Education

Authorizes an additional $125 million for Phase 3 of the Rochester school facilities modernization program; extends phase 3 of the Rochester school facilities modernization program to 2033.

This bill establishes a state center for dyslexia and dysgraphia within the Department of Education. The center will define these learning differences, set standards for universal screening of K-5 students (and at-risk students), develop evidence-based intervention guidelines, and create a public guidebook for schools. It directly affects students with dyslexia/dysgraphia, school districts, and educators by requiring standardized screening, support protocols, and professional development resources. The guidebook must cover definitions, screening procedures, classroom instruction, and parent communication, updated every five years after initial creation. The bill mandates annual screenings and requires schools to implement these evidence-based practices.

This bill extends the existing law authorizing physical therapy assistants to provide services in public and private primary and secondary schools, keeping the provision active until June 30, 2030 (previously set to expire in 2025). It directly affects physical therapy assistants working in school settings, ensuring they can continue delivering these services without interruption. The key change is updating the expiration date to 2030, maintaining current access to school-based physical therapy support.

This bill allows any town in New York with a 2020 census population between 69,000 and 69,500 to create a homestead exemption for real property taxes. It enables qualifying towns to offer an exemption similar to the existing STAR school tax relief program, capping the exemption at $50,000 in property value. Property owners must apply annually using a standard form, and the exemption applies only to eligible homes meeting the same criteria as STAR. This directly affects homeowners in qualifying towns by potentially reducing their local property tax burden.

Relates to veterans tuition awards program eligibility; makes tuition awards available for certain veterans including, but not limited to Vietnam, Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.