ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal authorizes funding for 134 new full-time equivalency positions within the State Department of Education.
State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said while the department is pleased with the inclusion, it is asking for nearly 170 more in order to rebuild staffing capacity that’s shrunk by 22% since the 2008-09 fiscal year.
“The department is no stranger to meeting the needs of students across the state in the face of scarcity, however, at a time when funds are available, it is imperative that we receive the resources necessary to meet our responsibilities,” Rosa said.
Over roughly four hours of testimony during Wednesday’s joint budget hearing, the commissioner expressed generally, the executive budget is a good starting point.
“There are several proposals in the executive budget we are pleased with including the continued phase-in of the Foundation Aid formula; full funding of all expense-based aids without changing current law aid formulas; an increase of $700,000 to expand the Readers Aid program,” she said.
However, the commissioner did lay out a number of concerns including:
- The proposed transfer of administration of the $1 billion federal and state child nutrition programs to the Department of Agriculture
- That waivers of late building final cost reports and transportation contract penalties but fails to include any funds for $288 million in past claims
- Changes to certification rules potentially allowing teachers and other education professionals to work in buildings without proper qualifications
“The proposal to create temporary permits for teachers and other school professionals and to authorize individuals holding expired certificates to be employed in a teaching or other professional capacities are considered quite challenging,” Rosa said.
Finally, the department is asking the Legislature to support increased funding for a number of items including:
- $1.6 million to increase the capacity for translation of materials to address language gaps for families that don’t speak English as a first language
- $5 million to support a program aimed at increasing the number of certified educators of color
- And $1.25 million to design a new methodology to address annual funding for special education providers
