The  Proposed Regents Plan for the Next Stage of Educational Reform: Summary of Actions  and  Resource Requirements

 

Have staff, have funds     

Some staff, some funds but more requested

No staff, no funds but resources requested

Outside funding being explored (other State agency funding and foundation grant applications)

Included in the 2007-08 Regents Budget Proposal

 

Department-wide

EMSC

VESID

OCE

OHE

OMS – ITS  

* = New Request

                                                                    

1.        Promote a sustainable early education program for all high need students.  Resolve issues of standards, teacher quality, funding, and service delivery.

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

2007-08

2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Carry out the Regents early education policy. Key actions include:

·        Increase the number of children participating in Pre-K programs by 100,000, representing 75% of the estimated number of unserved children.

None (1)

Embargoed

None

None

None

None

None

None

·        Advocate for change in the compulsory school law.

X

None

None

None

X

None

None

None

·        Define and advocate for changes in the scope and funding of early childhood programs, including decisions on a supplemental foundation formula, universal coverage for pre-K, and a mixed private and public system for pre-K.

None

None

None (1)

None

None

Embargoed

$500,000*

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

4.0*

None

None

None

None

None

·        Make scientifically-based reading strategies available to all schools and teachers.

None

None

$2 million

annually*

None

None

None

None

None

·        Require improved screening of pre-academic, health and mental health needs of new students.

None

None

None

TBD (1a)

None

None

None

None

Through the USNY Cabinet on Early Education, collaborate with other children and family-oriented State agencies and community organizations to identify and help families through large-scale parent training and related services. Set targets for results.

None (3)

None(3)

None(3)

None(3)

None(3)

None(3)

None(3)

None(3)


 

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

2007-08

2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Increase literacy of children and parents by expanding proven programs in libraries, museums, public broadcasting. Set targets and advocate for resources.

·        Increase proven training programs for librarians and parents on how to teach reading. Use the resources of public television to help families develop literacy skills in their children, beginning at birth. All public libraries and PBS stations will offer robust programs of early literacy services.

None

None

$10 million*

None

X

None

2.0*

None

·        Increase participation in libraries’ statewide summer reading program from 1 million to 1.5 million children.

Annual:

$250,000 Federal

None

$1 million

annually*

None

.2

None

1.0*

None

·        Require museums receiving State aid to provide public and educational programs at no cost to families in poverty.

None

$30.0 million

(Museum Educ Act)

$30 million

annually

None

None

None

10.0*

None

 

2.        Improve academic outcomes for children with disabilities by setting performance targets, promoting promising practices, and holding schools accountable for dramatic improvements.

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

2007-08

2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Set annual State targets for improvement, publish performance data and hold low-performing school districts accountable, including redirecting federal IDEA funds in low-performing schools to improve performance.

$375,000+

$25.0 million

IDEA

None

None

$1.7 million

IDEA grant

None

12.5

None

None

None

Identify instructional practices contributing to poor student performance and help school districts identify and make improvements. Describe and promote effective practices, especially those addressing improved literacy and positive behavioral interventions, through district-to-district assistance.

$3.1 million +

IDEA above

None

None

None

None

None

35.5

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Direct VESID’s technical assistance resources to school improvements in literacy, behavioral supports and quality delivery of special education services. Expand availability and capacity of technical assistance centers to promote training and implementation for Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) in the Big 4 and within BOCES.

$14.5 million

None

None

None

1.0

None

None

None

Increase the number of students with disabilities transitioning directly from high schools to vocational rehabilitation training programs, employment and/or college.

$13.4 million

None

None

None

36.0

None

None

None

 


 

3.        Improve academic outcomes for English Language Learners by setting performance targets, promoting promising practices, and holding schools accountable for dramatic improvements.

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

2007-08

2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Set performance targets. Provide technical assistance to low performing schools through Department staff and existing regional networks. Publish results, and hold schools accountable for making Adequate Yearly Progress. Require those that do not meet targets to plan for improvement.  If progress is not sufficient, require schools to modify curriculum, redirect or eliminate funds, and replace educational personnel. 

$2.0 million

 

None

None

None

28.25

(IRS)

None

None

None

Create a community of practice, evaluate the programs and instruction ELLs are receiving, share best practices and require professional development on effective ELL practice as part of corrective action for low-performing schools. Seek advice from the Committee of Practitioners.

None

$6.7 million BETACs (4)

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

Expand public library services to 500,000 additional English Language Learners in the State’s 1,100 public library buildings, including library materials in multiple languages, English language classes, programs to help parents with children’s early literacy and homework, job information, and public access computers. Build on successful models in Queens, Hempstead, Glens Falls, and Westchester County. 

None

None

None

None

$2 million

annually*

None

None

None

None

None

None

None

3.0*

None

None

None

 


 

4.        Improve high school graduation and attendance rates by setting performance targets, promoting promising practices that have been shown to remove barriers to graduation, and holding schools accountable for dramatic improvements.

 

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

2007-08

2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Set a State standard of 90% for graduation rates, publish four- and five-year graduation rates by school, and specify a schedule of improvement targets for schools to close the gap between their graduation rate and State standard. Set first targets now for the students who entered 9th grade in 2004 and will graduate in 2008. This action is especially important to ensure that more schools intervene to help the most underserved students, such as Black males, English Language Learners, and students with disabilities.

See # 3 first action

None

None

None

See # 3 first action

None

None

None

Set a State standard for attendance. This is an ideal time for the Board of Regents to consider setting targets for high school attendance rates because New York is scheduled to begin using attendance rate as the third academic indicator for elementary and middle level in the 2007-2008 school year. Under New York’s approved NCLB accountability plan, attendance will replace the grade 4 and 8 science examinations that New York has used as its third academic indicator at the elementary/middle level.

See # 3 first action

None

None

None

See # 3 first action

None

None

None

Research and benchmark other states for effective, innovative strategies that improve high school graduation and attendance rates. Provide effective strategies to schools to enable them to achieve the State targets through regional networks.

New York Comprehensive Center

None

$125,000*

None

None

None

1.0*

 

None

Align the Regents and Big Five districts’ strategies for improving high school graduation.

$4.7 million

(Regional and NYC School

Improvement)

None

None

None

40.0

None

None

None

Benchmark the knowledge and strategies that link high school and college experiences in highly effective programs such as the Liberty Partnerships Program and the Science and Technology Entry Program, advocate for additional resources to reach more students, and promote good practices statewide to improve high school and college graduation rates among low income students.

None

 

$7.0 million*

(TA  to schools)

annually

 

$94,000 staff*

 

None

None

None

1.0*

None

Systematize linkages between the professions community and school districts to encourage middle and high school students to consider careers in the licensed professions, particularly in high-need areas, and help them to prepare for the advanced education they will need to qualify for licensure.

X

None

None

None

X

None

None

None

 


 

5.        Report college persistence and graduation results, and increase investment in programs that have been shown to remove barriers to graduation.

Actions:

Funding

Staffing (FTEs)

Existing

Budget Request

New/

Other

Existing