Transportation Reimbursement for March-June 2020 (6-04-21)

Dear NYS Principals and Administrators,

We are pleased to announce that thanks to the advocacy of Agudath Israel and our partners, and especially through the efforts of Assembly Ways and Means Chair Helene Weinstein and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, transportation expenditures incurred in delivering meals, supplies and WiFi access between March 16, 2020 to June 30, 2020 are now reimbursable. Furthermore, expenditures for standby costs incurred between March 16 2020 to May 7, 2020, such as salaries and benefits paid to certain employees, are now reimbursable as well.

Please note: This only applies to schools taking advantage of the transportation reimbursement program.

 For more information and a Q and A, please see here. 

Background: 

On November 6, 2020, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) advised schools that they would not reimburse costs associated with keeping employees or contractors on standby, maintaining infrastructure, or other costs incurred when transportation services were not being provided to students during the period of school closures in Spring 2020, including costs associated with the use of school buses to deliver school meals, homework packets and WiFi access.

After considerable advocacy from Agudah and our partners, the New York State Budget allowed for reimbursement for these costs. As a result of the changes in the 2021-22 enacted budget, school districts will most likely need to revise their 2020-21 SAMS Claim Year (2019-20 school year) submission. All revisions must be submitted in SAMS before June 30, 2021.

For specific questions about SAMS revisions, please contact the State Aid Office by email at [email protected].

For specific questions about aid eligibility, please contact the Pupil Transportation Unit at 518-474-6541 or email [email protected]