News and Notes Archive
From Senior Deputy Commissioner Johanna Duncan-Poitier
April 17, 2009
Quick Links:
- New York State Board of Regents
- State Funding for Education and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
- Request for Proposals Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT)
- Even Start Literacy Partnership Grants Available
- Application Materials Available for Perkins Title I Secondary Formula Funding
- Reminder: NCLB Title V, Part A
- Count of Immigrant Children and Youth, 2009
- Information for 2009 Summer Schools Driver Education Programs
- 2009 New York State Teacher of the Year Honored
- New York State Office of Court Administration’s Parent Education and Awareness Program
New York State Board of Regents
New Leaders Share Vision for Raising Standards, Strengthening Accountability, and Encouraging Innovation
Dr. Merryl H. Tisch began her term as Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents on April 1st. A statement from Chancellor Tisch and her biography can be found on the Web at http://www.oms.nysed.gov/press/StatementofDr.MerrylH.Tisch.htm. In her statement, Chancellor Tisch shares her vision for raising standards and student performance; ensuring greater accountability; reforming our educational data system; strengthening teaching; and embracing innovation. Dr. Milton L. Cofield was elected Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents and also began his term on April 1st. Vice Chancellor Cofield’s biography is available on the Web at http://www.regents.nysed.gov/members/bios/cofield.html. We look forward to working closely with the new Chancellor and Vice Chancellor and all members of the Board of Regents to carryout Regents priorities to raise student performance and close achievement gaps and to help more students graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college and the workforce.
April Meeting of the Board of Regents
The next meeting of the New York State Board of Regents will be held in Albany on April 20 and 21, 2009. Highlights of items proposed to be discussed this month include:
- Actions taken to dramatically improve the K-12 data system to put into operation a more accurate, timely and reliable data collection and reporting system, as well as a discussion on P-16 data and future policy directions in higher education.
- Continued policy discussion regarding possible options for changing the scheduling of the Grades 3-8 mathematics and English Language Arts examinations.
- Planning for the development of a comprehensive, researched-based ten-year report on charter schools in New York State.
- Graduation rates and pathways including:
- A discussion of October 2008 federal NCLB regulations regarding state graduation rate goals and targets for districts and schools.
- A proposed policy on making up course credit and receiving course credit for independent study to enable students to take advantage of unique learning opportunities and to accommodate special circumstances.
- Emergency regulations to establish the methodology for computing allowable tuition rates for non-resident pupils for public reporting by school districts.
- Regents State Aid proposal and review of the State budget including and update on the impact of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.
- Discussion of a recent Commissioner’s decision under Section 310 of the Education Law that revealed a gap in teacher tenure regulations related to teachers who have taken on assignments such as curriculum specialists, professional developers, and committee chairs.
- New and proposed efficiencies in the teacher certification process.
- Discussion of proposed regulations relating to the sunset of the Supplementary Certificate for teachers and the creation of a new Supplementary Bilingual Education Extension.
Advance materials, meeting agendas, and committee reports are available on the Web at http://www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings/.
State Funding for Education and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
The latest news and information on State funding for education and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is available on our dedicated ARRA Web site at http://usny.nysed.gov/arra/.
Please note that schools and entities eligible for ARRA grant awards are required to register with Central Contract Registration, the primary registrant database for the federal government. You can register on-line at http://www.ccr.gov/ 
. We urge you to register as soon as possible to facilitate the distribution of ARRA resources.
Request for Proposals Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT)
A request for proposals (RFP) for the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) Competitive Grant Program has been posted on the New York State Education Department’s website: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/funding/currentapps.html. This is a three-year competitive grant program federally funded through NCLB/Title II Part D Funds with the initial year funding at $15 million. The subsequent year funding will be contingent upon availability of continuous federal funding.
The primary goal of this program is to improve student achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. Additional goals include helping all students become technologically literate by the end of the eighth grade, integrating technology with both teacher training and curriculum development, and establishing research-based instructional methods that can be widely implemented.
Specific information about eligibility, project focus, application requirements, and funding levels can be found in the RFP at the provided URL. The deadline for application submission is May 1, 2009.
Even Start Literacy Partnership Grants Available
The State Education Department is announcing the availability of a grant opportunity to support school/community partnerships to offer intensive, integrated family literacy services. The Even Start grant program provides federal funds to school/community partnerships to:
- Help parents improve their literacy or basic educational skills;
- Help parents become full partners in educating their children; and
- Assist children in reaching their full potential as learners.
Approximately $3.2 million is available through this grant program. We expect to make 8 to 12 grant awards ranging from $75,000 to $300,000 per year for four years. The funding period will be from September 1, 2009 until August 31, 2013 subject to the availability of federal funds.
If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, the full announcement and grant application is available on our Web site at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/funding/currentapps.html.
Application Materials Available for Perkins Title I Secondary Formula Funding
The 2009-10 application materials for continued funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 are now available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/perkins4/. 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.
Questions about the application process should be sent to the CTE team at emsccte@mail.nysed.gov by May 1, 2009; additional information and answers to questions will be posted to the website listed above by May 15, 2006. Completed applications are due June 15, 2009.
Reminder: NCLB Title V, Part A
Though NCLB Title V, Part A was not funded in 2008-09, any LEA funds carried over from 2007-08 are still accessible. Any Title V funds that are not expended must be returned to USDOE. To find out if you have carryover funds available, go to http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/reports/ , select county, select your LEA, select '2008-09 - NCLB Allocation Report'. LEAs who have not already done so must apply for Title V carryover funds in the 2008-09 program year through an FS-10 budget, a budget narrative and page 72 of the 2008-09 consolidated application at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/nclb/consolidatedappupdate/. Note that budget amendment forms (FS-10-A's) cannot be accepted as the initial application for funds.
Please send the above materials to:
Grants Management
New York State Education Department
Room 674 EBA
Albany, NY 12234
Count of Immigrant Children and Youth, 2009
The 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 is used each year to determine each local educational agency's eligibility and allocation for the Title III, Part A Immigrant Education 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 May 15, 2009. For more information, please access http://www.p12.nysed.gov/biling/bilinged/immigrantcount.html.
Information for 2009 Summer Schools Driver Education Programs
The State Education Department’s Office of Career and Technical Education (CTE) now administers driver education initiatives in coordination with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Summer school programs in driver education must be submitted for review and approval each year prior to the summer in which they will be conducted. Applications for Summer 2009 programs need to be submitted by June 1, 2009. Additional details including program applications and updated information on driver education are available on the Web at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/cte/.
2009 New York State Teacher of the Year Honored
Dr. Vickie Mike, the 2009 New York State Teacher of the Year, was recently selected as this year’s recipient of the Northeast Conference (NECTFL) Teacher of the Year Award. Dr. Mike will be recognized at an Awards Ceremony at the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages to take place this April in New York City. She is now one of the five Finalists for the National Language Teacher of the Year through the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The ACTFL National Teacher of the Year will be announced in November at their Annual Meeting in California.
As the 2009 New York State Teacher of the Year, Dr. Vickie Mike has been nominated by NYSUT for The NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence, an award that recognizes, rewards, and promotes excellence in teaching and advocacy for the profession. The awards are presented jointly by the NEA Foundation and the National Education Association (NEA) with support from the NEA Member Benefits and the Horace Mann Companies.
New York State Office of Court Administration’s Parent Education and Awareness Program
The New York State Office of Court Administration’s Parent Education and Awareness Program provides parent education, offered by certified providers, to help separating or divorcing parents better understand the effects of their breakup on their children and to give them information and ideas about how to make the new family situation easier and more livable for themselves and their children. The program is an initiative of the Chief Judge of the State of New York. More information, including a list of certified providers is on the Web at http://www.nycourts.gov/ip/parent-ed/ .