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From Senior Deputy Commissioner John B. King, Jr.
March 16, 2011


Quick links to headlines in this edition of News and Notes:

March Meeting of the Board of Regents

At its meeting on March 7-8, the Board of Regents acted in support of the following initiatives:

The Board of Regents also discussed and considered policy questions for several crucial issues:

  • Potential Revision of High School Graduation Requirements

    The Board discussed ways to better align high school graduation requirements with college and career ready standards and considered increasing flexibility to provide additional pathways for students to meet the requirements.

    For more information, see the Regents item on the Potential Revision of High School Graduation Requirements and the slide presentation from the meeting.

  • Regents Reform Agenda Progress by RTTT Assurance Area

    The Board was updated on the accomplishments and the work currently underway for the four assurance areas: Standards and Assessments, Data Systems, Great Teachers and Leaders, and School Turnaround. The presentation also focused on Network Teams and the RTTT Performance Management Office. View the presentation.

  • Joint Regents Report on Accountability

    The Board was updated on the Office of Accountability and the Office of Innovative School Models efforts to support schools and districts. Discussion focused on accountability implications of raising the ELA and mathematics achievement standards for Grades 3-8. It is projected that the increased rigor of New York State’s revised proficiency standards will cause a decline in the percentage of schools and districts that staff project will make AYP. Department staff is currently developing plans for how to address the anticipated large increase in the number of schools that will be identified for improvement next year.

    The Board also discussed the launch of the State School Turnaround Office, PLA school visits, School Improvement Grants, and the implementation of New York’s Differentiated Accountability Program including information on School Quality Reviews and Joint Intervention Team reviews.

    See the Regents item on the Joint Regents Report on Accountability for more information.

  • Public School and District Accountability

    The Board discussed proposed amendments to Commissioner’s regulations to conform to New York State’s approved amended accountability plan. This will allow New York to smoothly transition to the higher achievement standards for grades 3-8 in ELA and mathematics.

    Please see the Regents item on Public School and District Accountability for more information.

  • New York State Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policy Options

    The Board was given an update on decisions and options for consideration for teacher and principal evaluation.

    For more information, see the summary of decisions and options for consideration and the slide presentation from the meeting.

Additional News

  • Network Teams

    Plans for the creation of Network Teams/Network Team Equivalents have been approved for districts and charter schools participating in Race to the Top. Professional development for Network Teams focused on implementation of the Common Core State Standards, School-based Inquiry Process and Teams, and Teacher/Principal Evaluation/Effectiveness will launch this summer with a week-long institute followed by ongoing professional development during the academic year. The launch of professional development for Network Teams will be held August 1 through August 5 in Albany. The design of the professional development will ensure the continuous building of the capacity of Network Teams over time to create sustainability of the RTTT reform initiatives in the field.

  • Summer 2011 Extended School Year Special Education Programs

    Information and materials pertaining to the Summer 2011 Extended School Year Special Education Programs are now available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/finance/extendedschoolyearinfo.htm.

    Questions on these materials may be directed to the Office of Special Education, Central Office Administrative Support Services Unit at (518) 473-6108. Please share as appropriate.

  • School District Budgeting and Related Issues

    The Office of Educational Management Services will present an online session:

    School District Budgeting and Related Issues
    March 29, 2011
    10-11:30 a.m.     (Sign on begins at 9:30 a.m.)

    Topics to be addressed include: Contingency budgets; budget deadlines, including Property Tax Report Card and Administrative Salary Disclosure reporting; update on the use of voting machines; and budgetary changes resulting from GASB 54.

    Additional information, including the URL needed to access the session, can be found at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/mgtserv/budgeting/elluminate_march_29_2011.html.

  • ARRA Quarterly Reporting and Education Jobs Funding

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Quarterly Reporting System is now open to collect the first quarter, 2011 data required of all ARRA recipients. Reports are due from all sub-recipients by March 31, 2011.

    This is the first quarterly report for 2010-11 ARRA Education Jobs Fund (EJF) awards. EJF is a new Federal program that provides assistance to public school districts to save or create education jobs for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years. Jobs funded under this program provide educational and related services for early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. 619 districts have been approved so far to spend $580.0 million of the total $607.6 million two-year EJF award.

    The Office of Educational Management Services held an online session on the Education Jobs Fund on January 4, 2011 and followed up with a comprehensive FAQ section online that responded to the issues and questions raised by districts.

    For more information, please see the NYSED Education Jobs Fund web page and the NYSED ARRA Quarterly Reporting web page.

  • NCLB Title III - 2011 Immigrant Children and Youth Student Count

    The New York State Education Department annually collects the number of immigrant children and youth, as defined by Section 3301(6) of NCLB, present in New York State. The data are used each year to determine local educational agency eligibility and allocations for the Title III, Part A Immigrant Education grant program. As a result, each school district and charter school must count the number of immigrant children and youth and report to the State Education Department by April 29, 2011.

    To report the number of immigrant children and youth in your school district or charter school, please visit the following link: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/immigrantcount.html

    If you have any questions, please call the Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies at 518-474-8775 or e-mail at obefls@mail.nysed.gov.

  • Bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) Services for Limited English Proficient (LEP)/English Language Learners (ELLs) who are Students with Disabilities

    A joint memorandum from the Offices of Special Education and Curriculum, Instruction, and Standards clarifies the State policy regarding English as a Second Language services for limited English proficient/English language learner students who are also identified as having disabilities. The memo can be found at: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/bilingualservices.htm

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Last Updated: April 18, 2011