SFY 2011-2012 Subcommittee on Education Report to the General Conference Committee

Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, Co-Chair Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Co-Chair General Conference Committee

Senator John J. Flanagan, Co-Chair Member of Assembly, Catherine T. Nolan, Co-Chair Joint Conference Subcommittee on Education

Detailed Report of the Conference Committee on Education March 28, 2011

Senator John J. Flanagan, Co-Chair Senator Andrew J. Lanza Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer Senator James L. Seward

Senator Stephen M. Saland* Senator Suzi Oppenheimer Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.*

Assemblymember Catherine T. Nolan, Co-Chair Assemblymember Vivian E. Cook Assemblymember Joan L. Millman Assemblymember Kevin A. Cahill Assemblymember Philip Ramos* Assemblymember Joel M. Miller Assemblymember Gary D. Finch*

On March 28, 2011, after 3 meetings, the Education Subcommittee completed its work and presented a report to the General Conference Committee. We are pleased to present this report which provides detail on all the budget changes agreed to by the Subcommittee.

1. General Support for Public Schools (GSPS) Programs

Agreement has been reached on the following:

•GSPS will be restored by approximately $230 million bringing the total funding of GSPS to an estimated $19.6 billion in School Year (SY) 2011-12;

•The final budget will include a two year appropriation for school aid which provides for an $800 million increase in SY 2012-13;

•Universal Prekindergarten will be maintained at $384 million for 2011-12 and 2012-13; •Expense Based Aids will be allowed to grow by approximately $315 million for SY 2011-

12; •The Legislature rejects the Executive’s proposal to reclassify State Supported Schools for

the Blind and Deaf as approved private schools for students with disabilities, including rejecting changes to the funding structure and the student appointment and evaluation process. The State will fully reimburse school districts who will pay these schools in the first instance; at least 50 percent of this reimbursement would be within the same school year as districts incur the costs.•The Legislature rejects the Executive’s proposal to shift costs to the school districts for the Summer School Special Education (4408) Program and restores $57 million for the State Fiscal Year (SFY) for this program; and

•The Legislature rejects the Executive’s proposal to create a $1.73 million Local Competitive Performance Grant Program.

2. Grant Programs and Other Aid Categories

•Adult Literacy Education is maintained at $4.3 million; •Employment Preparation Education (EPE) will continue to receive a setaside for students

with high school diplomas that do not have basic skills; •The Extended Day/School Violence Prevention Program is maintained at $24.34 million; •Bilingual Education is maintained at $12.5 million; •Adult Basic Education is maintained at $1.84 million; •Employment Preparation Education is maintained at $96 million; •Teachers of Tomorrow is maintained at $25 million; •The Teacher Mentor Intern Program is maintained at $2 million; •The School Lunch and Breakfast Program will receive $33.1 million, an increase of

$800,000 over SY 2010-11; and •Academic Intervention Services for non-public schools will be maintained at $922,000;

3. Article VII Proposals

The Sub-Committee agrees on the following actions in relation to Article VII Proposals:

•Accept and modify the Executive’s proposal to create two new competitive programs: The School District Management Efficiency Awards and The School District Performance Improvement Awards;

•Reject the Executive’s proposal that would transform Building Aid from a reimbursable aid to a competitive grant program;

•Reject the Executive’s proposal to change the BOCES Aid reimbursement rates beginning in SY 2012-13;

•Reject the Executive’s proposal to eliminate reimbursement for certain non-instructional services within BOCES;

•Provide authorization for school districts to transfer excess EBALR funds to offset the Gap Elimination Adjustment during the 2011-12 School Year for the purpose of maintaining educational programming;

•Provide for BOCES to transfer excess EBALR funds to component districts; •Accept the Executive’s proposal to eliminate building aid for school buildings that are sold

or transferred; •Accept the Executive’s proposal to continue the Magnet School, Attendance Improvement

and Dropout Prevention, and Teacher Support Aid setasides within Foundation Aid; •Accept the Executive’s proposal to continue existing provisions for the Teachers of

Tomorrow Program in the city school district in the city of New York;

•Accept the Executive’s proposals to codify supplementary aid for library systems and ensure that any library aid reduction would be proportionate;

•Accept the Executive’s proposal to permanently extend the provision granting waivers to certain libraries who fail to meet maintenance of effort requirements due to financial hardship; and

•Accept the Executive’s proposal to freeze the SY 2011-12 and SY 2012-13 per pupil tuition paid by school districts to charter schools at the SY 2010-11 rate.

______________________________ _______________________________ Senator John J. Flanagan, Co-Chair Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, Co-Chair