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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on May 18 and May 19, 2015. All members were present, except for Regent Tallon, who was excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Renewal Decisions for Charter Schools Authorized by the NYCDOE [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, Bronx 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 and issues the renewal charter of Bronx Community Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and extends its provisional charter for a term up through and including June 30, 2020.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, Democracy Prep 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 and issues the renewal charter of Democracy Prep Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and extends its provisional charter for a term up through and including June 30, 2020.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, Hyde Leadership 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 and issues the renewal charter of Hyde Leadership Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and extends its provisional charter for a term up through and including June 30, 2018.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, South Bronx Classical 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 and issues the renewal charter of South Bronx Classical Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and extends its provisional charter for a term up through and including June 30, 2019.

Renewal Decision for a Charter School Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Genesee 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 Genesee Community 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, 2020.

Revisions to a Charter Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 3]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that: (1) the 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 Charter High School for Law and Social Justice and amends the provisional charter accordingly.

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 May 19, 2015, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

APPR Discussion – the Committee discussed a summary of the information received from stakeholders and experts as well as options for the Board to consider as the Department prepares regulations related to teacher and principal evaluation. Specifically, the Committee examined the Guiding Principles and discussed recommendations relating to Observations and Student Performance. The Committee also reviewed the Evaluation Matrix, as mandated under current statute. Department staff will consider the recommendations made by the Regents as they prepare proposed regulations to be presented at the June meeting. A draft position paper will also be presented in June for the Committee to review.

Smart Schools Bond Act Update [P-12 (D) 1] – the Committee discussed the Smart Schools Bond Act which authorizes the issuance of $2 billion of general obligation bonds to finance improved educational technology and infrastructure to improve learning and opportunity for students throughout the State. It also requires school districts to develop and receive approval of their Smart Schools Investment Plan from the Smart Schools Review Board, which is comprised of the Chancellor of the State University of New York, the Director of the Budget and the Commissioner of the State Education Department. School districts are also required to consult with parents, teachers, students, community members, and other stakeholders in developing their investment plan. Districts will begin submitting their investment plan via the Department Web Portal for review and approval on or before June 15.

My Brother’s Keeper [P-12 (D) 2] – the Committee discussed “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. My Brother’s Keeper is focused on six milestones:

• Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn
• Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade
• Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career
• Completing postsecondary education or training
• Successfully Entering the Workforce
• Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances

The Committee recommends that the Department establish a workgroup to articulate the alignment between My Brother’s Keeper and the New York State reform agenda and report back to the Board this summer with recommendations.

Expulsion and Suspension of Children, Ages 3-5, from Regular Early Childhood and Special Education Programs [P-12 (D) 3] – the Committee discussed the federal Policy Statement on Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Settings. The policy statement has raised awareness of problematic issues, provided recommendations to states and programs, and identified sources to assist in the effort. Staff made the following recommendations:

• Establish statewide policies to reduce and ultimately eliminate expulsions and suspensions of preschool students;
• Develop statewide guidance and disseminate it to each preschool program in the State;
• Build capacity to collect data to inform statewide guidance and identify trends;
• Provide regional professional development to preschool providers on positive and multi-tiered levels of behavior support.

School Receivership [P-12 (D) 4] – the Committee discussed a recommendation to amend Commissioner’s regulations relating to school receivership in order to implement Section 211-f of Education Law as added by Chapter 56 of the laws of 2015. The proposed amendments designate current Priority Schools that have been in the most severe accountability status since the 2006-07 school years as persistently failing schools and vests the superintendent of the district with the powers of an independent receiver. The Committee reviewed the recommended changes to the regulations and directed the Department to consult with stakeholders regarding the new draft regulations in order to solicit their feedback and recommendations prior to Department staff submitting proposed emergency regulation to the Board of Regents at its June meeting.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda items at their May 19, 2015 meeting.

• Graduation Requirements for English Language Learners
• Petition of the City School District of the City of Binghamton for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit
• Regulations Relating to Student Enrollment
• Regulations Relating to Advanced Designation Diploma and Pathway Requirements