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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on December 9, 2019.  All members were present.

ACTION ITEMS 

Proposed Amendment of Sections 135.1 and 135.4 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to Extended Eligibility for Participation in Inclusive Athletic Activities [P-12 (A) 1]
Your Committee recommends that Sections 135.1 and 135.4 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective December 10, 2019, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare so that students who are over the age of 19 but who have not yet graduated high school can immediately participate in inclusive athletic activities.

The motion passed.

Charter Schools: Initial Applications Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 2]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that:  (1) the proposed charter school 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 2 of Section 2850 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 approve and issue a charter to Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School II, and amends the provisional charter of the education corporation Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School to permit the operation of such school for a term of five years, in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

The motion passed.  Regents Cashin and Collins abstained from the vote.  Regent Mittler was in opposition.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that: (1) the proposed charter school 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 2 of Section 2850 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, approve and issue a charter and provisional charter to the Primary Hall Preparatory Charter School for a term of five years, in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

The motion passed.  Regents Cashin and Collins abstained from the vote.  Regent Mittler was in opposition.

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 December 10, 2019, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendments to Sections 156.1, 156.2, 156.3, 156.4, 156.5, and 156.12 of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to Pupil Transportation [P-12 (D) 1]
Your committee discussed updating the regulations pertaining to pupil transportation to align to current policies and procedures of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the New York State Department of Transportation relating to pupil transportation.

It is anticipated that the proposed rule will be presented to the Board of Regents for permanent adoption at the April 2020 Regents meeting, after publication of the proposed amendment in the State Register and expiration of the 60-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act.  If adopted at the April 2020 meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective on April 22, 2020.

Early Childhood Blue Ribbon Committee Workforce Focus Group Update [P-12 (D) 2]
Staff updated the Committee on the work of the Early Childhood Blue Ribbon Committee Workforce Focus Group’s recommendations to improve teacher and leader preparation programs.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda item at its December meeting:

• Petition of the Enlarged City School District of the City of Newburgh for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit