Committee Report | January 2011

Report of the


REGENTS P-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE


to


The Board of Regents


January 11, 2011

            Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on January 10, 2011.  All members were present, except for Regents Rosa and Young, who were excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Charter
 School
 Actions

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves the Leadership Preparatory Ocean Hill Charter School charter revisions as proposed by the Trustees of the State University of New York and the provisional charters are amended accordingly.  [P-12 (A) 1]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Achievement First Endeavor Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.  [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Community Roots Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.  [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Democracy Prep Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015. [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the Hyde Leadership Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.  [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the International Leadership Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.  [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the first renewal charter of the South Bronx Classical Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.  [P-12 (A) 2]

            Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves and issues the renewal charter of the Ross Global Academy Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the City School District of the City of New York, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2011.  Your Committee further requests that NYC Department of Education provide additional information to the Board of Regents regarding its plans for the students if the school closes.   [P-12 (A) 3]  

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

           

            Madam Chancellor and Colleagues: Your P-12 Education Committee recommends, and I move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on January 11, 2011, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Dignity for All Students Act and the Integration of the Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting System – The Committee discussed the goal of the Dignity for All Student Act, which is to provide public school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting and harassment on school property, on a school bus, or at a school function.  Staff made recommendations to the Board that the Department, in collaboration with the NYS Dignity Coalition, establish a Task Force and various Advisory Work Groups to work together to develop revisions to Commissioner’s regulations for school safety and violent and disruptive incident reporting to reflect the provisions of the Dignity for All Students Act and promote a positive school climate. [P-12 (D) 1]

Online and Blended Learning Panel Discussion [P-12 (D) 2]

Panel Members:

• George Kiley, Superintendent of Schools, Hornell City School District, Hornell
• Tony Gill, Virtual High School Principal, Hornell City School District, Hornell
• Chris Weinman, Executive Director of Career and Technical Education, Greater Southern Tier (GST) BOCES 

      The Hornell CSD / GST BOCES Alternate Placement Academy is for at-risk students in grades 7, 8 and 9. It utilizes a blended instructional model that incorporates both online and face-to-face classroom instruction and project-based learning strategies to reinforce real-life application of skills. Students are placed in this self-paced program, and then progress by knowledge acquisition. All instruction is provided by NYS certified teachers. GST BOCES also offers the Advanced Academics Virtual High School initiative that provides students from 21 component districts with online courses designed to meet individual needs. This program incorporates both online and face-to-face classroom instruction and a unique student support system consisting of: NYS certified online and in-house instructors, school district virtual principal and virtual coordinator, GST BOCES virtual coordinator and parents. To date, 450 students have participated in online courses supporting Credit Recovery, AIS, Regents Review, Electives and Advanced Placement.

• ArthurVanderVeen, CEO, Office of Innovation, New York City Department of Education. 

      iLearnNYC offers online learning in three different forms to students in over 40 schools in New York City. The current options include: Advanced Placement courses with more than 300 students participating; Credit Recovery programs for overage undercredited students with more than 500 students participating; and blended learning programs within a mix of online and face-to-face settings with more than 2000 students participating.

• Howard Mettleman, District Superintendent, OHM BOCES
• Ken Ford, Director, Information and Technology Center, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison (OHM) BOCES, Utica
• Matthew Bashant, Physics Teacher, New Hartford Central School.

      OHM BOCES, working with science teachers from its constituent districts, has developed an online course to supplement the teaching and learning of Regents Physics. The course incorporates strong pedagogy, rich media content, utilization of the OHM BOCES digital media streaming, virtual reference library, and other digital content, as well as offering immediate feedback to students.

The panel presented overviews of their programs and answered questions relating to online and blended courses and how they improve student learning and achievement.  This subject and the flexibility it provides to schools, teachers and students will be discussed further as the Regents continue their discussions around proposed amendments to regulations and at the regional forums being held around the State.

Update Regarding the Roosevelt Union Free School District and the Role of the State – The Committee was updated on the fiscal condition and the significant improvements made in the district including the restoration and maintenance of the instructional facilities, academic status and current initiatives at the high school.   The Committee has requested that the Roosevelt Superintendent be present at the next quarterly update in the spring.  At that time staff will present recommendations for action related to Commissioner’s oversight of the district.  [P-12 (D) 3]
Informational Session on Special Act School Districts and Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities

Panel Members:

• Dr. Mark Silverstein, Superintendent, Hawthorne Cedar Knolls UFSD and President, Coalition of Special Act School Districts
• Amy Goodman, Superintendent, Greenburgh-Graham UFSD
• William Wolff, Executive Director, LaSalle School and President, NYS Coalition of 853 Schools
• Karen Macri, Deputy Executive for Children's Services, Center for Disability Services

The panel presented descriptions of student population, school mission and school program for each of their schools, including examples of outstanding practices and positive student outcomes and the use of technology to support student achievement.  Discussion focused on issues facing their schools including the need for improved access to data systems, mandates, accountability and timely funding mechanisms that reflect the students served at these schools.

Consent Agenda Items – The Committee discussed the following item scheduled for approval on the full Board consent agenda.

Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds – emergency adoption of regulations relating to Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds.   This item was adopted by emergency action in November.  It is anticipated that the proposed rule will be presented for adoption as a permanent rule at the March 2011 Regents meeting.