April 3, 2007

To:           District Superintendents

From:       Theresa E. Savo     

Subject:    Training Sessions for BOCES Special Education Providers         

The State Education Department will be conducting training sessions for BOCES special education providers at four locations across the State.  This training will provide insight into the rate setting processes for BOCES that operate programs for which the State Education Department establishes tuition rates. Therefore, I would like to extend a special invitation to District Superintendents that operate such programs.  The training sessions will address special education programs in the following areas:

1. A brief overview of cost reporting for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, highlighting general reporting issues of the SA-111 Supplemental Schedules, including related services schedules, which are used to establish tuition rates for special education programs.

1. A brief presentation on rate setting methodology.

1. A presentation on managing the fiscal and programmatic aspects of your special education programs in order to operate an efficient, compliant, and fiscally solvent program.  In this presentation, we will discuss the impact of programmatic changes on tuition rates. We will also identify several typical situations that cause a program’s reimbursable costs to not be fully funded, and actions to take to ensure appropriate funding of reimbursable costs within the approved tuition methodology.

I strongly encourage BOCES business officials, as well as special education program staff, to accompany you to one of the sessions.  It is also highly recommended that the person(s) responsible for completing the SA-111 Supplemental Schedules attend a session.  Please see the attached chart with the dates and locations for the sessions.

The training sessions are being conducted at locations that meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities.  If auxiliary aides or services are needed, please contact the Rate Setting Unit at (518) 474-3227 for information or assistance.  Attached is a training registration form, and directions to the Western region training session at the NYS School for the Blind at Batavia.  Directions for the other training locations can be accessed via the web links included in the attached chart.

If you have any questions or additional needs, please contact Thomas Hamel or Brian Zawistowski of the Rate Setting Unit at (518) 474-3227.

Attachments
c:   Commissioner Mills, Rebecca Cort, Johanna Duncan-Poitier, Thomas Hamel, Raymond Kesper, Len Simms, Brian Zawistowski

SA-111 Supplemental Training Schedules