Covering the politics, policies and people of New York State government.
Sen. John Brooks, D-Seaford, is praising the passage of the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance budget bill (S.7506-b/A.9506-b) which includes a requirement that schools must adopt policies to prevent “lunch shaming” and policies regarding unpaid meal charges. Brooks and Assemblywoman Christine Pellegrino, D-West Islip, introduced a similar bill in […]
A recent report by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows that only 4 percent of schools in New York state are fiscally stressed. Of the 674 schools monitored, only 26 schools fall under some classification of fiscal stress in 2017. The Fiscal Stress Monitoring System reports that of the […]
Members of the Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC) held a press conference in Albany to support legislation that would help alter disciplinary actions in schools and put an end to the school to prison pipeline. The conference was held on Jan. 29 and was attended by UYC members. The group […]
The state’s largest teachers unions are suing to block the SUNY Charter Schools Committee from implementing what the unions call “illegal” regulations they say will “undermine the teaching profession by allowing unqualified teachers” to work in some charter schools. The suit filed by the New York State United Teachers and […]
The SUNY Charter Schools Committee on Wednesday approved a controversial plan that could allow certain charter schools to bypass state teacher certification criteria. The move, approved 4-1 by the committee, allows high-performing charter schools authorized by SUNY to create independent criteria for teacher certification, removing the requirement of a bachelor’s […]
As someone who struggled with dyslexia from kindergarten through college, Senator John Brooks is supporting legislation he says would give dyslexic students the assistance he didn’t have when he was in school. Brooks, D-Seaford, is a cosponsor of bill S.2534 that would require training of teachers in the area of […]
On Tuesday evening at the state Capitol, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled the proposed 2017-2018 Executive Budget, which for the seventh consecutive year, would hold spending growth below 2 percent. Highlights of the proposed budget, which must be adopted by March 31, include: State Operating Funds spending is $98.06 billion […]
Uses can include health care, technology, research, education, retail and hospitality; no residential use will be considered Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that New York state has issued request for proposals for the purchase and development of 27 acres of prime real estate on the east side of the Governor […]