School Receivership Stakeholders Meeting
NYSASBO staff and three NYSASBO members from school districts with struggling schools participated with other educational association in a day-long stakeholders meeting on school receivership. Assistant Commissioner Ira Schwartz presented an overview of the legislation and then asked the group to examine and summarize the regulations. School principals, superintendents, business officials and representatives of statewide educational and advocacy associations debated recommendations on re-staffing, demonstrable improvement, conversion to community schools, qualifications and appointment of receivers, Department support for receivers, development of school intervention plans, public engagement and impacts on other non-receiver schools.
An appropriation of $75 million will be available for a two-year period from 7/1/15 to 3/31/17 for the 20 or so persistently failing schools. The approximately 140 failing schools will not receive additional funds. It is expected that the Legislature will extend the time period for spending the money to 6/30/17. The Department will develop a formula, subject to approval by the Division of the Budget, based on enrollment, low income, English language learners, middle school and high school. Amounts are estimated to be from $1400 to $2500 per pupil per year. The law identifies things the funds can be used for but spending is not limited to those categories. Funding must be used to support the implementation of the improvement plan. Costs of independent receivers must also be taken from the $75 million.
The Department is debating whether there should be a planning grant followed by two implementation grants or just providing the money to the districts. Several members of the group recommended that funds not be used for a planning grant. Districts will be asked to take their existing plan (SIG or CEP) and upgrade it to incorporate the new money. The Board of Regents is expected to approve emergency regulations at the June meeting. Sustainability of funding may be addressed in the Regents state aid proposal. Funds may be made available retroactive to July 1, 2015 but will likely not be received by school districts until the fall. If schools improve, the Department expects funding would continue but school receivership would not.