Plugged In To Education

May 11, 2022

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

What’s Inside

  • Final Budget Enacted
  • Legislature Hosts Hearings on Discipline and Suspension Policies
  • Executive Order Issued to Provide Support for Asylum Seekers in New York
  • Teachers Union Elects New President
  • Governor Hochul Launches Statewide Listening Tour on Youth Mental Health
  • Awards Announced Through New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund
  • Funding Announced for Organizations Facing Hate Crimes
  • Policies & Directives
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Final Budget Enacted

Earlier this month, a final agreement on the FY 2024 budget was reached and signed into law by Governor Hochul. The total spending plan reaches $229 billion, an increase of $2 billion from the Governor’s original spending plan proposed in January. A few press releases that may be of interest:

Legislature Hosts Hearings on Discipline and Suspension Policies

On May 3rd the Senate Standing Committee Education held a public hearing to examine school policies related to discipline and suspension and to hear from stakeholders about proposed legislation, S.1040 “Solutions Not Suspensions Act”. The list of witnesses included the NYS School Boards Association, the NYS Bar Association, Conference of Big 5 School Districts, and Alliance for Quality Education to name a few. A video recording and written testimony can be found here.

A second hearing is scheduled for May 12 at 10:00 AM in New York City.

Executive Order Issued to Provide Support for Asylum Seekers in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul issued an Executive Order to help provide aid to asylum seekers expected to arrive in New York as federal Title 42 immigration policy is set to expire on May 11. The Executive Order will provide the State with greater flexibility to procure the resources necessary for municipalities to support asylum seekers while also allowing the State to increase the number of National Guard service members providing logistical and operational support.

Teachers Union Elects New President

Delegates to the New York State United Teachers’ Representative Assembly elected Melinda Person to a three-year term as President of the nearly 700,000-member union. Ms. Person has served as NYSUT’s executive director and political director since 2019, overseeing the union’s staff and coordinating its political action and organizing operations. Prior to joining NYSUT in 2006, she worked in the governor’s Budget Office and the state Assembly, and student-taught in a sixth-grade classroom in the Boston public schools. Her NYS teaching certification is in Childhood Education. Ms. Person will take over for outgoing President Andy Pallotta, who announced his retirement earlier this year.

Governor Hochul Launches Statewide Listening Tour on Youth Mental Health

In March, 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. This week the schedule was released (see below). Interested youth ages 13-17 may apply to participate via this link.

  • White Plains – May 11, 2023: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., White Plains Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, NY
  • Garden City – May 15, 2023: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Nassau Community College, Center Building multipurpose room, One Education Drive, Garden City, NY 11530
  • Rochester – May 17, 2023: 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Rochester Boys & Girls Club, 500 Genesee Street, Rochester, NY
  • Virtual – June 5, 2023: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Virtual Session (Connection details to be provided in your confirmation email prior to the event)

Awards Announced Through New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the second round of awardees for the $40 million New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund. The program was created to accelerate the development and commercialization of life science innovations that address serious infectious disease threats, including COVID-19 and its variants, while also creating jobs and encouraging continued growth across New York’s expanding life science industry. Upon approval by the Empire State Development Board of Directors, seven grants will be awarded for a total grant commitment of $8,899,998.

Funding Announced for Organizations Facing Hate Crimes

Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional $25 million will be made available to organizations at risk of hate crimes and vandalism. This funding will go to help organizations enhance security measures in vulnerable places and support trainings, public awareness campaigns, and other outreach efforts across the state. She made the announcement at New York’s first-ever Unity Summit, a statewide convening of more than 500 New Yorkers representing community groups, faith leaders and public safety experts sharing their perspectives on how New York can come together to fight the rising tide of hate.

Policies & Directives

Office of Children and Family Services

Funding Opportunities

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. Due May 12, 2023

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Emergency Needs for the Homeless Program to improve the system of emergency service provision to at-risk and homeless individuals and families by ensuring services are targeted and enhanced by eligible applicants so those assisted may secure an independent future. Due May 17, 2023.

The New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS), announced the availability of operational funds and state-aid for the development of two (2) new Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers (SCSCs) within two (2) of the NYS Economic Development Regions. The first SCSC RFP was released on June 30, 2022. This RFP is being reissued for select regions to fund the development of SCSCs in the uncovered Economic Development Regions. Due May 24, 2023

The State Education Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the My Brothers Keep Challenge Grant to incentivize and support school districts to accept the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge and 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. Due May 31, 2023

The State Education Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Charter School Expansion Grants to o support the expansion of high-quality educational opportunities for students in New York State by expanding the number of seats in existing charter schools in New York State that are already providing a significant educational benefit to students, especially those who are at the greatest risk of not meeting State academic standards. Due June 5, 2023

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Teacher Residency Program (TRP) to partially or fully fund master’s degrees for teacher residents who are enrolled in a residency program registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). These residents must be graduate-level PK-12 teacher candidates who will complete a residency within a public New York State (NYS) school district or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) program. Due June 30, 2023

The Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds for the procurement of pilot Home Based Crisis Intervention (HBCI) teams serving youth with co-occurring Intellectual Disorders and/or Developmental Disorders throughout New York State. The HBCI teams will serve children/youth ages 5 to 20 years, 11 months who are returning home from inpatient settings or residential services and are at risk for a rapid readmission, or are at imminent risk of entering such settings. Due June 13, 2023

State Register

State Education Department

  • Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Optometrists Certified to Prescribe and Use Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents (Emergency)
  • Removes Requirement That a Postdoctoral General Practice or Specialty Dental Residency Program Experience be Clinically Based (Emergency)
  • Special Education Due Process System Procedures (Emergency)
  • Corporal Punishment, Restraint, and Seclusion (Proposed)
  • Initial Reissuance, Provisional Renewal, and Time Extension Requirements (Proposed)
  • Requirements for Admission to the Examination for Licensure as an Engineer (Emergency and Proposed)
  • Deadline to Apply and Qualify for the Provisional School Counselor Certificate (Emergency and Proposed)
  • Education Requirements for Licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse (Emergency and Proposed)
  • Individual Arts Assessment Pathway to Graduation (Adopted)
  • Extensions for Coordinators of Work-Based Learning Programs (Adopted)
  • Continuing Education Requirements for the Profession of Architecture (Adopted)
  • Licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Cytotechnologist and Certification as a Clinical Laboratory Technician or Histological Technician (Adopted)
  • Indigenous Names, Mascots, and Logos (Adopted)

Office of Children and Family Services

  • N/A

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

  • Public Assistance (PA) Earned Income and Work Expense Disregards and Income Tests for PA Eligibility (Adopted)

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will meet:

  • May 15 – 16 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • June 12 – 13 (Monday and Tuesday)
  • July 17 – 18 (Monday and Tuesday)

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.