Last week NYSED released its methodology letters for preschools and school-age programs. The methodology letters were pretty much what was expected and what we reported in the last issue of the Special ED-ition.
On the preschool front, providers received a 2% increase for tuition-based programs, SEIT, and 1:1 aides. No increase was provided for evaluations. The hold-harmless provision (greater of the programs 2018/19 rate trended forward or 2019/20 prospective rate will be funded) and the actual revenue earned for typically functioning children in a SCIS classroom, which were both introduced in the 2018/19 methodology letter have both been extended to 2019/20.
On the school-age front, the trend factor for 2019/20 is 3.6%, slightly higher than the 3.4% provided for 2018/19. The school-age methodology letter extends the hold harmless provision, the 1% corridor, and the safety net for a decline in student FTE’s of more than 10%.
Globally, the Division of Budget did not approve the Rate Setting Unit’s request for an increase in the Teacher Retention and Turnover funding from $8 million to $12 million. As a result, the additional funding in rates should be comparable to last year’s funding, contingent upon your salary levels compared to BEDS data.
Kenneth R. Cerini, CPA, CFP, FABFA
Managing Partner
Ken is the Managing Partner of Cerini & Associates, LLP and is the executive responsible for the administration of our not-for-profit and educational provider practice groups. In addition to his extensive audit experience, Ken has been directly involved in providing consulting services for nonprofits and educational facilities of all sizes throughout New York State in such areas as cost reporting, financial analysis, Medicaid compliance, government audit representation, rate maximization, board training, budgeting and forecasting, and more.