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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 15, 2021.  All members were present except Regent Finn, who was excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Charter School Dissolutions [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents consent to the Ethical Community Charter School to file a petition for judicial dissolution pursuant to Article 11 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, on notice to NYSED.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents consent to the Lefferts Gardens Charter School to file a petition for judicial dissolution pursuant to Article 11 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, on notice to NYSED.

The motion passed unanimously.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the New York City Department of Education Chancellor [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School, The Shirley Rodriguez-Remeneski 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 Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School, The Shirley Rodriguez-Remeneski School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2024.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation: (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 Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2026.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the St. HOPE Leadership Academy 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 St. HOPE Leadership Academy 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, 2026.

The motion passed.  Regents Collins and Mittler abstained.

Approval of the Revised New York State Learning Standards in Languages Other Than English (LOTE) [P-12 (A) 3]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the revised New York State Learning Standards for Languages Other Than English (LOTE).

The motion passed unanimously.

Proposed Amendments to Sections 200.1 and 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Special Education Impartial Hearing Officers and the Special Education Due Process System Procedures [P-12 (A) 4]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the amendment of sections 200.1 and 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, as submitted, effective March 31, 2021.

The motion passed unanimously.

Revision Recommendation for a Charter School Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 5]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that: (1) the American Dream 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 American Dream Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.

The motion passed.  Regent Collins abstained.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 6]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys: (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 Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2026.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls: (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 Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2026.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Discovery 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 Discovery 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, 2024.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the La Cima 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 La Cima 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, 2025.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts: (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 Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2024.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the School in the Square Public 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 School in the Square Public 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, 2026.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Urban Choice 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 Choice 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, 2023.

A motion was made, seconded, and passed to sever La Cima Charter School from the rest of the schools proposed for renewal in this item.  A motion was then made to amend the renewal of La Cima Charter School from a four-year renewal to three-year renewal.  The motion did not carry, with Regents Chin, Cea, Norwood, Cottrell, Mead, Wills, and Chancellor Young voting no and Regent Collins abstaining.

The motion to approve the four-year renewal of La Cima Charter School passed.  Regents Cashin, Ouderkirk, Collins, and Mittler abstained, Regent Hakanson voted no.

The motion to approve the remaining six charter school renewals passed.  Regent Collins abstained.

Proposed Amendment of Sections 100.4, 100.10 and 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Providing an Exemption to the Home Instruction Annual Assessment for the 2020-2021 School Year and Providing Additional Flexibility for the Annual Instructional Hour Waiver in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis (COVID Part IX) [P-12 (A) 7]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the amendment of sections 100.10 and 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, as submitted, as an emergency measure, effective March 16, 2021, upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the public health and the general welfare in order to immediately provide flexibility for certain regulatory requirements in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

The motion passed.

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Mr. 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 March 15, 2021, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Board Update on Digital Equity Summit

Department staff presented an update on two of three Digital Equity Summits.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents approved the following consent agenda items at its March 15, 2021 meeting.

• Proposed Amendment to Sections 125.1, 135.4, and 52.21 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and Section 30-3.2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to Addressing the COVID-19 Crisis and the Reopening of Schools (COVID Part II and Reopening)
• Petition of the City School District of the City of Salamanca for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit
• Petition of the City School District of the City of Albany for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit Albany City School District Debt Limit Request
• Petition of the Enlarged City School District of the City of Troy for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit