In response to COVID-19 and on-going challenges with systemic racism, the Coalition demands action to ensure that equity is at the forefront of all educational rebuilding policies. This year we are focusing on budget and legislative asks meant to: (1) Increase equitable relief funding for New York State schools that support recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Ensure access to fixed and high-quality broadband across New York; Improve interventions to support students' academic/non-academic development; (3) Increase high school graduation and retention; (4) Increase Latinx college and career readiness; and (5) Increase college access, graduation and retention.
P-12 Education
Budget Recommendations
Fully Fund the Original Foundation Aid Formula—$3.8 billion
NYS’s highest Court found that the State has unconstitutionally underfunded schools through the annual budget by failing to “align funding with need” to determine the “actual cost” of providing a “sound and basic education” to all students as promised in the State constitution.
COVID-19 Funding Requests
Repayment of Pandemic Adjustment cut of 2020—$1.1 billion
Distribute current/future Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund equitably across NYS schools—$164.2 million
Reimburse Expense Base Aids (including pandemic related transportation costs) —$400 million
General COVID-19 Expenses —$225 million
Ensure access to fixed and high-quality broadband across New York
Equitable access to high quality devices/internet requires funding for schools, direct families, homeless shelters, community organizations for resources to address the digital gap —$341 million
Cultural-relevant and linguistically appropriate professional development trainings on remote instruction and digital literacy to parents and school staff. Supporting the Digital Literacy Pilot program will ensure families receive supports in their home language —$8 million
Increase NYSED Funding to Support Multilingual Learners (MLLs) formerly English Language Learners
MLLs significantly lag behind their non-MLL peers when it comes to academic achievement and graduation rates. We firmly support the Board of Regents and NYSED budget asks to support programs for these students.
Increase districts’ capacity to serve MLLs, enhance curriculum, and increase instructional support—$15 million
Increase support services by expanding staff at NYSED’s RBERN and statewide support centers—$1.6 million
Create a new English Language Proficiency assessment for MLLs with severe cognitive disabilities—$1 million
Enhance communication with multilingual parents by providing document translation services—$1.5 million
Legislative Recommendations
Ensure High-Quality Internet Access in New York State—S3184/A5180 (Mayer/Benedetto)
NYS must establish a funding stream that focuses on increasing access to broadband internet across the state. To ensure high-quality internet access for every student and school in New York State during the COVID-19 pandemic, this bill will provide a funding avenue by establishing the E-LEARN fund through an assessment on intrastate operating revenues of telecommunication companies.
Employ Mental Health Professionals in All K-12 Schools —S1969/A05019 (Jackson/Gonzalez-Rojas)
This bill requires that all elementary, intermediate, middle, junior and senior high schools throughout New York State have a full-time licensed social worker and a full-time licensed psychologist on staff to meet the needs of their students
Establish Preventive Mental Health Methods and Trainings for Educators— A2134 (Fernandez)
This bill requires training for teachers, administrators, and instructors in the area of mental health first aid.
Access to a licensed/certified social worker, guidance counselor and career supports in all K-12th schools —S1062 and S831 (Gounardes)
These bills require licensed or certified school social workers, guidance counselor and career supports in each elementary, intermediate, middle, junior high and senior high school.
Expand Access to Advanced Coursework to Improve Educational Equity—S1111/A04407 (Liu/People-Stokes)
This bill requires schools to provide notice to parents on the availability of advanced courses, and other early college and career experiences; and requires educational agencies to adopt a policy for automatic enrollment in advanced courses where a student has demonstrated readiness, pursuant to measures determined by the Commissioner of Education. This bill will also allow a parent of a student to opt-out of automatic enrollment.
School Climate, Codes of Conduct & Disciplinary Action of Code Violations—A05197 (Nolan)
This bill requires that school codes of conduct must: (1) set clear and specific expectations that hold students accountable, (2) define violations in the code of conduct, (3) use graduated and proportionate discipline practices, (4) define the roles and responsibilities of school personnel and law enforcement, (5) ensure annual staff training, and (6) include restorative approaches to proactively build a school community based upon cooperation, mutual understanding, trust and respect. In addition, the code of conduct must establish procedures by which violations are reported to the appropriate school personnel, the facts are investigated and determined, and interventions and discipline measures are decided upon and implemented.
Increase Parent Information in Home Languages—S01429/A00407 (Serrano/Rozic)—$5 million
This bill establishes the Educational Equity Act which provides language assistance to parent/guardians who have children enrolled in public school and who do not speak English. This bill would require school districts to:
Create an annual language assistance plan to assess language needs within the district and determine the primary languages of parents based on population. (Top 2 languages of 2% of population or top 8 languages if in NYC).
Provide translations of certain documents sent to parents regarding a child's education. Including but not limited to: report cards and permission slips; documents pertaining to a student's health, safety, 'placement, or discipline.
Provide a mechanism for school teachers and staff to fax documents and receive translated versions of them within a reasonable time. Provide a notice to parents and guardians of their rights to translation services. Sign in visible area to parents informing them of covered languages in schools.
Information Increase Aid for English Language Learner Student Enrollment —S0203/A906 (Kaplan/Magnarelli)
This bill will support districts and students with substantial Multilingual learners enrollment growth until the Foundation Aid is fully funded.
Increase culturally and linguistically diverse educators—S00342/A04556 (Persaud/Hyndman)
This bill supports the establishment of teacher programs that increase representation and retention of underrepresented teachers. This bill supports the teachers of tomorrow program by providing grants and procedures to increase recruitment and retention resources for a diverse teacher population.
higher education
Budget Recommendations
Continued Funding for the Senator José Peralta NYS Dream Act and Implementation
NYS must secure NYS DREAM Act funding to ensure undocumented immigrants continue to have opportunities and access to higher education. This is the same increase to state financial aid programs as last year. —$27 million
During the NYS DREAM Act implementation, HESC seemed to be stretched to its full capacity and needs additional financial support to properly put the law into action. HESC needs funding to create a statewide marketing and education campaign, increase community outreach, and develop training materials/sessions for counselors. —$1 million
As with the Excelsior Scholarship, SUNY and CUNY must also participate in marketing and recruitment efforts to assist new students in understanding the NYS DREAM Act Application Process and Eligibility Criteria. They should distribute information about the NYS DREAM Act at all student fairs and at their Financial aid workshops. SUNY and CUNY should receive $250,000 each to help with these efforts. —$500,00
Increase Opportunity Program Funding
Opportunity Program Funding has been proven to increase retention and graduation rates, especially for first generation college bound students. Many of these students are low-income students of color that need additional academic and financial support and services to graduate college.
FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Higher Educational Opportunity Program (HEOP)—$35.5 million
Liberty Partnership Program—$18.4 million
Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP)—$15.8 million
Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)—$12 million
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROGRAMS
Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK)—$32.8 million
CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)—$2.5 million
College Discovery Opportunity Program—$1.6 million
PROGRAMS SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Support and Services for Individuals with Disabilities —$15 million
Bridge to College and Careers Pilot Program —$3 million.
Legislative Recommendations
Access to Mental Health Staff Members at SUNY and CUNY campuses —S844/A302 (Gounardes/Gottfried)
This bill relates to requiring at least a ratio of one clinical, non-student mental health staff member per one thousand students on all SUNY and CUNY campuses.
Continue and Prioritize the Smart Scholars and P-TECH—A7501 (Benedetto) not introduced yet—$625,000
Smart Scholars Early College High School Program and P-TECH programs further prepare students for college and postsecondary success. The Commissioner of NYSED provides grants to continue funding these educational opportunities. This bill would require the Commissioner to prioritize partnerships that demonstrate the willingness and capacity to serve students who have been identified as economically disadvantaged and/or academically at risk for not successfully completing high school or not enrolling in or succeeding in college.
Streamline Access to Financial Aid Through the Excelsior Scholarship for DACA Students —A2257 (Simon)
This bill relates to eligibility for the New York state excelsior scholarship for those enrolled in the federal deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) program. Specifically, it removes questions on the application form related to immigration status.
