Education Department, State

skip breadcrumbs

Agency Web Site: http://www.nysed.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The State Education Department (SED) is the administrative agency of the Board of Regents. The Department's primary mission is to raise the knowledge, skill, and opportunity level of all the people in New York.

Organization and Staffing

The Board of Regents oversees the State Education Department, which was originally established by the Legislature in 1784 and subsequently continued in the State Constitution. The Board of Regents is comprised of 17 members – one for each of the State’s 13 judicial districts and four statewide members – who are elected by a joint session of the Legislature for staggered 5-year terms. The Board elects its chair, who holds the title Chancellor, and appoints the Commissioner of Education as the chief administrative officer of the Department. The Department’s central operations are located in the Education Building in Albany. The Department also has regional service facilities at various locations throughout the State.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2019 Executive Budget recommends $35.7 billion for the State Education Department. The annual change in Aid to Localities reflects a transition from two-year School Aid appropriations to one-year appropriations. Change in support for capital and other operating programs reflect the phase-out of one-time capital investments in nonpublic school technology and safety and security projects, an increase in operating support for the Federal Child Nutrition Program, and a new Institutional Accreditation Office. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 2,692 FTEs for the State Education Department, the same level as the prior year.

Major budget actions include:

  • School Aid Increase: The FY 2019 Executive Budget provides an overall school aid increase of $769 million (3.0 percent). This includes a $338 million increase in Foundation Aid with a community schools set-aside increase of $50 million for the continued transformation of high-need schools into community hubs, $317 million in reimbursements for expense-based aids, a $15 million expansion of high-quality prekindergarten for three- and four-year-old children, a $10 million expansion of Empire State After School grants to high-need districts, an additional $9 million for early college high schools, and the State’s largest investment in computer science and engineering instruction, among other initiatives. In addition, the Budget advances legislation to require the State’s largest school districts to submit school-level funding plans to demonstrate how resources are allocated to individual schools.
  • Community Schools: The Budget continues the Governor’s efforts to transform New York’s high-need schools into community schools. Last year’s Budget invested $150 million as a set-aside within Foundation Aid to support the Governor’s community schools efforts across the State. This year, the FY 2019 Budget increases the community schools set-aside amount by $50 million to a total of $200 million. This increased funding is targeted to districts with failing schools and/or districts experiencing significant growth in homeless pupils or English language learners. In addition, the Budget increases the minimum community schools funding amount from $10,000 to $75,000. This ensures all high-need districts across the State can apply community schools funds to a wide-range of activities, including hiring community school coordinators, providing before- and after-school mentoring services, offering summer learning activities, and providing health and dental care services.
  • Prekindergarten for Three- and Four-Year-Old Students: The Budget includes an additional $15 million investment in prekindergarten to expand high-quality half-day and full-day prekindergarten instruction for 3,000 three- and four-year-old children in high-need school districts. Preference for these funds will be given to the few remaining high-need school districts currently without a prekindergarten program, and will focus on including students in integrated or community-based settings.
  • Full-Day Kindergarten Conversion: To further incentivize the last few school districts in the State with half-day kindergarten programs to establish full-day kindergarten programs in the 2018-19 school year, the Budget advances legislation to provide additional Full-Day Kindergarten Conversion Aid. These additional funds will further support school districts transitioning to full-day programs, and will strengthen the quality of education for five-year-old children in the State.
  • Empire State After School Program: The FY 2019 Budget provides $10 million to fund a second round of Empire State After School awards. These funds will provide an additional 6,250 students with public after school care in high-need communities across the State. Funding will be targeted to districts with high rates of childhood homelessness. In addition, to help deter potential gang activity or involvement, $2 million of these funds will be targeted to vulnerable and at-risk communities.
  • Early College High Schools: The FY 2019 Executive Budget provides an additional $9 million to expand the State’s early college high school programs. These programs allow students to get a jump start on college by providing opportunities to earn college credit or an associate’s degree. New York currently has 60 early college high school programs serving thousands of students in every region of the State.
  • Smart Start: The FY 2019 Budget creates the Smart Start program and provides $6 million to expand high-quality computer science and engineering education. Grants will support teachers with resources and professional development opportunities, and will further expose students to valuable curricula. Schools that receive an award will work with their Regional Economic Development Councils to tailor the program to the needs of regional businesses and emerging employment growth sectors.
  • Ban Lunch Shaming: The Budget includes legislation to ban lunch shaming practices in all schools, including serving alternative lunches (e.g., a cold cheese sandwich) to students who cannot pay at the point of services. Instead, schools would be required to provide the student with a regular meal. In addition, all schools would be required to submit a plan that includes a notification process for a student's parents if their child's school meal account balance is low, communication procedures to support families' enrollment in free or reduced price meal programs for their children, and an explanation of the school's unpaid meal policies.
  • Support Breakfast After the Bell: To improve access to breakfast for the State's poorest students, beginning with the 2018-19 school year, schools with more than 70 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch will be required to provide breakfast after the school day has begun. Examples of Breakfast After the Bell models include breakfast in the classroom, extended cafeteria hours, food kiosks and vending machines that dispense healthy breakfasts to students. To ease the transition, the State will provide $7 million in capital funds for equipment such as coolers and vending machines, and an additional $5 million in funding to support reimbursement to schools for anticipated increases in the number of meals served.
  • Nonpublic Schools: Approximately 400,000 elementary and secondary students attend more than 1,600 non-public schools in New York State. The Executive Budget increases aid by 3 percent to $186 million to reimburse nonpublic schools’ costs for State-mandated activities. The Budget also continues the two-year $60 million appropriation, first enacted in FY 2017, to accelerate reimbursement for the Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) program. In addition, the Budget continues a $5 million reimbursement program for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) instruction.
  • Summer School Special Education Programs: The Executive Budget proposes to more closely align State reimbursement to school districts for summer school special education tuition costs with the wealth-equalized aid ratio used to reimburse school districts for similar programs operated during the school year. This change would conform reimbursement for summer school special education tuition costs with the more equitable wealth adjusted financing structure of the State’s School Aid funding system. Summer school special education transportation and maintenance costs will continue to be funded by the State at current rates.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Program Highlights

Under the policy direction of the Board of Regents, operational responsibilities of the State Education Department include administration, regulation and review of numerous education programs. The following provides a description of the major program areas administered by the Department:

School Aid

School Aid helps support elementary and secondary education for New York pupils enrolled in the 674 major school districts throughout the State. State funding is provided to districts based on statutory aid formulas and through reimbursement of categorical expenses such as prekindergarten programs, education of homeless children, and bilingual education. State funding for schools assists districts in meeting locally defined needs, supports the construction of school facilities, and finances school transportation for nearly three million students statewide.

New York State Prekindergarten

Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, the State has more than doubled its annual commitment to prekindergarten from $385 million to over $800 million. This year, over 126,000 students will be enrolled in the State’s publicly-funded prekindergarten programs—75 percent of whom will be served in full-day spots. In addition, the State also provides funding to support the implementation of QUALITYstarsNY—a tiered quality rating and improvement system for early childhood programs across the State—which seeks to improve the quality of early learning childcare facilities by assessing programs and providing continuous support for early childhood professionals. This additional support helps monitor the rigor and quality of the State’s prekindergarten portfolio and helps ensure all children are enrolled in high quality programs.

Smart Schools Bond Act

In November 2014, the Smart Schools Bond Act Referendum, proposed by Governor Cuomo, was approved by voters. The Smart Schools Bond Act provides $2 billion in funding for districts to reimagine the State’s classrooms and provide New York’s students with the technological resources, skills, and learning environments necessary to succeed in the 21st century. Funding supports enhanced education technologies, including infrastructure improvements, high‐speed broadband internet access, and active learning technologies. Additionally, the Smart Schools Bond Act supports the State’s long‐term investments in full-day prekindergarten through the construction of new prekindergarten classrooms, the replacement of classroom trailers with permanent classroom spaces, and high‐tech school safety programs. To date, over 425 Smart Schools Investment Plans totaling almost $400 million have been approved by the Smart Schools Review Board.

Programs for Students with Disabilities

The State provides a full range of special education services to approximately 500,000 students with disabilities, from ages 3 to 21. Eighty-five percent of these students are school-age students, and the remaining 15 percent are preschool children. Approximately 405,000 school-age students with disabilities are served by public school districts; while roughly 15,000 students require specialized educational settings in private education schools, State Supported Schools for the Blind and Deaf, Special Act School Districts, or one of the State-Operated Schools at Rome and Batavia. Preschool special education services, for children ages 3 to 5, are delivered primarily by private providers; however some school districts and BOCES provide these services as well.

Cultural Education

Cultural Education programs administered by the State Education Department include support for public broadcasting stations and aid to public libraries and library systems. SED also administers the State's major cultural institutions located in the Cultural Education Center in Albany, including the State Archives, the State Library and the State Museum. These institutions are responsible for increasing the knowledge and information resources of State and local government, businesses, and individuals.

Higher Education and Regulation of the Professions

Higher and professional education programs oversee the quality and availability of post-secondary education programs, and license and regulate over 50 professions. The Office of Higher Education oversees colleges, universities and proprietary schools; is responsible for the certification of teachers and other school professionals; and oversees programs to improve teacher preparation and recruitment. The Office of Professions oversees the preparation, licensure, practice and discipline of more than 50 professions regulated pursuant to Title VIII of the Education Law, including Nursing, Dentistry, Public Accountancy and Engineering.

Adult Career and Continuing Education Services

The Office for Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES) focuses on the education and employment needs of New York State’s adult population by offering a full range of employment and independent living services to persons with disabilities; overseeing the development of adult education programs that support adult literacy, English language instruction, high school equivalency test preparation and other services; and licensing and regulating the non-degree granting proprietary schools in New York State.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2018
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2019
Change From
FY 2018
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2019
State Operations 600,815,000 601,955,000 1,140,000 742,716,838
Aid To Localities 61,088,061,850 35,061,729,850 (26,026,332,000) 9,981,833,780
Capital Projects 79,400,000 43,700,000 (35,700,000) 4,153,310,000
Total 61,768,276,850 35,707,384,850 (26,060,892,000) 14,877,860,618

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2018
Estimated FTEs
03/31/18
FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FTE Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services
General Fund 12 12 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 707 707 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 27 27 0
Cultural Education
General Fund 8 8 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 45 45 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 204 204 0
Internal Service Funds 26 26 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of
General Fund 43 43 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 4 4 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 365 365 0
Office of Management Services Program
General Fund 49 49 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 186 186 0
Internal Service Funds 118 118 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education
General Fund 167 167 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 529 529 0
School for the Blind
Special Revenue Funds - Other 117 117 0
School for the Deaf
Special Revenue Funds - Other 85 85 0
Total 2,692 2,692 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2018
Recommended
FY 2019
Change
General Fund 58,737,000 58,737,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 358,572,000 359,142,000 570,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 149,843,000 150,413,000 570,000
Internal Service Funds 33,663,000 33,663,000 0
Total 600,815,000 601,955,000 1,140,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2018
Recommended
FY 2019
Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services
General Fund 4,206,000 4,206,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 132,393,000 132,393,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 7,781,000 7,781,000 0
Cultural Education
General Fund 693,000 693,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 15,378,000 15,378,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 43,502,000 43,502,000 0
Internal Service Funds 12,749,000 12,749,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of
General Fund 8,161,000 8,161,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 2,952,000 2,952,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 53,174,000 53,744,000 570,000
Office of Management Services Program
General Fund 8,641,000 8,641,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 25,505,000 25,505,000 0
Internal Service Funds 20,914,000 20,914,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education
General Fund 37,036,000 37,036,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 207,849,000 208,419,000 570,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 150,000 150,000 0
School for the Blind
Special Revenue Funds - Other 10,070,000 10,070,000 0
School for the Deaf
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,661,000 9,661,000 0
Total 600,815,000 601,955,000 1,140,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 667,000 0 614,000 0
Cultural Education 388,000 0 388,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 2,464,000 0 2,445,000 0
Office of Management Services Program 6,389,000 0 6,161,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 16,601,000 0 14,345,000 0
Total 26,509,000 0 23,953,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 53,000 0 0 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 18,000 0 1,000 0
Office of Management Services Program 114,000 0 114,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 2,129,000 0 127,000 0
Total 2,314,000 0 242,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 3,539,000 0 33,000 0
Cultural Education 305,000 0 21,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 5,697,000 0 52,000 0
Office of Management Services Program 2,252,000 0 187,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 20,435,000 0 83,000 0
Total 32,228,000 0 376,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 5,000 0 3,480,000 0
Cultural Education 2,000 0 278,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 52,000 0 5,541,000 0
Office of Management Services Program 95,000 0 1,314,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 113,000 0 9,807,000 0
Total 267,000 0 20,420,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment Maintenance Undistributed
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 21,000 0 0 0
Cultural Education 4,000 0 0 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 52,000 0 0 0
Office of Management Services Program 656,000 0 0 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 207,000 0 10,225,000 0
Total 940,000 0 10,225,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 140,174,000 0 65,586,525 0
Cultural Education 71,629,000 0 29,812,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 56,696,000 570,000 25,852,000 290,000
Office of Management Services Program 46,419,000 0 22,651,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 208,569,000 570,000 77,580,000 168,000
School for the Blind 10,070,000 0 5,956,000 0
School for the Deaf 9,661,000 0 5,482,000 0
Total 543,218,000 1,140,000 232,919,525 458,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services 74,587,475 0
Cultural Education 41,817,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of 30,844,000 280,000
Office of Management Services Program 23,768,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education 130,989,000 402,000
School for the Blind 4,114,000 0
School for the Deaf 4,179,000 0
Total 310,298,475 682,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2018
Recommended
FY 2019
Change
General Fund 47,297,438,850 24,863,378,850 (22,434,060,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 4,505,043,000 4,541,043,000 36,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 9,285,580,000 5,657,308,000 (3,628,272,000)
Total 61,088,061,850 35,061,729,850 (26,026,332,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2018
Recommended
FY 2019
Change
Adult Career and Continuing Education Services
General Fund 91,951,000 90,951,000 (1,000,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 123,776,000 123,776,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 12,458,000 12,458,000 0
Cultural Education
General Fund 109,954,000 105,629,000 (4,325,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,400,000 5,400,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 8,807,000 8,807,000 0
Higher Education and the Professions, Office of
General Fund 123,069,850 81,866,850 (41,203,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 5,000,000 5,000,000 0
Office of Management Services Program
Special Revenue Funds - Other 5,214,000 5,214,000 0
Office of Pre-kindergarten Through Grade 12 Education
General Fund 46,972,464,000 24,584,932,000 (22,387,532,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 4,370,867,000 4,406,867,000 36,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 6,633,668,000 3,220,920,000 (3,412,748,000)
School Tax Relief
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,625,433,000 2,409,909,000 (215,524,000)
Total 61,088,061,850 35,061,729,850 (26,026,332,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2018
Recommended
FY 2019
Change Reappropriations
FY 2019
Education Building
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 178,000
Safety and Security Projects for at Risk Facilities
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 25,000,000 0 (25,000,000) 25,000,000
School for the Blind
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 692,000
Breakfast After the Bell Equipment Grants
Capital Projects Fund 0 7,000,000 7,000,000 0
School for the Deaf
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 138,000
Schools For Native American Reservations
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 15,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 88,000
Office of the Professions Electronic Licensing System
Misc. Capital Projects 0 4,300,000 4,300,000 0
Cultural Education Center
Capital Projects Fund 0 0 0 6,609,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 13,501,000
Administration
Capital Projects Fund 5,400,000 3,400,000 (2,000,000) 14,908,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 10,220,000
Library Construction
Capital Projects Fund - Library Aid (Auth Bonds) 24,000,000 14,000,000 (10,000,000) 27,038,000
Non-Public School Health and Safety Equipment Projects
Capital Projects Fund 0 15,000,000 15,000,000 31,885,000
Non-Public School Technology Projects
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 25,000,000 0 (25,000,000) 25,000,000
Smart Schools Special Education Projects
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 0 0 4,968,000
Cultural Education Storage Facility
Cap Proj Fund - Cultural Education Storage Facility 0 0 0 60,000,000
Smart Schools Implementation
Capital Projects Fund – Smart Schools (Bondable) 0 0 0 1,933,070,000
Smart Schools Bond Act
Smart Schools Bond Fund 0 0 0 2,000,000,000
Total 79,400,000 43,700,000 (35,700,000) 4,153,310,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2018