Plugged In To Education

April 5, 2022

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

What’s Inside

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Latest School ‘Swatting’ Threats
Stavisky & Lupardo Pass Clinical Nursing Simulation Legislation
Governor Hochul Launches Statewide Listening Tour on Youth Mental Health
Commissioner Rosa Appoints Director of Public Information
Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition to Protect Transgender Students’ Rights
Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month
Governor Hochul Announces $2 Million Expansion of CUNY Apprenticeship Offerings
Funding Opportunities
State Register

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Latest School ‘Swatting’ Threats

Governor Kathy Hochul issued the following statement this week in response to a number of recent threats:

More than 50 school districts across New York have received disturbing ‘swatting’ threats today including in Central New York, Long Island, the Southern Tier and the North Country. I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school – swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers and families. I have directed the New York State Police to investigate these threats and work closely with all levels of law enforcement to identify the perpetrators, hold them accountable, and restore the sense of safety and security our children deserve. Since the first round of swatting incidents occurred last week, State Police has been working closely with the State Education Department, county leadership and local school boards to provide support and any necessary resources to address these incidents. My top priority will always be the safety of New Yorkers.

Stavisky & Lupardo Pass Clinical Nursing Simulation Legislation

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky (SD – 11) and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo (AD – 123) announced that legislation allowing nursing programs to expand their clinical simulation programs to up to one-third of total clinical training has passed both Houses of the State Legislature. This legislation, S447C/A3076A, was introduced to address the nursing shortage facing our state by expanding access to hands-on clinical education. The bill awaits action by Governor Hochul.

Governor Hochul Launches Statewide Listening Tour on Youth Mental Health

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a statewide series of listening sessions and a spring summit aimed at exploring the issues impacting the mental health of youth throughout New York State. Together, these initiatives will build on the Governor’s $1 billion plan to overhaul New York State’s mental health continuum of care and provide an opportunity for experts to advise state leaders on future policy recommendations to improve youth wellness.

Commissioner Rosa Appoints Director of Public Information

State Education Department Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced the appointment of Keshia Clukey to serve as Director of Public Information. In her new role, Ms. Clukey will help the Department support students, educators, administrators, schools, and other stakeholders through its strategic initiatives. Keshia will lead the Department’s work to be transparent, highlight effective educational practices across the state, and further its guiding principle of a service-oriented approach with news and media outlets to promote safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environments for all students.

Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition to Protect Transgender Students’ Rights

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general to support a student challenging a West Virginia law that bans transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The student, B.P.J., was prohibited from joining her school’s girls’ cross country and track teams and filed a lawsuit against the board of education. In an amicus brief filed in B.P.J. v. West Virginia Board of Education, the coalition of attorneys general argue that the sole purpose of the West Virginia law is to exclude and stigmatize transgender students like B.P.J. and therefore it clearly violates her right to equal protection under the law.

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

Governor Kathy Hochul recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in New York State, issuing a proclamation and directing that 13 State landmarks be illuminated in blue in commemoration. Coinciding with this proclamation, the State Office of Children and Family Services hosted its annual ‘pinwheel planting’ event in Huyck Park in the city of Rensselaer to raise awareness and highlight the need for all New Yorkers to do their part to keep children safe from abuse and maltreatment.

Governor Hochul Announces $2 Million Expansion of CUNY Apprenticeship Offerings

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $2 million State investment to add 12 apprenticeship programs at the City University of New York for its associate degrees starting in the Fall 2023 semester, a large expansion of CUNY’s offering of for-credit apprenticeships in in-demand industries. The additions build on the five existing apprenticeship programs embedded within CUNY associate degree programs in software engineering, consulting, finance, risk management and cybersecurity. New apprenticeship offerings will launch at all 10 CUNY colleges which offer associate degrees; in addition to the seven CUNY community colleges, two-year degrees are offered at College of Staten Island, Medgar Evers College and New York City College of Technology.

Funding Opportunities

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) is seeking proposals for the creation of a Clinically Rich Intensive Teacher Institute (CR-ITI) in Bilingual Education (BE) and/or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, addressing the shortage of certified bilingual and ESOL teachers throughout New York State (NYS).

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) will fund grants to eligible school districts for the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge to incentivize and support school districts to implement a coherent research-based strategy for students to enter school ready to learn, promote mastery in reading and writing by third grade, and implement a cohesive strategy to expose and instruct students in financial literacy.

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) with support by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFs) is soliciting information for Consultant Services to Inform Strategies to address the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs) Medicaid exclusion as it relates to Congregate Residential Programs and the Development of Community Based Services for youth in Child Welfare.

The State Education Department has announced funding to support the NYS Mentor Teacher Internship Program to enable experienced teachers (mentors) in a district or BOCES to provide guidance and support to beginning teachers (interns) in their first and/or second year of teaching.

State Register

State Education Department

Office of Children and Family Services

Updates to Foster Care Rates (Proposed)

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Elimination of 45-day Waiting Period Relative to Determination of Safety Net Assistance (SNA) Applications (Adopted)

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.