Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2008

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

Update on the 2008-09 enacted State Budget as it relates to P-16 Education.

Reason(s) for Consideration

For Information

Proposed Handling

This item will come before the Regents EMSC Committee for discussion at its May 2008 meeting.  The Regents State Aid Subcommittee will discuss the State Aid provisions of the 2008-09 State Budget which are not included in this item.   Staff will be available at both meetings to respond to any additional questions the Regents may have.

Procedural History

Summary information on the 2008-09 State Budget was provided to the Regents at the April 2008 meeting at which time the Regents requested additional information on certain aspects of the enacted budget.

Background Information

The Enacted Budget included funding for the following new General Fund programs:

• Academic programs of the Buffalo City School District- for services and expenses for academic programs for the 2008-09 school year ($3.0 million).
• After School Programs – to provide academic enrichment outside of the regular school hours primarily to children who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools and schools identified as being in need of improvement ($9.8 million). These funds will be used to supplement the federal 21st Century Community Learning Center program (NCLB Title IV-Part B) for total funding of approximately $55 million, and will be distributed through a competitive grant process. The applications were due March 17, 2008 and reviewed last month through a peer review process and awards are pending approval from the Division of the Budget and the Office of the State Comptroller.  In addition, the Department will fund a fifth year of competitive grants of approximately $42 million for after school programs from federal funds.
• Mentoring and Tutoring Program – to produce outcomes, based on effective model programs, that include, but are not limited to, improved graduation rates. Programs must be operated by community based organizations. The Department expects to administer these funds through a competitive grant process.  ($980,000).
• Supplemental Valuation Impact Grants to provide financial assistance to school districts that have experienced a significant reduction in property taxes or extraordinary tax judgments ($3.8 million).

The enacted budget included additional funding for the following General Fund programs:

• Adult Literacy (an additional $894,000 for a total of $7.2 million).  For competitive grants for adult literacy/education aid to public and private not-for-profit agencies, including but not limited to, 2 and 4 year colleges, community based organizations, libraries, and volunteer literacy organizations and institutions which meet quality standards promulgated by the commissioner of education to provide programs of basic literacy, high school equivalency, and English as a second language to persons 16 years of age or older. Applications were due to the Department by April 21, 2008 and are under review currently.
• Nonpublic Mandated Services Aid (an additional $12.2 million for a total of $139.6 million). Reimbursement for costs associated with state mandated testing and other mandated activities (e.g., attendance reporting, filing BEDS reports, etc.).
• Workplace Literacy (an additional $628,000 for a total of $2 million). Reimbursement for programs designed to encourage the establishment of basic skills and job related literacy education for members of unions and employees in the public and private sector. 

The enacted budget reduced funding by 2% for the following General Fund programs:

• Academic Intervention for Nonpublic Schools (a reduction of $20,000 for a total of $980,000).
• Adult Basic Education (a reduction of $40,000 for a total of $1.96 million).
• Apprenticeship Training (a reduction of $36,000 for a total of $1.8 million).
• Center for School Safety (a reduction of $9,000 for a total of $466,000).
• Charter School Development (a reduction of $120,000 for a total of $5.9 million).
• Extended Day/Prevention of School Violence (a reduction of $604,000 for a total of $29.6 million).
• Health Education Program (a reduction of $15,000 for a total of $735,000).
• Math and Science High Schools (a reduction of $30,000 for a total of $1.47 million).
• Migrant Education (a reduction of $1,000 for a total of $89,000).
• National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards (a reduction of $10,000 for a total of $490,000).
• Nursing Degree program (a reduction of $27,000 for a total of $1 million).
• Primary Mental Health program (a reduction of $19,000 for a total of $951,000).
• School Lunch and Breakfast program (a reduction of $634,000 for a total of $31 million).
• Schools Under Registration Review (a reduction of $38,000 for a total of $1.86 million).
• Summer Food program (a reduction of $66,000 for a total of $3.3 million).

The Enacted Budget eliminated the following General Fund program:

• Civility, Citizenship and Character Education (a reduction of $475,000).

The Enacted Budget also included:

• Student Lending, Accountability, Transparency and Enforcement Act (SLATE) appropriation authority totaling $2.2 million (no source of revenue was provided, however).
• Restoration of the proposed 50 percent reduction ($500,000) in funding for the administration of criminal history checks and added an additional $600,000 for the Office of School Personnel Review for a total of $1.6 million.  The additional $600,000 will enable the unit to hire the additional investigators and attorneys needed to effectively protect students from individuals who put them at risk (two investigators, four senior investigators, two senior attorneys, and a support staff).
• Level funding for the opportunity programs (HEOP, STEP/CSTEP and Liberty Partnerships).