Smart Schools Bond Act: Educational Management : P-12 : NYSED

Smart Schools

Best Practices In Business Operations Of
Public School Districts - ASBO New York

Smart Schools

The Smart Schools Bond Act was passed in the 2014-15 Enacted Budget and approved by the voters in a statewide referendum held during the 2014 General Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. The Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) authorized the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure to improve learning and opportunity for students throughout the State.

The Act requires that each Smart Schools Investment Plan (SSIP) be thoroughly reviewed and approved by SED (updated 4/2025) prior to a district bidding, contracting or expending any SSBA funds. Not doing so will result in such costs not being eligible for reimbursement with SSBA funds.

UPDATE 4/20/2024: To expedite future approval of Smart Schools Investment Plans, the Executive Budget shifts responsibility for plan approvals from the Smart Schools Review Board to an administrative process overseen by SED.

NOTE: Each school or district must comply with all of the Assurances listed below. Further, the district or school must maintain for audit purposes a detailed accounting of expenditures, supported by invoices, bills or purchase orders. SED is not currently approving plans that include facial recognition technology or other similar self-learning analytic software. Prior to approval, all districts with any expenditures in High-Tech Security are required to submit an updated Statement of Assurances and confirmation that there is no facial recognition or similar technology included in the plan.

Latest Information

10/04/24 - SSIP Status Update UPDATED
3/7/23 - Smart Schools Bond Act Guidance NEW
3/14/23 - Updated FAQs NEW
Districts and Special Education Schools schools approved on 3/5/24.
Districts' Approved SSIPs and related documents UPDATED
We are pleased to announce that the revised SSIP application is now available on the Business Portal. The new form includes certain transportable items under School Connectivity in the calculation of the nonpublic loan amount, as required by statute. Please carefully review the guidance on completing the form and the presentation on the changes in the new form below. Thank you for your patience as we implement this new requirement.
SSBA Eligible Costs by Category, Subcategory and Item
Eligible districts' additional per-pupil and total allocation amount for the $25M supplemental nonpublic loan program are now available for districts that have been approved to date. As other plans that meet the statutory criteria are approved, the listing will be updated. The reimbursement system has been updated to reflect these totals with a separate Nonpublic Category 25 Million.
The SSBA Reimbursement System is now open on the Business Portal for eligible districts to begin claiming the supplemental nonpublic loan amount that will be reimbursed from an additional $25M state appropriation. Districts should contact the nonpublic schools located in their districts and begin accepting requests for eligible loanable items as soon as possible. Districts must complete a short form detailing this outreach and results on the Business Portal prior to filing a reimbursement claim.

Letter to the Superintendent of Schools

List of school district allocations

Statement of Assurances for the Smart Schools Bond Act NEW UPDATED 6/14/23

Smart Schools Investment Plan Process

SSIP Application

Entitling Users to the SSIP on the Business Portal

SEDDAS Guidance: https://p12.nysed.gov/seddas/seddas-complete-user-guide.pdf

A printable version of the SSIP application is now available.

SSBA List of SUNY Educator Preparation Program Contacts Updated 8/10/22

SSBA List of CUNY Educator Preparation Program Contacts Updated 8/10/22

A presentation on accessing the SSIP through the Business Portal

Steps to complete the SSIP through the Business Portal

Connectivity Speed Waiver Form on the Business Portal

District SSIP Completion Flow Chart

Guidance and FAQs

The FAQs are also available when viewing the SSIP in the Business Portal. Please choose the "Help" button on the top of your screen to view.

Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) Guidance

Smart Schools Bond Act (SSBA) FAQ

Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014 Statute

Common Issues in the Review of Smart Schools Investment Plans

Directions on filing an amendment to an approved SSIP UPDATED

SUNY/CUNY Requirement Information

Reimbursement System Guidance and FAQs

SSBA Accounting Guidance FAQ

SSBA Hardware, Software, License and Fees Policy.

Smart Schools Bond Act and E-Rate Leveraging Possibilities

Links to Federal and State contracts for Classroom Educational Technology devices.

Inclusion of Nonpublic Schools

2014-15 Nonpublic District of Attendance Enrollment Record

Information Regarding Inclusion of Nonpublic Schools

Special Education Information

SSIP Application

SSBA Special Education School Allocations

Implementation Guidance for Smart Schools Bond Act appropriations for NYS-approved in-State Day and Residential Schools serving students with disabilities UPDATED

A printable version of the Special Education SSIP application is now available.

Please refer to the Smart Schools Investment Plan Process section above for instructions on accessing the system, if needed. If you have any questions, please send an email to: smartschools@nysed.gov and we will assist you.

Presentations

11/16/17 School Business Management Workshop on the Smart Schools Bond Act - Accounting, Reimbursement and Reporting

10/27/15 Presentation to BOCES Partners on the Smart Schools Bond Act

5/26/16 Presentation to BOCES Partners and School District Representatives on High-Tech Security under SSBA

6/13/16 Education Summit & Expo

Program Offices

Office of Facilities Planning SSBA Information

Office of Educational Design and Technology

If you have questions about the SSBA, please contact us at: Smartschools@nysed.gov

The Smart School Bond Act Team can be reached by phone at (518) 474-3927.

Last Updated: October 4, 2024