As legislators finished their week earlier today, and began to head back to their respective home districts, we have just three weeks (11 total days) remaining in the 2024 legislative calendar. This is a period of time when session days begin to run longer into the evening and advocacy efforts begin to coalesce around priority issues, bills showing some bit of legislative movement and other last minute pushes.
As such, NYSSBA has drafted a one-page listing of its final 2024 legislative priorities. While this list is not exhaustive, it does reflect the bills that NYSSBA Government Relations has spent significant time on and/or NYSSBA-supported bills that are also legislators’ priority bills. This list also does not include any of the many bills that NYSSBA is working to oppose passage of. Please feel welcome to review these bills, and we encourage you to reach out to your own state legislators on any bill(s) you feel particularly passionate about.
NYSSBA 2024 Final Legislative Priorities
Notable Legislative Updates
Yesterday, both the Assembly and Senate passed new teacher and principal evaluation (APPR) reform legislation. NYSSBA supported the bill. The legislation originates from nearly two years of work between groups within the Educational Conference Board (ECB), of which NYSSBA is a member, and the State Education Department. In envisioning a new APPR approach, NYSSBA desired a system that restores local control, returns the focus to educator development and improvement, decouples student test scores from ratings and ensures a sufficient level of flexibility so as to not require districts and BOCES to immediately negotiate and shift to a new and different system, unless they prefer to do so. Districts and BOCES will have until 2032 to adopt a plan under the new system.
Also earlier in the week, the Senate Education Committee approved a bill that would require all school boards (districts and BOCES) to include an ex-officio student member. Currently, such a position is authorized, subject to voter approval, and many boards have done so. NYSSBA shared a number of specific concerns with the original bill. Many of those concerns were recognized and addressed in an amended version of the bill. While we generally believe there are other and better ways to encourage and increase student participation in the governance process beyond requiring this seat, we agreed to take no position on the improved amended version of the bill. The legislation has not moved in the Assembly.
‘How a Bill Becomes a Law’ Webinar
As the legislature approaches the homestretch of their 2024 work, we are making available to you a pre-recorded webinar providing an overview of the state’s legislative process – NYSSBA’s own “How a Bill Becomes a Law.” Learn a bit more about where bills come from, what steps they must take to be passed and signed into law, and who some of the key players are in that process.
Rockefeller Institute Foundation Aid Study
Following the adoption of the 2024-25 state budget, which requires SUNY’s Rockefeller Institute to conduct a study on the Foundation Aid formula by December 1, 2024, NYSSBA has begun to have conversations with the Institute regarding their plans for the study and some initial issues which we believe the Institute should contemplate and incorporate. Those conversations have been productive and we look forward to them continuing throughout the year. We also look forward to opportunities when school board members can share their views.