INCREASING COMPENSATION FOR NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW §4410 PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (PSE) PROVIDERS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY

FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES RESOLUTION NO. 2026134 RE: INCREASING COMPENSATION FOR NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW §4410 PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (PSE) PROVIDERS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY Legislators VALDÉS SMITH, ATKINS, MUNN, POLASEK, METZGER, ALEXANDER, ARNOFF, BRENDLI, CASWELL, DRAGO, FAUST, GILES, KAUL, KEARNEY, REDL, RHODES, SHAH and WINSBY offer the following and moves its adoption: WHEREAS, preschool special education related services are essential for young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and other disabilities, providing critical education, therapeutic intervention, and developmental support during the period of greatest brain growth and neuroplasticity; and WHEREAS, timely access to high-quality preschool special education related services enables many children to require fewer specialized educational supports as they progress through school, while improving long-term educational, developmental, and community outcomes; and WHEREAS, there are currently 1,497 children enrolled in Preschool Special Education (PSE) in Dutchess County, with 1,321 children receiving related services and 176 children remaining on a waitlist, representing a need for approximately 246 additional service placements; and WHEREAS, Preschool Special Education related service providers throughout Dutchess County have reported significant challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified professionals due to compensation rates that are not competitive with neighboring counties, resulting in providers seeking employment elsewhere; and WHEREAS, the shortage of qualified providers disproportionately affects children living in the County's highest-poverty communities, creating inequitable access to essential in-person preschool special education services; and WHEREAS, investing in early childhood intervention is an investment in the future of Dutchess County, providing young children with the skills, supports, and opportunities needed to become successful students, engaged community members, and productive citizens; and WHEREAS, increasing compensation for related service providers serving under New York State Education Law §4410 will demonstrate the County's commitment to valuing these highly skilled professionals, improve workforce retention, attract new providers, and expand access to services for all eligible children; and FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES WHEREAS, the Dutchess County Legislature affirms its commitment to ensuring equitable access to timely Preschool Special Education related services for every eligible child by strengthening the provider workforce and reducing service waitlists; and WHEREAS, this increase shall be funded consistent with the existing cost-sharing structure, whereby 59.5% of provider reimbursement is funded by New York State and the remaining share is funded by Dutchess County; and WHEREAS, by investing in the professionals who serve our youngest residents, Dutchess County and New York State reaffirm that early intervention is essential to building stronger families, stronger schools, and a stronger community for generations to come; and WHEREAS, additional funding from budgeted general contingency is required due to this necessary increase in compensation for the Preschool Special Education related service providers; and WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2026 Adopted County Budget to provide funds to meet the County’s obligations and expenses; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Dutchess County Legislature hereby increases the reimbursement rate effective July 1, 2026 for providers of Preschool Special Education Related Services under New York State Education Law § 4410(9)(c ) and 4410(1)(j) by Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per service, subject to approval of the NYS Commissioner of Education; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the reimbursement increase shall be implemented with annual analysis and reporting following each school year to evaluate whether the increased compensation is improving provider recruitment and retention, reducing service waitlists, and advancing equitable access to Preschool Special Education services throughout Dutchess County; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that §4410 contract agencies shall submit invoices for services to the Health Department within 90 days of service delivery to ensure funds can be appropriated properly and efficiently. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Finance is authorized, empowered and directed to amend the 2026 Adopted County Budget as follows: APPROPRIATIONS Increase A.4046.33.4480.89 Related Services $526,690 A.1990.4007 General Contingency -$213,309 FAMILY & HUMAN SERVICES REVENUES Increase A.4046.33.34460.01 Handicpd Child Education Services $313,381 APPROVED Date tuf. 21, 2026 STATE OF VEIT YORK ss: COUNTY OF DUTCHESS This is to certify that I, the undersigned Clerk of the Legislature of the Countr of Dutchess, hare compared the foregoing Resolution with the original Resolution now on file in the office of said Clerk, and which was adopted br said Legislature on the 10th dar of August 2026, and the same a true and correct transcapt of said original Resolution and the whole thereof IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set mr hand and seal of said Legislature this 11th day JULIE HIROISHI, CLERK OF THE LEGISLATURE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT NO FISCAL IMPACT PROJECTED Total Current Year Cost $ APPROPRIATION RESOLUTIONS (To be completed by requesting department) Total Current Year Revenue $ and Source Source of County Funds (check one): Existing Appropriations, Contingency, Transfer of Existing Appropriations, Additional Appropriations, Other (explain): Identify Line Items: Related Expenses: Amount $ Nature / Reason: Anticipated Savings to County: Net County Cost (this year): Over Five Years: Are there any costs associated with this resolution that impact any municipality within Dutchess County? No Yes (If Yes- Please Explain): Additional Comments/Explanation: Prepared by: Prepared On: Family and Human Services Committee Roll Call District Name District 16 - Fishkill and Beacon Valdés Smith* District 9- City of Poughkepsie Atkins Atkins* District 20 - Red Hook, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck Munn* District 3 - LaGrange Polasek* District 12 - East Fishkill Metzger* District 2 - LaGrange, Pleasant Valley & Town of Poughkeepsie Arnoff (C) District 19 - North East, Stanford, Pine Plains, Milan & Red Hook Drago District 24 - Dover and Pawling House District 6 - Town of Poughkeepsie Kaul (VC) District 17 - Town and Village of Fishkill McHoul District 5 - Town of Poughkeepsie Shah District 14 - Wappinger and Town of Poughkeepsie Winsby Present: Absent: Vacant: 12 Resolution: Motion: Total : Yes X X X X X X X 12 Yes Abstentions: No No 2026134 INCREASING COMPENSATION FOR NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW $4410 PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (PSE) PROVIDERS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY Roll Call Sheets District Last Name YES NO District 16 - Fishkill and Beacon Valdés Smith District 9 - City of Poughkeepsie Atkins District 20 - Red Hook, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck Munn District 3 - LaGrange Polasek District 12 - East Fishkill Metzger District 1 - Town of Poughkeepsie Redl District 2 - LaGrange, Pleasant Valley & Town of Poughkeepsie Arnoff District 4 - Hyde Park and Town of Poughkeepsie Lawler District 5 - Town of Poughkeepsie Shah District 6 - Town of Poughkeepsie Kaul District 7 - Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley Darrow District 8 - City and Town of Poughkeepsie Brendli District 10 - City of Poughkeepsie Johnson District 11 - Clinton, Pleasant Valley, and Rhinebeck Kearney District 13 - East Fishkill and Wappinger Giles District 14 - Wappinger and Town of Poughkeepsie Winsby District 15 - Wappinger Faust District 17 - Town and Village of Fishkill McHoul District 18 - City of Beacon and Fishkill Rhodes District 19 - North East, Stanford, Pine Plains, Milan & Red Hook Drago District 21 - East Fishkill Caswell District 22 - Beekman and Union Vale Tresca District 23 - Pawling, Beekman and East Fishkill Rolison District 24 - Dover and Pawling House District 25 - Amenia, Washington, Pleasant Valley & Millbrook Alexander X X X X X X X ABSTAINING X X X X ABSENT X X X X X X ABSENT X X X X X 23 Present: ____ 2 Absent: ____ Vacant: ____ Resolution: ____ Motion: ____ 22 0 Total : ______ ______ Yes No 1 Abstentions: ____ 2026134 INCREASING COMPENSATION FOR NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION LAW §4410 PRESCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION (PSE) PROVIDERS IN DUTCHESS COUNTY