Directs the commissioner of education to conduct an audit regarding instruction in literacy instruction at institutions of higher education that offers a graduate or undergraduate degree or certification program in education or educational administration located within the state.
Relates to observance of all religious holidays by institutions within the state university and the city university of New York; includes the Asian Lunar New Year within the definition of such holidays.
Relates to the registration of new curricula or programs of study offered by a not-for-profit college or university; provides for the procedures to have such curricula or programs of study approved by the department of education.
Requires the state to provide state funds to community colleges for additional operating costs associated with an increase in the state minimum wage; requires the board of trustees of community colleges to report to the state comptroller on an annual basis the amount of such additional operating costs.
Creates city university of New York center for excellence in urban education to enhance the quality of teaching in public schools in NYC; establishes the regents public school teacher loan forgiveness program to allocate awards annually to teachers who agree to teach public school in an area of New York state designated by the board of regents as having a shortage of public school teachers.
Requires the higher education services corporation to make a determination of financial eligibility of a student for financial aid, awards and loans within 60 days from the day of the receipt of the financial aid application; where the higher education services corporation fails to make a timely determination the applicant shall be deemed eligible for such aid for the semester for which the application was made; allows for a 30-day extension if notice is given to the educational institution within the initial 60-day period.
Requires school districts and board of cooperative educational services to pay physical therapists and occupational therapists in alignment with the department's career ladder pathway framework; makes related provisions.
Relates to requiring the use of project labor agreements for large scale construction projects under the state university construction fund; provides exceptions to such requirement; provides that the fund may require every contractor become party to a project labor agreement.
Relates to requiring the commissioner of education to create a competition among SUNY and CUNY schools with prizes going to the schools that produce the most cost-efficient method of reducing CO2 emissions; the top three schools shall receive a cash prize which shall be used to improve environmental programs at the university.