Category: State & Federal News Portfolio

  • Federal & state funding: Communication requirements & recommendations

    This spring, both the federal government and New York state released requirements for school districts that are receiving money through the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER) and/or receiving a foundation aid increase of more than 10% or $10,000,000. To help districts ensure that their ARP-ESSER plan and foundation aid spending…


  • Advisory: Data added to NYS Report Card

    On Monday, April 26, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) added financial transparency information to its online data dashboard (https://data.nysed.gov/). According to an email from NYSED, this data release adds expenditure per pupil (EPP) and Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) data to the New York State Report Card information provided for each district and/or…


  • Continuation of operations plans must be posted online

    Ensure that your district’s continuation of operations plan is posted in compliance with state law


  • Advisory: New Title IX Rule includes communications requirements for districts

    On August 14, 2020, changes to the Title IX Rule went into effect. This new rule requires school districts to update their Title IX policies, procedures and communications. The Title IX Rule, enacted by the U.S. Department of Education and enforced by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR), exists to ensure,…


  • Advisory: New laws impact school district elections

    Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed two pieces of legislation intended to ease New York state residents’ ability to exercise their right to vote in school district elections. What you need to know about the simplified ballot application The state amended Election Law in 2010 to simplify the absentee ballot application for registered voters, but it…


  • Notify parents of data security and privacy protections

    Required communications under Ed Law 2D.


  • Advisory: School districts in NYS required to teach child sexual abuse prevention classes to K-8 students

    On August 29, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation known as Erin’s Law, which will require New York state public schools to teach child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention classes to students in grades K-8. This legislation mandates these prevention classes to include age-appropriate instruction that helps students recognize what sexual abuse might look like…


  • Advisory: New law requires schools offering tackle football programs to provide specific concussion information

    State legislation requires school districts to make concussion-related materials available for parents and guardians. Learn about what and how to communicate this information.


  • Advisory: Employers in NYS required to establish a sexual harassment prevention policy, provide prevention training

    The 2019 New York state budget included new requirements for employers related to preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. What are all employers — including school districts — required to do? Under the new law, every employer in New York state was required to: Employers are encouraged to provide the sexual harassment policy and training…


  • New law expands definition of discrimination to include hairstyles, traits

    On July 12, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed a new law (S6209A/A7797A) that amends the Human Rights Law and Dignity for All Students Act to make clear that discrimination based on race includes hairstyles or traits associated with race. The legislation: The bill’s provisions are effective immediately. Recommended communication actions School districts will want to review…