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Prekindergarten through Grade 12 Education


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News and Notes Archive


From Senior Deputy Commissioner Johanna Duncan-Poitier
May 15, 2009


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May Meeting of the New York State Board of Regents

The next meeting of the New York State Board of Regents will be held in Albany on May 18, 2009. Meeting agendas and advance materials are available on the Web at http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/.

Updates: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

  • Food Service Assistance Grants Available:  All public schools, charter schools, and non-public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are eligible to apply for school food service equipment grants intended to improve the infrastructure of the NSLP as well as stimulate the economy.  The grants provide an opportunity to purchase equipment that will improve the overall quality of meals, improve efficiency of production and service and expand participation.  Priority will be given to schools with 50 percent or more students eligible for free/reduced price meals.  Applications must be postmarked by May 18, 2009.  Applications, a guidance manual and the evaluation criteria are available at http://portal.nysed.gov/portal/page/pref/CNKC.

Webinar Invitation—Request for Proposal Information Session Smart Scholars Early College High School Program

The Board of Regents is committed to helping more students graduate from high school prepared for college and the workforce. In New York State, over 70,000 students are currently taking college courses in high school. An introduction to college coursework in high school better prepares and motivates students to enter college and be successful. To that end, the Board of Regents and the Education Department want to encourage more high school students to be engaged in college study.

In April, we submitted a grant application to a private foundation requesting $6 million to establish Smart Scholars Early College High School partnerships throughout New York State. It is anticipated that, if successful, the award of funds would be made in June. If New York is selected as a recipient, a Request for Proposal (RFP) could be issued as early as July. In order to plan ahead and ensure that we are prepared to put these partnerships in place, we are holding an informational Webinar on May 20, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. where we will provide the details of the RFP and hold a Question and Answer session. Additional information on the upcoming Webinar is available on the Web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/smartscholars.html.

Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) Now Available

The Office of Facilities Planning announces the Availability of 2008 and 2009 Allocations for the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) Program. The QZAB funding has been significantly increased as a result of ARRA. For more information and the application QZAB application, please visit http://www.p12.nysed.gov/facplan/.  

Applications now Available for Perkins Title I Secondary Formula Funding to Support Career and Technical Education Programs

The 2009-10 application materials for continued funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 are now available on the web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/perkins4/home.html. Completed applications are due by June 15, 2009.  The federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) provides basic grants to adult and secondary programs to improve the quality of career and technical education (CTE).

Applications for Perkins IV funds must describe how grant monies will support the development of programs that:

  • integrate rigorous academics with career and technical instruction;
  • link secondary education and postsecondary education to prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand occupations in current or emerging occupations; and
  • enable participating students to meet or exceed performance standards emphasized by Perkins IV.

For additional information, please visit our Web site - http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/perkins4/home.html.

2009 Better Beginnings Award Applications Available

I am pleased to announce that the application for the 2009 Better Beginnings Award is now available online at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/TEACHING/BBA/bbaindex.htm. The spirit of the Better Beginnings Award is that better beginnings make stronger completions.  It recognizes early childhood education as the most effective investment for long-term success.  To be eligible, the nominee must be currently teaching at the elementary level (PreK-6) at a public or private school, and be appropriately credentialed in New York State.

Clarifying Information Regarding Confidentiality and Student Pregnancies

In response to questions we have received, clarifying information regarding confidentiality and student pregnancies is available on the Web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/schoolhealth/schoolhealthservices/

Information Regarding English Language Learners

  • Clarifying information regarding options for parents of English Language Learners to withdraw their children from State mandated instructional programs, consistent with Part 154 of the Commissioner's Regulations, is available on the Office of Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies Web page at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/.
  • The Office of Bilingual Education is now calculating the allocations for NCLB Title III - Limited English Proficient students for the 2009-2010 school year. To accurately count all LEP students in your district, we are asking that you please verify your district's information. A memo regarding this issues, as well as procedures for districts to follow and count tables, are available on the Web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/.

Recent Regulatory Changes Regarding Tenure for Teachers Providing Instructional Support Services

In April, the Board of Regents adopted changes to Regents Rules and Commissioner's Regulations regarding tenure for teachers providing instructional support services in school districts and BOCES. The new rules took effect on May 1, 2009. The changes include provisions for awarding tenure for teachers currently employed in instructional support service positions as well as for new hires. A memorandum which describes the Regents action and provides guidance to schools has been sent to the field and will be available on the Office of Teaching Initiatives (OTI) web site at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/memos.htm.

NOVA Webcast for Science Educators

To promote science literacy in education, PBS's NOVA is offering a free teacher Webcast hosted by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson (Astrophysicist and host of NOVA scienceNOW), on May 27, 2009 from 6 to 7pm (ET).  The Webcast is open to the first 6,000 people who register at http://www.pbs.org/nova/webcast external link icon.

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Last Updated: September 23, 2010