Plugged In To Education

August 21, 2025

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

What’s Inside

  • Attorney General James Secures Major Victory as Federal Government Releases Billions in Withheld Education Funds
  • State Education Department Releases Preliminary Data on English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science State Exams
  • Governor Hochul Announces More Than $40 Million for Youth Employment Program to Support New York State’s Fight Against Gun Violence
  • Governor Hochul Highlights Distribution of $194 Million in Food Assistance to 1.6 Million School-Aged Children So Far This Summer
  • $23 Million Awarded to Create Healthier Learning Environments in Under-Resourced School Districts
  • Grants Available for Swimming Facilities Statewide
  • $14.4 Million Awarded to Support Education Workforce Training Programs at Colleges and Universities
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Attorney General James Secures Major Victory as Federal Government Releases Billions in Withheld Education Funds

On August 1, New York Attorney General Letitia James celebrated a major victory for students, families, and schools across the country as the U.S. Department of Education (ED) released nearly $7 billion in critical education funding that had been frozen by the Trump administration. The reversal follows a lawsuit filed challenging ED’s abrupt decision to halt this funding. On August 1st the New York State Education Department (NYSED) received notice that all previously frozen grant funding has been awarded and will be released. 

On June 30, the Trump administration froze funding for six congressionally authorized education programs just weeks before schools were set to open in many states. The funding supports a wide range of services, including education for English learners and immigrant children, classroom technology, after-school enrichment programs, adult education, mental health services, and workforce development initiatives.

State Education Department Releases Preliminary Data on English Language Arts, Mathematics and Science State Exams

Earlier this month, the State Education Department announced that preliminary data on the Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics (Math) assessments, and the Grades 5 and 8 Science assessments, have been released to schools and school districts. The data released by the Department is intended to provide parents and families with their students’ assessment results and inform instructional decisions and individualized learning plans for students during the 2025-26 school year. The data are considered preliminary until they undergo the local district review and verification process, which will close on September 3, 2025.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $40 Million for Youth Employment Program to Support New York State’s Fight Against Gun Violence

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $40.6 million has been awarded for the Youth Employment Program, which aims to help reduce community gun violence and youth criminal justice involvement by providing year-round employment and training opportunities to at-risk youth in parts of the state, outside of New York City, most impacted by gun violence. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is distributing funds to local departments of social services. to provide young people with year-round employment and educational opportunities in conjunction with services provided through the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Governor Hochul Highlights Distribution of $194 Million in Food Assistance to 1.6 Million School-Aged Children So Far This Summer

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 1.6 million low-income children have already received summer food assistance totaling $194 million as part of the 2025 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, Summer EBT, program. The program provides $120 per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy food during the summer months when children might not have access to free school meals. Eligible children receive Summer EBT food benefits on an EBT card that their families can use just like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

$23 Million Awarded to Create Healthier Learning Environments in Under-Resourced School Districts

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $23 million in funding has been awarded to four under-resourced school districts across New York State to create healthier, more comfortable learning environments under the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act (Environmental Bond Act). Through the Clean Green Schools Initiative, the funding will make it more affordable for the awarded school districts to install the latest clean energy and building technologies, reduce energy use and achieve carbon emission reductions. The awarded school districts serve nearly 10,000 students in total and at least four of the school buildings are located in disadvantaged communities, as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group. 

Grants Available for Swimming Facilities Statewide

The second round of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) Initiative was launched this month, making $53 million in capital grants available to municipalities and nonprofit organizations to expand access to safe swimming facilities across the state. The NY SWIMS Initiative is overseen by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. Eligible municipalities and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $250,000 to $10 million for projects that expand swimming opportunities. Grant recipients must provide a 20-percent match toward total project costs. Eligible projects include the design, construction, renovation, or improvement of swimming facilities and related infrastructure such as bathhouses, public restrooms and accessibility features.

$14.4 Million Awarded to Support Education Workforce Training Programs at Colleges and Universities

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $14.4 million in Workforce Development Awards is being allocated to State University of New York (SUNY) campuses, City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, and private colleges and universities as part of the Education Workforce Investment. Grants are distributed through two programs – the Upskilling Paraprofessionals Program and the Alternative Teacher Certification Program – and are part of Governor Hochul’s efforts to expand opportunities for New Yorkers interested in becoming educators in critical shortage areas.

Funding Opportunities

The Department of Health announced the availability of up to $32,500,000 annually for five years in funding to support the Increasing Training Capacity in Statewide Healthcare Facilities program. This program seeks to fund facility training programs in New York State that provide an innovative response to meet the State’s healthcare workforce demands. Article 28, not-for-profit facilities can apply and utilize these funds to increase their capacity to train current and future healthcare workers. The goal of the program is to increase the healthcare workforce by assisting facilities in training more healthcare workers. Due October 14, 2025

State Register

State Education Department

  • Licensing Examinations and Testing Accommodations in the Social Work Professions (Emergency)
  • Extending Flexibility for Incidental Teaching (Emergency/Proposed)
  • First Aid Requirements for Coaches (Adopted)
  • Prohibition of Corporal Punishment and Standards for Behavioral Interventions (Adopted)
  • Teaching Assistant Certification (Adopted)
  • Use of Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents and Continuing Education Requirements for Licensed Optometrists (Adopted)
  • Relating to the Regulation of Surrender Orders in Disciplinary Proceedings (Adopted)
  • Diploma Assessment Requirements (Adopted)
  • Regents Advisory Council on Museums Term Lengths (Proposed)
  • Regents High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam Pathway (Proposed)

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)

  • Provision of a One-Time Benefit of $1,800.00 to Public Assistance (PA) Recipients Upon the Birth of a New Child (Proposed)

Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)

Coming Up

Board of Regents

  • September 8 – 9
  • October 6 – 7
  • November 3 – 4
  • December 15 – 16

State Board Meetings

  • Dietetics and Nutrition: September 29, 2025 (Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Syracuse)
  • Optometry: September 29, 2025 (New York City)
  • Occupational Therapy: September 25, 2025 (Albany, New York City & Syracuse)
  • Interior Design: September 19, 2025 (New York City)
  • Speech-Language Pathology: September 19, 2025 (Albany)
  • Midwifery: September 19, 2025
  • Chiropractic: September 11, 2025 (Albany)
  • Pharmacy: September 10, 2025
  • Medicine: September 5, 2025 (New York City)
  • Engineering, Land Surveying & Geology: September 4, 2025 (Albany)

Not-For-Profit Contracting Advisory Committee

  • September 16, 2025
  • October 28, 2025

Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board

  • September 12, 2025
  • October 16, 2025

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. 2025. All rights reserved.