Good morning!

As a mom of a special needs child and another who was just declassified, I know the importance of supporting our Special Education Programs. Especially in times where education, particularly for these children, was and is paramount.

Our school reached out to ask for help. In order to receive adequate funding to support the staff, services, and of course, children, we need to encourage Gov. Cuomo to support these schools that need more funding.

I am asking for your support and I would be personally grateful if you would visit the website below and make your voices heard. I also included a sample letter you can use.

Thanks for your consideration!

Website: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

Sample Letter:

Honorable Governor Cuomo
Executive Chamber
NYS Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Email: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

Governor Cuomo:
As an advocate to the special needs community, I implore you to please recognize the challenges the State’s special education provider community is facing. The preschool special education system responded to your call to open their doors and provide direct services in middle of the pandemic when no other sector did. So I know you understand the importance of these services!
Yet the non-public special education community’s fiscal stability is threatened by lack of funding and an archaic reimbursement methodology. These essential providers can only continue their obvious commitment to our children with your support.
Please sign into law S.6516 / A.8013 creating the calculation by which to determine yearly tuition and regional rate reimbursement for approved school-age and preschool special education programs. It is only through a trend factor commensurate with increases provided in state aid through the recently enacted State Budget that these critical programs can continue.
As importantly, please sign into law A.7755 / S.7096. Our programs must be allowed to retain and hold in reserve any and all federal relief funding received during 2020-21 and 2021-22. It is not enough to allow these programs to apply some of these vital funds towards their spiraling staffing costs and supplies expenses.
I implore you to once again champion the cause of our most vulnerable children with special needs, by directing the fiscal relief proposed by the State Education Department, with the additional request made here.

Signature, ________________


cc: Michael Smingler
Assistant Chief Budget Examiner
Email: [email protected]