Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on April 9, 2019. All members were present with the exception of Regents Finn and Young.

Action Items

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Madam Chancellor and Colleagues:  Your Higher 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 9, 2019, copies of which have been distributed to each member of the Board of Regents.

Matters Not Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendment to §80-1.5 Related to the Extension of the Library Specialist edTPA Safety Net - Your Committee reviewed and discussed a proposed regulatory amendment to extend the Library Specialist edTPA safety net expiration date to December 28, 2020 to give school library programs and candidates time to transition to the updated Library Specialist edTPA. Following the 60-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act, it is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented to the Board of Regents for adoption at its July 2019 meeting. If adopted at the July 2019 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on July 31, 2019. 

Proposed Amendments to §52.21 and §80-2.1 Related to Certification Requirements for School Counselors and Program Registration Requirements for School Counseling Preparation Programs - Your Committee discussed proposed regulatory amendments concerning the certification requirements for school counselors and the program registration requirements for school counseling preparation programs; including a one-year extension of the time period for institutions of higher education to meet the program registration requirements. Following the 60-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act, it is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented to the Board of Regents for adoption at its July 2019 meeting.  If adopted at the July 2019 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on July 31, 2019.

Proposed Amendments to Sections 52.21, 57-2, 75.8, 80-1, 80-2, 80-3, 80-5, 80-6, 90.18, 100.2, 100.13, 100.15, 100.17, 100.19, 151-1, 154-2, and 200.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to Professional Development Plans and Other Related Requirements for School Districts and BOCES - Your Committee discussed proposed amendments related to professional development requirements discussed at the September Board meeting in response to public comments. Based on these public comments, further changes are being made to the proposed amendments. As a result, a Notice of Revised Rulemaking will be published in the State Register on April 24, 2019. In accordance with the 30-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act for revised rule makings, public comment will be received until May 24, 2019. Following the 30-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act, it is anticipated that the proposed amendments will be presented to the Board of Regents for adoption at its July 2019 meeting. If adopted at the July 2019 meeting, the proposed amendments will become effective on July 31, 2019.

Matters Requiring Board Action:

Proposed Amendments to Sections 52.21 and 80-3.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Student Teaching Requirements for Teacher Certification and the Registration of Teacher Preparation Programs - Your Committee discussed whether the Board of Regents should approve the amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations relating to student teaching requirements for teacher certification and registration of teacher preparation programs and VOTED: that the Board of Regents approve the amendments to the Commissioner’s Regulations relating to student teaching requirements for teacher certification and registration of teacher preparation programs.  The proposed amendments will become effective on April 24, 2019.

Proposed Amendment to Section 80-1.5 Related to the Extension of the Educational Technology Specialist Content Specialty Test Safety Net - Your Committee discussed whether the Board of Regents should approve, as an emergency action, a proposed regulatory amendment to extend the Educational Technology Specialist Content Specialty Test (CST) safety net expiration date to until six months after the redeveloped Educational Technology Specialist CST is operational, and VOTED: that Section 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be adopted, as an emergency action, effective July 1, 2019, to ensure that the safety net becomes effective immediately, so candidates can be held harmless during the Department’s redevelopment of the Educational Technology Specialist Content Specialty Test and while any necessary changes are made to such examination.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents acted on the following consent agenda item at the April 2019 meeting.

• Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) Appointments. The Board of Regents approved the reappointment of Daniel J. Hogarty, Jr. to the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System Board for an additional three-year term commencing May 1, 2019 and expiring May 1, 2022; and approved the appointments of Jennifer Longtin and Christopher Morin to the NYS Teachers’ Retirement System Board for a three-year term commencing June 30, 2019 and expiring June 30, 2022.