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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 11, 2013.  All members were present. 

ACTION ITEMS

NYCDOE Charter School Renewal:  Mott Haven Academy Charter School

The NYCDOE Charter School Renewal for Mott Haven Academy Charter Schools was not acted on and will be presented to the Board of Regents at their April meeting.  [P-12 (A) 2]

NYCDOE Charter School Renewals

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 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, 2018.  

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 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, 2018

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 PAVE 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, 2018.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 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, 2018. 

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 ofThe 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, 2018.               

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 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,  2018. 

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed 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 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,  2018.  [P-12 (A) 5]

Board of Regents Authorized Charter School Renewals

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Niagara Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Niagara Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2014.

Your Committee recommends 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) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application 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 this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Rochester Academy Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2014.  Regent Betty Rosa abstained from the vote.   [P-12 (A) 3]

Regulations Relating to Renewal of Charters of Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents

          Your Committee recommends that section 119.7 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be added, as submitted, as an emergency action effective March 12, 2013, upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to immediately amend the Commissioner's Regulations to clarify procedures for the renewal of charters of charter schools for which the Board of Regents is the charter entity, and thereby ensure that decisions on pending charter renewals are timely made pursuant to the amended regulations.  It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the June 2013 Regents meeting, after publication in the State Register and expiration of the 45-day public comment period.  [P-12 (A) 4]

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 March 12, 2013, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Safe Schools Task Force – In January, the Board of Regents directed the Department to reestablish the Safe Schools Task Force which will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor and Commissioner and will be charged with advising the Department in the following areas:

• The effectiveness of the current regulations and guidance governing school building safety and positive learning environments,
• How to reframe the exiting Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting System (VADIR) in combination with the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) reporting requirements to better identify key safety issues and establish a safe school climate for effective teaching and learning (including potential recommendations for legislative changes regarding VADIR),
• The design and effectiveness of District and school building safety plans in preparing students and educators for emergency events,
• The use of the Diagnostic Tool for School and District Effectiveness (DTSDE) to examine school climate and culture, and
• The role and responsibility of the New York State Center for School Safety (NYSCSS). 

The Committee discussed the recommendation and the Board of Regents directed representatives from the Department to work with various outside organizations and agencies to assist and advise the Board of Regents and the Department on these areas.  In addition to those presented, Committee members requested that NYSOCFS, Healthy Schools and EPIC be added to the list of organizations and agencies invited to be represented on the task force.  It is anticipated that the first meeting of the task force will be held in late April and the subgroups will begin meeting in June.  [P-12 (D) 1]

Charter School Office Update – The Committee was provided with an update on the academic performance of the Board of Regents authorized portfolio of public charter schools; activities of the Department's Charter School Office in carrying out the Board of Regents public charter school authorizing and oversight role and responsibility; and a summary of New York charter schools.  Discussion focused on the Charter School Performance Framework and the specific benchmarks that charter schools are expected to meet.  [P-12 (D) 2]

P-12 Online and Blended Learning Panel – To have an updated sense of what virtual learning looks like in P-12 education, the Committee invited a panel of educators to discuss different examples of virtual learning programs and their benefits and achievement outcomes to students currently enrolled in programs at their schools. The panel members were:

• Ty Cesene, Principal, Bronx Arena High School, New York City Department of Education.  Bronx Arena High School utilizes multiple approaches of blended learning to differentiate and personalize the educational experience for over-aged and under-credited students.
• Ann Collins, Principal, Hugh Gregg Elementary School, Corning-Painted Post Area School District.  Corning-Painted Post Area SD uses the Northwest Evaluation Association’s (NWEA) MAP computerized adaptive testing system, and the web-based DIBELS Data System, to drive instructional practice and improve student learning.
• Dr. Kelli Eckdahl, e-Learning Director, EduTech (Genesee Valley and Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES).  EduTech (an educational partnership between Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES and Genesee Valley) is a grantee in NYSED’s Virtual Advanced Placement (VAP) Program, which was recently funded through federal Race to the Top dollars. For the past 10 years, EduTech has managed AccelerateU, which offers more than 150 online courses.
• Dr. Angela M. Nagle, Superintendent, East Greenbush Central School District.  East Greenbush CSD provides distance education classes to students through the BOCES Distance Learning Network, a network of 43 schools that collaborates across 12 counties.  

In addition to hearing from each panel member about their specific programs, the panelists held an in-depth conversation with the Regents on plans to increase student participation and the challenges and benefits associated with online and blended learning.    [P-12 (D) 3]

Nondiploma Exiting Credential for Students with Disabilities – the Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations relating to a nondiploma exiting credential for students with disabilities that they would earn upon graduation that would recognize the student’s preparation for entry level employment. Discussion focused on recommendations received through public comment which offered both support and concern for the proposed amendments.  It is anticipated that staff will come back in April for further discussion and that the revised proposed amendment will be presented for emergency adoption at the June Regents meeting.  This timetable would ensure that the certificate is in place with the June 30, 2013 repeal of individualized education program (IEP) diploma.  [P-12 (D) 4]

This concludes our report.