Plugged In To Education
October 31, 2024
Coverage of updates in lower education, higher education & human services.
What’s Inside
- Governor Hochul Celebrates Over 140 Exceptional Teachers Chosen to Support New York State’s World Class Education System
- $100 Million Awarded to Expand Free and Low-Cost Afterschool Programs Across New York State
- New Initiative Launched to Help New York Students Enroll at Public Colleges and Universities
- NYS Office of Cannabis Management Announces Launch of Community Reinvestment Program
- James Kaufman Named Deputy Commissioner of Policy & Program Development at OPWDD
- Governor Hochul Announces $35 Million in COVID-Related Rent Relief for Thousands of NYCHA Tenants
- Funding Opportunities
- State Register
- Coming Up
Governor Hochul Celebrates Over 140 Exceptional Teachers Chosen to Support New York State’s World Class Education System
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the selection of 144 STEM teachers for the New York State Master Teacher Program, a professional network of more than 1,700 public-school teachers with a passion for inspiring the next generation of educational leaders. Twenty-six counselors were also selected as part of the inaugural Master Counselor Program.
$100 Million Awarded to Expand Free and Low-Cost Afterschool Programs Across New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York State has awarded about $100 million in grants to support free and low-cost afterschool programs serving nearly 40,000 children in high-need areas statewide. The State grants announced were awarded by OCFS through the Learning and Enrichment Afterschool Program Supports (LEAPS) initiative to help fund new or continuing afterschool programs targeted to children in high-need areas in New York State. These LEAPS grants were awarded to a total of 238 afterschool program sites statewide. The full list of awarded sites can be seen here.
New Initiative Launched to Help New York Students Enroll at Public Colleges and Universities
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the SUNY Top 10% Promise Program, creating a direct pathway for the highest-achieving New York high school seniors to gain admission and enroll at select SUNY colleges and universities. The Top 10% Promise is a direct-admissions program that automatically grants acceptance to graduating high school students whose GPAs are in the top 10 percent of their class and meet specific academic readiness criteria to at least one selective, world-class SUNY campus. The program will take effect for select high school seniors preparing to enroll for the Fall 2025 semester.
NYS Office of Cannabis Management Announces Launch of Community Reinvestment Program
The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced the launch of the initial round of Community Reinvestment Program grants. The grants will provide up to $5 million in funding to nonprofit organizations that support young people, ages 0-24 in underserved and under resourced communities across New York. The program, funded through taxes collected from legal adult use cannabis sales, aims to address a wide range of community needs in three priority areas: mental health, workforce development, and housing. In this first 2024 grant cycle, eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that offer services for youth in designated areas of New York State. The grants, each totaling $100,000, are designed to support activities that focus on mental health, workforce development, or housing for young people.
James Kaufman Named Deputy Commissioner of Policy & Program Development at OPWDD
The Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) named James Kaufman (Jim) Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Policy and Program Development in October. The Division administers a range of ongoing policy development activities related to OPWDD’s system of supports and services. As the Division’s Deputy Commissioner, Jim provides leadership oversight for the management of OPWDD’s $8 billion Home and Community Based Services Medicaid Waiver, which provides a comprehensive person-centered, community-based service array for nearly 100,000 people with developmental disabilities. Jim has spent most of his career working on fiscal and policy matters related to Mental Hygiene, Public Health and Medicaid.
Governor Hochul Announces $35 Million in COVID-Related Rent Relief for Thousands of NYCHA Tenants
Governor Kathy Hochul announced $35 million in State funding is being distributed by the New York City Housing Authority to help address COVID-related rental arrears for NYCHA residents. This funding secured by the Governor and State Legislature will provide up to 12 months of unpaid rent for NYCHA tenants and ensure these families maintain stable, affordable housing during recovery from the pandemic.
Funding Opportunities
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced the availability of funds to support the expanded implementation of HealthySteps. It is anticipated that OMH will make up to 50 awards across the state. HealthySteps is an evidence-based program that delivers dyadic services to both young children (0-3 years) and their families in a pediatric healthcare setting, which is non stigmatizing and offers universal access. Due November 5, 2024
The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is seeking one vendor to manage a statewide Youth Advisory Board (YAB). The YAB is made up of young adults ages 18-26 with lived experience in New York State’s child welfare system, juvenile justice system, and/or who have experienced homelessness as a youth. YAB board members are compensated financially for their time. Due November 13, 2024
The Bureau of Refugee Services (BRS) of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA, or collectively OTDA/BRS), issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit applications from eligible grant applicants to administer the Shelter Exit Services for Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Eligible Populations (SES) program. SES is a program focused on assisting ORR eligible households currently residing in the public shelter systems in New York State, to locate and retain permanent, affordable housing. Due November 18, 2024
The Department of Agriculture and Markets is seeking applications for the $10 million Food Access Expansion Grant Program. The program aims to help increase food access for New Yorkers living in areas without grocery stores and options for healthy, affordable food. The program will provide infrastructure funding to support the development and expansion of supermarkets, food cooperatives, permanent farm stands, and other retail food stores in underserved regions of the State while also increasing markets for New York farmers. Due November 22, 2024
The Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible entities to apply for funding through the second round of the NYS Regional School Food Infrastructure Grant Program. Funding from the program will go toward projects that encourage the use of fresh New York State farm products in meal preparation for K-12 school children, reduce food insecurity, increase market opportunities for New York State producers, and strengthen the resiliency of our state’s food system. Due December 5, 2024
The Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible applicants to apply for funding through the SNAP-Ed Community Growers Grant Program. Community-led growing spaces are collaborative projects on shared open space that produce healthy and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables for local community consumption. This funding aims to support garden-based nutrition education and food production in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible communities to increase the production and consumption of healthy and fresh food. Due December 6, 2024
The Department of Agriculture and Markets invites eligible applicants to apply for funding through the SNAP-Ed Food Box Grant Program. This funding aims to make local produce more available and accessible to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligible communities while sourcing local produce and providing nutrition education. Due December 6, 2024
The Office of Cannabis Management announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Community Reinvestment Program to reinvest in communities disproportionately affected by past federal and state drug policies through monetary awards. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) intends to issue grants to 501(c)(3) community-based organizations that serve the most affected areas of the State, focusing on those serving youth. Due December 13, 2024
The Department of Health announced the availability of funds to support the Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program. The purpose of this funding is to increase the number of students, or trainees, pursuing careers in healthcare by offering wrap around services and support. Due December 20, 2024
The New York State Office of Mental Health announced the availability of funds for the procurement of Youth and Family Peer Advocate Workforce Expansion grants. Through these grants, not-for-profit community-based organizations that are either OMH funded agencies or OMH licensed or designated mental health agencies who offer family and/or youth peer support services will work within a region of the State to establish collaborative partnerships with non-mental health community agencies and organizations (such as social and membership clubs, places of worship, community service agencies, etc.), with demonstrated experience serving diverse, disenfranchised and/or marginalized communities. Due January 14, 2024
State Register
State Education Department
- Requires a Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy for Licensure (Adopted)
- District Superintendents (Proposed)
- Certification Examination Requirements and Waiver Options (Proposed)
- Authorization of Degrees (Proposed)
- Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Seniors Enrolled in School District (Emergency)
- Extending Flexibility for Incidental Teaching (Emergency)
- Flexibilities for Supplementary Certificate/Supplementary Bilingual Education Extension Requirements (Emergency)
- Extending the Validity Period of Emergency COVID-19 Certificates (Emergency)
Office for People with Developmental Disabilities
- Specialty Hospitals (Adopted)
Department of Agriculture and Markets
- Agricultural Water Standards for Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Proposed)
State University of New York
- State Basic Financial Assistance for Operating Expenses of Community Colleges Under the Program of SUNY and CUNY (Adopted)
- State University of New York Tuition and Fee Schedule (Adopted)
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
- Authorization Periods for Family Assistance (FA) and Safety Net Assistance (SNA) in Both Public Assistance Cases and in Cases Wherein a Non-Legally Responsible Caregiver is Caring for a Child or Children for Whom the Non-Legally Responsible Caregiver is Applying for or Receiving Assistance (Emergency & Proposed)
Coming Up
2024 Regents Meeting Dates
November 4 – 5 (Monday and Tuesday)
December 9 – 10 (Monday and Tuesday)
2025 Regents Meeting Dates
January 13 – 14
February 10 – 11
March 10 – 11
April 7 – 8
May 5 – 6
June 9 – 10
July 14 – 15
August – Recess
September 8 – 9
October 6 – 7
November 3 – 4
December 15 – 16
State Board Meetings
Midwifery: November 1, 2024 (Albany)
Chiropractic: November 7, 2024 ( New York City)
Speech-Language Pathology: November 8, 2024 (Rochester, New York City)
Professional Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology: December 5, 2024
Medicine: December 6, 2024
Mental Health Practitioners: December 6, 2024
Social Work: December 11, 2024
OTDA Meetings
November 7, 2024, 1:00 p.m.: HEAP Block Grant Advisory Council (BGAC)
December 4, 2024, 1:30 p.m.: Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC)
Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC)
The Not-for-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee (NFPCAC) was established by §179-aa of the New York State’s Prompt Contracting Law, enacted in 1991 as Article XI-B of the State Finance Law. The goal of the Committee is to report to the Governor and the Legislature with recommendations on improving the contracting procedures with not-for-profit organizations, which receive state funds.
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 1 – 2:30pm via Zoom
Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 1 – 2:30pm via Zoom
New York State Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (MISCC)
The Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council (the MISCC), which was established by Chapter 551 of the Laws of 2002, is responsible for ensuring that New Yorkers of all ages with physical, intellectual, developmental, sensory, and mental health disabilities receive care and services in the most integrated settings appropriate to their individual needs.
December 11, 2024: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC)
The New York State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council (CPRAC), established by Governor Hochul under the Child Poverty Reduction Act, is responsible for analyzing child poverty in New York, making policy recommendations to reduce child poverty by 50 percent over ten years, and measuring and reporting on the State’s progress towards that goal.
November 19, 2024
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.