July 10, 2019

Last year, a new mandate was enacted that requires school districts to annually submit to the State Education Department and the Division of the Budget a report on the building by building  allocations for each school in the district for the upcoming school budget year. The 2019 form is now available.

In 2019, districts with four or more schools will be required to complete and submit the New York State School Funding Transparency Form. A list of the 306 districts required to report this year, as well as the form and guidance on the form can be found at the links below.

Districts that reported in 2018 should note that the report is now in an online format, rather than the excel-based report that was submitted last year.

Districts required to report this year must complete and submit the report to the Division of the Budget and the State Education Department by the Friday prior to Labor Day, August 30, 2019, at 5:30 pm.

June 25, 2019

At the close of last week's session, the legislature went home, having acted on more than 900 two-house bills. This session, the newly unified Senate and Assembly acted on a wide variety of issues, from election reform to decriminalization of marijuana. Luckily, efforts to impose massive expansions of the state's MWBE program and the prevailing wage faltered, and school districts avoided those new mandates and the associated costs, for another year.  A summary of some of the key bills NYSSBA advocated on this session can be found at the link below.

2019 End of Session Summary

June 21, 2019

Earlier today, the Senate (around 1:00 am) followed by the Assembly (just after 7:00 am) completed their work for the 2019 regular legislative session.

Despite concerns about what this session would look like, overall this was a pretty good year for school districts.  After a series of priority accomplishments being included in the budget, including the increase in the BOCES DS salary cap and authorization to establish TRS reserves, the session ended with a number of positive developments for schools.

June 20, 2019

Both the Senate and Assembly released their respective houses' Bullet Aid allocations for school districts, libraries and non-profits.

These allocations are not based on state aid formulas, but rather, are negotiated by individual legislators and legislative leadership. Not all school districts receive Bullet Aid. This year, a pot of money was also set aside specific to fund school-based health centers.

The district-specific allocations can be viewed below.

Senate 2019-20 Bullet Aid

Assembly 2019-20 Bullet Aid

Assembly Bullet Aid for School Based Health Centers

June 17, 2019

Legislation supported by NYSSBA passed both houses of the legislature and was signed by the Governor that eliminates religious exemptions from having required vaccinations as a condition of attending school.  This new law took effect upon the Governor's signature.

The Governor's office is working with the State Education Department and the State Health Department to provide expedited guidance to school districts as quickly as possible. However, the Governor's office, in consultation with the Health Department, has offered assurances that students with existing exemptions will be able to finish out the school year and complete their Regents exams. NYSSBA Governmental Relations will share further guidance as soon as it is available.

• NYSSBA Memo of Support S.2994 (Hoylman)/ A.2371 (Dinowitz)

June 10, 2019

We are now down to 7 scheduled session days in the 2019 Legislative Session. Three key bills are listed below which need your immediate attention! Please consider reaching out to your elected officials and weighing in on these proposals and let NYSSBA Governmental Relations know about your conversations. If you need assistance identifying your state legislators, please contact Belinda Heckler, Governmental Relations Representative and Grassroots Advocacy Manager at 518-783-3742 or belinda.heckler@nyssba.org.

Assembly Operator: 518-455-4100

Senate Operator: 518-455-2800

June 3, 2019

With only 11 scheduled session days remaining, the familiar routine of session closedown has begun, meaning that bills are being considered at a fast and furious pace, some of which are important to see passed before the end of session and others for which it is important school board members weigh in on if we want to stop them from being enacted. Two key bills are listed below which need immediate action! Please consider reaching out to your elected officials and weighing in on these proposals and let NYSSBA Governmental Relations know about your conversations. If you need assistance identifying your state legislators, please contact Belinda Heckler, Governmental Relations Representative and Grassroots Advocacy Manager at 518-783-3742 or belinda.heckler@nyssba.org.

May 28, 2019

Legislation had previously been introduced by Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer that, if enacted, would restore the qualifier that only those school district employees who do not have 4 hours off of work while the polls are open are eligible to take up to three hours of paid leave to vote has now also been introduced in the Assembly by Education Chair Michael Benedetto (A.7837).

NYSSBA supports the legislative proposal put forth by Senator Mayer and Assemblyman Benedetto.

May 6, 2019

Last week, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee approved their spending plan for the Department of Education's 2020 budget. The House proposal would provide an aggregate 6% spending. A comprehensive list of education program spending will not be released until next week, when the full House Appropriations Committee considers the bill. Committee leaders predict that the list would include increases for the following key programs:

• $1 billion for IDEA Part B (funding for special education) and ESSA-Title I (funding for economically disadvantages schools and students)
• $500 million for ESSA-Title II-A (funding for professional development)
• ESSA-Title IV-A (student support and economic enrichment - amount not announced)

April 26, 2019

Legislation has been introduced by Senate Education Chair Shelley Mayer that, if enacted, would restore the qualifier that only those school district employees that do not have 4 hours off of work while the polls are open are eligible to take up to three hours of paid leave to vote.

This previously existing entitlement was limited to 2 hours and the 4 hour qualifier applied to all employees until the entitlement was expanded as a part of the 2019 state budget.