Special Education

The Excessive Teacher Turnover Prevention Grant (“ETTP”) and your Tuition Rate

As all special education providers should be well aware of, the ETTP grant is now being rolled into your fiscal 2017 prospective rates upon reconciliation of the 2015 year. So how exactly is the rate being rolled into the prospective rate you may ask? Once you have...

SED Median Salary

In determining the maximum salary that can be paid to a special education school’s executive director, assistant executive director, and chief financial officer, SED publishes each year the median salary paid to executive directors (ED) and assistant executive...

Long Term Leases, Staffing Shortfalls, and Other SED Things that go Bump in the Night

These have been challenging times for providers, especially 4410 providers. After coming off 7 years (4410) and 5 years (853) without rate increases, we have seen 2 to 4% increases over the last few years, which while positive, is just not large enough to keep up with...

Changes to the Reimbursable Cost Manual

You’ve filed your cost report, the holidays are over, and the cold weather is here. Time to grab a blanket, a hot cocoa (with marshmallows of course), and curl up with some scintillating reading … that’s right, the fiscal 2017 RCM. Why not, it’s got drama, action, and...

2016 Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative Annual Report Issued

The OSC has issued its 2016 Annual Report on Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative. This is the summary of all the reports issued by the OSC during 2016. Through December 2016, the OSC has completed and issued 89 audits of special education providers, including...

Desk Audit Inquiries

If you are funded by the New York State Education Department (“SED”) and your fiscal year ends on June 30th, you hopefully filed your Consolidated Fiscal Report (“CFR”) by the December 1st deadline. Now you can breathe a sense of relief that another year has gone by...

Good News for SED Providers

In responding to OSC audits, the NYSED’s rate setting unit has been accepting OSC’s findings, claiming they do not have the discretion to reject or modify such findings, pursuant to a lawsuit that occurred several years ago. On October 1st, the Board of Regents...

New Reimbursable Cost Manual Released by SED

The new reimbursable cost manual (“RCM”) for the 2016/2017 fiscal year has been issued. These are the regulations that you will be held to for fiscal 2017 when completing your 2017 CFR and what the OSC will use in conducting its audits of the 2017 fiscal year. The...

Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016 (HR 5003)

A controversial piece of federal legislation known as HR 5003, the Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016, was introduced into the legislative process on April 20, 2016. The bill’s sponsor has stated that the bill will save money and give schools more...

Temporary Allowance for School Psychologists to Be Directly Employed by an Early Intervention or Special Education Agency

On June 30, 2016, Governor Cuomo signed legislation allowing Early Intervention (EI) and special education providers to continue to utilize school psychologists to provide psychological services to the children they serve through June 30, 2018. Unlike SED pre-school...
Position Title Code Red

Position Title Code Red

As a special education provider, you know how important it is to properly code your staff to the correct Position Title Code (PTC). If you incorrectly code your staff on your CFR, it could have a significant impact on your school, as well as the industry in total....

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2018 SED Update

2018 SED Update

As we turn the page on 2017 and move into 2018, we continue to monitor what’s happening in the SED world. I’d like to say we’ve got all the answers, but the truth is, there seems to be more questions. Even so, just like it’s important to understand what the OSC is...

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IDEA Funds

IDEA Funds

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funds have become an integral part of the funding of most special education programs, especially after five to seven years of no increases in funding experienced by special education providers. As a result, many...

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OSC Issues 2017 Annual Summary of its SED 4410 Audits

OSC Issues 2017 Annual Summary of its SED 4410 Audits

Last week, the OSC issued its 2017 annual report on its preschool special education audit initiative. During 2017, the OSC completed 23 audits; 7 on LI, 8 in NY City and its surrounding Boroughs; 2 in Westchester; and 6 across the rest of the State. According to the...

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Reimbursable Cost Manual (“RCM”) Update

Reimbursable Cost Manual (“RCM”) Update

Last week, with little to no fanfare, the New York State Education Department (“SED”) issued the new Reimbursable Cost Manual ("RCM") for fiscal 2018. The new RCM, as promised by SED, did not include any significant changes from the 2017 RCM. The only changes to the...

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SED Rate Methodology Recommendations

SED Rate Methodology Recommendations

SED is required to submit its rate methodology recommendations to the NY State Division of Budget. We have attached the proposed methodology letters for the 2017/18 year. SED has proposed a 4.85% increase for preschool (inclusive of evaluations) and a 5.2% growth...

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