The 2017-2018 budget was agreed upon this weekend. This budget, as previous budgets, included non-budget policy items. This was one of the issues, but not the only one, that held up an agreement. Senator John DeFrancisco has suggested the legislature move on a constitution amendment. Senator DeFrancisco is from the Syracuse area. Members from that area should phone, email, and/or fax the Senator. A Constitutional Convention will add millions to the budget while taking funds from other categories such as education. Legislators have left Albany for a two week vacation.
Education Budget Highlights:
- Foundation aid increase of $700 million, for a total school aid increase roughly $1.1 billion;
- Extends contracts for excellence until all schools with the district are in “good standing”;
- Requires the chancellor of NYC to notify students about the opportunity to attend a specialized high school;
- Non-public schools- Allows non-publics to access smart school bond funding for connectivity projects, provides grants for STEM teachers, provides reimbursements for state mandated immunizations;
- Charter schools- Increases facilities funding for schools in NYC and provides a supplemental tuition;
- Pre-kindergarten- Allows parents of pre-kindergarten programs to serve on community district education councils in New York City, consolidates five of the six programs into a single program over multiple years, requires districts to adopt quality indicators, requires SED to adopt a new tuition methodology for pre-school special education integrated classes;
- Allows districts to enter into ten year contracts for educating Native American children;
- Increases the threshold for school districts to purchase food from farm collectives directly from $25K to $50K;
Very truly yours,
Anthony C. Laurino
ESSAA Legislative Liaison
490 Wheeler Road, Suite 280|Hauppauge, NY 11788
217 Montgomery Street, Suite 800| Syracuse, NY 13202
888.88.ESSAA|www.essaa.org | info@essaa.org