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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on February 11, 2013.  All members were present except for Regents Dawson and Phillips, who were excused. 

ACTION ITEMS

Charter School Renewals

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents finds that, the Aloma D. Johnson Fruit Belt Community 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 Aloma D. Johnson Fruit Belt Community Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2016.

VOTED:  That the Board of Regents finds that, the Charter School of Educational Excellence: (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  Charter School of Educational Excellence and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2018. 

VOTED:  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 is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2016.   [P-12 (A) 1]

Short-term Renewals for 5 Charter Schools Authorized by the Chancellor of the NYCDOE

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the NYC Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Future Leaders Institute Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the South Bronx Charter School for International Cultures and the Arts as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.  [P-12 (A) 2]

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 February 12, 2013, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Update on Early Learning Initiatives – The Regents have developed a comprehensive approach to increasing access to high quality early learning opportunities for our neediest children.  At this month’s Committee meeting, the Regents were provided with additional information requested at a previous meeting relating to the percentage of prekindergarten (PK) children being served by school districts, as well as data pertaining to the provision of full-day kindergarten.  The Committee was also provided with an update on the QUALITYstarsNY program and how it supports the Regents Reform Agenda for Early Learning Outcomes identified in Race to the Top.  This initiative is intended to strengthen the quality of early childhood programs in high need school districts and provide parents with tools to identify high quality early learning environments.  [P-12 (D) 1]

CTE Technical Skills Assessment Review Panel Update – The Committee was updated on the work of the CTE Technical Skills Assessment Review Panel and outcomes from their first meeting which was held in New York City on January 10, 2013.  At the meeting a set of working criteria was developed to be used in the initial selection of technical assessment review. Pradeep Kotamraju, Deputy Director of the National Research Center for CTE and graduate students from the University of Louisville, Kentucky will prioritize selected assessments using the criteria and provide the expert advisory panel with the initial group of assessments for review, discussion and final selection.  The Committee recommends that the expert advisory panel continue its work to determine which technical assessments should be recommended to the Blue Ribbon Commission along with a methodology to be used for future assessment approvals.  The CTE Technical Assessment Expert Advisory Panel is scheduled to meet again tentatively in April 2013 to finalize the criteria and agree on the initial set of selected technical assessments for recommendation. It is anticipated that the Blue Ribbon Commission will make its recommendations to the Board of Regents for consideration in June 2013.   [P-12 (D) 2]

Bilingual Common Core Progressions – The Committee was updated on the development of the Bilingual Common Core Progressions and the development of a Theoretical Foundations document. The Bilingual Common Core Progressions provide a roadmap for teachers to ensure that students who are learning a new language and/or developing their home language meet the Common Core Learning Standards.  The Theoretical Foundations document details the research and states explicitly the theory of language development that is the foundation of the Bilingual Common Core Progressions.  The sample Progressions, Theoretical Foundations document, and a Teacher’s Guide were posted for public comment on EngageNY.org.  Once a complete set of Progressions are created, the Department will conduct another public review and comment period in spring 2013.  The Department is seeking to complete the writing of the Progressions by the summer of 2013 to present to the Regents for their consideration.   [P-12 (D) 3]

Dignity Act Regulations – The Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations relating to Dignity Act Coordinator and School Employee Training programs.  It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for action at the May Regents meeting.   [P-12 (D) 4]