January 2021 Regents Examination period. No decisions have been made regarding the June and August 2021 administrations of Regents Examinations or any of the other State assessment programs. Click here for the official memo from NYSED and here for FAQs.

SUNY Implements Comprehensive COVID-19 Plan for Spring Semester

On Sunday, State University of New York Chancellor Jim Malatras outlined a system-wide plan that will allow campuses to safely return to in-person instruction for the spring semester, subject to any changes in federal or New York State guidance. Main components of the comprehensive plan include: all students to be tested for COVID-19 upon return; pushing the start date of the spring semester for in-person instruction until February 1, 2021; cancellation of spring break in 2021; all returning students must complete a seven-day precautionary quarantine prior to their arrival on campus; and mandatory mask wearing at all times, even with social distancing.

Funding Announced to Assist New Yorkers During Cold Weather Months

Governor Cuomo announced that more than $328 million in home heating aid is now available for low- and middle-income New Yorkers who need assistance keeping their homes warm during the coming winter season. Applications are now being accepted for the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides federal funding to assist homeowners and renters with their heating costs during the cold weather months.

NYSUT Issues COVID Tracker

Yesterday, the New York State United Teachers launched NYSUTCovidTracker.org, a new website designed to help track coronavirus-related health and safety concerns in schools across the state.

New COVID-19 Guidance

Cluster Zones

Lower Ed

Health

Human Services

Elimination of Tuberculosis Testing (TB) Requirement for Prospective Adoptive Parents, Foster Boarding Homes (FBHs) and Child Care Staff Applicants– November 6, 2020

NYS Register

Proposed Regulations- 60 Day Comment Period

·     The Division of Criminal Justice Services issued a notice of proposed rule making to update existing rules to reflect services which will be performed by probation departments in preliminary procedures for Article 3 Juvenile Delinquency (JD) intakes.

Revised Rule Making- 45 Day Comment Period

·     The Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services issued a notice of revised rule making to identify regulatory requirements for outpatient and opioid treatment programs.

Adopted Regulations

·     The Office of Children and Family Services issued a notice of adoption to require districts to authorize up to eight hours of child care assistance, as needed, to assist parents or caretakers, when necessary to enable them to get up to eight hours of sleep because they work non-traditional hours and have a child who is under the age of 6 and not in school for a full school day.

·     The Department of Health issued a notice of emergency adoption regarding enforcement of social distancing measures.

·     The Department of Health issued a notice of adoption to amend the Medicaid reimbursement for fee-for-service private duty nursing provided to medically fragile children.

Funding Opportunities

The New York Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC) is announcing availability of grant funds to fund one grantee to develop and deliver a statewide training for staff in the developmental disabilities field on supporting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning (LGBTQ+) people with intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD). Due November 23, 2020

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of State Assessment is seeking proposals to continue the development of the Grades 3-8 English Language Arts and Mathematics Tests, computer-based and paper-based, and Provision of a Computer-based Testing Platform for the Grades 5 & 8 Science Tests. Due November 25, 2020

The New York State Commission on National and Community Service seeks applicants for 2021-22 AmeriCorps Competitive grant funding. (OCFS) Due November 24, 2020

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of State Assessment is seeking proposals to conduct Scaling and Scale Maintenance, Standard Setting, and Reliability/Validity Analyses of the New York State Regents Examinations and Elementary/Intermediate-level Science Testing Programs. Due December 8, 2020

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Bureau of Women, Infant and Adolescent Health (BWIAH), announces the availability of funding for the New York State Comprehensive Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program (NYSFPP) to improve sexual and reproductive health and birth outcomes, partner with individuals to support their reproductive health goals, and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Due December 17, 2020

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making funding available under the Apprenticeship Expansion Grant (AEG-2) to expand Registered Apprenticeship (RA) training by increasing employment opportunities for approximately 800 apprentices with a focus on underrepresented populations. Due March 26, 2021

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on November 16 and 17.

The Assembly will hold a public hearing on COVID-19 and New York States Libraries on November 19, 2020.

The Senate will hold a roundtable meeting to discuss maternal and child health in Upstate New York on November 19.

The State Education Department will hold the following regional meetings on substantially equivalent instruction for nonpublic school students:

  • November 17: Rest of State
  • December 1: Manhattan, Staten Island & Bronx
  • December 2: Long Island & Queens
  • December 7: Hudson Valley
  • December 8: Parent, Student, Alumni
  • December 9: Brooklyn

The following State Board Meetings are scheduled to meet:

Perfusion: December 16, 2020 (WebEx Meeting)

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. 2020. All rights reserved.