Distance learning programs have been a part of the New York State adult literacy system for over two decades now. As technology advances and becomes accessible to the public, distance learning programs expand to take advantage of these new tools. To this end, distance learning programs are emerging as dynamic educational approaches. Distance learning now includes the use of the Internet to take courses and workshops. Learners will also be able to use new technology such as podcasts, CDs and RSS feeds to acquire knowledge. The Department’s Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development has placed a “Program Manager/ Instructor Guide for Distance Learning” on its web site at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/workforce/offices/adult.html.
English Language Arts Testing for English Language Learners
This past summer, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) ruled that, under the No Child Left Behind Act, all English language learners (ELLs) who have been in this country for more than one year must take their state’s English language arts (ELA) tests. Commissioner Richard Mills, the New York State Board of Regents, and the SED Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies believe that the interests of LEP/ELL students are better served if those students are allowed at least three years to learn sufficient English to take the ELA test. You can read Commissioner Mills’ full response to the ruling at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/biling/
HOUSSE Method for Career and Technical Education Teachers to Become “Highly Qualified”
HOUSSE is an acronym for High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation. Federal NCLB legislation provides HOUSSE as an option by which experienced teachers may document subject area competence to meet the requirements for the "highly qualified" designation. The Department has created a question-and-answer document for educators and administrators. The entire document can be viewed at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/cte/docs/HOUSSEQA012407.doc. If you wish further information about HOUSSE and CTE courses, please call (518) 486-1547 or send an e-mail to emsccte@mail.nysed.
Celebration of Teaching and Learning: A “World’s Fair for Educators”
Cited by many as the "World's Fair for Educators," the second annual Celebration of Teaching and Learning will take place March 23-24, 2007 in New York City. The theme of this year’s conference is Science and Global Awareness. Dr. Mel Levine, the co-founder and co-chair of All Kinds of Minds, a nonprofit institute that develops programs to help parents, teachers, clinicians, and children address differences in learning, will keynote the conference. Other speakers include former Vice President Al Gore, who will speak on the changing environment; astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of NOVA scienceNOW and the Origins miniseries; Tim Russert, anchor of NBC's Meet the Press; Daljit Dhaliwal, host of Wide Angle, BBC World News and CNN's World Report; and Dr. Nalini Nadkarni, star of The Second Voyage of the Mimi and co-founder and president of The International Canopy Network. For more information and to register for the event, go to http://www.thirteencelebration.org.
Presidential Awards for Mathematics and Science
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) identify outstanding teachers in mathematics and science at the national level. In 2007, teachers of grades 7 through 12 will be eligible for this award. New York State is looking for nominations for outstanding mathematics and science teachers who bring state and national standards to life in their classrooms, spark students’ imaginations, have a belief that all students can learn, engage students, and have an overall passion for teaching and learning. Teachers may be nominated by their principals, other administrators, fellow teachers, students, or members of the general public. If you know of a teacher who you feel qualifies for this prestigious honor or to download nomination forms, visit http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/science/presawardsci.htm and click on “Presidential Awards.”
Music and Theatre Education Data Available
Charts that contain multi-year tallies of statewide student enrollments and teaching assignments in music and theatre education have been updated and posted. The Music Education Data chart covers approximately 30 years from 1975-76 until 2005-06. The Theatre Education Data chart includes information from 1999-2000 until 2005-06. Both are accessible at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/arts/musictheatredata.html.
Driver Education
The 2007 application for approval of Summer Secondary School Driver and Traffic Safety Education is available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/de/StopReadNotice.html Applications must be postmarked by Friday, June 1, 2007. Programs that do not have teachers with current MV 283 as of the date of the application will not be approved. More information can be found at the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Instructional Technology’s new driver education web page at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/drive.html.
Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools
The New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission is continuing its comprehensive planning for a potential pandemic. Staff from the State Health and Education Departments and a workgroup made up of county health officials collaborated in the development of a Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State. The Pandemic Flu Action Kit for Schools in New York State is available at http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/pandemic/.
Medicaid Alert
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a guidance letter that contains important information regarding the billing of Medicaid claims for the School Supportive Health Services Program (SSHSP) and the Preschool Supportive Health Services Program (PSHSP). The guidance referenced in the letter is effective immediately and affects all Medicaid claims not yet paid as well as all future Medicaid claims. The services affected by this letter are as follows: speech services; special transportation; and counseling services. The guidance letter is posted at http://www.oms.nysed.gov/medicaid/.
State Purchasing Forum
The New York State Office of General Services Procurement Services Group (OGS/PSG) is sponsoring its Eighth Annual State Purchasing Forum for government purchasers in Albany on May 16-17, 2007. In addition to offering training classes for anyone whose responsibilities include procurement and contracting, the Forum will feature a State Contractor Trade Show in the Convention Center at the Empire State Plaza. State contract holders will be on hand to exhibit their products and services and provide information to government buyers. Many Preferred Sources Workshops will also showcase a wide variety of products and services in a diverse range of exhibits that you won't want to miss. State agency and local government purchasers are encouraged to attend the Forum which provides an excellent opportunity to attend a wide variety of seminars offered by the Office of General Services and the Office of the State Comptroller. Training topics include: Ethics in Procurement, Contract Administration, RFP Development and Evaluation, and much more. OGS Procurement staff will be on hand to answer your questions and assist you in solving some of those tricky procurement dilemmas. The OGS web site will have registration information at http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/purchase .
Commissioner’s Decisions
Information about appeals to the Commissioner of Education is available on the Department’s Office of Counsel website at http:www.counsel.nysed.gov. The site contains decisions from 1991 to date. New decisions are added as they are issued. Recent significant decisions issued by the Commissioner in appeals brought before him pursuant to Education Law §310 include the following:
Appeal of A.S., 46 Ed Dept Rep ___, Decision No. 15,514, dated December 28, 2006.
The Commissioner dismissed petitioner’s appeal of the determination of the Board of Education of the Rush-Henrietta Central School District to suspend her daughter. Petitioner’s daughter had witnessed another student writing the words “bomb threat” on a bathroom mirror. When questioned she denied knowledge of the event. She later admitted that she had witnessed the writing and was suspended for 10 weeks. Petitioner had argued that her daughter had a “right to remain silent.” However, the district’s code of conduct imposed an affirmative duty to report violations of the code of conduct. Accordingly, the Commissioner determined that petitioner’s daughter had violated the school’s code of conduct in not reporting the incident and by not responding truthfully when questioned and was properly suspended.
Appeal of Krause, 46 Ed Dept Rep ___, Decision No. 15,516, dated January 11, 2007.
The Commissioner sustained in part petitioner’s appeal of the determination of the Board of Education of the Spencer-Van Etten Central School District (“respondent”) to divide home and career skills courses into modules taught by teachers who possessed certification related to the individual module, but none of whom were certified to teach home and career skills. The Commissioner determined that respondent’s assignment of these teachers to the home and career skills course, circumvented both the certification requirements and the incidental teaching regulations.
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