The State has not yet adopted a budget for FY'02. Consequently, the Chapter 53 Reading appropriation is assumed to be at the prior year's funding level. The FY'02 spending plan is displayed on Table O:1.

Chapter 53 funds for both the community school districts and high school districts are distributed through the Special Needs/Academic Intervention Services (AIS) allocation formula. Please refer to Section E for the entire Special Needs/AIS program, formula methodology, and allocation.

Chapter 53 funds may be used to provide direct services to students and/or support staff development. Allowable activities include: academic intervention services (AIS) class size reduction, co-teaching, pupil personnel services, staff development and instructional supplies and materials in support of the program.


O.2   STATE INCENTIVE GRANT (SIG) - IMPROVING PERFORMANCE (IPP)

The State has not yet adopted a budget for FY'02. Consequently, the State Incentive Grant appropriation is assumed to be at the prior year's funding level. The FY'02 spending plan is displayed on Table O:2.

State Incentive Grant funds for both the community school districts and high school districts are distributed through the Special Needs/Academic Intervention Services (AIS) allocation formula. Please refer to Section E for the entire Special Needs/AIS program, formula methodology, and allocation.

State Incentive Grant supports development and implementation of projects that strengthen education programs and improve pupil performance. Students at all levels may participate. Funds may be used to support a wide range of activities including academic intervention services (AIS), staff development, curriculum development, early childhood, pupil personnel services, arts, cultural and enrichment programs.


O.3   ERSSA

Educational Related Support Services Aid (ERSSA) supports prevention and intervention activities for students at risk of referral to special education. Absent a State budget, the prior year's level of funding is being held constant. The FY 2002 ERSSA spending plan is shown on Table O:3.

ERSSA funds are distributed to community school districts and high school districts through the Special Needs/Academic Intervention Services (AIS) allocation formula. Please refer to Section E for the entire Special Needs/AIS program, formula methodology, and allocation.

ERSSA funds support the "at risk of being referred to special education" component of the District/ School's Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP). Program description and guidelines were last issued in the Division of Student Support Services Memorandum #59, dated May 13, 1998.

ERSSA resources should be targeted to general education students who are in need of counseling, speech therapy, pupil personnel services, social work services, remediation (including consultant teachers), and/or consultation on providing support in the general education setting in order to reduce unnecessary referrals to special education and promote decertification from special education with support in the general education setting. In most cases, related services only pupils (i.e., general education pupils whose only special education service is related service) may receive the related service through ERSSA support.


O.4   IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) supports students who have been classified as disabled with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The FY'02 IDEA appropriation is over $30 million higher than last year's level of funding. A portion of this increase will be used to expand the special needs/AIS allocation. The FY 2002 IDEA Spending Plan is listed on Table O:4.

IDEA funds are distributed to community school districts and high school districts through the Special Needs/Academic Intervention Services (AIS) allocation formula. Please refer to Section E for the entire Special Needs/AIS program, formula methodology, and allocation.

Two primary goals of IDEA are to ensure that students with disabilities receiving special education services will meet high educational standards and that students will receive special services in the Least Restrictive Environment. Program guidelines, requirements and description were last issued in Division of Student Support Services Memorandum #3, dated July 28, 1998.

Additionally, a $2 million IDEA grant has been secured. The grant is entitled, "IDEA Capacity Building and Improvement Grant." The resources allocated on Table O:4.1 will help support the professional development being done for the new continuum, "Unified Service Delivery System."


O.5   STATE MAGNET SCHOOL

The State Magnet School appropriation is unchanged from FY'00. The spending plan for the State Magnet School program is displayed on Table O:5.0.

O.5.1   COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PLAN PER CAPITA

The per capita allocation is intended to assist in the maintenance of magnet schools and/or prevention, reduction, and elimination of minority group isolation and segregation through exemplary math and science instruction, and by helping students of different races and cultures to respect one another and work together for common goals.

Allocation of Magnet School funds is based on a pupil per capita using the audited October 31, 2000 registers for grades 4 to 12. Community school district and high school district entitlements are listed on Table O:5.1 and O:5.2 respectively. Districts and high schools should contact their liaison at the Division of Funded and Community Resources to ensure their program is consistent with State law.


O.6   BEACON PROGRAM, YOUTH SERVICES INTRA-CITY

The Beacon Program for FY 2002 is not yet known. To ensure smooth program implementation in the Fall, we are assuming the program will operate in the same districts as last year. Tentative Beacon allocations are being provided at 70% of last year's amount. In the Fall, when the Department of Youth and Community Development establishes the program design, the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and the sites, budget allocations will be reconciled.

Resources are intended to defray the opening and space costs associated with the use of school facilities. Table O:6 lists the preliminary Beacon allocation.


O.7   STANDARDS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Standards at the local level is funded by $100,000,000 of tax levy funds and State Standards Operating aid. The community school district share of $65.91 million is allocated through the Academic Intervention Services (AIS) Per Capita in Section D. Citywide special education's portion, $0.57 million, is in their base budget. Of the high school's $28.49 million, the tax levy component, $18.56 million, is distributed through their Basic Instruction allocation presented in Section B. The $9.93 million of State Standards Operating Aid is allocation on Table O:7.

Standards at the Local Level allow local decisions on how best to support the new standards. A portion of this component is supported by State categorical funds. These resources are to be used pursuant to Education Law Section 3602 (38) for services and expenses in helping students improve achievement in order to meet the high learning standards and assessments established by the Board of Regents.

Allowable activities include:

• the provision of direct instructional services to students, including academic intervention services,
• the provision of appropriate professional development services to teachers, and
• the developing and sharing of innovative educational practices.

       

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