Plugged In To Education

December 23, 2025

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

What’s Inside

  • Board of Regents Advances Budget and Legislative Priorities for the 2026–27 School Year
  • Governor Hochul Announces $20 Million to Support Programs and Services for Young People in 10 Communities Statewide
  • Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for Spring 2026
  • NYSED News and Notes
  • Comptroller Releases Reports 
  • Members Of New Cannabis Education Advisory Panel Announced 
  • Funding Opportunities
  • State Register
  • Coming Up

Board of Regents Advances Budget and Legislative Priorities for the 2026–27 School Year

The New York State Board of Regents outlined its budget and legislative priorities for the 2026-27 school year. The Board’s proposals focus on promoting excellence and equity in education for all students in New York State—from Prekindergartners to those pursuing higher education—and identify solutions to better meet the needs of underserved districts, justice system-involved youth who reside in detention settings, and students with disabilities. Each proposal aligns with the State Education Department’s ongoing work under the NY Inspires plan to transform education and equip students with the necessary skills to enter an ever-evolving workforce. Top priorities include expanding Universal Prekindergarten, increasing opportunities for Career and Technical Education, aligning instructional requirements with new graduation measures, and supporting students’ access to higher education. Proposed Foundation Aid formula enhancements would better account for English Language Learners and students experiencing homelessness, and support districts seeking to maintain existing levels of educational services.

Governor Hochul Announces $20 Million to Support Programs and Services for Young People in 10 Communities Statewide

Governor Kathy Hochul announced $20 million to support programs and services that strengthen violence prevention, youth development, mental health supports, and economic opportunity for young people in 10 communities statewide through Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower). Administered by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the initiative supports community-based organizations that help young people and families succeed through youth development programming, mentoring, job training, mental health supports, and opportunities for success. The innovative RISE funding model drives investments in programs and services that are tailored to meet the unique needs and priorities identified by youth, families, and other stakeholders in the participating communities.

Excelsior Scholarship Application Open for Spring 2026

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the opening of the Excelsior Scholarship application for students attending college during the 2026 spring semester. The spring Excelsior application allows eligible students who plan to enroll full-time at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college for the spring 2026 term, as well as those who missed the fall application, to apply for the Excelsior Scholarship. This program helps remove financial barriers to higher education by covering tuition costs, enabling more New York students to pursue their college goals without taking on tuition debt.

NYSED News and Notes

December 18, 2025 – Zero-Emission Busing – Extension Waiver #1 Application and Guidance– Pursuant to NY State Education Law §3638, the NY State Education Department has developed an application for the initial Zero-Emission Busing Extension Waiver to continue receiving Transportation Aid for expenses that are not in compliance with purchasing and procurement requirements in §3638(2).

Dual Enrollment Programs– Education Law §319 outlines partnership agreement and data reporting requirements for dual enrollment programs and provides the following definition of a dual enrollment program in New York State.

Comptroller Releases Reports

Gen Z and Young Millennials in New York Struggle With Economic, Affordability Challenges: New York’s young adults — some members of Generation Z (born 1997-2012) and Millennials (born 1981-1996) — are facing a complex economic landscape including higher unemployment rates, increasing costs, and larger debt burdens, that threatens their financial well-being, according to a new report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

New York Can Do More to Enhance Strategies to Lower Suicide Rate: Counties across New York aren’t getting the timely data they need to help them prevent suicides, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. While the Office of Mental Health (OMH) has implemented or partially implemented most of the recommendations from the state’s Suicide Prevention Task Force, auditors found that gaps in oversight and data-sharing have left the state unable to measure whether these efforts are reducing suicide deaths, which have not declined in recent years.

Members Of New Cannabis Education Advisory Panel Announced

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced the 15 members selected to serve on the Cannabis Education Advisory Panel (CEAP), a statewide group of experts who will provide guidance on the development and review of youth-focused cannabis education materials. As OCM develops a new public health campaign and expands educational resources available for young people and families, the Panel will advise the Office on messaging, tone, cultural relevance, and scientific accuracy to better address the needs of young people, parents, caregivers, and trusted adults across New York State.

Funding Opportunities

The NYS Office of Mental Health announced the availability of $6 million for the expansion and/or creation of health-led community behavioral health crisis response pilot programs consistent with the Daniel’s Law Task Force (DLTF) Behavioral Health Crisis Response report established pursuant to Chapter 57 of the laws of 2023 and Chapter 53 of the Laws of 2025. This procurement seeks to establish at least three (3) pilot programs, one (1) each in an urban, suburban, and rural area. Due January 12, 2026

The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute (AIDS Institute), Center for Program Development, Implementation, Research and Evaluation announced the availability of New York State funds to provide research and evaluation support to bring understanding to the research and evaluation questions described in the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute’s Research Agenda and to inform and scale-up evidence-based interventions to increase HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among Black and Brown communities in New York State. The intent of the Request for Applications is to fund $575,000 annually for three (3) years. This is a procurement which encompasses two (2) Components. Component A: Research and Evaluation Mini Grants. Component B: Inform and Scale-up Intervention to Increase HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake. Due January 14, 2026

The Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance announced applications for the Services to Older Refugees Program 2026 to provide comprehensive case management and activities for participants that aim to support their integration and wellness, including gaining access to mainstream services within their respective communities so they may live independently for as long as possible. Through collaboration with local service providers, SORP providers must engage the refugee communities most in need of services and ensure that outreach and case management services are provided in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. Due January 16, 2026

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced the availability of funds for Round 3 of the 2025 School Food Infrastructure Competitive Grants Program. Due January 20, 2026

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced the availability of funds for the development of an estimated eight (8) New York State Clubhouses with the goal of (2) awards in each of the four following OMH regions: Central Region, Hudson River Region, Western Region, and Long Island. The RFP is open to two groups: current providers seeking to convert an existing program to the Clubhouse Model and providers seeking to open a new Clubhouse in these Regions. Existing programs are defined as programs currently receiving funding under OMH Program Code 0770 for psychosocial clubs or OMH Program Code 2750 for Recovery Centers. NYS OMH intends, through this RFP, to expand access to Clubhouses to geographic regions currently lacking accredited Clubhouses. If applying for more than one (1) Region, the applicant must submit a separate proposal for each Region. Due February 26, 2026

New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced round 2 of funding for 4 Youth Safe Space Programs targeting individuals ages 12-24. This program will create standalone Youth Safe Spaces Programs and allow other community spaces— such as libraries, OASAS Youth Recovery Clubhouses, Boys and Girls Clubs, Park & Recreation Centers, etc. – to expand service offerings as Youth Safe Spaces through an application and funding process. The intention is for there to be only one award per county, per EDR Applicants are not required to be licensed OMH providers to participate. Due March 3, 2026

The NYS department of Agriculture & Markets New York State  announced funding for the Farm-to-School Competitive Grants Program to increase school’s purchase of New York farm products by building relationships between schools and New York farm product suppliers. Secondary goals of the program include increasing agricultural education opportunities for students, improving nutrition and exposing students to new, local, culinary experiences. Applications / proposals continuously accepted

State Register

Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)

  • Clarifying What Facilities OPWDD Can Designate an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (Emergency/Proposed)

Coming Up

2026 Regents Meeting Dates

  • January 12 – 13
  • February 9 – 10
  • March 9 – 10
  • April 13 – 14
  • May 18 – 19
  • June 15 – 16
  • July 13 – 14
  • August – Recess
  • September 14 – 15
  • October 5 – 6
  • November 9 – 10
  • December 7 – 8

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.