Just in from the New York State Education Department…

The Office of the Attorney General has been investigating law firms and lawyers who have improperly characterized themselves as school district and BOCES employees to receive state benefits to which they would not otherwise be entitled. The State Education Department has been working closely with the Office of the Attorney General in this statewide investigation.

Today, Commissioner Richard Mills sent a memorandum to the BOCES District Superintendents advising them of certain findings of the Office of the Attorney General’s investigation and informing them of the actions that the State Education Department intends to take to address issues that have come to light during this investigation.

Attorney General Cuomo said, “I’m pleased to work with the Education Department on this issue. My office’s investigation has revealed long-term, widespread fraud wasting tax dollars all across the State. These practices never should have been allowed to continue for as long as they have, but they end now.”

The Commissioner thanked the BOCES for cooperating in the Attorney General’s investigation and added, “The Regents and Department are committed to doing all we can to ensure the proper use of public funds. The actions I have outlined today will help to do that.”

The Office of the Attorney General and the State Education Department will continue to work together to resolve individual cases of wrongdoing and to propose regulatory and other reforms as needed.