Top Ten Recommendations to Strengthen the Department’s Support to School Districts

1) Increased recognition of schools’ good work

2) Opportunity to share input and feedback in advance on important policy decisions

3) More timely availability of data; streamline collecting and reporting; improve nySTART

4) More flexibility – less micro-management

5) Streamline regulatory processes; provide more support to schools; reduce unfunded mandates

6) Reduce the number of “lists” of schools in need of improvement; provide additional support

7) Provide advance notice to schools before data and reports are shared with the press

8) Improve coordination of responsibilities within the Department and strengthen communications

9) Strengthen school improvement and provide greater support to teachers and other school leaders

10) Expand and develop strong partnerships between higher education and the Pre-K-12 community