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February 23, 2022Governor Kathy HochulExecutive ChamberState CapitolAlbany, NY 12224Senator Andrea Stewart-CousinsSenate Majority LeaderRoom 330State CapitolAlbany, NY 12247Assemblymember Carl HeastieSpeaker of the AssemblyLegislative Office BuildingRoom 932Albany, NY 12248Re: State Support for Career and Technical Education ProgramsDear Governor Hochul, Senator Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie:On behalf of the groups who have signed below and who strongly support Career and TechnicalEducation (CTE) programs for New York’s students, we are asking for your assistance to ensurethese highly effective programs can be sustained and expanded through an increased stateinvestment.District and BOCES based Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs have proven highlyeffective in helping to provide students with the essential skills they require to successfullytransition to college and career. In addition, CTE programs help ensure that businesses in NewYork have skilled workers, which is essential to their success and that of the state’s economy.Despite these important contributions and proven successes, the state’s funding for CTEprograms has not kept pace with program needs.The current reimbursement for BOCES CTE teachers provides only up to 30,000 per CTEteacher to component districts. This amount has not been increased since 1990. This leaves alarge gap between what a district is reimbursed and the salary of teachers in the CTE programs.The difference in cost has to then be covered by local tax revenue in each participatingcomponent district.The Big 5 city school districts and other non-component school districts receive state fundingfor CTE programs through Special Services Aid. However, the 3,900 per pupil formulabased funding cap falls far short of meeting the cost of CTE programs and excludes fundingfor 9th grade students. The Big 5 school districts are heavily reliant on state funds and don’thave the ability to raise local revenue given their fiscal dependency. Furthermore, there is noexpectation that their respective municipalities will increase their local share of spending foreducation.

To ensure the sustainability and growth of these programs, we ask that you include the following in the2022-23 Final Budget proposal: Increase the “aidable” salary for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services(BOCES) Career and Technical Education (CTE) instructors to 60,000 overthe next three school years;o 40,000 for SY 2022-23, 50,000 for SY 2023-24, 60,000 SY 2024,o This increase would be more reflective of current salary scales; and Increase the per pupil cap and expand funding to 9th grade students forspecial services aid that is provided to the Big 5 school districts and other noncomponent school districts for CTE programs.As fixed costs (including contractual salary increases and health insurance) continue to risethe ability of local districts to continue to increase support to maintain existing CTEprograms is in jeopardy. At the same time, in many regions and industries, demand fortrained, skilled employees is increasing. CTE programs not only prepare students to enter thehealth care industry, but they are also leaders in training certified mechanical and electricalengineers and future employees for all aspects of the hospitality industry. However, demandis outpacing supply. Without updated and increased state support, school districts will not beable to continue to support programs at a participation level that allows these programs toexpand and meet the student and industry needs, while still being mindful of local taxpayersand the tax cap.CTE programs are a proven tool, helping students achieve academic and career success, andprovide a proven alternative model for academic and career success. In 2019-20, nearly40,000 students developed college and career-ready skills through their BOCES CTE program.90% of BOCES CTE students graduated, a rate higher than the statewide average and while asignificant number of students were able to enter the workforce from these programs, manystudents also went on to college. The Big 5 school districts and other non-component schooldistricts also operate innovative and successful CTE programs. In many cases, graduation ratesfor pupils in these programs far exceed their district averages.CTE programs are not just beneficial for students, but also for the business community. Many ofthese programs have been designed in collaboration with local businesses to ensure theprograms provide students with the skills which are required by employers, and employers havea pipeline of skilled future employees. In 2019-20, more than 5,000 businesses hadrepresentatives serve on BOCES CTE advisory councils. The Big 5 districts also work withindustry leaders to expand programs to meet growing workforce demands.For these reasons, the undersigned organizations strongly support Career and TechnicalEducation Programs for students attending New York state public schools. We ask that yousupport these programs by including an increase in both the aidable salary for BOCES CTEinstructors and Special Services Aid for CTE programs in the Big 5 school districts and othernon-component school districts as part of the 2022-23 Final Budget proposal.

Thank you for your consideration of this important proposal. If you have any questions, please donot hesitate to contact me at kmacdonald@gvboces.org.Sincerely,Kevin MacDonaldChair, BOCES Educational ConsortiumDistrict Superintendent and CEO Genesee Valley BOCESCC:Senator Shelley MayerAssemblyman Michael BenedettoMichael SminglerTerry PrattDan FullerMichael MastroianniMatt GoldenMaria Volpe McDermottAmanda GodkinDave Thoman

Groups in Support of Increased State Investment in Career and Technical Education Programs

"The Capoeira Workout" with Paula VerdinoAAR CorpAbsolut Center for NursingAdams Heating & CoolingAdirondack regional Chamber of CommerceAdirondack StudiosAdirondack ThunderAdvokateAHRC NassauAlbany Truck SalesAllied Electric Supply, Inc.Allied MechanicalAlpha Commercial CleaningAmanda Selwyn Dance TheatreAmerican Airpower MuseumAmerican Ballet Theatre SchoolAmerican Building ContractorsAmerican Job CenterAnderson Equipment CompanyAndroid PoliceAppolo HeatingAquarium of NiagaraArieno Dental LaboratoryArise of Central New YorkArmy National GuardArts School NetworkASG 365Asha's Farm SanctuaryAtlantean EntertainmentAuto Collision & GlassAutocheXB&B Plumbing/HeatingBailey & Harris ArchitectsBasil ToyotaBatoto YetuBD BARDBeach Painting, Inc.Bear With Us ProductionsBeaver Island Nature CenterBelknap Heating & CoolingBeyond Print SolutionsBilly JoelBison Automotive & Detail Inc.Bison Print CoBlack & McDonaldBlack Bear Fuel OilBlack Iron BystroBling!BLKDOG Blueox Energy Products and ServicesBonacio ConstructionBoyd Corporation (Aavid)Brai Beauty BarBrawdy Construction Inc.Brian HaimesBricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 3-NYBrockport SmilesBroken Box Mime TheaterBrookside Multicare CenterBrookville Center for Children's ServicesBrowns FordBuffalo BullsBuffalo Construction ConsultantsBuffalo Historical MuseumBuffalo Truck Center, Inc.Buffalo ZooCamp Little NotchCanisius Golden GriffinsCapital Region ChamberCapitol District SupplyCappellino Cadillac Inc.Carpenters Local 276Carver CompaniesCazenovia Equipment CompanyCelebrity Day Spa,Cell Phone Repair (CPR)Center for Economic GrowthCenter State CEOChakra Communications,Chase EnterprisesChelsea Day SpaChild's AutomotiveChili GasChryslerCIR Electric, 2517CiscoCMM SiteworkColes Collision Center WiltonComDocCommon RootsComplete Quality Electric, Inc.ConnextCareConstruction ExchangeContemporary Musical TheatreContracts UnlimitedCornell University Cooperative ExtensionCortland Area Chamber of CommerceCortland Biomedical

CosmoprofCrane Dental LaboratoryCrane Home CareCreatacorCreative Stone & CabinetsCrisafulli Bros. Home ServicesCrunch FitnessCummins Inc.Curtis LumberCurtiss-WrightCurtze Foods,Custom Laser, Inc.Day AutomationDegraff-Bloom Custom BuildersDerrickDesigner Shoe Warehouse (DSW)Detor AutomotiveDiecoDiversified Mfg. Inc.DK MachineDKM Steel Construction CorpDodgeDone WellDoty MachineDriver's VillageDunkirk Metal Products of WNY, LLCDunn TireDurkin PropaneDWC MechanicalE & R Machine Inc.Eagle Electrical Group, Inc.EJElectric SolutionsElite Wall SystemsEmmet Belknap Intermediate SchoolEmpowerment Collaborative of Long IslandEmpro NiagaraEndless EchoES Systems Inc.EspeyEsporta FitnessExcel Machine TechnologyExcelco NewbrookExploring the ArtsFamily Service LeagueFerguson ElectricFisher-PriceFMC, Various LocationsFord Motor Company Fort Hyde KennelsFort Miller GroupFrey Elecric Construction Co.Frisbees LandscapingG.A. BoveGalusha & Sons LLCGeneral Motors Components HoldingGeneration Next Energy ProsGerber Collision & GlassGleasonGlobal FoundariesGoldwell of NY,Greco ConstructionGreno IndustriesHabitat for HumanityHarbor Energy SolutionsHarrison and Burrowes Bridge ConstructorsHaun Welding SupplyHawk RacingHilbert CollegeHobbes Canvas Printing, VirtualHondaHop EnergyHorseAbilityHouse of TiresHowell MotorsHuether Heating and CoolingHunt Companies, IncHunter Engineering CompanyHyundai Doosan InfracoreIBEW Local 237I-CARIdeal Industries, Inc.Inch by Inch ChildcareInnovate518Intention Films and Media, LLC.Iron Workers Local 60Irving TissueISAAC Heating & Air ConditioningIUOE 158IVY LEA ConstructionJ.F. MachiningJeepJersey Mikes SubsJetBlue AirwaysJNL Contracting Inc.Johnstone Supply, Inc.Jo-Mark Installations

José Decamps & Joanna Zacharewicz DanceCampK&Ns Foods USAKendall & AssociatesKenworth NortheastKer Boom Kidz AcademyKeys Fence & GateKing and King ArchitectsKP Organization Painting & WallcoveringKreher's FarmKurbs Family Chiro & WellnessLaborers Local 157Lake George ChamberLake Shore TransportationLancaster Development, Inc.LCTV, 293Lehigh Construction Group Inc.LINC Products & Services, LLCLittle Garden's ChildcareLittle Leaders Learning CenterLogics Hair SalonLong Island Arts AllianceLori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan DanceCompanyMagic Box ProductionsManufacturers Association of the Southern TierManzella MarketingMartin ElectricMatrix Imaging SolutionsMavis Discount TireMBI Marine BulkheadingMedina Veterinary ClinicMichaels Electric SupplyMicro Instrument CorpMid TelMiddlepot Family Health CenterMiller MechanicalMillwork Architectural & CustomWoodworkingMilton CATMJ Mechanical Services, Inc.MMC MillworkModern Disposal ServicesMohawk Collision CenterMomentumMonroe's PlaceMorcon TissueMotofab LiftsMTA New York City Transit Myles Tool Co.Nassau County EMS AcademyNassau County Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals (SPCA)National Cirus ProjectNational Electrical Contractors AssociationNational GridNellist ElectricalNew Vision Industries, Inc.New York State Association of School BusinessOfficialsNew York State Conference of Big 5 SchoolDistrictsNew York State Council of SchoolSuperintendentsNew York State Parent teacher AssociationNew York State School Boards AssociationNew York State United TeachersNFADANFTA MetroNiagara County Sheriff's Dept.,Niagara County Soil & Water ConservationDistrictNiagara Falls Culinary InstituteNiagara Frontier Auto Dealers Association(NFADA)Niagara Precision Inc.Niagara Purple EaglesNickerson CorporationsNormandin MarketingNorth Atlantic States Regional Council ofCarpentersNorth Collins - National Tractor Trailer SchoolNorth Shore Oral SurgeryNortheast Heating Cooling Refrigeration Co.,Inc.Northeastern Retail Lumber AssociationNSH USANT Fire DepartmentNuclear Alloys CorporationNYMAT Machine Tool CorpNYS Builders AssociationNYS Canal Corp, NYNYS Parks, Various LocationsNYU Stein HardtOkra Dance CompanyOntario Auto SalesOpen Door MissionOrchard Park Veterinary Medical Center