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Advocates warn proposed cuts to STEP, CSTEP and Liberty Partnerships would force program eliminations and threaten health/ STEM pipelines
Summary
Program directors for STEP, C STEP and Liberty Partnerships told the committees the FY26 executive budget proposal reduces funding and risks eliminating projects at the start of a new five‑year funding cycle; they urged restoration of the cut and a 20% increase to maintain the statewide network of pipeline programs.
Directors and advocates for New York—s STEP, C STEP and Liberty Partnership pipeline programs told lawmakers that the FY26 executive budget—s cuts risk shutting projects when the state is about to enter a new five‑year funding cycle. Those programs, aimed at preparing economically disadvantaged secondary and postsecondary students for careers in STEM, health professions and licensed fields, operate as a network of projects embedded at high schools, colleges and community organizations across the state.
Scale and role: Witnesses noted 118 STEP/C STEP projects statewide and more than 18,000 students served by Liberty Partnerships in 2024. They said the programs are often the only statewide network dedicated specifically to preparing underrepresented secondary and undergraduate students for high‑demand careers and that elimination of projects would reduce the state—s workforce pipeline and educational equity.
Budgetary request: Program administrators requested that the legislature restore a roughly $1.6 million executive‑budget cut to STEP/C STEP and add a 20% increase so that the full network can be funded for the next five‑year cycle. They warned that cuts now will be felt for years because project awards are multi‑year and the application cycle is about to begin.
Why it matters: STEP and C STEP are the state—s primary directed pipeline programs for STEM, health and licensed professions. Several witnesses said the programs deliver measurable results in recruitment, persistence and degree completion for underrepresented learners and urged the legislature to sustain expansion rather than contract the network.
