Committee Report | February 2011

Report of the


JOINT MEETING OF THE REGENTS


P-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE and HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE


to


The Board of Regents


February 8, 2011

            Your P-12 Education Committee and Higher Education Committee held joint meetings on February 7-8, 2011.  All members were present, except for Regents Dawson and Brooks Hopkins, who were excused.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Panel Discussion on College Readiness

• Laura Anglin, President, Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU)
• Elizabeth Van Nest, Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel; Executive Director, Council of Governing Boards (CICU)
• Susan Birkhead, MS, RN, Director, Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing
• Susan Scrimshaw, Ph.D., President of The Sage Colleges

• David Lavallee, Ph.D., Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost of SUNY
• Ann Marie Murray, Ph.D., President, Herkimer County Community College
• Nancy Kleniewski, Ph.D., President, SUNY College at Oneonta

• Alexandra Logue, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost of CUNY
• Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, Ph.D., President, Hostos Community College
• Russell K. Hotzler, Ph.D., President, New York City College of Technology

The panel provided brief descriptions of their programs and answered questions relating to New York State’s high school graduates and how well they are prepared for college and careers.  There was consensus that students need solid basic skills in math and science, critical thinking and writing, and organization and study skills.  If students go on to college without these basic skills, they will likely need remediation and have difficulty catching up.  Panel members expressed the importance of early childhood and middle-level programs, and quality teacher training and preparation.  The panel members are eager to work with the Board of Regents to develop mutual goals and complementary strategies to improve student achievement and create a more seamless educational experience for all students.

New York State Teacher and Principal Effectiveness – Evaluation Policy Options for Local and Non-tested Assessments – the Committee discussed options relating to the 40% of teacher and principal evaluation to be based on assessments (20% tied to growth or a comparable measure and 20% based on locally selected assessments).  Options were presented with regard to non-tested subjects and which year-to-year assessment systems can be used.  Additionally, options were presented on which locally-developed or locally-selected assessments are appropriate.  Staff will come back in March to discuss policy options for value-added/growth modeling for the 20% that is tied to State assessments (ELA and Math 4-8).