Plugged In To Education

May 26, 2023

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

What’s Inside

  • Governor Hochul Announces Funding to Provide Summer Jobs for Disadvantaged Youth
  • Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for New Applicants
  • Legislation Signed to Permit Simulation for Clinical Training for Nurses
  • New State Funding Available for CEP Schools in the 2023-2024 School Year
  • New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Announces Launch of New Family Opportunity Centers
  • Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council Meets
  • Policies & Directives
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Governor Hochul Announces Funding to Provide Summer Jobs for Disadvantaged Youth

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than $47.1 million will be available to support New York State’s Summer Youth Employment Program this year, helping an estimated 18,500 young New Yorkers gain valuable experience in the workforce. Administered by the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, this program introduces young people from low-income families into the labor market so they can develop useful skills that will help them improve educational performance and become responsible adults. To be eligible for the 2023 program, young people must be between ages 14 to 20 and have a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level or $49,720 for a family of three.

Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for New Applicants

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the application for the Excelsior Scholarship for new applicants for the 2023 – 2024 academic year is now open here. The Excelsior Scholarship allows eligible full-time students to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college tuition-free. The scholarship is administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation.

Legislation Signed to Permit Simulation for Clinical Training for Nurses

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (A3076-A/S447-C) into law, strengthening New York’s health care workforce by permitting nursing students to complete up to one third of their clinical training through simulation experiences. Overseen by the New York State Education Department, simulation training gives students hands-on experience in clinical environments while allowing nursing education programs to offer more options for clinical education. As New York currently faces a nursing shortage, expanding simulation experiences can help expedite training and deliver an influx of nurses where they are needed most.

New State Funding Available for CEP Schools in the 2023-2024 School Year

The enacted FY2024 State Budget included an additional $134.6M to expand access to free school meals through the new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) State Subsidy. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a federal option that allows high-poverty schools to offer free meals to all students. The CEP State Subsidy ensures all CEP meals are reimbursed at the “free rate.” This new state funding will allow all New York schools who are eligible for CEP to provide free meals to all students while alleviating the financial burden on schools.

This summer, Hunger Solutions New York will be hosting a webinar series for schools to ensure all CEP-eligible schools can maximize this new state subsidy in the upcoming school year.

Maximize the New CEP State Subsidy with Strategic Grouping

Thursday, June 1, 2023, 1-1:30pm

Join No Kid Hungry New York and Hunger Solutions New York to learn how strategic grouping can help you maximize the new state CEP subsidy.

CEP State Subsidy: Get Your Questions Answered by SED

Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 9-9:30am

The NY State Education Department (SED), Child Nutrition Program Administration, will join No Kid Hungry New York and Hunger Solutions New York for a 30 minute Q&A session on the new CEP State Subsidy.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Announces Launch of New Family Opportunity Centers

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) announced the launch of eight family opportunity centers (FOCs) across New York State. The centers are aimed at improving the safety and well-being of children and families by addressing issues of poverty, education barriers, substance use disorders and lack of adequate physical and mental health care. The centers, launched through a collaboration between OCFS and the New York State Education Department (NYSED), are being funded by an initial $12 million in grants made available through state funds and the federal Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention program where supplemental funding was provided under the American Rescue Plan. Additional contracts, with funding from NYSED, will be awarded in a second round of grants that specifically assist underinvested school districts.

Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council Meets

On May 17, 2023 the Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council met for the fourth time. A recording of the meeting, as well as materials, can be found here:

May 17, 2023, 10:30 a.m.: Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC) Meeting

Policies & Directives

Office of Children and Family Services

  • 23-OCFS-ADM-08 – Preventive Services Agency Attestation Instructions
  • 23-OCFS-LCM-07 – FFY 2023 John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood: Independent Living Allocations
  • 23-OCFS-LCM-08 – Child Welfare Advances, Intercepts, Chargebacks, and Claims Adjustments

Funding Opportunities

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

  • N/A

Office of Children and Family Services

  • N/A

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

  • Interviews, Screenings and Assessments for Determining Eligibility for Public Assistance (PA) by Telephone or Other Digital Means at PA Applicant’s or Recipient’s Request (Proposed)

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will meet:

  • 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.