Following up on the statement Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia issued on August 23, 2018, attached is a memo that went out to all school districts yesterday affirming the rights of all students in New York State to attend school in a safe and secure environment that is free of weapons. The New York State Education Department will not allow local educational agencies to use Title IV, Part A funds – or any other federal or state funds – for the purposes of purchasing, storing, or training school staff in the use of firearms under any  circumstances. As the memo states, there is no place in our schools for weapons, no matter the intentions.