In an effort to keep our school leaders informed in this fast-changing environment we are experiencing amidst this COVID-19 pandemic, we are posting important resource links and updates as they become available. We realize that these are difficult times for schools, students, and their families. Please know that CNYSBA is your partner along the way and don't hesitate to reach out to us for questions and assistance.
______________________________________________________________
2022 - FIGHTING THE WINTER SURGE
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS FROM NEW YORK STATE
______________________________________________________________
12.4.20 - Interim Guidance on COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Schools in Red and Orange Zones
After more than 8 months of strict adherence to data-driven, evidence-based protocols, including required social distancing and mandatory face coverings, and strategic, phased-in reopening after the pause of our economy, New Yorkers have successfully reduced the spread of COVID-19 to one of the lowest rates in the nation. (Click here to read the complete document)
______________________________________________________________
12.3.20 - COVID Amendments to Education Law Regarding Pandemic Planning
On September 7, 2020, Governor Cuomo signed into law Chapter 168 of the Laws of 2020 that requires public employers, including public school districts, to adopt a continuation of operations plan in the event that the governor declares a public health emergency involving communicable disease. (Click here to read the complete document)
______________________________________________________________
11.19.20 - Fall 2020 Digital Equity Survey
(Due No Later Than 5 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2020)
We know you are working tremendously hard every day to help your students through this challenging time, and we can see that the efforts of educators all over the state are making a profound difference. Thank you for all you are doing for New York’s students!
To better serve students, families, and educators, the New York State Education Department must maintain an updated, accurate, complete picture of the state of digital equity for New York students and teachers. This information is vital to enable the Department to both identify where these gaps persist and to assist in closing this gap for our students and teachers.
All public P-12 schools, charter schools, BOCES, and certain nonpublic schools are required to complete the Fall 2020 Digital Equity Survey to provide information on student and teacher access to devices and the internet in their places of residence. Initial completion of this survey is due no later than 5:00 PM on December 1, 2020. If you have already completed the survey, thank you.
School leaders can find more information about accessing the Fall 2020 Digital Equity Survey here.
_____________________________________________
10.29.20 - NYSED New Guidance -
Memo regarding Compliance with Education Law § 2-d and Part 121 of Commissioner’s regulations. NYSED Enforcement of the State Student Privacy Law.
______________________________________________________________
10.15.20 - NYSED New Guidance -
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Regarding the Provision of Services to Students with Disabilities During the 2020-21 School Year
______________________________________________________________
My Brother's Keeper: Changing the Narrative
GUIDANCE 2020 CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY (CARES) ACT: ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY EDUCATION RELIEF (GEER) FUNDS AND ELEMENTARY ANDSECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF (ESSER) FUNDS. Cares Act written affirmation of LEA Consultation with private school officials. New York State local educational agency CARESAct allocations. Click Here for all of the above.
Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding –Allocations and Instructions for Eligible Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) on Applying for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) and Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Funds (GEER) Click here
Sample Advocacy Letter about potential school aid cuts and added costs due to COVID-19 and June 9th vote
NYS Department of Education
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PRESENTS FRAMEWORK OF
GUIDANCE OF OPENING NYS SCHOOLS 7/13/20
Updated Information Regarding the CARES Act
Interim guidance for graduation ceremonies - Schools will be permitted to hold drive-in and drive-through graduation ceremonies this year.
High School Equivalency Diplomas during COVID-19 (6/3/20)
Parental right to decline examination waivers (5/27/20)
Advocacy letter from NYSED Interim Commissioner on federal funding (5/22/20)
School health examinations in light of COVID-19 pandemic (5/21/20)
Supporting students and families disconnected from school (5/11/20)
Regents examination and graduation requirements questions related to COVID-19 closure (5/26/20)
Cancellation of August 2020 Regents exams (4/30/20)
June 2021 highschool examination schedules (4/24/20)
Updated 2020/21 elementary and intermediary testing schedule (4/24/20)
Statement from Chancellor Betty A. Rosa, the Board of Regents and Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe (4/29/20)
Required updates to District Continuity of Learning Plans Due to Extended School Closures Caused by COVID-19 (4/27/20)
Supplement #1 - Provision of Services to Students with Disabilities During Statewide School Closures Due to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in New York State – Additional Questions and Answers (4/27/20)
Updated Guidance on Work-Based Learning Programs in Response to COVID-19 (4/20/20)
Updated Guidance on Appearance Enhancement Programs in Response to COVID-19 (4/20/20)
Suspension of Teacher-Student Data Linkage Collection for 2019-20 School Year (4/20)
Continuity of Learning Resources for districts and teachers to keep students engaged in learning
Expanded Remote Learning with Public TV Stations (3/20/20)
OCFS Guidance on Emergency Childcare (3/19/20)
NYSED Updated Guidance for Schools (3/18/20)
NYSSBA
NYSSBA's Study Break Podcasts - Should we prepare for a second wave?
New York State
Governor Cuomo directs schools to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year (5/1/20)
Governor Cuomo issues executive order to delay school board elections and budget votes until June 9 (5/1/20)
Review Executive Order for details on absentee ballots and candidate requirements
Governor Cuomo extended school closures until May 15th (4/16/20)
Governor Cuomo directed schools to stay closed for an additional two weeks through April 29th (4/6/20)
Governor's Order 202.11 continuing temporary suspension until April 15, 2020 (3/27/20)
School districts must continue to provide remote instruction and meals to students as well as childcare for essential workers every weekday through April 14 to receive waivers from the 180-day instructional requirement – even if they had been scheduled to be on spring break during that time.
School Capital Projects
Also, on Friday, Governor Cuomo announced additional prohibitions on non-essential construction projects, preventing them from continuing in New York. This includes all non-emergency school capital projects. The Empire State Development agency has updated their guidance on the issue, available here.
School Board and Budget Elections PostponedToday, Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order 202.13. Included within this executive order is the announcement that all school elections are to be postponed until at least June 1, 2020. From the executive order:
Any school board, library board, or village election scheduled to take place in April or May of 2020 is hereby postponed until at least June 1, 2020, and subject to further directive as to the timing, location or manner of voting for such elections.
Cost of Childcare
Also included in today’s executive order, Governor Cuomo suspended a portion of section 414 of Education Law. In doing so, school districts are now permitted to pay for the cost of providing childcare services. This is a technical correction to previous executive orders mandating that school districts continue to provide childcare to students, with an emphasis on providing these services to healthcare workers and first responders.
Special Education Services
On Friday, SED released a “Questions and Answers” guidance document regarding the provision of services to students with disabilities, including English Language Learners with disabilities. Included in this document is guidance regarding IEP processes, continuity of learning resources, nonpublic school special education programs, and preschool special education programs. That guidance document is available here.
Opening of Bids
Executive Order 202.11, signed on Friday by Governor Cuomo, modifies requirements regarding public opening of bids. From the executive order:
Section 103(2) of the General Municipal Law, Section 144(1) of the State Finance Law, Section 376(8)(a) of the Education Law, and Section 359(1) of the Public Authorities Law to the extent necessary to allow the non-public opening of bids; provided, however, that, where practical, public entities shall record or live stream bid openings so that the public has the opportunity to view such bid openings;
Governor's Executive Order 202.4 closing schools for 2 weeks (3/16/20)
The New York State Education Department recently issued updated guidance in accordance with Executive Order 202.4, which requires that school districts, charter schools, and non-public schools close no later than today, March 18, 2020, for a period of two weeks, ending March 31, 2020 due to the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
Governor's Executive Order 202.1
Suspension of law allowing the attendance of meetings telephonically or other similar service:
Article 7 of the Public Officers Law, to the extent necessary to permit any public body to meet and take such actions authorized by the law without permitting in public in-person access to meetings and authorizing such meetings to be held remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed;
Open Meeting Law
§104. Public notice.
5. If a meeting will be streamed live over the internet, the public notice for the meeting shall inform the public of the internet address of the website streaming such meeting.
6. When a public body has the ability to do so, notice of the time and place of a meeting given in accordance with subdivision one or two of this section, shall also be conspicuously posted on the public body's internet website.
Governor's Executive Order 202 declaring a state disaster emergency (3/7/20)
Media Coverage
