Lawmakers have begun their work on the 2018-19 State Budget and several very important program areas are at stake for Catholic schools:

• Tuition Assistance: 529 Plans were recently expanded to help families pay tuition for grades K-12. However, the state may require you to not only pay back the tax on the amount you previously deducted, but you may also have to pay state income tax on any earnings. We must ensure that you are not penalized when taking advantage of the expanded 529 Plans and that you can obtain the full tax benefits of 529 accounts for K-12 tuition that are available to families for college tuition.  

• Mandated Services Aid: Despite the support of legislators last year to restore the "instructional time" formula upon which our schools receive mandated services reimbursement, Governor Cuomo vetoed the measure. Unless this formula is restored, many of our schools will suffer a cut in their state funding. 

• Various Support Services: Lawmakers are considering changes in multiple programs including Pre-K; afterschool programs; transportation; health, safety & security; and STEM. We need to ensure that Catholic schools continue to benefit from these programs.

Knowing that lawmakers will provide an increase in support to public schools and charter schools, we need your help to ensure that our schools and families not only receive the support to which they are entitled, but that we receive our fair share of increased support in current and new educational programs. Please send the editable pre-written message provided. Your correct representatives will be selected automatically based on your address.

Please visit this link to see what you can do!