Budget and legislative proposals

The Regents discussed non-State Aid budget and legislative proposals including:

• Promotion of Positive School Climate and Bullying Prevention

• Expanding Access to Quality High Level Coursework

• Budget requests to support ESSA Implementation Recommendations

• Access to High-Quality Early Education and Early Care Programs

• Enhancing Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network support centers

• Enhancing the Achievement of ELLs

• Regents Exams in World Languages

• Building Oversight and Support Capacity at SED

• Enhancing Transparency by Webcasting Regular Board of Regents Public Meetings

• Tenure and Seniority Protections for Bilingual and ESOL Teachers/Teaching Assistants

• Mandate Relief and State Aid Claims Flexibility

  • Authorizing the Commissioner’s review and within defined parameters, for the penalty associated with the late filing of transportation contracts;
    
    

  • Increasing the current statutory cap ($100,000) on smaller school district capital projects where the district provides the capital outlay and building aid is provided up front.
    
    

  • Tuition Rate Setting Methodology for Special Act School Districts and 853 Schools- Establish a statutory growth index based on an average of state personal income growth to establish predicable and timely tuition increases and allow for improved budget planning. In addition, the proposal would authorize providers to establish a general reserve fund.

    
    
  • Regional Secondary Schools Advisory Council. Establish a temporary advisory council composed of legislative and advocacy stakeholders tasked with developing a legislative proposal to establish regional high schools.

ASBO New York Commentary: Increasing the cap on capital outlay projects and establishing regional high schools are two priorities of ASBO New York.

See here for the agenda and materials for the Regents meeting.