Welcome to the STAC Unit
STAC, within the NYS Education Department's STAC and Medicaid Unit, is responsible for processing requests for Commissioner's approval for reimbursement. This includes reimbursement approval for the costs of providing services to preschool and school-age students placed in special education programs. It also includes reimbursement approval for students who have been determined to be homeless or runaway youth and for education services provided to incarcerated youth.
Latest News
07-21-2014
All Summer 2014 private provider approvals will require that 2014-15 DCERTs be added to the STAC Online system prior to adding private provider reimbursement approvals (unlike Summer 2013 STAC processing).
A certification (DCERT) must be completed on an annual basis for ALL school age private placements (both 2-month and 10-month). One annual certification covers BOTH summer (2-month) and school year (10-month) private placements if the placement type remains the same for both periods. Please note, DCERTs are not required for Summer Related Services/Specialized Instruction reimbursement approvals.
Below is a link to the Field Advisory Memorandum from the Office of Special Education:
Private Placement Certification Field Advisory Memo
Below is a link to the updated "Guide to Online Entry of Private Placement Certifications":
07-02-2014
Gold Star - Online Verification Status Report
(Updated July 1, 2014 -- Next Update August 5, 2014)
07-02-2014
All Summer 2014 private provider approvals will require that 2014-15 DCERTs be added to the STAC Online system prior to adding private provider reimbursement approvals (unlike Summer 2013 STAC processing).
A certification (DCERT) must be completed on an annual basis for ALL school age private placements (both 2-month and 10-month). One annual certification covers BOTH summer (2-month) and school year (10-month) private placements if the placement type remains the same for both periods. Please note, DCERTs are not required for Summer Related Services/Specialized Instruction reimbursement approvals.
Below is a link to the Field Advisory Memorandum from the Office of Special Education:
Private Placement Certification Field Advisory Memo
Below is a link to the updated "Guide to Online Entry of Private Placement Certifications":
Private Placement Certification Guide
06-26-2014
Preschool Summary File Layout Updated - "YN-Provider-Evaluator" Field
Authorized Municipality Representatives - §4410 of Education Law:
Effective with the 2014-15 year, preschool service approval requests for a center-based class, special class in an integrated setting (SCIS), and special education itinerant teacher (SIET) services must include an answer to the question "Is this the same provider that conducted the most recent evaluation for this student?" More information regarding this change is available here.
The Preschool Summary File layout has been updated to include this additional data element. The Yes/No field "YN-Provider-Evaluator" contains one character, and is located in position 243. The file length was previously 242 characters. A description of the file layout is available here. Effective July 6, 2014 all weekly Preschool Summary Files placed in county outbaskets will be in this updated format.
For additional information please contact Ed Waaler in the STAC and Medicaid Unit at 518-474-7116.
06-05-2014
Beginning July 1, 2014, districts may add missing or replace existing 2013-14 school-age 10-month private placement certifications (DCERT) until September 30, 2014, as appropriate. Districts may also add or amend existing 2013-14 10-month school-age private placement approval requests (DSPRV) with the actual start date of service, regardless of the date of an existing 2013-14 DCERT, until September 30, 2014. After September 30, 2014, no 2013-14 DCERTs may be added. Reimbursement for any DSPRV added or amended after September 30, 2014 will be limited to the date of the existing certification (DCERT).
A new joint memorandum from the Office of Special Education and STAC/Medicaid Unit with additional information regarding State reimbursement for students with disabilities in approved private schools is now available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/decert-stac-june2014.htm.
06-04-2014
Some users have been getting a SecurityException error that references an "unsigned entry in resource" when they attempt to log onto EFRT. This is caused by an outdated JAR file on the computer.
If you are trying to log onto EFRT and are receiving this error, please follow
the instructions in the PDF linked below:
EFRT Troubleshooting #9: SecurityException
(Found unsigned entry in resource)
06-03-2014
DCERT Requirement for Summer 2014 Private Provider Reimbursement Approvals
A certification (DCERT) must be completed on an annual basis for ALL school age private placements (both 2-month and 10-month). One annual certification covers BOTH summer (2-month) and school year (10-month) private placements if the placement type remains the same for both periods. Unlike Summer 2013 STAC processing, all Summer 2014 private provider approvals will require that 2014-15 DCERTs be added to the STAC Online system prior to adding private provider reimbursement approvals. Please note, DCERTs are not required for Summer Related Services/Specialized Instruction reimbursement approvals.
Below is a link to the Field Advisory Memorandum from the Office of Special Education:
Private Placement Certification Field Advisory Memo
Below is a link to the updated "Guide to Online Entry of Private Placement Certifications":
Private Placement Certification Guide
05-22-2014
Reporting Whether Preschool Program Operator Also Evaluated
Student Placed in Program
Regulations effective April 17, 2014 require the CPSE to submit written notice specifying whether a preschool student has been placed in a program operated by the same provider agency that conducted the most recent evaluation of the student, along with assurance that the placement is appropriate. This policy does not apply to related service placements. Further information on the regulation is available here.
The CPSE written notice is made via the Preschool STAC-1 form submitted to the county, and applies to all CPSE meetings held on or after April 17, 2014 . Please review the May 16, 2014 letter to CPSEs and Counties, posted on the Preschool Correspondence Page, for details.
The STAC Online System DSPRE (special class and SCIS) and DSSEI (SEIT) reimbursement approval request screens have been updated to enable counties to submit the CPSE report on whether the service provider also conducted the most recent evaluation. DSPRE and DSSEI Reimbursement approval requests may now be submitted for the 2014-15 school year.
Updated specifications for layout of data files submitted via the FTP process are available here. The file layout has been revised to use position 84 to report if the provider also conducted the most recent evaluation. Details on the new SRV-TR-YN-EVALPROV field are available on the Center-based and SEIT pages.
Please contact Jim DeMeo or Ed Waaler of the STAC Unit at 518-474-7116 with any questions.
05-21-2014
Revised-HIGH COST STUDENT DATA REPORT FOR STUDENTS W/ 10-MONTH EDUCATION RATES OF $94,999+
This form should be submitted with the High Cost STAC-3 Amendment Report (HCSAR) when the student’s name appears on the HCSAR and the 10-month annualized education rate exceeds $94,999. The 10-month annualized education rate can include costs for services from a school district, another school district, or multiple providers (which could also include a combination of district, BOCES, or outside related services providers).
Districts should not complete this form if all the services were provided by BOCES.
Districts should not complete this form until the program has been completed and the actual costs have been determined.
If you have any questions, please contact the STAC, Special Aids & Medicaid Unit and ask for Anne Wolfgang or Edwin Truax at 518-474-7116
05-20-2014
Below is a link to a Homeless STAC status report, which displays, by district, the number of 2012-13 Homeless reimbursement approvals currently on the STAC Online system. Although the 2011-12 year is closed for Homeless processing, the 2011-12 information has been included for comparison sake. This report and the Homeless Eligibility List screen (DQHOM) can be used to identify those Homeless STAC reimbursement approvals which still need to be entered for the 2012-13 year. Please utilize the Homeless Verification Screen (DVHOM) to verify all 2012-13 Homeless approvals by June 30, 2014.
05-19-2014
Counties were recently sent a reminder of the annual process
of collecting preschool signature authorizations from their school districts.
District signature authorizations allow the county to electronically transmit
preschool information to the STAC, Special Aids and Medicaid Unit. The letter
to Authorized Municipality Representatives and a sample signature authorization
are available on the Preschool Correspondence page.
05-08-2014
Below is a link to the memorandum regarding upcoming June 30, 2014 STAC Deadlines. June 30, 2014 STAC Deadline Memo 
(61 kb)
04-30-2014
Consultant Access to STAC Online System
SED’s Office of Counsel has cleared the STAC Unit to issue unique user codes and passwords to an educational entity for all consultants whose contractual agreements grant them access rights to the STAC Online System. Going forward, all educational entities will need to request STAC access for all qualifying private and BOCES consultants, including staff obtained via a COSER.
Responses must be signed and returned to the STAC Unit by June 1, 2014.
Below are links to the documents that were recently mailed to all district superintendents and county/municipality representatives:
Letter, Consultant Status Report, and Request Form for Consultant Access to the STAC Online System
04-22-2014
2014-15 Reapplications for both Summer and School Year placements are now available on the STAC Online System (2-Month Summer Reapplications- DRSUM screen; 10-Month Private Reapplications- DRPRV screen; and 10-Month Public Reapplications-DRPUB screen).
REMINDER: DCERTS ARE REQUIRED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR ALL 10-MONTH PRIVATE EXCESS COST STAC APPROVALS AND ALL JULY/AUGUST PRIVATE PROVIDER STAC APPROVALS (including both 10 month and 2 month private provider reapplications).
In order to obtain a timely determination of approval of State reimbursement, the preapproval Certification must have a “Certification Date” stamp not later than six business days of the student’s start date in the program. If the school district fails to submit a timely application, State reimbursement will commence on the “Certification Date” as determined by NYSED’s STAC Online System.
04-09-2014
Below are links to the memorandum and instruction guide regarding the 2014-15 Program Service Dates. Providers must use their assigned STAC Usercode to access their program information online and, if necessary, correct their program dates by June 13, 2014.
04-09-2014
Online Verification Deadline for State-supported School Placements
Starting with the September - December 2013 period, school districts must
verify STAC records for students enrolled at §4201 State-supported schools
using the new DVSSY screen on the STAC Online System. Online verification
must be completed by June 1, 2014 to receive reimbursement during the
current school year.
Click here for a list of the eleven State-supported schools across the State of New York.
This new verification process does not apply to the two State-operated schools
located in Rome and Batavia. Instructions for verification using the new DVSSY
screen are available at the link below:
State-supported Placement Online Verification Guide
If you have any questions, please contact Adam Lenhardt in the STAC Unit.
04-08-2014
The Preschool STAC-1 form has been revised to include written notice on whether
the CPSE recommended service provider for special class, special class in an
integrated setting or special education itinerant services is the same provider
that conducted the most recent evaluation for the student.
Preschool STAC-1 (94 kb)
Updates to the STAC Online System and FTP file layout for electronic submission are in development and will be available shortly.
At their March 2014 meeting, the Board of Regents approved, through emergency action, an amendment to sections 200.16(c) and 200.20(b) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education to conform to section 4410 of Education Law, as amended by Chapter 545 of the Laws of 2013. More information on the amendment is available here.
While these regulations become effective April 17, 2014, they are also available for public comment prior to permanent adoption. Information on submitting public comment can be found here.
03-31-2014
Closeout of 2010-11 Preschool Claims
Counties are reminded that the final Automated Verification Listings (AVLs) for
claiming of approved 2010-11 preschool service and evaluations will be issued in
mid-May. This will allow time for counties to process and submit reimbursement
requests by the statutory deadline of June 30, 2014. Approval requests should be
submitted to the STAC Unit as soon as possible.
Closeout of 2010-11
Preschool Claims per the Statute of Limitations (67 kb)
03-17-2014
2014-15 Private Placement Certification Screen (DCERT) is now open for processing.
Reminders: A certification must be completed on an annual basis for ALL school age private placements (both 2-month and 10-month). One annual certification covers BOTH summer (2-month) and school year (10-month) private placements if the placement type remains the same for both periods. Unlike 2013-14 summer STAC processing, certifications (DCERTs) are now required for all summer private placements.
Below is a link to the Field Advisory Memorandum from the Office of Special Education:
Private Placement Certification Field Advisory Memo
Below is a link to the updated "Guide to Online Entry of Private Placement Certifications":
Private Placement Certification Guide
03-12-2014
The 2014-15 schedule for Preschool 4410 AVLs (Automated Voucher Listings)
has been posted on the Preschool AVL page.
AVL Schedule April 2014 - March 2015 (26 kb)
03-12-2014
Summer 4408, Summer Chapter, & Homeless APRs-Student Detail
Summer 4408, Summer Chapter, and Homeless Approved Payment Reports (APR) with Student Detail are now available on the STAC Online DQPAY screen. Please reference the pay period(s) as indicated on the table below. If no information appears for a specified pay number, your district did not receive payment for that period. The paper APRs will be mailed shortly. Please note, the STAC Unit is not certain if there will be enough money at this time for a 2013 4408 Summer transportation payment. If this payment is run, the percent will be 56% or less.
4408 Summer, Summer Chapter, and Homeless DQPAY Table
02-26-2014
2014-15 Reapplication Reminder
The 2014-15 reapplications will be available to the field by mid to late March 2014. In order for districts to fully utilize this reapplication process, the STAC Unit encourages districts to review all 2013-14 service approvals currently on the STAC online system. If necessary, districts should add any outstanding 2013-14 service approvals as soon as possible.
02-18-2014
- To be included in the February Approved Payment Reports, which will be paid prior to the end of March 2014, please verify online the following education/maintenance and transportation reimbursement approvals as soon as possible: Type Year Verification Screen Name
Educ/Main Trans
4408 Summer 2012-13 DVSUM DVSTR
4408 Summer 2013-14 DVSUM DVSTR
4201 Summer 2012-13 DVST3
4201 Summer 2013-14 DVST3
01-31-2014
The 2011-12 SY Reconciliation Per Pupil Charges and 2013-14 SY Prospective Per Pupil Charges
for students enrolled at the §4201 State-Supported Schools have been posted.
Per Pupil Tuition Charges of the §4201 State-Supported Schools
01-27-2014
Attention-School District Homeless Liaisons
New Homeless Eligibility (DQHOM) screen-The DQHOM screen replaces the Homeless Eligibility reports that were mailed by the STAC Unit to Designated Districts of Attendance several times a year. The DQHOM screen will assist Designated Districts of Attendance in identifying those students who may be eligible for Homeless reimbursement and may need to be STACed on the DSHOM-"Non-Resident Homeless Approval" screen.
Designated Districts of Attendance can "inquire" on a selected school year to determine which students are eligible for Homeless reimbursement. This screen will then display for the Designated District of Attendance a listing of all students who are eligible for Homeless reimbursement for any part of the selected year and those students who have an open 202 from the prior year.
01-23-2014
Online Verification Reminder- To be included in the February Approved Payment Reports, which will be paid prior to the end of March 2014, please verify online the following education/maintenance and transportation reimbursement approvals by February 3, 2014: Type Year Verification Screen Name
Educ/Main Trans
4408 Summer 2010-11 DVSUM DVSTR
4408 Summer 2011-12 DVSUM DVSTR
4408 Summer 2012-13 DVSUM DVSTR
4408 Summer 2013-14 DVSUM DVSTR
4201 Summer 2010-11 DVST3
4201 Summer 2011-12 DVST3
4201 Summer 2012-13 DVST3
4201 Summer 2013-14 DVST3
Homeless 2012-13 DVHOM
Incarcerated
Youth 2013-14 DVINC
01-21-2014
The most recent version of the JAVA Plug-In automatically assumes that untrusted applications should
be blocked. Your security settings for Java might need to be updated in order to access EFRT with Java 7u51.
If you are trying to log onto EFRT and are receiving security error(s) after upgrading your Java, please follow
the instructions in the PDF linked below:
STAC Online System - EFRT Troubleshooting #8:
Java 7u51 blocks EFRT from Running
01-21-2014
School Age Summer Related Services Verification- Beginning with the summer of 2012-13, districts will be required to enter the cost of operating their 9015 summer related services programs. This operating cost should be entered in the box labeled "District-Operated 9015 Program-Education Costs Only" located on the Summer Related Services Verification Screen (DVSRL).
To determine this cost, districts should include the salaries and fringe benefits for in-district program 9015 teachers and related service providers plus the invoiced cost for outside contractors. These costs may only be claimed for the lesser of actual services provided or the level of services (group/individual) stipulated on the IEP.
Costs are to be included for the following district approved programs:
9015 A Related Services Only
9015 B Specially Designed Instruction
9015 C Specially Designed Instruction with Related Services
9015 D Home/Hospital Instruction
The following costs are not allowed and CANNOT be included in the district's 9015 program cost calculations: overhead expenses; equipment costs; and 1:1 aide costs.
Aid payments will not be completed for summers 2012-13 or subsequent summers until the STAC Unit's reconciliation has been completed and the operating costs have been entered by the districts on the DVSRL screen.
The STAC Unit is currently reviewing the claims for the 9015 programs for summers of 2010-11 and 2011-12. Although not mandatory, to expedite review and payment for these two summers, the STAC Unit encourages districts to enter the "District-Operated 9015 Program-Education Costs Only" for the summers of 2010-11 and 2011-12 as well.
01-17-2014
The STAC Unit has made a recent update to the Private Placement Certification screen
(DCERT). The newly added field is "Change of CSE Responsibility". This field is only to be
used when a student transfers into a district and continues with the same educational
provider. The date entered in this field becomes the effective date of the certification.
This "Change of CSE Responsibility" field allows the districts time to hold their CSE
meetings and complete their DCERTS in a timely fashion without adversely impacting
reimbursement.
01-03-2014
Notice to counties regarding closeout of 2010-11 Preschool Claims has been
posted on the STAC Unit Preschool Policy page.
Closeout of 2010-11 Preschool
Claims per the Statute of Limitations (67 kb)
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