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Category: State & Federal News Portfolio

September 2, 2025

NY Inspires: A plan to transform education in New York state

The NY Inspires plan is the New York State Education Department’s comprehensive roadmap to transform public education in the state by 2029.
June 24, 2025

Required notifications for school districts (2025-26)

Includes a new section on internet-enabled devices in schools, and updates to accountability designations (ESSA) and idling buses on school grounds.
May 27, 2025

Smart device ban in New York schools includes communication and engagement requirements

The new law goes into effect fall 2025 and prohibits students from viewing or accessing internet-enabled devices during the school day on school grounds.
July 30, 2024

Advisory: Schools must notify parents ahead of safety drills

Beginning July 31, 2024, schools are required to notify parents and caregivers within one week of all safety drills – including fire/evacuation drills, lockdown drills and emergency dismissal drills. Additional communication-related changes for the 2024-25 school year include:
May 15, 2024

Advisory: ‘Opportunities for Advanced Coursework’ notification requirement takes effect July 1, 2024

To make sure families and students understand both the benefits and opportunities for advanced coursework, a new law will require school districts to notify families about their options.
January 16, 2024

Advisory: Gov. Hochul releases executive budget proposal

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Jan. 16 outlined her education initiatives as part of her proposed 2025 Executive Budget. While the 144-page budget proposal shows a 4.5 percent overall state spending increase over the current fiscal year, state education aid would go up 2.4 percent. The proposed $825 million increase is well short of the $3.1…
July 5, 2023

Advisory: Remote instruction requirements added to safety plans

Safety plans must now include six components that address remote instruction in the event of an emergency.
June 15, 2023

Required notifications for school districts (2023-24)

Updates to lead testing requirements, employment law, and fiscal transparency documents.
March 21, 2023

Advisory: New ESSA designations to be released in 2023

With new accountability designations coming out this spring, inform your community about what this means and how your district or school is responding.
January 26, 2023

Advisory: New lead testing requirements in effect

State water testing law has been amended for 2022-23, changing the time frame for testing and the action level for lead, among other changes.

School Communications Portfolio

Category: State & Federal News Portfolio

NY Inspires: A plan to transform education in New York state

Required notifications for school districts (2025-26)

Smart device ban in New York schools includes communication and engagement requirements

Advisory: Schools must notify parents ahead of safety drills

Advisory: ‘Opportunities for Advanced Coursework’ notification requirement takes effect July 1, 2024

Advisory: Gov. Hochul releases executive budget proposal

Advisory: Remote instruction requirements added to safety plans

Required notifications for school districts (2023-24)

Advisory: New ESSA designations to be released in 2023

Advisory: New lead testing requirements in effect

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