Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union on the various education items on state lawmakers' agenda during the upcoming legislative session. With billions of dollars at stake, the items will likely be taken up during the budget process or in the weeks that immediately follow. On the subject of education funding, the Democrat-controlled Senate and Assembly are expected to ask for a significant boost in state education funding. They will present a phase-in plan to repay school districts money owed under the state's Foundation Aid formula, which funds New York's 732 school districts. Lawmakers will also consider updating the formula itself. On student discipline, recent studies have confirmed that black and Latino students in kindergarten through the 12th grade are far more likely than their white peers to be suspended. Advocates and educators argue that discipline that keeps children out of school is counterproductive. A bill sponsored by Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, a Brooklyn Democrat, eliminates suspensions for minor infractions like being late to class, cursing or so-called insubordination in all grades, limiting long- term suspensions from 180 days to 20 days, and prohibiting suspensions before fourth grade. And Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week announced he will seek to codify his executive order prohibiting the sales of flavored e-cigarettes, and cracking down on vape ads that target young people. Over concerns about student privacy, lawmakers have introduced several bills concerning the use of student data. Ambiguous laws on how the information can be stored and shared have made schools vulnerable to hackers and extortionists. Other pending one-house bills include state guidelines for the use of AI-driven tech to surveil students and secure school property. Another measure would study delaying start times in middle and high schools, and another that would make abortion pills available at SUNY schools. Read the full story in the Times Union.