The 4201 Schools Association’s 2022 advocacy campaign will begin on January 26, 2022, when it offers virtual testimony during the joint legislative fiscal committee hearing on elementary and secondary education public education; and simultaneously conducts more than 75 virtual visits with state legislators and their staff.
The 4201 Schools Association’s 2022 State Budget Priorities:
Continued state support and resources for the 4201 Schools. The schools for the blind, deaf, and physically disabled request the Legislature’s approval of the sustained financial support of the 4201 Schools, as included in the FY 2022-23 Executive Budget. Additionally, the Association asks for an increase commensurate with Foundation Aid and other special education sector schools, approximately $5.8 million.
Establishment of Fiscal Reserve Funds, allowing our 10 member schools to prepare for variances or contingencies for emergencies, planning or adapting to student needs throughout the school year. The recent pandemic has highlighted the need to give school leaders tools to adapt flexibly, quickly, and in the best interests of their students while maintaining fiscal stewardship of their operations.
Investment in Our Workforce. Salaries for the specially qualified staff at our 10 member schools consistently lag behind those in public schools. The 4201 Schools Association requests a new initiative to increase salaries for our teachers and professional staff. We request $30 million over three years to incrementally increase salaries to better align with public school districts.
Transportation to and from school for our students, 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 on our behalf in 2021. We ask legislators from across the state to work with us to ensure this does not happen for the third year in a row.
Click here to view a PDF of our 2022-2021 Legislative Priorities.
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Join our advocacy campaign on social media using these hashtags:
#FundThe4201s #Fund4201Schools #SupportOurStudents