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Employee Benefits

Are You Ready to E-file Benefit Information Returns?

Are You Ready to E-file Benefit Information Returns?

Starting January 1 of this year, e-filing requirements under the Taxpayer First Act take effect. Now, employers that file 10 or more returns in total during a calendar year must do so electronically. This includes Affordable Care Act (ACA) filings. Failing to comply can result in significant financial penalties. Under

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Benefit Limits for 2024

Benefit Limits for 2024

Last updated on November 17th, 20232024 limits for certain employer sponsored retirement and welfare plans, as well as the Social Security Wage Base, were released earlier this month. Payroll and plan administration systems should be updated to reflect the new limits. In addition, plan sponsors should communicate the 2024 limits

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SECURE 2.0: Form 5500 Updates

SECURE 2.0: Form 5500 Updates

Earlier this year, the Department of Labor (DOL), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) issued final rules on Form 5500 and Form 5500 Short Form (SF) changes starting for 2023 retirement plan year reports. Changes are part of the final phase of Setting Every Community Up

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ERISA: What to Know & Do as a Benefit Plan Fiduciary

ERISA: What to Know & Do as a Benefit Plan Fiduciary

Last updated on May 30th, 2023If you are a private employer that sponsors an ERISA-covered health and/or retirement plan for employees, it’s a good idea to review your responsibilities – and deadlines – to ensure compliance. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or ERISA is a Federal law

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Navigating the 2024-2025 Budget Season

Navigating the 2024-2025 Budget Season

As if the annual budget season for school administrators and Boards of Education (BOE) isn’t challenging enough, a lack of information about the final New York state budget’s impact on Foundation Aid and the hold harmless (also referred to as save harmless) provision, along with enrollment challenges and the pending
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2024-2025 NYS Regents State Aid Proposal: The Top 10 Line Items for New Funding

2024-2025 NYS Regents State Aid Proposal: The Top 10 Line Items for New Funding

Last updated on February 13th, 2024In December, the New York State Board of Regents unveiled its proposed budget and legislative priorities for 2024-2025. Priorities focus on supporting lifelong learning, academic success, and improved outcomes; advancing equity, excellence, and access; and rebuilding the Department’s ability to support districts, teachers, students, and
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Does Your District’s Cell Phone Policy Go Far Enough?

Does Your District’s Cell Phone Policy Go Far Enough?

It is estimated that 80% of school districts in the U.S. have some type of cell phone policy. Is yours going far enough? We enter 2024 with hundreds of lawsuits filed on behalf of children and school districts against social media behemoths for purportedly fostering addiction among young users of
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Are Your District’s Students (and Families) Eligible for a Monthly Discount on Internet Services?

Are Your District’s Students (and Families) Eligible for a Monthly Discount on Internet Services?

We want to make sure you’re aware of a benefit that may be available to families of students in your district: a monthly discount on Internet services (plus other perks) via the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program. Put simply, anyone whose child is eligible for a free and/or reduced price school
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Teacher Pay Penalty Is Getting Worse

Teacher Pay Penalty Is Getting Worse

Last updated on November 17th, 2023In 2022, public school teachers made 26.4% less than professionals with similar educations, a rate that hasn’t been seen since 1960, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). (Allegretto, Sylvia. “Teacher pay penalty still looms large.” September 29, 2023. https://www.epi.org/publication/teacher-pay-in-2022/#epi-toc-9.) According to
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More School Districts Can Offer Free Meals Starting October 26

More School Districts Can Offer Free Meals Starting October 26

Thanks to an expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) announced in a final rule September 26 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USA), an estimated 3,000 additional school districts with about 5 million students will be eligible to offer free breakfasts and lunches starting October 26. With inflation significantly
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The DOE & DOL Spent the Summer Boosting Teacher Talent Pipeline Efforts

The DOE & DOL Spent the Summer Boosting Teacher Talent Pipeline Efforts

Last updated on September 25th, 2023While students and families across the U.S. enjoyed time off during the summer months, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Labor (DOL) were busy! In late July, they introduced new guidelines for teacher apprenticeships; new investments and funding opportunities; and more. Like
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Grants, Free Resources and Other Support to Stand Up to Cyber Attacks on Schools

Grants, Free Resources and Other Support to Stand Up to Cyber Attacks on Schools

Cybercriminals beware! As we gear up for back to school season, the White House, Federal agencies, companies, and local administrators and educators are teaming up to shore up plans, resources, and protocols to help school districts across the U.S. stand up to cybercrime. A lack of resources and infrastructure have
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Map of Qualified Census Tracts (QCTs)

  • Move map to NY and scroll to zoom in
  • Under Map Options select “Color QCR Qualified Tracts”