Tuition Rate Reform
Contact e-mail: RateReform@nysed.gov
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is conducting a comprehensive study of alternative tuition rate-setting methodologies for approved providers operating school-age and preschool special education programs in New York State. Tuition rate-setting methodology is used to reimburse school-age day and residential special class programs (operated by approved private schools and special act school districts), extended school year special class programs, and preschool special class and special class in an integrated setting programs. The study will consider alternative approaches to reimbursement to ensure students with disabilities receive education and related services in accordance with their individualized education programs.
NYSED will be periodically issuing topical surveys to collect stakeholder feedback on multiple aspects of existing methodology, fiscal reporting, staffing standards and models, reimbursement parameters, and other areas related to the study. To stay in connection with this effort, please register with our dedicated email listserv at Rate Reform (constantcontactpages.com).
Stakeholder Survey - Fall 2024:
Direct Care Staff Position Titles and Definitions Survey
This fall, from September through December 2024, NYSED's Office of Special Education is seeking input from parents, families, students, educators, school district representatives, county representatives, approved program providers and other interested stakeholders regarding current direct care position titles and definitions of staff that may be employed in a NYSED approved special education program. The Tuition Rate-Setting Methodology Redesign Stakeholder Survey: Direct Care Staff Position Titles and Definitions is currently available at the link provided. The survey includes each direct care staff position title code, position title, and position title definition in the Consolidated Fiscal Reporting and Claiming Manual (CFR) that is applicable to NYSED. Stakeholders can provide recommendations regarding position titles and definitions to inform our study on whether these position titles and definitions accurately reflect what is needed for programs to meet the regulatory requirements.
Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings - Fall 2023:
Summary of Stakeholder Initial Input
Initial regional meetings were conducted during the Fall of 2023 to receive initial feedback from stakeholders on how to best support programs serving students with disabilities in a manner that is fiscally sustainable, not reliant on tuition appeals, based on standardized parameters and criteria, phased-in overtime, and ensures that tuition rates for all programs are calculated no later than the beginning of each school year. Regional meetings were held in the counties of Broome, Suffolk, Onondaga, Essex, Rensselaer, Monroe, Erie, Orange, as well as in New York City. The purpose of these meetings was to collect initial feedback from students, parents, families, educators, school district representatives, county representatives, approved program providers and other interested stakeholders to reflect existing needs and to inform the comprehensive study. Additional information is available in the Initial Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report.