Plugged In To Education

December 10, 2024

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

What’s Inside

  • Rockefeller Institute Releases Foundation Aid Report
  • Attorney General James Releases Annual “Pennies for Charity” Report
  • Assembly Holds Public Hearing on Capital Funding for Higher Education
  • DiNapoli: Critical Pre-School Special Education Services Not Reaching All Students Who Need Them
  • CICU Releases Study Highlighting Economic Impact
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Rockefeller Institute Releases Foundation Aid Report

New York State’s Enacted State Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget called for the Rockefeller Institute to conduct a study to assess the State’s Foundation Aid education funding formula and discuss potential modifications to how the formula works. Last week the report was released. The exhaustive 314-page report examines the Foundation Aid formula and its components and presents to policymakers a menu of options to update it. The report follows months of public engagement and collaboration with education stakeholders across the state.

Attorney General James Releases Annual “Pennies for Charity” Report

New York Attorney General Letitia James released her annual “Pennies for Charity: Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers” report. The report analyzes data from 2023 charitable fundraising campaigns submitted to the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Charities Bureau by professional fundraisers. The report found that in 2023, New Yorkers’ charitable giving increased by $5.8 million from 2022. There were also nine more charitable fundraising campaigns in 2023 than there were in 2022. The report also found in 46 percent of the campaigns, charities received less than 50 percent of funds raised, with professional fundraisers retaining the rest.

Assembly Holds Public Hearing on Capital Funding for Higher Education

The Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education held a public hearing last week to examine the utilization of capital funding at colleges and universities. The State University of New York (SUNY) urged the importance of capital dollars for SUNY as infrastructure across campuses continue to age. They also cited the rising costs of construction and the need to create energy efficiencies. The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) praised the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap) but asked that the legislature review the timing requirements- stating that sometimes it’s difficult for colleges and universities to complete projects within the required timeframe.

DiNapoli: Critical Pre-School Special Education Services Not Reaching All Students Who Need Them

Preschool students in need of special education services are not always getting the help they need or are getting services late, according to an audit released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The audit of the State Department of Education (SED) found many local school districts maintain waitlists for services because there are not enough providers, and SED’s oversight of services was hindered because it did not know how many students were enrolled in the preschool special education service program, the services they are receiving in real time, or the number of districts using waitlists.

CICU Releases Study Highlighting Economic Impact

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) has produced an economic impact study to highlight the benefits that independent, non-profit colleges and universities bring to New York State. The study reveals that in fiscal year 2022-23 independent colleges and universities in New York State contributed an estimated $97 billion to the state’s economy and supported more than 407,000 jobs.

Funding Opportunities

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services on behalf of the Commission on National and Community Service seeks applicants for 2025-2026 AmeriCorps Competitive grant funding. The Commission is a governor-appointed body with a diverse, non-partisan membership of, among others, representatives of business, labor, education, government, human service agencies and community-based organizations. Due December 16, 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 18, 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

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making $1M available in furtherance of the Lorena Borjas Transgender and Non-Binary Wellness and Equity Fund (TWEF) to support organizations that demonstrate the capacity to increase access to employment for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals (TGNCNB); promote employment equity for TGNCNB individuals through full and equal access to training services; and eliminate bias and discrimination based on gender identity and expression in the workplace. Due January 17, 2024

The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and Health Research Inc. announce the availability of State and Health Research, Inc. funds to provide services to improve health outcomes and address health disparities experienced by people living with HIV/AIDS in New York State. The intent of the Request for Applications is to fund $1,437,501 annually from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The Request for Applications will fund Centers for Young Adults (CYA) to provide services for young adults ages (13-29) living with HIV. Due January 22, 2025

State Register

State Education Department

  • Evaluation of Classroom Teachers and Building Principals (Emergency/Proposed)
  • Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Seniors Enrolled in School Districts (Adopted)
  • Extending Flexibility for Incidental Teaching (Adopted)
  • Flexibilities for Supplementary Certificate/Supplementary Bilingual Education Extension Requirements (Adopted)
  • Extending the Validity Period of Emergency COVID-19 Certificates (Adopted)

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

  • Standard Utility Allowances (SUAs) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Emergency)

Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Coming Up

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

  • Dentistry: January 10, 2025 (New York City)
  • Optometry: January 13, 2025 (New York City)
  • Social Work: January 22, 2025
  • Nursing: January 23, 2025 (New York City, Rochester, Albany)
  • Mental Health Practitioners: January 31, 2025
  • Interior Design: January 31, 2025 (New York City)

Assembly Standing Committee on Judiciary and the Assembly Standing Committee on Children and Families will hold a public hearing on December 16 to examine access to and resources for supervised visitation as ordered by New York State Family Courts.

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.