ALBANY, N.Y. Feb. 20, 2020 — Representatives from the New York State Educational Conference Board (ECB) will outline state budget recommendations and actions needed to address teacher shortages at a briefing for legislators, legislative staff and media on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in Room 711A of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.
In November, ECB released a paper calling for a $2.1 billion state aid increase for 2020-21. ECB members agree that school needs are significantly greater than what can be addressed with the $824 million state aid increase included in the executive budget proposal.
On Friday, ECB also will release a report with recommendations for addressing the statewide teacher shortage, the substitute teaching shortage and the need to diversify the education workforce. ECB recommends that the State Education Department make these issues a main priority, that the state invest $50 million to enhance and expand programs to address them, and that policymakers support the expansion of partnerships among school districts, colleges and community groups to address the problem.
The New York State Educational Conference Board is comprised of the Conference of Big 5 School Districts; the New York State Council of School Superintendents; New York State PTA; New York State School Boards Association; New York State United Teachers; and the School Administrators Association of New York State.