Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on November 18, 2013.  All members were present. 

ACTION ITEMS

Committee on Preschool Special Education

Your Committee recommends that subparagraph (v) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of section 200.3 and subparagraphs (iv) and (v) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of section 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to the Additional Parent Member of a Committee on Preschool Special Education, be amended as submitted, effective December 4, 2013.  [P-12 (A) 1]

Tuition Rate Setting Methodology

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents adopt the proposed legislative amendments to the current rate setting methodology as a 2014 state legislative priority and approve the proposed administrative amendments to the current rate setting methodology for the Special Act School Districts and 853 Schools for the 2014-15 school year. A follow-up report on the status on these recommendations would be provided to the Board at the April 2014 meeting.   [P-12 (A) 2]

Common Core Transition Regulations

 Your Committee recommends that subdivision (g) of section 100.5 and subdivision (b) of section 100.18 of Commissioner’s Regulations be amended as submitted, effective November 19, 2013, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to ensure that school districts and students are given sufficient notice to prepare for and timely implement in the 2013-2014 school year the requirements for transitioning to the Common Core English Language Arts and in mathematics examinations in the following areas: (1) students with disabilities local diplomas; (2) Regents diploma with advanced designation; (3) credit by examination; and (4) transfer credit; and to provide at the local school district's discretion an additional opportunity, at the January 2014 examination administration, for students enrolled in Common Core English Language Arts courses to meet diploma requirements by passing either the Regents Comprehensive Examination in English or the Regents Examination in English Language Arts (Common Core); and to reflect the change in name of the 3-8 performance level descriptors.  This item provides technical changes to update the regulations and does not result in any policy changes.  It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the February 2014 Regents meeting.  [P-12 (A) 3]

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD

Madam Chancellor and Colleagues: Your P-12 Education Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on November 19, 2013, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent. 

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Safe Schools Update – The Committee was provided with a brief summary of the Safe Schools Task Force meeting held on November 14, 2013.  At the November 14 meeting, representatives of the New York City School-Justice Partnership Task Force presented recommendations from a report entitled Keeping Kids in School and Out of Courts released in May 2013.  Four workgroups were formed and at the end of the day provided recommendations.  The four workgroups are:  School Culture and Student Engagement; Building Security and Infrastructure; School Safety Reporting and Data Use; and Legislation and Regulations.  P-12 Education Committee members made a recommendation that students be invited to be a part of the next Safe Schools Task Force Meeting and that data from the NYC School-Justice Partnership Task Force be provided.  The next meeting of the Safe Schools Task Force will be held in mid-winter.   [P-12 (D) 1]

Performance Levels on Common Core Regents Exams – At the request of the Board of Regents and the P-12 Education Committee, a detailed description and discussion relating to Common Core Regents Exam Performance Levels was provided.  Discussion focused on the Department’s recommendations for five performance levels for Common Core Regents Exams – rather than the four performance levels used for the Grades 3-8 ELA and Math assessments.  The Committee also discussed the importance of recognizing the socio-emotional issues of students as they relate to college and career readiness. 

Common Core Implementation Update – The Committee discussed module development and use, and professional development for teachers as they move to implement the Common Core standards.  The Committee watched a video from the latest Network Team Institute held November 12-15, 2013.  Information was provided on the PD kits, which are available on Engageny.org along with other curriculum and instructional materials.  The Committee also discussed the importance of parent involvement.

2014 State and Federal Legislative Priorities and Budget Proposals – The Committee discussed the following state and federal legislative priorities and budget proposals for P-12 Education for the upcoming legislative session:

Legislative Priorities

• Mandate Relief and Flexibility
• BOCES as Regional Leaders
• Regional Secondary Schools
• Intervention in Chronically Underperforming Schools
• Tuition Rate Setting Methodology

Budget Proposals

• Reduce Testing Time
• Enhancing the Achievement of English Language Learners to create Native Language Arts assessments
• Online Testing Delivery Pilot

Federal Priorities

• Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
• Reauthorization of the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

Staff will come back to the Committee in December for action on these proposals. [P-12 (D) 2-4]

Child Nutrition Initiatives – The Committee was updated on New York State’s Child Nutrition Programs.  Discussion focused on the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which authorizes funding and sets policy for SED’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).   Staff discussed initiatives that are in process or proposed for the near future that support the Act as well as some of the challenges districts are experiencing. 

Consent Agenda Items

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda items at their November 19, 2013 meeting.

• Athletic Waiver for Special Education Students
• Academic Intervention Services
• Protection of People with Special Needs Act