Message from the Executive Director
July 12, 2026
Dear Members and Stakeholders,
NYSSBA school board members will have the opportunity to provide feedback to the State Education Department about NY Inspires early this week. Their goals include gaining a better understanding of what the field needs and learning how best to support districts in advancing the work of rolling out NY Inspires and the Portrait of a Graduate.
To help you get started in thinking about your responses, I’m sharing these questions in advance of you receiving the survey:
- What information or tools does the field need first to begin planning locally, and how should SED balance those needs with your existing work?
- What changes, if any, should be made to the support structure presented at the May Board of Regents meeting?
- What do you need from SED now, over the summer, and in early fall to advance this work and ensure the field receives clear, accurate information?
I commend SED for wanting to engage with our school board members as part of their process. I believe that you will provide meaningful feedback that will help inform pathways to make this a successful transition. I would ask you to promptly respond when you receive the survey email.
NYSSBA joins coalition to oppose taxpayer-funded private school voucher program in New York
NYSSBA has joined a coalition of more than 60 organizations to oppose New York State’s participation in the federal voucher program signed into law by the president as part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill."
NYSSBA has called on Gov. Hochul and other state leaders for more than a year not to opt in to the federal tax credit program, which will strengthen investments in private education while leaving fewer resources for student programs and services in public schools.
A tax credit that leverages federal resources to support private education runs contrary to the government's primary responsibility, which is to ensure that public schools have the resources to provide every student with access to the programs and services they need to excel. In short, public dollars should be used to support public education, which is guaranteed by our state’s constitution for all students in New York.
The program guidelines are expected to be released by the IRS this fall. The state must opt-in before the end of 2026 if it wishes to participate in 2027.
NY Inspires to be a key Leadership in Education Event topic; new closing speaker announced
Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and her senior staff will be sharing the latest information about NY Inspires and Portrait of a Graduate during NYSSBA’s Leadership in Education Event, which opens on July 24 at the Crown Plaza Albany - Desmond Hotel in Albany. There is still time to register and take advantage of the opportunity to hear directly from SED about the implementation of this groundbreaking change to public education in our state. Other sessions will cover student wellbeing in a digital world, community engagement, the Dignity Index and more.
I’m excited to announce that Dr. Raymond Sanchez, who is the superintendent of the Tarrytown Union Free School District, will be our closing session speaker. His presentation, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood," will explore how the principles that made Mister Rogers' Neighborhood an enduring source of comfort and hope remain remarkably relevant for today's school district leaders. In a world that often feels increasingly divided, fast-paced, and uncertain, the timeless wisdom of Fred Rogers reminds us that the most powerful leadership practices are often the simplest: listening deeply, leading with kindness, building trust, and ensuring every person feels seen, valued, and respected.
If you haven’t registered already, I hope you’ll make the decision to join us this week for these powerful sessions and more.
Annual Summer Law Conference will cover hot school law issues
Come to Albany the day before the Leadership in Education Event to attend NYSSBA’s Annual Summer Law Conference at the first of three locations where today’s hot legal issues affecting school district governance and operations will be discussed. Don’t miss "Walking the Line Between Uncertainty and Clarity" and the unique opportunity it provides to learn about the latest developments in the areas of immunization exemptions, cybersecurity and how the use of AI can result in civil rights liability. You’ll also learn about new laws, regulations and recent cases. Hear from seasoned school attorneys about school district options for addressing the challenges posed by these developments and how to avoid liability. While we hope to see you in Albany, you can also benefit from this conference during one of the two additional sessions offered on Long Island and virtually.
NYSSBA resolutions submission deadline is Friday
The deadline to submit bylaw amendments and resolutions is this Friday (July 17) at 5 p.m. The resolutions and position-setting process, underway since April, is an important one as it is how NYSSBA members set the advocacy positions and beliefs of the association. All bylaw amendments and resolutions submitted by the deadline will be eligible for consideration at the 2026 NYSSBA Annual Business Meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. For questions related to the process or for additional information on crafting resolutions, please contact Danielle Grasso in our Governmental Relations Department.
Weekly updates and reminders
NYSCATE seeking presenters for ‘Level Up;’ registration is open
The New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education (NYSCATE) is presenting its Level Up XR/VR/AR Experience — an immersive day designed to explore the power of extended reality in education – on Sept. 17 at the Capital Regional BOCES/NERIC in Albany. NYSSBA is a sponsor of the session designed to deliver hands-on learning, interactive demonstrations, and inspiring conversations around virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) technologies. You can learn more about the event here and submit a presentation proposal here.
From SED this week
The State Education Department shared the following this week:
- NYSED will launch a new online system to collect and process capital construction project information for state aid on Aug. 3. The Office of State Aid is offering training sessions via webinar on the following dates: Wednesday, July 22, at 10 a.m. and Thursday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m.
- The deadline for public schools and districts, and BOCES to submit their aggregate incident counts via the online reporting application, the Information and Reporting Services (IRS) Data Exchange or "IDEx," that is accessed through the NYSED Business Portal, is Monday, July 20.
Board of Regents meets Monday
The next Board of Regents meeting will be on Monday, July 13, starting at 9 a.m. The link for the webcast will be available one-half hour prior to the scheduled start of the meeting.
Read the latest national association news
Here’s the latest from the Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) and the National School Boards Association (NSBA):
Be well and stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Schneider CPA, CAE
Executive Director
New York State School Boards Association