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Tuition Rate Reform

Stakeholder Meeting Dates and Registration Contacts will be updated periodically. Please revisit this page for the most up-to-date information.

Contact e-mail: RateReform@nysed.gov 

Comprehensive Study of Alternative Tuition Rate-Setting Methodologies

In chapter 56 of the laws of 2023, the enacted budget directed the New York State Education Department to conduct a comprehensive study of alternative tuition rate setting methodologies.  This will impact extended school-year special education special class programs (July/August programs), school-age day and residential programs operated by Special Act School Districts and chapter 853 schools, and the special class and special class in an integrated setting preschool programs.

Tuition Rate Reform Listserv QR Code Please register for the Tuition Rate Reform Listserv, or use the QR code.

In addition to the stakeholder meetings, NYSED will be 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 be notified of each survey, please register at Rate Reform.

Purpose of Regional Stakeholder Meetings

The New York State Education Department 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.

Regional meetings are being conducted 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.

Feedback from students, parents, families, educators, school district representatives, county representatives, approved program providers and other interested stakeholders is sought to receive initial feedback reflecting existing needs and to inform the comprehensive study.

Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings Surveys

The Preschool Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings Survey and the School-Age Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings Survey are available ahead of the regional stakeholder meetings. Each survey includes guiding questions and is intended for stakeholders to provide initial input only to inform the approach of the study. Stakeholders only need to respond to those questions where they want to submit feedback; they are not required to answer all questions. The regional stakeholder meetings will provide opportunities to offer verbal feedback to these guiding questions.

Preschool Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings Survey - Printable Version

School-Age Initial Input Stakeholder Meetings Survey - Printable Version

Stakeholder Meetings Schedule

Region Date Time Registration Contact
Southern Tier (BROOME-DELAWARE-TIOGA BOCES) Friday, September 29, 2023 Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
1:00-3:00 pm
Registration Closed

Long Island
WESTERN SUFFOLK BOCES

Wednesday,
October 4, 2023

Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
1:00-3:00 pm

Registration Closed

Central
ONONDAGA-CORTLAND-MADISON BOCES

Friday,
October 6, 2023

Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
​1:00-3:00 pm
Registration Closed

North Country
FRANKLIN-ESSEX-HAMILTON BOCES

Wednesday,
October 11, 2023

Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
​1:00-3:00 pm

Registration Closed

Capital Region
QUESTAR III (R-C-G) BOCES

Thursday,
October 12, 2023
Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
​1:00-3:00 pm

Registration Closed

Finger Lakes
MONROE 2-ORLEANS BOCES

Thursday,
October 26, 2023
Preschool Meeting
8:30 am-10:30 am
School-Age Meeting
​11:30-1:30 pm

Registration Closed

Western
ERIE 1 BOCES

Thursday,
November 2, 2023
Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
​1:00-3:00 pm
Registration Closed

Hudson Valley
ORANGE-ULSTER BOCES

Monday,
November 6, 2023
Preschool Meeting
9:00-11:00 am
School-Age Meeting
​1:00-3:00 pm

Registration Closed

New York City
NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
November 9, 2023

Preschool Meeting
9:30-11:30 am
School-Age Meeting
12:30-2:30 pm

Registration Closed
New York City
NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
November 15, 2023 Preschool Meeting
9:30-11:30 am
School-Age Meeting
12:30-2:30 pm
Registration Closed
Parent & Family Forum
Virtual Meetings
Coming Soon

Coming Soon
(Evening Hours)

NYSED will be seeking to hold two statewide virtual forums.

One will be to solicit feedback from parents/families of preschool students with disabilities and the other to solicit feedback from parents/families of school-age students with disabilities.