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Education Department |
Adjusted Executive Legislative
Approp. Request Approp.
2000-01 2001-02 2001-02 Change
STATE OPERATIONS
General Fund 65,728,600 56,532,300 66,614,000 10,081,700
Special Rev.-Fed. 166,071,900 160,392,400 164,319,400 3,927,000
Special Rev.-Other 81,807,200 98,014,500 85,149,900 (12,864,600)
Fiduciary 1,337,000 1,026,000 1,392,000 366,000
Internal Service Fund 18,290,800 15,499,100 19,448,200 3,949,100
Total for Agency: 333,235,500 331,464,300 336,923,500 5,459,200
Total Contingency: 11,376,000 10,383,000 10,383,000 0
Total for
STATE OPERATIONS: 344,611,500 341,847,300 347,306,500 5,459,200
AID TO LOCALITIES
General Fund 12,958,011,485 13,531,704,800 14,578,719,800 1,047,015,000
Special Rev.-Fed. 2,236,382,000 2,561,368,000 2,551,368,000 (10,000,000)
Special Rev.-Other 3,533,150,000 4,202,300,000 4,182,300,000 (20,000,000)
Total for
AID TO LOCALITIES: 18,727,543,485 20,295,372,800 21,312,387,800 1,017,015,000
Capital Projects
Fund 55,065,000 4,000,000 40,500,000 36,500,000
Total for
CAPITAL PROJECTS: 55,065,000 4,000,000 40,500,000 36,500,000
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Agency Mission The State Education Department (SED) is the administrative agency of the State Board of Regents. The Department's core mission is to oversee State educational programs from pre-kindergarten to graduate and professional programs. In addition, SED is responsible for vocational and educational services provided to individuals with disabilities. The Department also operates the State Library and State Museum and administers the State Archives. Currently, SED employs the equivalent of 3,271 full-time employees (FTEs) to carry out its mission. Year-to-Year Change The Executive proposes to increase State aid to schools by $382,000,000 or 2.8 percent over 2000-01 levels. This represents an $1,078,000,000 reduction in State support for public schools that school districts would have received under present law. Legislative Changes
The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to provide a one time rebate to licensed professionals required to have their licenses renewed within the next three year renewal period.
Funding for Charter Schools is provided in Article 56 of the Education Law. The Assembly rejects the Governor's proposal to provide additional resources beyond that which is enumerated in current law.
Funding for Charter Schools is provided in Article 56 of the Education Law. The Assembly rejects the Governor's proposal to provide additional resources beyond that which is enumerated in current law.
Legislative Proposals General Support for Public Schools The Assembly proposes two-year school aid appropriations that give schools the information they need to plan timely budgets and prepare programs that meet high standards. The two-year appropriations provide an increase of $3,400,000,000 over school year (SY) 2000-01 and include the consolidation of six formula aids into a single, simplified Core Operating Aid formula that recognizes local costs and individual district needs. In the first year, the Assembly proposes an historic record increase of $1,760,000,000 over SY 2000-01 in General Support for Public Schools and a $925,000,000 State Fiscal Year increase over the Executive proposal. The Assembly also provides an additional $95,575,000 State Fiscal Year increase over the Executive for additional programs outside of General Support for Public Schools. Proposed School Aid formula increases provide the following:
The Assembly LADDER Program The Assembly maintains its commitment to fully restore funding for the LADDER program and provides funding for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program at a $2,700 per pupil minimum. Provided below is a summary of provisions included within the LADDER program:
Core Operating Aid The Assembly proposes a new simplified, equalizing Core Operating Aid that generates a record increase in flexible unrestricted aid. Core Operating Aid targets 80 percent of the additional funds to High Need School Districts. This new formula includes:
Teacher Recruitment and Retention Programs The Assembly provides funding for programs to assist in the recruitment, retention, and development of a highly trained teaching force throughout the State. Several new initiatives will act as incentives to attract qualified professionals to the teaching profession and retain experienced teachers. As a part of its recruitment and retention effort, the Assembly proposes a Teacher Housing Assistance Program to help teachers serving in High Need School districts purchase a single or multi-family house, condominium or co-op in the school district in which they are teaching. The Assembly proposal involves partnerships with organizations such as Fannie Mae to implement a statewide program to allow teachers who agree to a term of service in a high need school district to purchase a home with a little or no down payment or closing costs. The Assembly accepts the Governor's increase of $25,000,000 in funding for Teachers of Tomorrow, but makes the following enhancements to the program:
The Assembly also provides the following for teacher programs:
Education Programs Within General Support for Public Schools The Assembly fully funds all programs within General Support for Public Schools. This includes funding for the following education programs which were eliminated or cut by the Governor:
The Assembly rejects additional funding for Charter Schools. The Assembly rejects the Executive's proposed Fund for Innovation. The Assembly rejects the Executive's proposed School-wide Performance Incentive. The Assembly rejects additional State Aid for Fort Drum. Acceleration of STAR Payment Schedule In order to ensure that school districts are not affected by deferred receipt of resources resulting from the STAR payment schedule, the Assembly proposes to maintain the current accelerated payment schedule in order to ensure that districts receive funds from the program in a timely manner. This will protect school districts from the need to borrow in order to meet resulting cash-flow problems and would also preserve any investment income that could be jeopardized by delayed receipt of resources in support of education. The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to cap a school district's annual spending increase. The Higher and Continuing Education Program The Higher Educational Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides valuable academic assistance to economically and academically disadvantaged students in their pursuit of a college degree. The Assembly recommends providing an additional $10,700,000 for this program during the 2001-02 academic year. This marks the initial commitment of a multi-year investment aimed at providing additional State support for the HEOP program in the following manner:
The Liberty Partnership Program provides outreach services to economically and academically disadvantaged high school students to assist in preparing them for the challenges of pursuing a college education. The Assembly proposes providing an additional $2,640,000 for this program in the 2001-02 academic year. The Assembly provides $2,000,000 to support the creation of a Loan Forgiveness Program aimed at increasing the number of licensed professionals in the fields of Nursing, Social Work and Allied Health Professions that agree to work in under-served areas of the State. The Assembly proposes adding $2,000,000 for a Business Assistance Teams (BATS) initiative to provide small businesses with vital operational and administrative support. The Summer Opportunity Program provides academic support for incoming freshmen in institutions statewide who are academically disadvantaged. The Assembly proposes $1,000,000 for this program The Assembly proposes $5,500,000 for miscellaneous higher education programs for the continued support and enhancement of various higher education programs. The Assembly recommends adding $800,000 above the Executive proposal for the Teacher Opportunity Corps. Program. The Assembly provides $500,000 to support Industry Endowed Chairs. The Assembly provides $50,000 to support Corporate Internships. Office of Professions The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to provide a one-time rebate to licensed professionals renewing their licenses with the Office of the Professions over the current three-year license renewal cycle. In lieu of the provision of such rebates, the Assembly proposes that the fee revenues be used for the enhancement of licensing services by the Office of Professions. Cultural Education The Assembly provides $10,000,000 for additional public library aid including technology, New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVEL), and libraries located in high need areas. The Assembly provides $10 million for Public Library Capital Construction grants. Grants will provide funds for general repairs, renovations, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Assembly provides $1,000,000 for Baby Steps, a program to assist local libraries in working with parents to develop the essential social and learning skills for their children ages birth to three years. The Assembly provides $700,000 for library services for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. The Assembly provides $8,000,000 in capital funding for public television digitization. The Assembly provides $20,000,000 in bonded capital construction for the State Museum. Funding will contribute to the creation of new interactive state-of-the-art exhibits and incorporate the latest scientific knowledge. The Assembly provides an additional $500,000 for Collection Preservation. Funding will raise collection standards to higher levels and ensure future access to these valued collections. The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to create a new Office of Cultural Resources. The Assembly rejects the Executive proposal to provide $1,500,000 in capital funding to the NYS Museum for a Governor's exhibit. Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) The Assembly provides an additional $4,000,000 for Case Services. The Assembly restores Executive cuts and provides an additional $2,000,000 for a total increase of $2,200,000 for Supported Employment. The Assembly restores Executive cuts and provides an additional $500,000 for a total increase of $1,700,000 for Independent Living Centers. The Assembly provides $1,000,000 for services to the disabled at institutions of higher learning. The Assembly provides $250,000 for Regional Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance Centers. The Assembly provides $250,000 for the creation of an Interagency Council for the Deaf. Other Education Initiatives Also included within the Assembly plan are the following initiatives: The Assembly proposes both a per pupil and total dollar maintenance of effort (MOE) for the Big Five City School Districts. The Assembly reprograms the Executive's proposed $300,000 in State Operations funding for the Office of Facilities Management at the State Education Department. This funding will be used for additional staff to improve the efficiency of the project approval process. The Assembly provides $150,000 for School Bus Oversight staffing needs within the State Education Department. The Assembly proposes parental notification when a child's school has received a SURR (School Under Registration Review) designation. The Assembly restores $5,325,500 for the Youth at Risk Program. The Assembly proposes to exempt increases in energy costs from austerity budget calculations The Assembly reprograms $500,000 proposed for Civility, Citizenship and Character Education programs. The use of this funding will be expanded to include funding for Diversity Education programs. The Assembly provides $500,000 for the establishment of the Lena Cymbrowitz Foundation for Holistic Excellence. In memory of Assemblymember Lena Cymbrowitz, this Foundation will focus on intergenerational health and well-being, childhood development, and educational achievement. The Foundation will support programs that promote wellness and public awareness and prevention of disease, and provide support systems for individuals of all ages living with illness and their caregivers. The Foundation will also foster childhood development by funding family support services initiatives and educational activities.
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