Academic Intervention Services (AIS), a support program required by Part I of (Education) Commissioner's Regulations, is required for all general and special education students, as well as ELL (English Language Learners), in grades K-12, who score below level 3 on the elementary or intermediate State assessments, or who score below the designated passing grade high school Regents exams in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.

School districts are encouraged to use Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I, Pupils with Compensatory Education Needs (PCEN), and Educationally Related Support Services (ERS) funding, as well as local tax dollars, to implement AIS.

To identify students for AIS in grades where there are no state assessments, school districts must develop identification procedures that include multiple measures such as results of standardized tests, classroom performance (report card grades and/or student portfolios), diagnostic tests, recommended from teachers, staff, and parents and analysis of prior academic records.

Academic Intervention Services also calls for support services for at-risk students if any of the following present barriers to academic improvement: disciplinary problems, family-related issues, health issues, nutrition issues, and mobility/transfer (migrants) issues.
Contact: Nancy Streeter – (518) 474-5923; nstreete@mail.nysed.gov

Adult Literacy-Education (ALE) provides literacy and English-as-a-Second-Language instruction, life skills instruction and GED preparation, to out-of-school youth ages 16 and older. Three million dollars statewide is awarded to school districts, BOCES, public and private colleges and universities, community-based organizations (CBOs), and libraries. RFP
Contact: Tom Orsini – (518) 474-8940; torsini@mail.nysed.gov

Apprenticeship-Related Supplemental Instruction Program (ARSIP) is the classroom component of apprenticeship training. Content of the program depends on requirements of the particular trade, of which there are over 250 in New York State. Instruction may include math, drafting, or electronics, but it must include first aid and safety training and sexual harassment prevention training. A minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction is required per year. Duration of the program is three to five years. Classes are usually in the evenings, most often at a BOCES or a union's Joint Apprenticeship Training Center. The sponsoring company or union pays a large share of the cost of training. The State contributes $1.8 million a year for the classroom instruction portion. Annually there are approximately 22,100 apprentices-in-training age 18 and over. To be considered for apprenticeship training, a candidate must have attained a high school diploma or GED.
CONTACT: Suzanne Strauss – (518) 474-4809; sstrauss@mail.nysed.gov

Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP), developed cooperatively by NYSDOL and NYSED, is designed for career exploration, not skill training. Three thousand high school students are served statewide through local school district funds. Students select unpaid internships which are connected to classroom study and which may lead to part-time employment.
Contact: Tony Schilling – (518) 474-4486; aschilli@mail.nysed.gov

Cooperative Occupational Program (COOP), for career and technical education students has a classroom and work-based component. Students receive at least minimum wage for work they perform. CO-OP serves 9,000 students statewide through local school levy and Vocational & Applied Technology Education Act (VATEA) funds.
Contact: Tony Schilling – (518) 474-4486; aschilli@mail.nysed.gov

Extended Day/Violence Prevention provides $30.2 million statewide through RFP for schools to collaborate with CBOs to provide programs before and after school and during lunch. The program can be recreational, tutorial, or other, as long as it is designed to improve behavior and academic achievement and reduce the risk of violence.
Contact: John Soja – (518) 486-6090; jsoja@mail.nysed.gov

General Education Work Experience Program (GEWEP) serves 3,200 students statewide. GEWEP is a paid work-based learning program for students not enrolled in a career and technical education program. GEWEP helps students achieve the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Standard 3A (Universal Foundation Skills) learning standards.
Contact: Tony Schilling – (518) 474-4486; aschilli@mail.nysed.gov

Learn & Serve America (LSA) provides $3.2 million statewide by RFP to introduce and encourage service learning into the school curriculum. Schools and BOCES are eligible applicants. The targeted population is grades K-12.
Contact: Stanley S. Hansen, Jr. – (518) 474-3719; shansen2@mail.nysed.gov

Liberty Partnerships Program (LLP) provides $11 million statewide. Another $7 million is contributed by banks and foundations to assist in-school youth, grades 5-12, who are at-risk of dropping out of school. The purpose of Liberty Partnerships is to identify at-risk youth, have them complete high school, go on to post-secondary education and get a job. While at-risk factors do not include economic disadvantage, they do include poor academic performance, poor attendance, behavioral problems, history of suspension, history of drug or other abuse, limited English proficiency, and pregnancy. This is a 12-month program with in school, after-school, before school, Saturday, vacation, and summer components. Post-secondary institutions are funded with partners that must include a school, business or industry, and CBO. An advisory board must be in place with parent and student members. Students are tracked until they graduate high school. Only numbers of students who go on to college or employment are recorded. There is interest in tracking individuals beyond high school.
Contact: Stanley S. Hansen, Jr. – (518) 474-3719; shansen2@mail.nysed.gov

Safe and Drug Free Schools, one of SED's largest programs, provides $24 million to all school districts in the State. CBOs may contract with schools to participate.
Contact: Arlene Sheffield – (518) 486-6090; asheffie@mail.nysed.gov

Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) provides $5 ½ million statewide through the Legislature for students in 7th-12th grades to interest them in the math, science, health and technology-related professions. STEP is targeted to economically disadvantaged youth and to those groups, i.e. African-American, Hispanic, Indian, Alaskan native, who have been historically underrepresented in the professions. STEP funds public or independent colleges that have programs leading to licensure. The institution or consortium applying for the grant must be located in a school district with enrollment that has 20% of the underrepresented population.
Contact: Stanley S. Hansen, Jr. – (518) 474-3719; shansen2@mail.nysed.gov

Tech Prep provides $5 million statewide for open competitive grants to the big five city school districts, BOCES, post-secondary education institutions, and consortia of local school districts. Tech Prep is a 2+2 program, i.e., 11th and 12th grade applied learning in math, science and technology in high school, connected to a 2-year related program in college. An advisory board is mandated with business involvement a recommended partner. The competitive grants have been awarded through 2004. There are 26 implementation and two planning grants at this time. If additional funds become available, more grants will be awarded.
Contact: Bernard McInerny – (518) 474-4157; bmcinern@mail.nysed.gov

Trade and National Skill Standards Programs are for occupational education students and are generally run through BOCES and Local Education Agencies (LEAs). The goal of these programs is to have students achieve the national skill standards for their industry of interest. These programs encourage the apprenticeship model where possible. Apprenticeships are already available in the aviation, automotive, printing, mechanical, and manufacturing industries. VATEA, Perkins and local tax levy funds these programs.
Contact: Alan Silverman – (518) 486-7348; asilverm@mail.nysed.gov

Transition Programs and Services for Youth with Disabilities, as mandated in IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), serve to incrementally prepare students with disabilities to live, learn and earn within the community. The students needs, abilities, preferences and aspirations are critical to transition planning and implementation. Active participation in the process and on-going dialogue among the student, parents, school personnel, and community resources serve to enhance the student's ability to achieve successful long term adult outcomes (post secondary education, vocational training, integrated competitive employment, supported employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation). Transition planning and implementation drives the development of the IEP (Individualized Education Program) from the ages of 14-21 and involves a coordinated set of activities which promotes movement from school to post-school activities. The coordinated set of activities, based on student needs, preferences and interests, includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, if appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.
Contact: Nancy Lauria – (518) 473-4821; nlauria@mail.nysed.gov

Vocational & Applied Technology Education Act (VATEA), for in and out-of-school youth, funds occupational education program activities and tracks individuals through employment retention rates. The focus is on academic intervention services and integration of academics with a career program. With the aid of a business advisory board, this supplemental funding helps students in career education succeed in school and work. Funds are formula-driven.
Contact: Dennis Kagel – (518) 474-4809; dkagel@mail.nysed.gov

Welfare Education Program (WEP) provides $2 million statewide through competitive RFP to school districts and BOCES to serve out-of-school youth ages 16 and older. The intent of this program is to have participants improve basic skills, obtain a GED, master employability skills, and receive job readiness training. WIA reporting requirements will apply to state programs such as WEP. Therefore, participant follow-up will include tracking for “entered employment, pursued further training, and upgraded on the job.”
Contact: Barry Knussman – (518) 474-5808; bknussma@mail.nysed.gov

Work Experience Career Exploration Program (WECEP) serves 1,400 students statewide. It is geared to 14-15 year-old disenfranchised/at-risk students who participate in work experience for academic credit. These students are typically in the lower 25% of their grade academically and may also have attendance problems. WECEP can be a very effective motivational instrument for students.
Contact: Tony Schilling – (518) 474-4486; aschilli@mail.nysed.gov

Youth-at-Risk Community Partnership Program provides $5 million to 103 programs on a continuation basis statewide. The maximum award is $60,000, 60% of which must be spent on services purchased from community agencies, i.e., local Department of Social Services, local mental health, law enforcement, family services, and other providers. The program is targeted to in-school youth ages 5-21. The school district identifies a classroom, grade level, or whole building for prevention or intervention services connected with such challenges as drug and alcohol abuse, suicide prevention, teenage pregnancy, etc. This program is strong on comprehensive guidance and counseling and support services. Although summer employment is not precluded and could become an element of prevention or intervention services, it is not currently a common program feature.
Contact: John Soja – (518) 486-6090; jsoja@mail.nysed.gov