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

ACTION ITEMS

Renewal of Charters Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE)

Your Committee voted to renew the charters submitted by the New York City Chancellor until June 30, 2013 in accordance with the following vote and took no action on the Chancellor's request for renewals for 3 or 5 year terms.

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter schools listed below: (1) meet the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) are likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues:

• the renewal charter of the Brooklyn Ascend Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 
• the renewal charter of the DREAM Charter School  as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the PAVE Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the St. HOPE Leadership Academy Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 
• the renewal charter of The Equity Project Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the VOICE Charter School of New York  as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the Bronx Academy of Promise Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.  *Please note that Chancellor Walcott submitted an amended request to the Board of Regents on January 15, 2013 that did not include this school.  Therefore, the Board voted to include only those schools recommended in the January 15, 2013 letter amending the vote taken by the P-12 Committee on January 14, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the Bronx Community Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the Mott Haven Academy Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.
• the renewal charter of the NYC Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.  *Please note that Chancellor Walcott submitted an amended request to the Board of Regents on January 15, 2013 that did not include this school.  Therefore, the Board voted to include only those schools recommended in the January 15, 2013 letter amending the vote taken by the P-12 Committee on January 14, 2013.
• the renewal charter of The Ethical Community Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.   [P-12 (A) 1]

Short-term Renewals for 3 Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents

 VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the La Cima Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the La Cima Charter School, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the Rochester Academy Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Rochester Academy Charter School and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013. 

VOTED: That the Board of Regents finds that the Aloma D. Johnson Fruitbelt Community Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Aloma D. Johnson Fruitbelt Community Charter School, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2013.   [P-12 (A) 2]

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 January 15, 2013, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

CTE Content Advisory Panel Recommendations – the Committee discussed the CTE Content Advisory Panel’s recommendations to the eight charges given to them by the Department.  Following review of the recommendations and the Regents discussion, proposed regulations to implement a CTE pathway policy that takes into consideration as many of the recommendations as possible will be drafted.  Additional guidance will be provided as needed for implementation by school districts and BOCES with incentive opportunities as funding sources become available.  It is anticipated that staff will present the proposed regulatory language at the February 2013 meeting.   [P-12 (D) 1]

Innovative CTE Program Models – A panel of representatives from the CTE community discussed their respective program experiences and how their programs prepare students for future career pathways and/or college.   The Panel consisted of:

• Jessica Williams, Home and Career Skills teacher – Newark Valley Middle School
• Kate Boulamaali, Assistant Principal, High School for Fashion Industries – NYC
• Mr. Matt Champlin, CTE teacher, Cayuga Onondaga BOCES
• Tracy Musso, ELA teacher, Computer Systems & Network Administration program - Cayuga Onondaga BOCES
• Mr. Mark Harris, CTE Teacher, Computer Design/Manufacturing Technology program- Ulster BOCES

Discussion focused on the benefits to students that complete CTE programs and challenges facing schools and districts as they try to maintain their CTE programs.

Dignity Act Regulations – The Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations relating to the Dignity for all Students Act to significantly expand the scope and intent of the Dignity Act to include provisions on bullying and cyberbullying and to make the Act applicable in certain instances to conduct occurring off school property.  It is anticipated that the proposed amendments will be presented for action at the April Regents meeting, after publication of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the State Register and expiration of the 45-day public comment period.    [P-12 (D) 2]

K-12 Social Studies Update – The Committee discussed feedback received from the K-8 Common Core Social Studies Framework public survey and the Social Studies Content Advisory Panel, and the revisions that will be made to the Framework as a result of that feedback.  Also discussed was the draft 9-12 Common Core Social Studies Framework in light of the Board’s discussion of requiring two distinct units of study in Global History and Geography in grades 9 and 10.  Staff will come back to the Regents in April with a recommendation for revised P-8 and 9-12 Frameworks that reflect the CCLS and widespread public input.  [P-12 (D) 3]

Consent Agenda Items - The Committee discussed the following items scheduled for approval on the Full Board consent agenda:

• Petition of the Geneva City School District for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit.
• Special Education regulations relating to the Safety Net for Students with Disabilities to Graduate with a Local Diploma.