Meeting of the Board of Regents | December 2009

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

TO:
FROM:	Frank Muñoz
SUBJECT:	Report of the Committee on the Professions Regarding Licensing Petitions
DATE:	December 1, 2009
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

Summary

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

Should the Regents approve the recommendations of the Committee on the Professions pertaining to licensing petitions as listed on the attachment?

Proposed Handling

This question will come before the full board at its December 2009 meeting where it will be voted on and action taken. 

Procedural History

Section 6506(5) of the Education Law and Section 24.7 of the Rules of the Board of Regents authorize the Regents to waive education, experience and examination requirements for a professional license as well as to confer the degree Doctor of Medicine.

Background Information

There are 5 licensing petitions and 16 requests for the conferral of the degree Doctor of Medicine for review and approval.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Regents approve the recommendations of the Committee on the Professions regarding licensing petitions.

Timetable for Implementation

Approval of the Committee on the Professions’ recommendations will be effective December 15, 2009.

Cases Presented to Board of Regents on:  December 15, 2009                                                                                 SUMMARY REPORT
PROFESSION	EDUCATION			EXAMINATION		Experience	Confer Degree Doctor of Medicine	Three-Year Limited License
	Pre-Professional	Professional	Post-Graduate	Proficiency	Licensing
Certified Public Accountancy					09-13-07
Dentistry								09-10-59
Medicine							09-148-60C to 09-163-60C
Podiatry					09-01-65
Veterinary Medicine					09-09-75
Clinical Laboratory Technology					09-01-92
OTHER:						Total for fiscal year to date:           180 Total for calendar year to date:      225

 

 

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY

09-13-07

Bhumika Patel

Garden City Park, NY 11040

(St. John’s University, Queens, New York, Master of Business Administration in Public Accounting (150-hour licensure qualifying program), January 31, 2007)

Petition for: Acceptance of passing grades on the Uniform Certified Public Accountancy (CPA) Examination.

Statement of Problem: Bhumika Patel, an applicant for licensure as a CPA, recently passed the four parts of the Uniform CPA Examination. However, she exceeded the 18-month conditioning requirement by one month. 

Ms. Patel sat for and passed the Regulation (REG) section of the Examination in November 2007.  She needed to pass the remaining three sections by June 30, 2009 to retain credit for the REG section.  She passed Auditing and Attestation (AUD) in February 2008 and the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section in May 2008, both within the 18-month conditioning period. She attempted, but failed the remaining Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) section three times within the conditioning period.  She made a final attempt and passed the FAR section in July 2009, one month after she lost credit for REG. 

Ms. Patel’s efforts to prepare for and pass the FAR section were interrupted by an immediate family member’s medical condition, documented by the attending physician, as well as a family tragedy.

Based on the medical documentation and her continued efforts to pass the FAR section, the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Public Accountancy supports Ms. Patel’s petition to waive the 18-month requirement to pass all four parts of the Uniform CPA Examination.

             

APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS:	QUALIFICATIONS:
Section 7404 of Education Law and Part 70 of the Commissioner’s Regulations require:
(1) A bachelor’s or higher degree based on a program in accountancy.	(1) St. John’s University, Master of Business Administration in Public Accounting, January 31, 2007.
(2) Passing scores on the Uniform CPA Examination.	(2) (a) November 2007: Regulation (passing score). (b) February 2008: Auditing and Attestation (passing score). (c) May 2008: Business Environment and Concepts (passing score). (d) February and May 2009: Financial Accounting and Reporting (failing scores).  (e) July 2009: Financial Accounting and Reporting (passing score).
(3) One year of satisfactory experience.	(3)

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee on the Professions, in concurrence with the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Public Accountancy, recommends that the applicant’s petition for acceptance of passing grades on the Uniform CPA Examination be accepted.

 

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

09 -01-65

Abraham Charles Yale

Fairfield, CT  06824

(Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, 1980)

Petition for:  Waiver of New York State requirements pertaining to clinical licensing examinations for licensure.

Statement of Problem:  Dr. Yale has not demonstrated passing scores on a satisfactory clinical skills examination, as required in Commissioner’s Regulations. He has not taken Part III of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiner examinations, formerly the Podiatric Medical Licensure Examination for States (PMLexis), the clinical skills examination of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) offered since 1991. 

Dr. Yale was licensed in Connecticut on July 30, 1981 by endorsement and has practiced in that state since licensure.  At the time Dr. Yale was licensed in Connecticut, there was no requirement in that state for applicants to pass a practical examination or successfully complete a similar measure of clinical skills competency.  Based on his licensure and good standing in Connecticut and over 20 years of licensed practice, the Executive Secretary of the New York State Board for Podiatry supports his request to waive the NBPME Part III licensing examination. 

APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS:	QUALIFICATIONS:
Section 7004 of Education Law and Part 65 of the Commissioner’s Regulations require:
(1)  Completion of a registered or equivalent podiatric medicine program with a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine or equivalent degree.	(1)  Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, North Chicago, Illinois, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, May 1980.
Acceptable scores on satisfactory licensing examinations in basic and clinical sciences and entry-level clinical skills.	(2) (a)  NBPE Part I, August 31 & September 1, 1978 NBPE Part II, March 1980 See Statement of Problem.
(3) Evidence of completion of at least one year of supervised postgraduate hospital training in podiatry.	(3) Hugar Surgery Center, Elwood Park, Illinois, first year podiatric residency, July 1980 – June 1981.
(4)  Evidence of good moral character.	(4)  Licensed and in good standing in Connecticut with no disciplinary actions.
(5)  Evidence of the required course in the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment.	(5)  Filed certification of exemption.
(6) Evidence of the required infection control training.	(6)

RECOMMENDATION:  The Committee on the Professions, in concurrence with the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Podiatry, recommends that the applicant’s petition for waiver of the NBPME Part III examination requirement be accepted.

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

 

THREE YEAR LIMITED LICENSE IN DENTISTRY

 

Petition for: Three-year limited license to practice Dentistry under Section 6604(6) of the Education Law.

Statement of Problem: The applicant listed below has satisfied the education and examination requirements for licensure as a dentist in New York State. The only requirement for full licensure that cannot be satisfied at this time is United States citizenship or immigration status as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.

              The applicant has an opportunity to practice dentistry in an area which has been designated a Federal Dental Health Professions Shortage Area and requests a three-year waiver of the citizenship requirement under Section 6604(6) of the Education Law. Each applicant must sign an affidavit stating the exact location of the shortage area where he will practice before the three-year limited license will be issued.

Applicable Guidelines: Section 6604(6) of Education Law relates to the requirement of United States citizenship or permanent resident status for licensure as a dentist in New York State and allows the Board of Regents to grant a one-time, three-year waiver of this requirement for an alien dentist to practice in New York State if all other licensure requirements are satisfied and to grant an additional extension not to exceed six years to enable the alien to secure citizenship or permanent resident status, provided such status is being actively pursued.

NAME OF PETITIONER

09-10-59 Emile Amzallag Brooklyn, NY 11229

ACTION: The Department shall issue a three-year limited license to each applicant to practice dentistry in New York State in a Federal Dental Health Professions Shortage Area upon approval by the Department of all documentation needed to verify satisfaction of all dentistry licensure requirements other than citizenship and an acceptable Affidavit of Agreement on the applicant’s location of employment. The limited license may be renewed upon the lawful submission of an application for an extension of not more than six years, at the discretion of the Department.

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

VETERINARY MEDICINE                

09-09-75

William E. Hornbuckle

Freeville, NY 13069

(Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, D.V.M., 1967)

Petition for:  Waiver of New York State requirements pertaining to acceptability of licensing examinations for licensure by endorsement.

Statement of Problem:  Dr. Hornbuckle graduated from an accredited college of veterinary medicine in 1967 and took the National Board (NBE) examination in that year.  Dr. Hornbuckle has not taken the Clinical Competency Test (CCT), which was offered only from 1984 to 2000.  For New York State licensure, applicants who passed the NBE must also take the CCT.  Both the NBE and the CCT have been replaced by the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).

              Dr. Hornbuckle was licensed in Massachusetts based on the NBE.  He has documented over 35 years of practice in Massachusetts.

              In view of Dr. Hornbuckle’s documentation of 35 years of practice as evidence of clinical competence, the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Veterinary Medicine recommends that the CCT examination requirement be waived and that the applicant’s Massachusetts license be accepted for endorsement in New York State.

APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS:	QUALIFICATIONS:
Section 6704 of the Education Law and Section 59.6 and Part 62 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education:
(1) Completion of six years of pre-professional and professional postsecondary studies satisfactory to the department and graduation with a satisfactory degree in veterinary medicine.	(1) Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, D.V.M., 1967.
(2) Acceptable scores on satisfactory licensing examinations or passing scores on an acceptable state licensing examination not in use in New York State and at least two years of satisfactory professional experience following licensure.	(2)(a) Passing score on May 1967 NBE examination; did not take the CCT. (2)(b) Licensed as a veterinarian in Massachusetts, August 1967.  (2)(c) More than 35 years of satisfactory professional experience following licensure.
(3) United States citizenship or immigration status as an alien lawfully admitted for permanent resident status in the United States.	(3) United States citizen.
(4) Evidence of good moral character.	(4) Good moral character.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Committee on the Professions, in concurrence with the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Veterinary Medicine, recommends waiver of the CCT examination requirement and endorsement of the applicant's Massachusetts license.

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

CLINICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

09-01-92

Jianhua Zhang

Stony Brook, New York 11790

(Second Military Medical University of the P.L.A., Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Bachelor of Medicine, August 1986.)

Petition for: Acceptance of education.

Statement of Problem: Commissioner's Regulations require that an applicant for licensure in clinical laboratory technology must have completed a bachelor’s or higher degree in clinical laboratory technology or a related title.  The program must contain didactic and clinical education that integrates pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services, including the principles and practices of quality assurance/quality improvement and that is designed and conducted to prepare graduates to practice clinical laboratory technology using independent judgment and responsibility.  

              Mr. Zhang completed a Bachelor of Medicine program in the People’s Republic of China. Since the State Education Department has not registered this program, the Department must determine if it meets the professional education requirements outlined in Subpart 79-13 and section 52.38 of Commissioner’s Regulations. The Executive Secretary of the State Board for Clinical Laboratory Technology reviewed the Bachelor of Medicine program completed by Mr. Zhang and determined that this program could be considered substantially equivalent to a clinical laboratory technology program that is registered by the Department for general educational purposes but the applicant would have to demonstrate completion of all content requirements specified in section 52.38 of Commissioner’s Regulations. After an extensive review of the documentation submitted, the Executive Secretary determined that Mr. Zhang had satisfied all content requirements except for coursework in three categories: immunohematology (Blood Bank), infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions) and ethics. The applicant was notified of these deficiencies and informed that his education could be approved once he submitted documentation of the additional coursework.   In the interim, in accordance with Commissioner’s Regulations, the Department has issued the applicant a limited license to practice clinical laboratory technology until September 1, 2013.

Through his attorney, Mr. Zhang appealed this decision and submitted information to demonstrate satisfaction of the deficiencies. The attorney asserts:

 

• Mr. Zhang has successfully passed USMLE Step 3 of the national medical licensing examination that assesses the applicant’s medical knowledge and understanding of clinical science needed for the unsupervised practice of medicine and asserts that it includes an ethics component. 
• The area of immunohematology (blood bank) was part of the material covered in physiology, a course consisting of 160 hours of instruction.
• The subject of “infectious diseases” is likewise part of the course material completed by Mr. Zhang.

 

             The attorney opines that the medical degree completed by Mr. Zhang together with his successful completion of USMLE Step 3 and his experience in the Department of Pathology as a Research Assistant Professor at SUNY Stony Brook and his experience as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist II at Stony Brook is a sufficient basis to waive the educational requirements for immunohematology and infection control, and that further education in the areas of immunohematology and “infectious diseases” would constitute a financial hardship and is redundant and duplicative of work done, as well as being time consuming and costly to obtain syllabus documentation from the medical school in China. The attorney submitted an unofficial score report but the Department has no direct evidence from the examination administrator or another jurisdiction that Mr. Zhang took or passed Step 3 USMLE, an assessment of clinical practice.

 

           The Executive Secretary of the State Board for Clinical Laboratory Technology has reviewed again the entire translated material that had previously been presented by Mr. Zhang in light of the information presented by his attorney and compared it to the requirements for the curricular content of both Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Certified Clinical Laboratory Technician in two New York State colleges – State University of New York at Stony Brook and Broome County Community College.  The translated syllabus did list the “content sequence” of courses including physiology and each section was thoroughly reviewed.

 

           The areas of blood and bone marrow that were included in the physiology course taken in the medical school in China includes the CBC, e.g. complete blood count and hemoglobin measure, the white blood count (WBC) and differentiation, bleeding and coagulation principles and methods, other blood test values, the general rule of blood cell development, bone marrow cell category, principles, methods, and normal range and clinical significance of anemia tests, and the analysis and determination of bone marrow report.  These comprise fundamental knowledge related to the anatomy and function of the blood and marrow system that commonly is taught in basic physiology courses, as well as some information on the use and meaning of tests to assess blood and bone marrow function.  The content of this course would be similar to the content of coursework in physiology required of all persons seeking licensure as a Clinical Laboratory Technologist, and Mr. Zhang was given credit in the education review for physiology. However, the review indicated that this course differs significantly from the core coursework content in the area of immunohematology required in the education of clinical laboratory technologists.  The required coursework in immunohematology examines basic immunology, applying basic principles of immunology to blood group serology, includes an in-depth study of all human blood groups and blood group genetics, transfusion therapy and current blood bank practices, including problems inherent to blood transfusion and solutions, processes for donor selection and blood apheresis, and the study and practice of all the tests and instruments used in the blood banking process, as well as the interpretation of the results. 

 

           The Executive Secretary notes that the requirement for coursework in infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions) is a totally different content area than infectious diseases.  She indicates that the fact that his attorney is presenting infectious diseases as the same content area from the one that is missing suggests that the applicant does not have an understanding of these differences.  Infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions) is not only a mandated content area to meet the education requirements for licensure as a clinical laboratory technologist, it is a mandated area of continuing education for many currently licensed healthcare professionals, including physicians who must repeat it every four years to maintain registration.  Infections, including hospital-borne infections, are one of the leading causes of serious illness and death in the United States and knowledge of infection control and precautions is extremely important for clinical laboratory technologists whose work in hospital clinical laboratories and at the bedside has the potential to both lead to and prevent infections.  It also enables them to provide education for other practitioners as well as provide information for control by systems management.

 

          A review of the Blueprint and Content Outline for USMLE Step 3 finds that “Medical Ethics and Jurisprudence” comprises 4.8% of the examination.  Its focus is on full disclosure, advance directives/health care proxy, permission to treat/refusal of treatment, issues related to death and dying, truthfulness, confidentiality, privacy, authority and public reporting, much of which falls in jurisprudence areas appropriate for physicians.  There is no breakdown between the ethics content and the jurisprudence content, although there is overlap.   The Department has no direct evidence from the examination administrator or another jurisdiction that Dr. Zhang took or passed the Step 3, USMLE, so it would not be possible to accept this information to meet the course content requirement in Ethics.  Nonetheless, in review, the content in coursework on ethics within clinical laboratory technology programs is more related to the presentation of various codes of professional ethics, autonomy and responsibility in health care settings or in other employment settings, HIV issues, issues related to culture and ethnicity, practitioner responsibility, genetics, transplants, cloning, health care accessibility, allocating health care resources, institutional missions and obligations.  Such courses tend to focus on successful techniques for resolving ethical dilemmas. 

 

Additional documentation:  English translation of the course syllabus concerning the areas of infectious diseases and physiology was provided by Mr. Zhang’s attorney and received on November 30, 2009, but did not change the Committee’s recommendation.

 

APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS:	QUALIFICATIONS:
Sections 52.38 and 79-13.6 of the Commissioner’s Regulations require:
(1) Bachelor or higher degree in clinical laboratory technology or a related title.	(1) Second Military Medical University of P.L.A., Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Bachelor of Medicine, August 1986.
(2) Program contains didactic and clinical education that integrates pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services, including the principles and practices of quality assurance/quality improvement and that is designed and conducted to prepare graduates to practice clinical laboratory technology using independent judgment and responsibility. Coursework shall include the following subject areas or their equivalent: inorganic chemistry; analytic chemistry and/or biochemistry; clinical chemistry; physiology, with anatomy content; immunology/serology; immunohematology (Blood Bank); hematology/hemostasis, and body fluids; molecular biology and diagnostics; microbiology and clinical microbiology, including bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, and virology; and include curricular content in each of the following subject areas or their equivalent, as determined by the department: organic chemistry; statistics; infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions); the maintenance of equipment and records; ethics; and a supervised clinical experience of at least 30 hours per week for a minimum of 24 weeks or its equivalent as determined by the department.	(2)  Bachelor of Medicine Program at the Second Military Medical University contains didactic and clinical education that integrates pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical components of laboratory services, including the principles and practices of quality assurance/quality improvement and that is designed and conducted to prepare graduates to practice clinical laboratory technology using independent judgment and responsibility. See Statement of Problem above and the review of the translated syllabus by the Executive Secretary to the State Board for Clinical Laboratory Technology.
(3) Program is registered by the Department for general educational purposes but need not be specifically registered for licensure purposes.	(3) Bachelor of Medicine Program at the Second Military Medical University has been determined to be substantially equivalent to a registered program in clinical laboratory technology except for lacking coursework in immunohematology (Blood Bank), infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions) and ethics.
(4) Acceptable scores on the New York State licensing examination.	(4)
(5)  Good moral character.	(5)   Good moral character.

RECOMMENDATION:

              The Committee on the Professions, in concurrence with the Executive Secretary of the State Board for Clinical Laboratory Technology recommends that the applicant’s professional education requirement be considered satisfied once he submits documentation of the following: (1) satisfactory completion of coursework in immunohematology and professional ethics that would meet the education requirements of Section 52.38 and (2) satisfactory completion of a course in infection control and universal precautions (standard precautions) that would be acceptable to meet the curricular content of a clinical laboratory technology program.  A course offered in a medical center for the continuing education of physicians and/or other health care professionals to satisfy requirements for licensure registration purposes could be accepted as meeting the requirement if approved by the Department.

              Dr. Zhang must complete the education and examination requirements for licensure as a clinical laboratory technologist by September 1, 2013. 

Board of Regents:  December 15, 2009

MEDICINE

Petition for: Conferral of the degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) pursuant to Section 6529 of the Education Law.

Summary Statement: The petitioners listed below are all graduates of foreign medical schools who have been licensed in New York.

              The applicable requirements of Section 3.57 of the Rules of the Board of Regents require completion of a medical education program in a foreign medical school satisfactory to the Department which does not grant the degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), and in which the philosophy and curriculum were equivalent, as determined by the Department in accordance with the policy of the Board of Regents, to those in programs leading to the degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) at medical schools in the United States satisfactory to, or registered by, the Board of Regents and the Department.  Secondly, petitioners must have licensure to practice medicine in New York State in accordance with provisions of Section 6524 or 6528 of the Education Law or their equivalent as determined by the Board of Regents pursuant to their authority under Section 6506 of the Education Law.

NAME OF PETITIONER	QUALIFICATIONS
09-148-60C James Avellini Monroe, NJ 08831	Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico, Physician & Surgeon, 6/20/80. License #148049, issued on 10/30/81.
09-149-60C Olusegun Bankole Brooklyn, NY 11210	University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 8/28/95. License #240506, issued on 6/12/06.
09-150-60C Meghana Gaiki New York, NY 10075	NTR University of Health Sciences, Hyderabad, India, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 12/9/04. License #254988, issued on 9/25/09.
09-151-60C Barnali Hasan Hollis, NY 11423	(1) Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 7/7/93. (2) License #255059, issued on 10/5/09.
09-152-60C Qiang Hu Flushing, NY 11354	2nd Military Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Bachelor of Medicine, 7/29/83. License #207820, issued on 8/8/97.
09-153-60C Mushtaq Khan Williamsville, NY 14221	University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 9/30/87. License #188925, issued on 5/11/92.
09-154-60C Sunaina Koduru Round Rock, TX 78664	Siddhardha Medical College, Vijayawada, India, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 2/1/03. License #251615, issued on 1/7/09.
09-155-60C Bojana Krgin Woodbridge, CT 06525	University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia, Physician, 9/9/80. License #185303, issued on 4/16/91.
09-156-60C Anna Kryuchkova Staten Island, NY 10305	Russian State Medical University, Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, Physician, 6/25/83. License #219931, issued on 12/13/00.
09-157-60C Lawrence Liang New York, NY 10002	Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, General Diploma, 6/30/90. License #217419, issued on 5/9/00.
09-158-60C Anuritha Marumganti Buffalo, NY 14216	Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 9/20/00. License #254961, issued on 9/23/09.
09-159-60C Neubert Philippe Bay Shore, NY 11706	Medical College Punjab University, Amristar, India, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 12/6/68. License #140343, issued on 10/12/79.
09-160-60C Elham Safaie Boston, MA 02113	Universita Delgi Studi Di Genova Facolta Di Medicina, Genova, Italy, Doctor Medicine & Surgery, 12/22/93. License #255137, issued on 10/8/09.
09-161-60C Ramotse Saunders New York, NY 10009	University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 7/1/98. License #253743, issued on 6/29/09.
09-162-60C Shakeel Usmani Brooklyn, NY 11214	King Edward Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 11/11/00. License #246844, issued on 11/26/07.
09-163-60C LiJun Weng Oakland Gardens, NY 11364	Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, Bachelor of Medicine, 8/1/83. License #232264, issued on 5/7/04.

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee on the Professions, in concurrence with the State Board for Medicine, recommends that the petitioners be awarded the degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in accordance with provisions of Section 6529 of the Education Law.