New York State leaders came to an agreement in early April on the FY 2022-2023 State Budget.
These investments include:
• $93.7 million for state-supported schools for the blind and deaf, and students with other disabilities.
• $12.2 million approved previously has been extended for the 2022-2023 school year.
• An additional $2.0 million for the 2022-2023 school year.
• Remaining funds from $30 million in capital funding enacted in 2019 are re-appropriated, as well as the remaining funds under the Smart Schools program.
• A second $30 million round of capital funding approved in 2021 has been re-appropriated for the 4201 Schools.
Additionally, the 4201 Schools Association fully supports S.8314 Mannion / A.9360 Benedetto to authorize our schools to maintain reserve funds which will help deliver the tools needed to adapt flexibly, quickly, and in the best interests of our children.
Transportation is also critical, both to and from school for our students. It should be consistent and reliable, specifically for our schools in the greater New York City area. Schools have been informed two years in a row that they would not be provided bus transportation at the start of their calendar year, which is provided to the Department of Education months in advance. We appreciate the Legislature’s support on this issue and thank individual legislators who reached out and advocated on our behalf in 2021. We continue to ask state legislators from to work with us to ensure this does not happen for the third year in a row.
Statement from 4201 Schools Association Co-Chairs Dr. Bernadette Kappen and Mr. Timothy Kelly:
“The COVID-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing over the past two years, has strained our education system and made teaching that much more challenging, especially for New York’s blind, deaf, and severely physically disabled children. We are grateful for our essential teachers, therapists, and professional staff who work every day to provide our students with the high-quality education they deserve. We appreciate the Senate and Assembly recognizing the complex and diverse needs of our students during budget negotiations and look forward to working with our elected officials in the coming weeks to ensure additional and necessary support is provided to our schools.”