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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on June 12, 2017.  All members were present.

ACTION ITEMS

Academic Intervention Services [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that section 100.2(ee) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective July 1, 2017, as an emergency action 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 have sufficient notice of the amendments and are able to implement them, as appropriate, beginning with the 2017-18 school year.

Identification of Local Assistance Plan (LAP) and Focus Schools [P-12 (A) 6]

Your Committee recommends that subdivision (g) of section 100.18 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education are amended, as submitted, effective July 1, 2017, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary to ensure that school districts are aware of the change in identification requirements applicable beginning with the 2017-2018 school year and to ensure seamless transition to the State’s ESSA accountability system.

Spring 2018 Assessment [P-12 (A) 7]

Your Committee recommends that the New York State Education Department administer two-day sessions for each of the Grades 3-8 English language arts and mathematics assessments, until such time that a new design team makes recommendations for the new assessments reflecting the Next Generation Standards.  The Regents Standards and Assessment Workgroup will come back to the P-12 Education with recommendations for next steps.  Vice Chancellor Brown and Regent Young abstained.

Charter School Actions

Renewal Decisions for a Charter School Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Urban Dove Team Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Urban Dove Team Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2022.  Regent Cottrell abstained.

Merger Revision to a Charter Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 3]

Your Committee recommends that pursuant to the authority contained in Education Law §§223 and 2853(1)(b-1)

1. Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School and Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship Charter School be and hereby are merged with Utica Academy of Science Charter School, with Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School as the surviving education corporation under the amended name Science Academies of New York Charter Schools.

2. Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, the surviving corporation, shall continue to administer the educational operations and purposes of the constituent corporations in the same manner as they presently exist.

3. The separate existence of Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship Charter School, and Utica Academy of Science Charter School hereby ceases, and Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, the surviving corporation under the amended name Science Academies of New York Charter Schools is hereby vested with all the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and authority possessed by or granted by law to each of the constituent corporations. All assets and liabilities of the respective constituent corporations are hereby assets and liabilities of such surviving corporation. All property, real, personal and mixed and all debts to each of the corporations on whatever account are hereby attached to Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School, the surviving corporation under the amended name Science Academies of New York Charter Schools, and may be enforced against it to the same extent as if the debts, liabilities and duties had been incurred or contracted by it.

4. The merged corporation shall operate under the provisional charter granted to Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School under the amended name Science Academies of New York Charter Schools, which is hereby amended to authorize the operation of three public charter schools as follows:

1. Syracuse Academy of Science and Citizenship Charter School;
2. Utica Academy of Science Charter School; and
3. Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School

5. The merger herein shall take effect on July 1, 2017; and it is further

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that: (1) Science Academies of New York Charter Schools meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) Science Academies of New York Charter Schools can demonstrate the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the request to revise the charter 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) granting the request to revise the charter would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the schools operated by Science Academies of New York Charter Schools, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the charter revision and amends the provisional charter accordingly.  Regent Mittler abstained.

Revision to Charter Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 4]

 Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that: (1) the charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the charter school can demonstrate the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the request to amend the charter 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) granting the request to amend the charter 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 Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.

Initial Applications Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 5]

Your Committee recommends that the Regents find that: (1) the proposed charter schools meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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) granting the application will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues an initial charter and provisional charter to the Emblaze Academy Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

Your Committee recommends that the Regents find that: (1) the proposed charter schools meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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) granting the application will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues an initial charter and provisional charter to the Key Collegiate Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

Your Committee recommends that the Regents find that: (1) the proposed charter schools meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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) granting the application will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues an initial charter and provisional charter to The Renaissance Charter School 2 for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

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 June 13, 2017, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Update on the Implementation of the New York State Safe Schools Task Force Recommendations [P-12 (D) 1] – the Committee was provided with an update on the progress made in implementing several of the New York State Safe Schools Task Force recommendations.  Discussion focused specifically on two major themes: 1) promote and measure school climate rather than focus exclusively on measuring school violence, and 2) focus on Social Emotional Learning to help students learn the essential skills that affect every area of our lives, including how to understand and manage emotions, and how to establish and maintain positive relationships.  Next steps include the implementation of a pilot of the School Climate Index in 2017-18; a panel presentation to the Board of Regents this fall; and to continue to implement the recommendations of the New York State Safe Schools Task Force.

New York State’s 2017 Part B State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) on the Federal Fiscal Year 2015 SPP/APR Part B Indicators [P-12 (D) 2] – the Committee was provided with an update on New York State’s 2017 State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) on the Federal Fiscal Year 2015 SPP/APR Part B Indicators as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004.  As required under IDEA, the Department must report annually to the public on its website, the performance of each NYS school district on the targets in the SPP/APR as soon as practicable, but no later than 120 days after submission of the NYS Part B FFY 2015 SPP/APR.  In addition, NYSED must make its FFY 2015 SPP/APR available to the public on its website.

ESSA Draft State Plan – Considerations for the New York State Assessment System [P-12 (D) 3] – the Committee was provided with an overview of the issues that should be considered when discussing revisions to the current New York State assessment system.  Scott Marion and Jennifer Dunn of the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment led a discussion regarding possible approaches to implementing a revised system of State assessments. 

Regulations to Implement the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and Provisions Relating to Transfer Credits and Diploma Requirements for Physical Education [P-12 (D) 4] – The Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations that would remove barriers to educational success faced by children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents.  The law provides for the establishment of a State Commission to facilitate the transition of students who transfer in and out of New York State schools as a result of such status.  Discussion focused on the several changes being made including residency determinations, graduation and assessment requirements, and physical education requirements.  It is anticipated that the proposed rule will be presented to the Board of Regents for permanent adoption at the September 2017 Regents meeting.

Draft Policy Statement on Promoting Diversity: Integration in New York State [P-12 (D) 5] – The Committee was provided with a draft statement on Promoting Diversity:  Integration in New York State.  This draft plan includes provisions implementing the high concept ideas regarding the promotion of socioeconomic and racial integration that were included as part of the Department’s ESSA Consolidated State Plan.  Committee members discussed strategies that districts can use to help them achieve integration and how integration is an integral part of school culture.  Specific examples of what some school districts are doing to achieve integration were shared. The Regents Research Work Group, led by Regent Johnson and Regent Reyes, will take a lead role in advancing the work moving forward.  The Committee was asked specifically to read the three questions presented and provide feedback at a future meeting.  This discussion will continue at the Regents July Retreat.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda items at their June 13, 2017 meeting.

• Regulations Relating to the Establishment of Criteria for the Approval of Pathway Assessments in Languages other than English (LOTE);
• Regulations Relating to Athletic Eligibility;
• Regulations Relating to School Health Services;
• Regulations Relating to adjusting the existing eligible score band for an appeal of the English Language Arts Regents examination passing scores for qualifying English Language Learners for beginning in the 2016-2017 school year;
• Registration of 14 Public Schools
  • 50 North Lark Middle School
  • Lewis J. Bennett High School of Innovative Technology
  • Riverside Academy High School
  • Cortland Junior High School
  • M.S. 297
  • The Judith S. Kaye High School
  • Kappy VII
  • P.S 583
  • P.S. 889
  • M.S. 890
  • P.S. 376
  • P.S. 377
  • Mary K. Vollmer Elementary School
  • William Floyd Learning Center
• Registration of 4 Nonpublic Schools
  • Mesivta Ahavas HaTorah    
  • Shaarei Zion Ohel Bracha
  • Helderberg Christian School
  • Bethel Baptist Christian Academy