Senator Daphne Jordan Advocates for Increased Investment in BOCES Career Technical Education Programs as part of the Final 2022-23 State Budget

ALBANY, NY – New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon) today announced that she has written to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie advocating on behalf of Boards Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. 

In her correspondence issued yesterday afternoon, Senator Jordan called for increased state support for BOCES CTE positions, as well as increased funding for Special Services programs to be reflected within the final 2022-23 State Budget. Senator Jordan’s letter noted that without the increased investment, school districts would be unable to continue to support programs at a participation level that allows the programs to grow and meet the needs of students and industry. 

“BOCES-based CTE programs and Special Services CTE programs have proven incredibly effective in providing students with the essential skills they require to successfully transition to college and career. CTE programs also help businesses in New York have the skilled workers demanded by our economy. Increasing funding for these proven programs is a smart investment that’s good for students, good for employers, and good for our economy,” Senator Jordan said. 

Senator Jordan’s letter noted that 1990 was the last time reimbursement for BOCES CTE teachers was increased. The current reimbursement for BOCES CTE teachers provides only up to $30,000 per CTE teacher to component districts requiring the component school districts to make up any gap in CTE teacher salary. Increasing the ceiling for reimbursement will allow BOCES to attract more CTE teachers and expand programs.  

As stated in Senator Jordan’s correspondence, CTE programs are highly beneficial for students and the business community, as many of the programs were designed in close collaboration with local businesses to ensure the programs provide students with the skills needed by employers, as well as ensuring a future pipeline of skilled employees. In 2019-20, more than 5,000 businesses had representatives serve on BOCES CTE advisory councils. The Big 5 districts also work with industry leaders to expand programs to meet growing workforce demands.  

Senator Jordan’s budget letter asked for the inclusion of the following investments in the final 2022-23 State Budget:  

• Increase the “aidable” salary for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors to $60,000 over the next three school years; 
• $40,000 for SY 2022-23  
• $50,000 for SY 2023-24  
• $60,000 for SY 2024-25 
• Increase the per-pupil cap and expand funding to 9^th-grade students for special services aid that is provided to the Big 5 school districts and other non-component school districts for CTE programs.  

“As our state has thankfully turned a corner on the worst of the pandemic, there’s an urgent need for workforce investment not only for employees today, but for students whose skill, training, and work ethic are urgently needed for the jobs of tomorrow. BOCES does an incredible job matching demand with talent and BOCES CTE programs are smart investments that pay real dividends for students and employers alike. I’ve worked closely with our Capital Region and WSWHE BOCES, and I’m proud to advocate for these important investments within the context of the final 2022-23 State Budget,” Senator Jordan stated. 

Pasted below is the text of Senator Jordan’s letter and a pdf copy is attached with this news release. 

March 29, 2022 

The Honorable Kathy Hochul 
Governor of New York State 
NYS Capitol Building 
Albany, NY 12224 

Honorable Andrea Stewart-Cousins 
President Pro Tempore & Majority Leader 
NYS Capitol, Room 330 
Albany, NY 12247  

Honorable Carl E. Heastie 
Speaker of the NYS Assembly 
LOB 932 
Albany, NY 12248 

Dear Governor Hochul, Senator Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie: 

As we begin to come out of the worst of the pandemic we know that many regions and industries, will experience increased demand for trained and skilled employees for critical areas such as the health care industry. Boards Of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) programs and Special Services programs have long provided such career technical education to not only prepare students to enter the health care industry, but they are also leaders in training certified mechanical and electrical engineers and future employees for all aspects of the hospitality industry. We know that demand is outpacing supply. That is why today I am writing to support increased state support for BOCES Career Technical Education (CTE) positions as well as increased funding for Special Services programs otherwise school districts will not be able to continue to support programs at a participation level that allows these programs to expand and meet the student and industry needs. 

BOCES CTE programs are a proven tool, helping students achieve academic and career success, and provide a proven alternative model for academic and career success. In 2019-20, nearly 40,000 students developed college and career-ready skills through their BOCES CTE program. 90% of BOCES CTE students graduated, a rate higher than the statewide average and while a significant number of students were able to enter the workforce from these programs, many students also went on to college.   

I am asking for your assistance to ensure these highly effective programs can be expanded through increased state investment. While school districts have received significant increases in state aid over the last year it is critical that we target resources towards BOCES based Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and Special Services CTE programs which have proven highly effective in helping to provide students with the essential skills they require to successfully transition to college and career. Just as importantly, CTE programs help ensure that businesses in New York have skilled workers, which is essential to their success and that of the state’s economy.  

The last time reimbursement for BOCES CTE teachers was increased was in 1990. The current reimbursement for BOCES CTE teachers provides only up to $30,000 per CTE teacher to component districts. This requires component school district to make up any gap in the CTE teacher salary. Increasing the ceiling for reimbursement will allow BOCES to attract more CTE teachers and expand programs.  

Finally, CTE programs are not just beneficial for students, but also for the business community. Many of these programs have been designed in collaboration with local businesses to ensure the programs provide students with the skills which are required by employers, and employers have a pipeline of skilled future employees. In 2019-20, more than 5,000 businesses had representatives serve on BOCES CTE advisory councils. The Big 5 districts also work with industry leaders to expand programs to meet growing workforce demands.  

The Big 5 city school districts and other non-component school districts receive state funding for CTE programs through Special Services Aid. To ensure the sustainability and growth of these programs, as well as the BOCES CTE reimbursement we ask that you include the following in the 2022-23 Final Budget proposal:  

• Increase the “aidable” salary for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors to $60,000 over the next three school years; 
• $40,000 for SY 2022-23  
• $50,000 for SY 2023-24  
• $60,000 for SY 2024-25 
• Increase the per pupil cap and expand funding to 9th grade students for special services aid that is provided to the Big 5 school districts and other noncomponent school districts for CTE programs.  
   

Thank you for considering these critically important proposals. 

Sincerely,
Daphne Jordan 
State Senator, 43rd District