Education

New York education advocates call for updating of school aid formula

BY Nick Reisman and Tim Williams New York State

As the three-year phase-in of a fully funded Foundation Aid enters its final year, New York education advocates are calling for an updating of the formula used to disperse education funds.

Jasmine Gripper, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education, told Capital Tonight that “we don’t want to keep waiting. Our kids have waited too long. They’ve been in crisis.”

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New York lawmakers, advocates make push to address bullying in schools

BY Nick Reisman New York State

In 2015, 13-year-old Jacobe Taras died by suicide – a death that came after Jacobe was bullied in schools. His parents, Christine and Richard Taras, are urging state lawmakers to take action.

"Where is it going to stop?" Christine Taras said Wednesday at a news conference in Albany. "Where are we going to say enough is enough?"

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How New York could provide tax relief for student borrowers

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

New York state could soon be providing some tax relief for people who are carrying federal student loan debt.

A bill approved this week in the Democratic-controlled state Senate is meant to ensure student loan forgiveness programs would be exempt from state income taxes.

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New York school budgets overwhelmingly pass; races for school board quiet

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Once again, an overwhelming majority of school districts in New York passed their annual budgets this week. While 10 failed this year – a few more than last year – 99% of budgets were approved.

“It’s obviously a great vote of confidence for our schools,” said David Albert, chief communications and marketing officer for the New York State School Boards Association. “They’ve put together some great budgets this year that will be good for kids.”

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Nearly all school district budgets pass in New York

BY Nick Reisman New York State

Nearly all of the school district budgets up for consideration by voters on Tuesday were approved, according to initial projections by the New York State United Teachers.

All told, about 99% of the budgets were approved by voters. Out of the 534 budgets up for a vote, only nine went down in defeat.

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Advocates, lawmakers call for Asian-American studies in New York schools

BY Nick Reisman New York State

New York state lawmakers want to expand the social studies curriculum in schools to require the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander experiences in the U.S.

The bill re-introduced this week would add the history of the communities in New York and regionally in the United States, including movements and policies that have affected them.

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New York state, federal lawmakers want to expand SNAP for college students

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

State and federal lawmakers on Tuesday called for the passage of a measure to ensure college students can receive access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as COVID-19 pandemic-era provisions are ending.

The measure, backed by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, would expand SNAP benefits to all college students who are attending two and four-year universities on a part-time basis or need more to meet traditional income and eligibility requirements.

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About 81% of New York school kids to qualify for free meals

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

An estimated 81% of New York school children will be able to receive free breakfast and lunch due to combined state and federal aid for food programs, state lawmakers on Thursday said.

New York's state budget included $134 million for meals, money that Democratic lawmakers said will help supplement the expiration of some federal aid.

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SUNY, CUNY to review enrollment fluctuations impact

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Top officials at the State University of New York and the City University of New York will assess the long-term effect of "fluctuations" in student enrollment and develop plans to address it, according to provisions included in the final $229 billion budget deal.

Both the SUNY and CUNY systems have been affected by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to complications in their enrollment pictures at multiple campuses.

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State Sen. Skoufis pushes bill to require recess at New York schools

BY Jacquelyn Quinones Orange County

New York state Sen. James Skoufis recently introduced a bill which if signed into law would make recess mandatory for all elementary school kids.

For most students, like 5th grader Tate Patterson, it is the only time he gets to spend with his friends outside of the classroom.

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New York's budget will aid capital costs for SUNY, CUNY

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Additional money to help maintain public higher education campuses, as well as make renovations, will head to schools in the State University of New York and City University of New York systems as part of the state budget agreement.

As expected, lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul agreed to a budget that does not increase tuition for in-state students.

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SUNY, CUNY tuition debate raises affordability questions

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

A plan to increase tuition for New York college students at the public college and university system is off the table. But now talk is turning toward funding.

State University of New York Chancellor John King says the state’s public college and university system needs more revenue and he’s been looking to the state budget.

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New York lawmakers call for stronger security plans at schools

BY Nick Reisman Albany/Capital Region

Top New York state education officials in New York would be required to work with State Police and homeland security to create basic standards for security and safety at schools.

The measure, backed by state Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblymember Nader Sayegh, comes in the wake of school shootings and recent so-called "swatting" incidents.

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After 'swatting' incidents at New York schools, lawmakers want to address threats

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Schools across New York have been contending with so-called "swatting" incidents: A phone call is made warning about violence, activating the police and evacuating classrooms. State lawmakers like Republican state Sen. Jim Tedisco this week proposed measures meant to hold perpatrators accountable.

In the days after dozens of schools around New York received hoax threats of violence, state lawmakers are proposing measures meant to boost safety for kids and teachers.

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Graduate workers advocate to end SUNY, CUNY fees in New York budget

BY Kate Lisa New York State

The 5,000 members of SUNY's Graduate Student Employees Union are fighting hard to include one of the Legislature's proposals in the next state budget to phase out double-digit fees taken out of their annual stipends.

Graduate student teaching staff and assistants make up the backbone of instruction at SUNY and CUNY campuses, but continue to have to pay back 15 to 20% of their annual salary back to the university system.

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More than 50 New York school districts impacted by another wave of unfounded threats, officials say

BY Luke Parsnow New York State

Dozens more schools across New York were hit by another wave of unfounded threats on Tuesday, according to officials, which follows a similar wave of unfounded reports, known as "swatting," that occurred last week.

"More than 50 school districts across New York have received disturbing 'swatting' threats today including in Central New York, Long Island, the Southern Tier and the North Country," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school - swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers and families."

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Push for universal school meals in New York gets bipartisan support

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government provided meals to all students, but that policy ended last year.

Now, only the very poorest families qualify for federal meals programs. What advocates in Albany want is for the state to pick up the rest of the tab for all kids. The cost would be just up to $201 million a year.

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Assembly Republicans: Bolster security for New York schools

BY Nick Reisman Albany

State Assembly Republicans Thursday backed a package of measures meant to make schools safer in New York — from adding more school resource officers to addressing mental health concerns.

The announcement for the proposals, the subject of a months-long statewide listening tour on the issue by Republican lawmakers, coincided with multiple schools across parts of upstate New York receiving false threats on Thursday.

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N.Y. Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair Pat Fahy on the debate over spending

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Because of falling enrollment and other issues, Gov. Kathy Hochul is urging tuition hikes at SUNY campuses in her executive budget.

She’s proposed 6% tuition increases at the state’s large research facilities in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook, as well as lower increases at SUNY’s other campuses. The hikes would be in effect for five consecutive years, allowing in-state tuition at flagship campuses to increase by 30%, if approved by the Legislature.

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DiNapoli: New York schools need to better track digital devices

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Digital devices like laptop computers, tablets and monitors in New York schools are not being properly kept track of and can be subject to theft or damage, an audit by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office found.

The audit released on Thursday assessed the policies of 20 school districts, determining many of their information technology offices could not readily locate many of the assets.

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Assembly and Senate want universal school meals in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Universal meals in New York schools is being advanced this week by state lawmakers who are backing $280 million in the budget negotiations for the plan.

The universal school meals proposal has gained traction in the state Legislature over the last several weeks, drawing support from Democrats as well as Republican lawmakers after federal support for the program ended.

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New York lawmakers will try to block SUNY, CUNY tuition hike

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Democrats in the New York state Senate will attempt to thwart Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to raise yearly tuition at the state's public college and universities by jettisoning a plan that would tie tuition to the Higher Education Price Index or 3%, sources familiar with the discussions said Monday night.

The state Senate is set to unveil its budget resolution this week alongside the Democratic-led state Assembly. The Senate budget proposal will not include the tuition proposal from Hochul.

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Hochul: Charter school expansion will give parents choice

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday said expanding charter schools in the state is necessary to give parents options about their children's education after vehement pushback from Democratic lawmakers and labor unions against the governor's budget proposal.

At a storm briefing at the state Department of Transportation building in Latham, the governor said the provision to create 85 new charter schools and lift New York City's regional cap on them should be in the state's next spending plan due April 1.

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Student performance dropped in New York during pandemic

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York schools should review how they are spending federal pandemic aid to help students after data found student performance in the state dropped significantly between 2019 and 2022, state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli on Monday said.

DiNapol's office released a review of the federal data showing the declining in student performance coinciding with the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with math proficiency rates among students in grade 4 dropping across all demographics.

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New York Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer against Medicaid cost-shift

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

There is a New York state budgetary issue that has emerged only recently that could have a significant impact on education in the state: The governor’s budget would shift Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funds in the Medicaid program from county governments that administer Medicaid to the state.

When asked about the cost-shift earlier this week, Gov. Kathy Hochul pointed to the billions of additional dollars sent to school districts this year. School taxes are one of the primary costs facing counties.

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Late budget request would fund scholarships for those who lost a parent to COVID-19

BY Kate Lisa New York State

With one-house budget proposals expected to come out next week, one state lawmaker is pushing for a late addition to be included to create a scholarship fund for New York children who had a parent, caregiver or sibling die or become disabled due to COVID-19.

New York City became the global epicenter of COVID-19 infections and deaths three years ago next week, spurring statewide shutdowns.

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Lawmakers: Expand access to contraception at SUNY and CUNY

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Two state lawmakers are calling for expanded access to emergency contraceptives at public college and universities in New York.

The measure, backed by Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas and state Sen. Lea Webb, would require at least one vending machine that dispenses emergnecy contraceptives.

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New York schools continue to face fiscal challenges

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Facing criticism from county leaders over her Medicaid plan, Gov. Kathy Hochul is trying to pressure school districts to cut property taxes.

But schools around New York, despite an influx of aid from the federal and state governments, are facing financial pressures brought on by inflation as well as personnel shortages.

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Education groups call for review of how school aid is distributed in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Money should be set aside in the state budget to review how money for schools is distributed to districts around New York and potentially explore ways of changing it, education organizations said Monday.

The groups, which include advocacy organizations like the Alliance for Quality Education and administrative representatives like Association of School Business Officials of New York and NYS Council of School Superintendents and the umbrella labor union New York State United Teachers, are backing a call from the Board of Regents to spend $1 million to research issue.

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SCOTUS decision on student loan forgiveness could have big impact

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The conservative majority in the Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan moves forward.

"They may be leaning towards not supporting the student loan forgiveness," Tully Rinckey Partner Leslie Silva said.

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Hochul calls for school tax cuts amid Medicaid cost controversy

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday defended her budget's plan to shift key Medicaid money away from county governments as local officials and some lawmakers raise an alarm over the measure.

Hochul's budget would shift Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funds in the Medicaid program, redirecting them from county governments that administer Medicaid to the state. County officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, have protested, worried it could raise property taxes as a result.

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Advocates urge more New York charter schools to improve classroom diversity

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Advocates rallied in the state Capitol on Monday in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to increase the number of charter schools in New York City, saying it will help address racial inequities rampant in education.

The governor proposed lifting New York City's regional cap on charter schools and allowing for 85 more in the state in her executive budget.

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SUNY union head warns of structural deficits and misplaced burdens

BY Nick Reisman and Tim Williams New York State

Next week, New York state lawmakers will hear testimony on the higher education portion of the Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposed budget. While education advocates like Frederick Kowal, of United University Professions, cheers on the second consecutive year of proposed increases in the governor’s budget, Kowal warns more funding is needed to address structural deficits at SUNY campuses and hospitals.

Included in the budget proposal was a provision that would allow the state’s four research colleges — Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook — to raise tuition by 30% over the next five years. Kowal argues this further places the burden on students, whether or not they can afford it, and argues that this could be seen as a “privatization of a public good” and adds the “state must commit public funds to these public institutions.”

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New York public higher education union urges hospital funding

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The union that represents faculty and staff at the State University of New York system urged state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul to back $175 million for the state's three teaching hospitals in order to bolster their finances.

The United University Professions has been pushing for additional funding at SUNY campuses around New York over the last several weeks as the state budget season is underway in Albany.

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New York lawmaker wants schools, day cares to have emergency plans for kids with disabilities

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Day care facilities and schools in New York would be required to have an evacuation plan tailored for children with disabilities during an emergency or lockdown under a measure proposed Friday by state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.

The bill is meant to address children who may need additional support in being able to get out of potentially dangerous situations. The measure is being proposed against the backdrop of mass shootings in schools and other public places in the country.

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New York schools see statewide tumble in enrollment

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Enrollment in New York schools over the last decade has declined, with the COVID-19 pandemic hastening the trend, according to an analysis released on Thursday by a state education advocacy organization.

Pupil enrollment has dropped in schools across the country, but the largest enrollment loss in the nation between 2019-20 and 2021-22 was seen in New York, the group The Education Trust-NY said.

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Charter school advocates see hope in Hochul’s budget proposal

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

While the state’s cap of 460 charter schools isn’t raised in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal, the regional cap on charters is removed, something that is particularly important in New York City which has reached its cap on charters, while parts of upstate New York have not.

There are about 85 charter slots that are still up for grabs.

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New York education unions call for higher education funding

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Education unions in New York on Tuesday called for $4.7 billion in spending for higher education programs in the state ahead of a potential tuition increase at public colleges and universities.

The unions, including the New York State United Teachers, United University Professions, Professional Staff Congress and the United College Employees of Fashion Institute of Technology, pushed for the funding as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul negotiate a $227 billion budget proposal.

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Fayette County Public Schools reevaluating school safety

BY Austin Schick Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. — School leaders in the Fayette County Public Schools are discussing ways to make improvements to school safety.

In 2018, FCPS developed its Ten Point Safety Investment Plan, following a school shooting in Marshal County and the Parkland School shooting in Florida.

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Opposition begins to Hochul's charter school plan

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to expand charter schools in New York by eliminating regional caps and adding more slots for students. It's a move that's already meeting opposition from Hochul's fellow Democrats in the state Legislature.

Hochul's charter school plan contained in her $227 billion state budget plan touches on a deeply controversial issue for the state's teachers unions, which remain politically influential with many lawmakers.

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United Federation of Teachers wants changes to authorization of New York charter schools

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

In 1998, Albany legislators traded the establishment of charter schools for a 38% pay hike.

Former Gov. George Pataki painted then-state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver into a corner by threatening to veto a planned pay increase – the first in ten years – if the speaker didn’t make some concessions on charters. Until then, the Assembly, which was (and is) controlled by pro-teachers’ union Democrats, hadn’t entertained the idea of approving charter schools.

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Coalition pushes for measure that would amend school suspension rules in New York

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Advocates for reform to school discipline in New York say suspensions disproportionately affect children of color, children living with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Johanna Miller of the NYCLU is part of a coalition supporting the Solutions Not Suspensions Act that hosted a statewide press conference Thursday.

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New SUNY chancellor discusses tuition hikes, cascading admissions pilot program

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The new SUNY chancellor is a familiar name to education advocates in New York. Dr. John King is the state’s former education commissioner whose tenure aligned with the tumultuous rollout of the Common Core and teacher evaluations (APPR). Between 2016 and 2017, he served as secretary of education under President Barack Obama.

When asked why he decided to return to New York after experiencing the state’s rough and tumble politics firsthand, he replied he’s used to the fight.

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Hochul pledges to direct more aid for schools in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Schools in New York could receive yet another major increase in direct funding this year as Gov. Kathy Hochul signals she wants to increase spending by $2.7 billion in the coming state budget.

If given final approval by state lawmakers in the budget expected to pass at the end of March, the increase would mean a 13% rise in a direct line of funding known as Foundation Aid.

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SUNY union leader urges Hochul to boost funding for public higher education

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The top official at the union that represents faculty and staff at New York's public colleges and universities in a letter released Wednesday urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to provide more financial support for the campuses amid budget woes.

The letter from United University Professions President Fred Kowal pointed to the 19 campuses within the State University of New York system that are facing structural budget deficits reaching more than $100 million combined.

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Funding increases help New York schools address needs as fiscal cliff looms

BY Susan Arbetter and Tim Williams New York State

According to a new survey of New York’s school superintendents, state and federal funding increases have helped expand and enrich the services that schools can provide but a “fiscal cliff” looms in the coming years.

Bob Lowry, deputy director for Advocacy, Research and Communications at the New York State Council of School Superintendents, told Capital Tonight that an erosion of other services like mental healthcare has led to schools stepping up to fill the void.

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Student loan forgiveness uncertain as Supreme Court prepares to weigh in

BY Ryan Whalen Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The judicial showdown over the Biden administration's student loan forgiveness plan that would cover as much as $20,000 in debt relief to people who received Pell grants and up to $10,000 for other eligible federal borrowers will happen in 2023 with oral arguments scheduled for February.

SUNY Buffalo state economist Fred Floss believes its a toss-up right now whether the program will be struck down.

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New York education officials seek $3.4B increase in state aid

BY Nick Reisman Albany

State education officials on Monday called for increasing spending for schools by $3.4 billion as state lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul prepare to negotiate the state budget in the coming weeks.

The priorities outlined by the state Education Department's Board of Regents also include expanding pre-K programs for 3- and 4-year-olds in New York by 2035 and 2030 as well as universal access to career and technical education programs.

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New state guidance recommends mask-wearing in schools amid spike in illnesses

BY Spencer Conlin Albany County

It's been more than six months since New York state lifted its classroom mask mandates. Now, some schools could bring them back as the state Health Department and the state Education Department made new recommendations to school districts.

With cases of respiratory syntactical virus (RSV), the flu and COVID-19 on the rise, state health and education leaders are highlighting a number of precautions school leaders should consider to curb the spread of the illnesses.

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UUP president optimistic of new SUNY chancellor

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

Another nationwide search for a SUNY chancellor has ended with a familiar face for New Yorkers. Former state Education Commissioner Dr. John King Jr. will begin running the SUNY system next month. The position had been filled in an acting capacity following the resignation of Dr. Jim Malatras.

King’s tenure as education commissioner between 2011 and 2015 was a tumultuous one, primarily because he was an advocate of both the Common Core and teacher evaluations which complicated his relationship with both parents and teachers.

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Former U.S. Education Secretary John King to lead New York SUNY system

BY Nick Reisman Albany
UPDATED 7:01 PM ET Dec. 05, 2022

John King, a former state education commissioner and the former U.S. education secretary during the Obama administration, has been tapped to become the chancellor of New York's 64-campus public college and university system.

The State University of New York Board of Trustees on Monday formally appointed King to the role, replacing Jim Malatras. SUNY Oswego President Deborah Stanley had been serving in the role on an acting basis.

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Hochul: Aid will help low-income kids prepare for college

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York state is receiving $28 million in federal aid for a seven-year program meant to prepare low-income students for college, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced.

The money is expected to aid more than 6,200 students under the GEAR UP program, a seven-year program that starts in middle school and runs through freshman year of college.

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Applications to SUNY have doubled in the last year

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The number of New Yorkers and prospective students from out of state who have applied to a State University of New York school has doubled in the last year, driven by a two-week fee waiver for applications.

SUNY officials on Thursday announced the applications have increased by 110% as of Nov. 25, growing from 97,257 to 204,437 applications.

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New York lawmakers weigh how to strengthen mental health services on college campuses

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The upheaval of the last two and a half years have added to the anxieties of college students — already facing a stressful time as they leave home and take their first steps into adulthood.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a light on the long-term effects of isolation and uncertainty. And it's made access to on-campus services at colleges vital for mental health.

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New York schools have taken wider community roles

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York schools have been squeezed over the last two-and-a-half years by the COVID-19 pandemic. But at the same time, school leaders report they are providing more services for their communities amid ongoing financial and mental health struggles.

The New York State Council of School Superintendents on Wednesday released a survey of its members finding many have taken on more duties since the start of the pandemic.

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New York schools slow in spending federal aid, report finds

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Schools in New York have been slow to spend federal aid sent to them in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an analysis released by an education advocacy organization on Tuesday found.

The report released by the New York Equity Coalition found school districts as of August 2022 have spent less than 10% of funding meant to boost learning after the pandemic disrupted classroom instruction.

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New York Sen. Brad Hoylman: Club Q massacre shows need for educating tolerance in schools

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

The murders in Colorado Springs at Club Q over the weekend were as unsurprising as they were horrific. The killer’s precise motives have not yet been reported, but he’s being charged with hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.

New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, discussed two pertinent bills he’s carrying with Capital Tonight: One bill requires schools in the state to add LGBTQ “awareness” to the curriculum, and one which addresses transgender rights.

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NY education officials: End Native American mascots or risk state aid

BY Nick Reisman Albany

School districts in New York state that do not change their Native American-themed mascots are at risk of losing state aid or having their officials removed, the state Education Department this week announced in a new guidance.

Top education officials in New York are reiterating their opposition to the use of Native American images and mascots for schools amid an ongoing legal battle with the Cambridge Central School District in Washington County.

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How the largest school districts in New York spent pandemic aid

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The five largest school districts in New York spent only a small percentage of their federal pandemic recovery aid on early childhood education and may be falling short in using the funds to help with learning loss due to the interruption of in-classroom instruction, a report released Monday by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office found.

The analysis by the comptroller's office assessed how the five largest school districts in New York state — New York City, Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester and Yonkers — spent their combined $8.6 billion in funds from the federal government. The money was initially approved by Congress to help schools and students narrow learning and achievement gaps created by the public health crisis.

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Schools see little attention in race for New York governor

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Away from the rallies and TV ads calling attention to issues like abortion rights and public safety, the shadow of the state budget in Albany is getting bigger. The next governor will likely be facing economic pain. Jasmine Gripper of the Alliance for Quality Education says issues facing schools have not been discussed.

Whoever wins the race for New York governor may face major questions next year for the state budget.

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Cameras help cut down on dangerous passes of school buses

BY Tim Williams New York State

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, school buses are one of the safest vehicles on the road with millions of school children taking them each day. However, there is more that can be done to make sure our kids get to and from school safely.

As National School Bus Safety Week is wrapped up, David Christopher, executive director of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation, told Capital Tonight that despite a slow rollout, cameras that have been installed on bus stop signs have helped address safety concerns but haven’t completely eliminated them.

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Child care funding to expand programs at public college campuses in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York is set to spend more than $15 million to expand child care programs at campuses of the State University of New York and City University of New York in order to provide more options to faculty, staff and students.

Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced this week that SUNY is set to receive $10.8 million meant to expand child care program access. CUNY will receive an additional $4.8 million.

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New York Assembly Republicans form school safety panel

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Republicans in the New York state Assembly on Friday announced the formation of a task force to assess school safety and violence and how to address it.

The panel will be led by Assemblyman Joe Giglio, Assemblyman Doug Smith and Assemblyman Mike Reily.

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New York community colleges and counties eye additional state funding

BY Susan Arbetter New York State
UPDATED 10:07 AM ET Oct. 12, 2022

After years of lobbying lawmakers as well as two governors, K-12 public schools in New York began receiving the balance of a long-promised tranche of Foundation Aid.

For the 2022-23 school year, K-12 schools in New York received an increase of $1.5 billion over last year.

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How New York schools are spending their state aid

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York schools are receiving a record amount of state aid. And now a new tool online is helping to show how that money is being spent.

The Education Trust-New York, an advocacy organization, released the database Tuesday using public information from 673 school districts to get an understanding of how aid is being used across New York.

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New York officials: Be on the lookout for student loan scams

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Student borrowers in New York state should be mindful of potential debt relief scams as the federal government moves to provide up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness, Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday said.

"New Yorkers work hard for every dollar they earn and the student loan forgiveness plan will be critical to helping reduce the pressures of mounting debt," Hochul said. "Unfortunately, unscrupulous individuals and scammers are using this as an opportunity to take advantage of others. Today, we're putting scammers on notice: we will not let you take advantage of hard-working New Yorkers. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and stay informed to stop these bad actors in their tracks."

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Schools in New York are trying to tackle inflation

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Hamburg Superintendent Mike Cornell points out that inflated costs — from utility bills, to fuel and even food — is making life a little more complicated in his western New York school district as teachers and school officials continue to provide for students.

"We are buckling up for a year in which we are going to have to sharpen the pencil on some of those other costs to make sure we can spend money on where it really needs to be spent, which is on early literacy, early numerousy and student mental health," he said.

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Public colleges to receive grants for cannabis industry related courses

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York will send $5 million in grant funding to public college campuses to help create credential programs or course offerings meant to boost employment in the cannabis industry in New York.

The funding will be aimed at either non-degree or courses that are degree eligible with the goal of supplying employers with a skilled workforced in what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar cannabis sector of the state's economy.

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After elections, New York school boards plan for new year

BY Nick Reisman Albany

School board elections in New York and around the country were closely watched this year, as candidates and incumbents faced polarizing issues like disputes over pandemic policies as well as controversies over curricula in classrooms.

And yet the majority of successful candidates didn't focus on those issues, an analysis released this week by the New York State School Boards Association found. With the elections now in the rear view mirror for school boards, officials are going to be dealing with a host of challenges for the new year, said Bob Schneider, the group's executive director.

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In New York school board races, incumbents and union nods carried weight

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Incumbent school board members, candidates who were endorsed by teachers' unions and those who avoided "hot-button" issues like curriculum content, diversity and COVID-19 policies saw the most succuess in this year's school board races around New York, according to an analysis released on Tuesday by the New York State School Boards Association.

The analysis comes after local school board races in New York and around the country drew more attention than usual as candidates and parents' groups that have organized around concerns that ranged from indoor masking rules and school closures to challenging curricula ran for board positions.

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Stalled Student Suicide Prevention Act needs work, New York lawmakers say

BY Kate Lisa New York State

New York lawmakers have work to do before they can reach agreement on legislation to require all teachers instructing grades 7-12 be trained how to respond when a student shows suicidal tendencies.

Youth suicides have reached an all-time high, with suicide as the second leading cause of death among young people, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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Hochul signs law requiring schools to consider alarm systems

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Schools in New York will be required to consider using silent panic alarm systems when developing and updating their safety plans under a law signed Thursday by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The provision is named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, a student who was killed at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Florida in 2019.

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As voting approaches, Hochul highlights school spending

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Gov. Kathy Hochul was on vote-rich Long Island Wednesday to highlight agreements inked more than two months ago for pre-Kindergarten and day care funding, as well as property tax relief.

But while the budget deal may be weeks old at this point, voting is set to begin on Saturday in the statewide primary, and Hochul was in a part of the state where school spending and property tax concerns are routinely top issues.

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Report: New York schools fail to train staff about mental health

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Most New York school districts are inadequately providing mental health training to staff as required by the state Education Department and state law, according to a report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli's office released Wednesday.

The state comptroller's office audited 20 randomly selected school districts, and found 18 of them, or 90%, either did not offer mental health training or provided insufficient training, such as lacking instruction to recognize warning signs of mental or psychotic disorders in children or how to access approriate support and services.

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SUNY says it will update gender, pronoun identifiers

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Students at State University of New York campuses will be able to use their chosen name and pronouns, as well as identify their gender with an "X" under an updated policy announced Wednesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The change is meant to aid transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary students on campuses across the state.

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How 'Alyssa's Law' could change emergency planning for New York schools

BY Nick Reisman Albany

A panic button for a classroom or school campus can be one phone tap or push alert away. That's the idea behind a proposal given final approval by New York lawmakers in the closing days of the legislative session as officials reassess school safety measures in the wake of mass shootings around the country.

"We have to try in every way we can to stay one step ahead of what is clearly growing violence throughout this country," said Assemblywoman Pat Fahy, an Albany-area Democrat.

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Public comment period ends for New York Education Department's proposed substantial equivalency regulations

BY Susan Arbetter New York State

In March, the New York state Education Department proposed regulations regarding the statutory requirement for substantial equivalency of instruction for students attending nonpublic schools, like yeshivas or traditional Jewish schools. The idea is to ensure that all students receive a constitutionally mandated education to which they are entitled under the law.

The public comment period for the draft regulations runs through midnight Wednesday; the final regulations will come before the Board of Regents for its consideration in the fall.

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New York law signed to prevent colleges from withholding student transcripts over unpaid debts

BY Kate Lisa New York State

Colleges in New York can no longer withhold students' transcripts or charge them higher fees to obtain a copy of their transcript if they have unpaid debts.

The bill signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday will remove a barrier to help people continue their education or secure employment instead of penalizing students with less money.

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SUNY, CUNY unions tout economic impact of higher education

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The labor unions that represent workers and staff at New York's public college and university systems are touting the economic impact that public higher education has on the state as lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul continue to negotiate the budget.

The Professional Staff Congress, which represents workers at the City University of New York, as well as the United University Professions at for the State University of New York, has been making a pitch this budget season for further spending on higher education, including more support for hospitals and research centers.

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School mask mandate critics rejoice policy's end in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Critics of the requirement to wear a mask inside school buildings across New York state cheered Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to end it effective Wednesday, calling the move long overdue.

Calls to end the mask mandate were bipartisan, including from Democratic lawmakers in the state Legislature who pointed to the federal Centers for Disease Control backing recommendations that indoor mask-wearing was no longer necessary in areas with low COVID transmission.

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Siena poll: Most New York voters want to wait before lifting school mask rules

BY Nick Reisman Albany

A majority of New Yorkers want the state to wait for more information before the Hochul administration decides whether to lift a mandate on mask-wearing in schools statewide, a Siena College poll released Tuesday morning found.

At the same time, the poll showed voters' rising anxiety about crime and public safety and a desire to move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic after nearly two years of public restrictions and a surge in cases this winter.

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New York lawmakers urged to pass 'comprehensive' sex ed policy

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Dozens of progressive advocacy groups this month are urging state lawmakers to approve a measure meant to broaden New York's sex education in classrooms to become more inclusive, with the goal of reducing sexual harassment and assault.

The measure, which has the backing of organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union, the New Pride Agenda and NARAL Action Council, would require the state to have "comprehensive" and age-appropriate sexuality instruction curricula for grades K through 12 in the state.

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Here's how New York could fill a bus driver shortage

BY Nick Reisman Albany

As school districts across the state struggle with a bus driver shortage, Gov. Kathy Hochul this week called for a provision to lift the earning cap for retired education workers.

The move could help address an acute shortage of bus drivers and other school personnel as district officials have struggled to return to in-classroom instruction since the fall.

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Lawmakers assess the impact of boosted school aid in New York

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York schools were given a super charge dose of funding by Albany this year. And billions of dollars more in federal aid is on the way, meant to shore up schools affected by the COVID-19 pandemic — providing support for mental health aides as well as help students who have fallen behind as a result of the public health crisis.

But despite the additional money, problems persist for schools in New York and education officials. A staff shortage — made worse by retirements and a lack of bus drivers — is leading officials to consider ways of fixing those problems.

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New York teachers union, pediatricians launch back-to-school campaign

BY Nick Reisman Albany

New York's statewide teachers labor group, along with the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics, is set to launch on Monday a back-to-school campaign highlighting a return to in-classroom instruction five days a week this fall.

The effort is set to include a statewide TV ad and digital advertising campaign highlighting the return to the classroom as schools across New York face myriad challenges and uncertainties as COVID-19 cases have spiked over the summer.

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New York's school recovery plan approved by federal government

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Schools across New York are in line to receive $3 billion in federal aid to help students, parents and teachers with the challenges of returning to the classroom following more than a year of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The federal government on Thursday backed the State Education Department's plan for aiding schools with academic support, early learning and mental health needs as schools set a goal for in-classroom instruction.

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In Focus: Kentucky Center for Economic Policy weighs-in on Commonwealth's new school choice law

BY Mario Anderson Kentucky

KENTUCKY — A new law allowing scholarship tax credits to support private school tuition drew a court challenge in June from the Council for Better Education, which argues that the program is unconstitutional and undermines support for public schools.

The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County Circuit Court and this is the same group that sued over inequities in Kentucky school funding more than 30 years ago. That case led to passage of the landmark Kentucky Education Reform Act.

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State lawmakers want to expand programs for children with disabilities

BY Nick Reisman Albany

State lawmakers on Thursay urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign a bill meant to expand and strengthen programs that serve children with disabilities.

The bill would affect pre-school to school-age children and is meant to provide fair and equitable funding linked to the aid that is given to public schools.

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Special education students could receive post-pandemic support

BY Nick Reisman Albany

A bill that would provide special education students with a post-pandemic boost to finish school is nearing completion at the state Capitol on the final day of the legislative session.

The proposal is meant to address the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic for students with disabilities who are at risk of aging out of public education by the time they turn 21.

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Analysis: Releasing State Aid to Schools Helped Avoid Steep Losses

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the withholding of state aid to schools imposed last year in order to triage the financial fallout from the COVID-19 would end. The move helped many school districts in New York avoid a steep loss in a key source of revenue if the reductions had been maintained.

But, according to an analysis by Moody's Investor Services, not all withholdings during the last year affected school districts equally.

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NY Senate Takes Up Higher Education Measures

BY Nick Reisman Albany

The Democratic-controlled state Senate on Tuesday will take up a package of bills meant to boost access to higher education in New York.

The measures include a push for on-campus resources for veterans and granting academic credits to veterans to attend state universities based on their service and experience.

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Gillibrand Bill Aims to Fully Fund Title I, Programs for Disabled Students

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is backing a measure that would require Congress to provide funding for Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — a measure she said is needed amid the disruption to schools caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill would require funding for key programs that aid low-income school districts as well as students with disabilities. It comes as many schools have either shifted to remote learning or a hybrid model that has led to uneven outcomes for students.

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New York Schools May Face the Worst of "Worst-Case" Budget

BY Nick Reisman Albany

Education officials, from school leaders to union leaders, took one look at the worst case budget as proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday and gulped.

The budget line for education is second only to health care in its cost to the state, giving teachers unions, superintendents, school districts and families among those with the highest stakes in the coming weeks as New York seeks billions of dollars in aid from Congress.

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