Release: End of Session Agreement on Education Issues Provides Welcome $250 Million to Fund Costs of State Mandates at Non-Public Schools

Queens, NY (July 2, 2015): In an effort to offer needed assistance to non-public schools, including yeshivas and private schools, that are struggling to meet often costly state education mandates, the State Assembly and Senate, with the support of NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., approved a measure in the last hours of the 2015 legislative session to provide $250 million to these educational institutions.

“While an agreement on the Education Tax Credit – a proposal to provide tax incentives for donations to both public and private schools – was unfortunately not reached, this $250 million will be very helpful to parochial schools, yeshivas, and other non-public schools in meeting expensive state mandates,” said Addabbo, a member of the Senate Education Committee.  “The money will be used to reimburse schools for transportation, textbooks, technology, daily attendance reporting, administering state tests, and other required costs.” Addabbo stated that he had heard the concern of many parents and religious leaders, who expressed the need for educational financial assistance.

The funding will flow through the Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) Program, which was established in 1974 and is the state’s largest reimbursement program for private and religious schools.  While non-public schools received a $5 million increase in funding in the 2015-2016 New York State Budget approved on April 1st, the CAP Program has not been fully funded by the state over the last decade and the new support approved at the end of the 2015 session will help to address these reimbursement disparities.

“As of 2014, it is estimated that the State owed New York’s private and religious schools approximately $225 million in delinquent reimbursements, leaving the schools out-of-pocket while they attempted to adhere to state mandates,” Addabbo said.  The $250 million appropriation will continue through March 31, 2017.

“While I have strongly objected to some of the education policies enacted into law this year that continue to overemphasize standardized testing for students, and that fail to address any number of legitimate concerns voiced by teachers, principals, pupils and parents about the Common Core standards, I am still pleased that we are taking steps to better fund schools for all of our children,” said Addabbo, noting that New York City schools received an increase of $505 million, for a total City school aid package of $9.22 billion, in the 2015-2016 State Budget.  “While we still have a long way to go to fix the many problems in our education system, we still need – above all – to keep our eye on the prize: making sure that every single child, no matter where they go to school, receives the best possible education and opportunity for adult success.”