Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board Of Regents

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on October 20, 2014.  All members were present. 

ACTION ITEMS

Great Oaks Charter School [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed revised charter: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the charter revision for Great Oaks Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.

Common Core Regents Examination in English Language Arts [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that subdivision (g) of section 100.5 of the Commissioner's Regulations be amended, effective October 21, 2014, as an emergency measure upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to ensure that school districts and students are given sufficient notice to prepare for and timely implement in the 2014-2015 school year the provision providing, at the local school district's discretion, additional opportunities for students enrolled in Common Core English Language Arts courses to take the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English in addition to the Regents Examination in English Language Arts (Common Core) at the January 2015, June 2015, and August 2015 examination administrations, and to meet the English requirement for graduation by passing either examination.

Graduation Requirements for English Language Learners [P-12 (A) 3]

Your Committee recommends that paragraph (7) of subdivision (d) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended as submitted, effective October 21, 2014 upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to immediately create an additional English Language Learner (ELL) specific pathway to graduation for qualifying students who are otherwise eligible to graduate but for their score on the English Language Arts (ELA) Regents examination, so that school districts and such students are given sufficient notice to prepare for and timely implement such graduation pathway in the 2014-15 school year.

The Committee’s recommendation has been superseded by full Board item BR (A) 6. 

Clarification of the Duration of Competition Rule [P-12 (A) 4]

Your Committee recommends that subclause (1) of clause (b) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (c) of section 135.4 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended as submitted, effective October 21, 2014, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to immediately adopt the proposed amendment to clarify when a student’s eligibility for senior high school athletic competition may be extended because of illness or accident, so that school districts may determine the eligibility of affected students and allow for participation of eligible students in senior high school athletic competition during the Fall season of the 2014-2015 school year.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Madam Chancellor and Colleagues: Your P-12 Education Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on October 21, 2014, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent. 

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

New York’s Statewide Strategic Plan for Science and P-12 Science Learning Standards [P-12 (D) 1] – The Committee discussed the Statewide Strategic Plan for Science and was provided a timeline for approval of the plan and the consideration of science standards by the Board of Regents.  The Committee directed staff to post a draft of the plan for public comment and present a final version to the Board for adoption in January 2015.  Additionally, the Committee authorized staff to move forward with a process to update and develop a new set of science learning standards, as developed by NYS science education stakeholders that unifies the strengths of the Next Generation Science Standards, the current NYS Science Learning Standards, and the work that has been done in other states to best serve the needs of New York State’s students.  It is anticipated that these new science learning standards will be presented to the Regents in early 2016.

Flexibility for the Administration of Regents Examinations in Mathematics (Common Core) to Grades 7 and 8 Students [P-12 (D) 2] – The Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations to eliminate the need for “double-testing” so that school districts and charter schools may administer only the Regents Examinations in Mathematics (Common Core) to grade 7 and 8 students without also having to administer the grade level mathematics assessment in the 2014-15 school year.

Use of Diagnostic Tool for School and District Effectiveness to Inform School and District Improvement Planning [P-12 (D) 3] – The Committee was provided with an update on the current process by which districts and schools use the Diagnostic Tool for School and District Effectiveness (DTSDE) to develop District Comprehensive Improvement Plans (DCIP) and School Comprehensive Education Plans (SCEP).  This school year, a pilot cohort of nine districts are engaged in a series of intensive professional development sessions that will result in a new Strategic Plan for School Excellence, which is a three-year strategic plan for improvement based on the DTSDE rubric.  The districts will use ten Conceptual Frames, which are organized around the actions schools must take to improve effectiveness.  DTSDE reports can be found on the Department’s website at:
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/School_Improvement/SchoolImprovementDTSDE.html

English Language Learners and Dual Language Learners in Prekindergarten [P-12 (D) 4] – The Committee on Bilingual Education in Prekindergarten Programs, established in May 2014, is creating a set of protocols and procedures to meet the needs of all children which coincide with the Department’s efforts to support the language and literacy development of all students.  A panel of experts discussed the importance of including bilingual programs and services in prekindergarten programs as well as ways to effectively assess the needs of English Language Learners in prekindergarten programs, including issues of equitable access and the importance of providing necessary and appropriate supports and services to students and families.  Panel members included:

• Melanie Pores, Education Assistant for the New York State United Teachers.
• Luis Reyes, Research Associate and Director of Education Programs at Center for Puerto Rican Studies/Centro for the City University of New York at Hunter College.
• Dr. Zoila Tazi, Associate Professor & Department Chair of the Childhood Education Department at Mercy College.
• Melissa Cruz, ELL Teacher at Port Chester CSD.
• Susan Grecco, Director of Second Language Programsfor Freeport Public Schools.

Legislative and Budget Priorities [P-12 (D) 5, 6, 7] – the Committee discussed the Board of Regents 2015 State and federal legislative priorities, which included previously advanced priorities and new legislative priorities.  Also discussed were the Regents 2015-16 State Budget priorities. 

Consent Agenda Items

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda items at their October 21, 2014 meeting.

• Petition of the Elmira CSD for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit