Summary of October 2026 Board of Regents Meeting
The NYS Board of Regents conducted their monthly meeting on Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at the iPark87 BOCES Facility in Kingston. Regent Aramena Farrar opened the meeting with some reflective thoughts in commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month which is recognized from September 15 to October 15. Regent Farrar, the daughter of a Puerto Rican farmer, talked about the positive impact that Hispanics, who share the same Spanish language and culture but come from so many different countries, have had on our nation. She specifically recognized the many Hispanic Americans who served our country in every military conflict going back to the Revolutionary War. Regent Farrar concluded her remarks by stressing the need for educators to celebrate the courageous stories of Hispanic Americans in our schools.
Topics discussed during the meeting included:
- Update on the NYSED Resource Allocation Review Grant Pilot
- Proposed Amendments Relating to Universal PreK Regulations
- Continued Discussion of 2027 – 2028 Legislative Budget Proposal
Review of NYSED Resource Allocation Review Grant Pilot
NYSED Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Accountability, Teresa Billington, and NYSED Director of Field Support Services, Stephen Earley, introduced an overview of work being done in the Resource Allocation Review Grant Pilot. The initiative, which is tied to federal requirements associated with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is designed to assist high need districts to more equitably prioritize and allocate resources in their school improvement efforts. Eleven districts from across the state were invited to participate in the grant which provides financial support for guided training in needs assessment strategies and assistance with realigning steps for school improvement.
Albany City Schools Superintendent, Stephen Hochreiter, and Syracuse City Schools Superintendent, Pamela Odom, presented on the work that has been accomplished in each of their districts through participation in the pilot. They described how the project has positively impacted their schools through the guided focus on systems change and a more equitable distribution of resources.
The link below includes the slides that were referenced in the presentation. They include more detailed information on the how school improvement priorities were identified, how funds supporting the interventions were allocated, and how intervention steps were implemented in both Albany and Syracuse.
Proposed Amendment Relating to Universal PreK Regulations
The Board discussed proposed amendments relating to the continued implementation of Universal Pre-K. The regulations being discussed are needed to ensure that, as UPK expands, all policies are in alignment with Education laws and regulations. Areas addressed in the proposed amendments that will be presented for adoption at the February 2027 Board of Regents meeting include:
1. 3PK (Prekindergarten for 3 year olds) Guidelines
2. Literacy Instruction
3. Meals/Snacks
4. Statewide Monitoring Protocols
5. Required Screenings
6. Direct Contract Agencies
7. Diapering/Toileting Guidelines
8. Waiver process for Class Size Exemptions
9. Integrating Multilingual Learners and Students with Disabilities into UPK Programs
During the discussion following the presentation, Regent Frances Wills brought up the need to address the current lack of transportation services available to UPK families. Deputy Commissioner Angelique Johnson-Dingle responded that NYSED is currently looking into all the complexities associated with offering transportation. Commissioner Rosa added that, in order to make UPK “truly universal”, transportation needs to be provided, and emphasized that this will be an advocacy priority item for NYSED in upcoming budget negotiations.
It is anticipated that the proposed amendments will be presented for permanent adoption at the February 2027 Board of Regents meeting.
The first link below includes the technical wording of the proposed amendments that were discussed during the presentation. The second link includes the slides that were referenced as items were presented for discussion.
https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/1026p12d1.pdf
Continued Discussion of 2027-2028 State Aid Budget Proposal
The Board, along with members of the State Aid Subcommittee, resumed their discussions pertaining to the development of the proposed 2027-2028 State Aid Budget priorities:
Potential priority items identified and discussed during the presentation include:
1. Increased Foundation Aid funding that matches inflation
2. Adequate funding for Implementing the various components of NY Inspires
3. Funding to support the implementation of transportation services for UPK students
4. Special Services funding to support quality Career and Technical programs in districts that are not members of BOCES
5. Funding to support expanded mental health services for students through interagency connections
6. Support that expands opportunities for high school students to gain exposure to higher education coursework through early college – type programs
7. Increased FAPE funding to assist districts support students with disabilities until their 22nd birthday
8. Funding for capital improvements and renovations to antiquated state owned buildings
9. Increased funding to better support Arts in Education programs.
At the upcoming November Board of Regents meeting, a more conceptual budget proposal will be presented that includes fiscal cost estimates attached to each item. The final proposed budget will be adopted at the December Board of Regents meeting.
At the upcoming November Board of Regents meeting, a more conceptual budget proposal will be presented that includes fiscal cost estimates attached to each item. The final proposed budget will be adopted at the December Board of Regents meeting.
Below you will find the slides that were referenced during the discussion.
