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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 2, 2020.  All members were present except Regents Cashin and Finn, who were excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that the Bronx Charter School for 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 Bronx Charter School for 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 find that the Charter High School for Law and Social Justice: (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 High School for Law and Social Justice and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that New American Academy Charter School (The): (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 New American Academy Charter School (The) and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that the New Ventures 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 New Ventures 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 find that the New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science IV: (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 New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science IV 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 find that the New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities II: (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 New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities II and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that the Rosalyn Yalow 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 Rosalyn Yalow 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 find that the Southside 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 Southside 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, 2023.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents find that the Western New York Maritime 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 Western New York Maritime 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.

The motion passed.  Regents Collins and Mittler were opposed, Regent Reyes abstained.

Renewals to Charters Authorized by the Trustees of the State University of New York [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents return the proposed charters for Success Academy Charter School – Bed Stuy 2, Success Academy Charter School – Bushwick, Success Academy Charter School – Cobble Hill, Success Academy Charter School – Far Rockaway, Success Academy Charter School – Flatbush, Success Academy Charter School – South Jamaica, and Success Academy Charter School – Williamsburg to the Trustees of the State University of New York for reconsideration, with the following comment and recommendation: Approving the renewal of any charter school years before the expiration of the charter does not allow timely review of the school’s educational and fiscal soundness, community support, legal compliance, or means by which the school will meet or exceed enrollment and retention targets for students with disabilities, English language learners, and students who are eligible applicants for the free and reduced price lunch program. The charters should be abandoned, and the schools should be directed to resubmit the application no earlier than one year prior to the expiration of the charter term.

The motion passed unanimously.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the New York City Department of Education Chancellor [P-12 (A) 3]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek: (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 Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Community Roots 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 Community Roots 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 Equality 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 Equality 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 New Heights 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 New Heights 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, 2025.

The motion passed.  Regents Collins, Mittler, and Reyes abstained.

Approval of the New York State (NYS) Physical Education Learning Standards (2020) [P-12 (A) 4]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approve the new NYS Physical Education Learning Standards, with the requirement that Department staff take the immediate next steps as outlined.

The motion passed unanimously.

Proposed Addition of Part 122 to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Military Absentee Ballots for School District and School District Public Library Elections, Budget, and Referenda [P-12 (A) 5 Revised]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents take the following action:

That Part 122 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be added, as submitted, section 3.8(b) of the Rules of the Board of Regents be amended, as submitted, effective March 3, 2020, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to immediately conform the Regulations of the Commissioner of Educations to the requirements of Chapter 489 of the Laws of 2019, which requires military absentee ballots for school district and school district public library elections, budget, and referenda.

The motion passed unanimously.

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 March 3, 2020, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Aligning Linguistic Demands to the Next Generation Learning Standards [P-12 (D) 1]

Department staff provided your Committee with an update to the Bilingual Progressions’ analysis of the Linguistic Demands required for students to successfully meet the requirements of the Next Generation Learning Standards (NGLS) in English Language Arts.  Next steps include submitting updated linguistic demands documents for public comment and revising according to feedback received (spring 2020); presenting to the full set of linguistic demands to the Board of Regents for approval (summer 2020); making the approved documents available to teachers and administrators, and creating professional development to guide educators on their use (fall 2020).

Early Childhood Blue Ribbon Committee Workforce Focus Group Additional Recommendations [P-12 (D) 3]

Department staff provided your Committee with an update on the work of the Board of Regents Early Childhood Blue Ribbon Committee (ECBRC) Workforce Focus Group’s recommendations to improve teacher and leader preparation programs.  Department staff will continue to work with ECBRC’s Workforce Focus Group to move forward its remaining recommendations to continue to transform the Early Childhood Education workforce.

Proposed Amendments to Sections 200.1, 200.5, and 200.21 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 (D) 4]

Your Committee discussed amending 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

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda item at its March 3, 2020 meeting.

• Regulations relating to Extended Eligibility for Participation in Inclusive Athletic Activities.
• Rules of the Board of Regents to Designate Counsel as the Deputy Commissioner of Education in the Absence or Disability of the Commissioner or when a vacancy exists in the Office of Commissioner