Meeting of the Board of Regents | May 2007

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

Does the Board of Regents concur with the proposed amendment to section 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner relating to the use of superintendents’ conference days?

Reason(s) for Consideration

Review of Policy.

Proposed Handling

This question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee for discussion on May 21, 2007.

Procedural History

In September 2005, the Regents approved a proposed amendment to section 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner to permit a school district to use up to two of the allowed four superintendents’ conference days for teacher training and rating of State assessments, including grades 3-8 assessments required under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  The amendment included a sunset provision for June 30, 2007.  The State Education Department has monitored the progress on the training of teachers and the scoring by teachers for the new 3-8 assessments during the first two school years and has determined that the amendment to the regulations should be extended for two more years.

Background Information

Section 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner specifies the appropriate use of staff development activities by school districts to advance implementation of the new high learning standards and assessments and to satisfy deficiencies in the length of public school sessions for the instruction of pupils.  The purpose of the proposed amendment to Section 175.5 is to extend to June 30, 2009 the provision to permit a school district to use up to two of the allowed four superintendents' conference days provided for in Education Law section 3604(8) for teacher training and rating of State assessments, including grades 3-8 assessments required under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.  Such training enables teachers to better understand the new learning standards and assessments, as authorized by Education Law section 3604(8).  The proposed amendment includes a sunset provision for June 30, 2009. 

Supporting materials for the proposed amendment are available upon request from the Secretary to the Board of Regents.  A Notice of Proposed Rule Making was published in the State Register on April 11, 2007. 

Recommendation

Staff recommend that the Board of Regents indicate its concurrence with the proposed amendment.

Timetable for Implementation

The proposed amendment will be submitted to the Board of Regents for approval at its June meeting, with a July 19, 2007 effective date.

AMENDMENT OF THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

              Pursuant to Education Law sections 101, 207 and 3604

              Subdivision (f) of section 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective July 19, 2007, as follows:

(f) Use of superintendents' conference days. 

(1)  .   .   .

(2)  .   .   .

(3)  .   .   .

(4)  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subdivision, during the period commencing on September 29, 2005 and ending on June 30, [ 2007 ] 
2009
, a school district may elect to use up to two of its superintendents’ conference days in each school year for teacher rating of State assessments, including but not limited to assessments required under the
federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law section 107-110), which
rating activities shall constitute staff development relating to implementation of the new high learning standards and assessments as authorized by section 3604(8) of the Education Law.