BOARD OF REGENTS
History Of The Board Of Regents
Established by the New York State Legislature on May 1, 1784, the Regents
of The University of the State of New York form the oldest, continuous state
education entity in America.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BOARD IN RELATION TO THE FOLLOWING:
- University of the State of New York
- State Education Department
- School District Organization and State Aid
- Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education
- Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals With Disabilities
- Higher and Professional Education
- Cultural Education
- The Professions
GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE BOARD
New York State's education system has antecedents in both English and Dutch colonial education. The Dutch, concerned with providing widespread general education, established tax-supported common schools under church and state control in most of New Netherland's communities. Under the English, who established a system of private or church-supported academies, emphasis was placed on advanced education of the elite, and the common school system of the Dutch all but disappeared.
In 1754 the first college in the colony, King's College,was founded in New York City under a royal charter and was ruled by a board of governors designated by the colonial government. In 1784 (Chapter 51) the legislature enacted the first University of the State of New York to act as governing body of King's College, which was renamed Columbia College. This board was also authorized to found and endow additional colleges in the State. This act designated the governor, lieutenant governor, president of the senate, speaker of the assembly, mayors of Albany and New York, attorney general, secretary of state, and twenty-four other persons as the Board of Regents.
Three years later (Laws of 1787, Chapter 82) board membership was changed to the governor, lieutenant governor, and nineteen members appointed by the legislature, and the functions of the Board were significantly altered. Relieved of direct operating responsibility for Columbia College, the board was authorized to charter new colleges and to exercise general supervision over Columbia and any new colleges. At the same time the board was charged with supervision of all academies, authorized to charter new ones, and empowered to make monetary grants to colleges and academies.
During its first year of operation the reorganized Board of Regents recommended State support for public schools. However, no action was taken until 1795 (Chapter 75), when the legislature appropriated $100,000 a year for each of the next five years to encourage the establishment of common schools under the supervision of town commissioners.Further action to encourage public education was taken in 1805(Chapter 66) when the comptroller was authorized to sell certain State lands and use the proceeds to establish a "permanent fund for the support of public schools."
In 1812 (Chapter 242), the Common School Act provided the basis for a statewide system of public elementary schools. The act created a superintendent of common schools, appointed by the Council of Appointment, to "prepare plans for the improvement and management of the common school fund, and for the better organization of common schools." The office of superintendent was abolished in 1821 (Chapter 240) and its duties transferred to the secretary of state, who served ex officio as superintendent of common schools. The following year (Chapter 256) the ex officio superintendent was given the authority to hear and decide appeals from the decisions of local school officials and boards.