4/23/24 Begin Title I Consultation with All Districts for 2024-25 School Year

4/23/24 Request New 2024-2025 Health Services from District of Location

4/30/24 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Year 10 Purchasing Deadline

5/20/24 Last Day to Register for Free UB Summer Graduate Classes

5/31/24 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

6/1/24 Last day for Parents to Request Special Education Services from Districts

TBD NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

NYS Enacted Budget Summary: The NYS Budget was enacted on 4/20/24. Here are some thoughts from the NYS Catholic Conference on this year’s budget:

• As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of this critical program, Governor Hochul advanced and the legislature agreed to a total of $241,128,000 for Mandated Services Aid (MSA) and Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP), a 23 percent increase, to fully fund the program, including restoring the 4% shortfall from 2023 school year reimbursements. The Governor and legislature also maintain the state’s statutory obligation to fully reimburse schools for their mandated services to the state.

• Lawmakers added $25 million (a 55 percent increase), for a total of $70 million, to the Non-Public Safety Equipment (NPSE) program to support health and safety projects, including the critical repair and maintenance and other capital needs of our schools.

• Lawmakers added $2.5 million for a total of $75.5 million to reimburse schools for a portion of the salaries of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) teachers.

• Lawmakers provided $5 million under a new program to reimburse religious and independent schools for a portion of the salaries of Art and Music teachers.

• Lawmakers added $500,000 (a 54 percent increase) for a total of $1,422,000 to support a portion of the academic intervention needs of select elementary students.

• School Nutrition Programs: The legislature again provided an additional $134 million to provide free meals for all students in schools that have at least 40 percent of students already eligible for free/reduced price meals.

• Substantial Equivalency: Despite formidable efforts by Governor Hochul and Assembly leaders to include amendments in the state budget related to the “Substantial Equivalency” statute, it appears no such amendment was included in the enacted budget.

• After School Programming Study: Lawmakers are requiring the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), within 18 months of this date, to complete a study to evaluate the feasibility of providing after school programming during the academic year for every school-aged child in the state.

I will update you as guidance documents related to these programs are released so you know how any changes will impact your school.

NYSED NonPublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Reimbursement Update: Hopefully the NPSE forms and allocations will be released by NYSED/ORISS some time this week.

Title I - Begin Consultation with All Districts for 2024-25 School Year: I highly recommend that you reach out to each public school district in which you have students qualified, based on their family income, to receive a free or reduced lunch (even if you don’t have a free/reduced lunch program) so you can begin discussions regarding Title I funding and services for the 2024-25 school year. I have four documents that might help you with the process: “Title I Fall District Contact for 2024-25”, “Title I Winter District Contact for 2024-25”, “Public School Title I Attendance Areas from 2022-2023 Consolidated Applications - April 2024”, and a list of Title I Directors. If you sent out a letter in the fall, it might be time for a follow up letter if you have not yet heard back from them. This form might help you identify if your free/reduced students reside in a public school Title I attendance area, allowing them to qualify your school for funding. If you are sending a letter for the first time, you may want to use this list of Title I directors to help you address the letters properly. Call me if you have any questions.

Spring Consultation Regarding Health Services Available to your Students: This is just a reminder of the updated 2018 NYSED School Health Services requirements in place now as described on NYSED:SSS:School Health Services. They are as follows:

• Physical (Health) examinations are required for new entrants and in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Dental Certificates must be requested at the same time. Health Examination Guidelines for Schools, Updated Nov 2022 - (Updated form, Mar 2023)

• Vision screening for color perception, distance, and near vision acuity is required for new entrants within 6 months of admission to school. Vision screening for distance and near vision acuity is required in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11. Vision Screening Guidelines (nysed.gov)

• Hearing screening utilizing pure tone testing is required for new entrants within 6 months of admission to school and in grades Pre-K or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11. Hearing Screening Guidelines (nysed.gov)

• Scoliosis screening is required in grades 5 and 7 for girls and grade 9 for boys. NYSED Scoliosis Screening Guidelines

Referring to the list of medical services required above, please remember that your students are entitled to a number of Health Services from your Public School District of location. The health services available to your students upon request are described at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/nonpub/handbookonservices/healthservices.html. Services available include those mandated above such as vision, hearing, and scoliosis screening tests, physical examinations, and in-school immunization. Additionally, nursing services (see #16), dental screening, dental prophylaxis, the maintenance of cumulative health records, emergency care of ill or injured students, compliance with and enforcement of mandatory immunization requirements, guidance for parents, children and teachers in procedures for preventing and correcting defects and diseases, and instruction for school personnel in procedures to take in case of accident or illness may also be requested if these services are provided in their own schools.

I highly recommend that you reach out to your school district of location and discuss the services they provide to their own students regarding these mandates and then request any of these services described if you wish to have them provided by the district for your students. The important thing to remember is that they will not provide these services if you do not request them in writing in a timely manner – please reach out to the district and arrange for a meeting regarding this so that by the end of April you can make a formal request in writing for health services, while also describing any students at your school with exceptional medical (nursing) needs. This will give the district plenty of time to consider the cost of providing your school these services prior to their establishing the school budget to be voted on in May.

Live Virtual US Secret Service Presentations on Targeted Violence Prevention: The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) is offering live virtual presentations on preventing targeted violence. They will share findings and implications from decades of research on targeted violence and offer strategies for preventing acts of violence in our schools. This list of available 2-hour virtual training events is regularly updated, and presentation topics change from month to month. Upcoming topics are “Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment”and “Preventing Mass Attacks in Our Communities”. To learn more about this series of live virtual presentations, or to register for one or more of these events, click here.

ASSESSMENT

Reflecting on my journey to obtaining a driver's license, I recall the series of steps and tests required to demonstrate my capability as a safe driver. From presenting appropriate identification to passing vision and permit tests, and finally completing a road test, each assessment—be it written, practical, or visual—was crucial in gauging my readiness to operate a vehicle safely. Mastery of driving rules and regulations, coupled with the ability to execute them during a road test, was essential.

Similarly, students preparing for career and college readiness must exhibit proficiency in literacy, math, and science. Just as each driver must demonstrate competence in multiple areas, students showcase their abilities through various means such as written assessments, class participation, project-based learning, and performance assessments. While standardized tests like the NYS assessments offer one measure of student proficiency, they are not the sole indicator of their skills and talents.

The testing window for this year is April 8 - May 17, many of our students in grades 3-8 have started or will undertake the NYS computer-based tests in reading, math, and science. We pray for their success, recognizing that these tests provide only a snapshot of their capabilities.

NYS TEST DATA REVIEW MEETINGS

For schools following Pathway 6: Assessments for Substantial Equivalency and prioritizing comprehensive assessment practices, I am providing 15-minute meetings to review your school's NYS test scores from 2022-2023. These sessions will include comparisons with scores from your public school district of location and New York State, demonstrating your dedication to analyzing state assessment data for instructional improvement.

Please use the link below to schedule your meeting.

Virtual meetings lasting 15 minutes each will be available on Tuesday, April 23, and Thursday, April 25.

Book time with Gajewski, Julie: NYS 22-23 Test Data Review Meeting

NYS TEST SCORING

Do you require assistance in locating schools and a venue for scoring NYS Regents Math and Science tests? We're here to lend a hand. Kindly complete the survey linked below by April 30th, and we'll be able to facilitate the coordination of scoring locations.

NYS Testing Survey 23-24