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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on April 9, 2018.  All members were present. 

ACTION ITEMS

Superintendent Determination Option for Certain Students with Disabilities to Graduate with a Local Diploma [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the emergency action taken at the February 2018 Board of Regents meeting to amend paragraph (12) of subdivision (d) of §100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, is rescinded, effective April 24, 2018 and that paragraph (12) of subdivision (d) of §100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and subclause (3) of clause (a) of subparagraph (ix) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of §200.4 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective April 25, 2018, 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 certain students with disabilities who are graduating from high school in January 2018 and thereafter are aware that they may be considered an eligible student for the superintendent determination option if they meet the requirements of the proposed rule. It is also necessary to ensure that superintendents are on notice that they must, upon the written request of a parent or guardian, make a determination as to whether certain students with disabilities are eligible for a local diploma, if the student meets the requirements of the proposed rule.

Minimum Instruction Requirement for State Aid [P-12 (A) 5]

A motion to amend regulations as presented in the item was moved by Regent Collins and seconded by Regent Norwood.  Regent Collins withdrew her motion.

The new motion moved by Vice Chancellor Brown and seconded by Regent Tilles is as follows:

Your Committee recommends that §§175.2 and 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, be amended as submitted, effective July 1, 2018, to ensure that school districts and applicable unions can set their calendars for the 2018-2019 school year and complete any collective bargaining negotiations necessary to comply with the new requirements of the proposed amendment and that the Board directs the Commissioner to work with individual school districts to address specific concerns as they transition to implement the regulation.

Regent Johnson was in opposition.  Regents Collins and Mittler abstained.  The motion passed.

Implementation of New York State’s Approved Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan [P-12 (A) 6]

Your Committee recommends that Department staff is directed to finalize and file the proposed amendments to sections 100.2(ff), 100.2(m), 100.18, 100.19 and Part 120 of the Commissioner’s Regulations and the addition of a new section 100.21 of the Commissioner’s Regulations with the Department of State for publication in the State Register, consistent with the State’s USDE-approved ESSA plan as described herein.

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 April 10, 2018, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Senior Deputy Commissioner’s Report 

• Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert discussed the release of the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics standards three-year implementation Roadmap.  The Roadmap was designed to assist and support districts and educators with the transition to full-implementation of the Next Generation Learning Standards over the next three years. 
• Overview and FAQ document provides a brief overview of the Roadmap and responses to the most frequent questions asked regarding the Roadmap.
• At a Glance Flyer was developed as a stand-alone document that could be distributed to inform all stakeholders on the rollout and implementation of the Next Generation Learning Standards and summarize the next three years.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda item at their April 10, 2018 meeting.

• Petition of the City School District of the City of Schenectady for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit.