THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234 |
TO: |
Full Board |
FROM: |
Johanna Duncan-Poitier |
SUBJECT: |
Annual
Report of the State Professional Standards and Practices Board for
Teaching |
DATE: |
July 29,
2005 |
STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goal 3 |
AUTHORIZATION(S): |
|
Issue for
Discussion
Annually, the State Professional Standards and Practice Board for Teaching reports on its activities over the past year. This is the Board’s seventh annual report.
For Information.
Proposed
Handling
The Board co-chairs will present an oral report of the Standards Board’s activities during 2004-2005. They will be available for questions and discussion after their presentation.
Procedural
History
The Board of Regents instituted an annual reporting requirement when it established the Standards Board.
Background
Information
The attachment is provided as background for the Board’s report. It contains a summary of activities for the period September 2004 through June 2005.
Recommendation
Not applicable
Attachment
Board
Activities and Accomplishments
During 2004-2005, the Standards Board began an examination of various
proposals to strengthen teaching. The effort began with a presentation by the
executive director of The Teaching Commission, on the recommendations contained
in its report, “Teaching at Risk: A Call to Action.” In response to an
invitation to statewide organizations to comment on The Teaching Commission’s
report, the Board heard presentations by National Education Association and New
York State School Boards Association.
The Board continued the work begun last year to increase awareness and
dissemination throughout the State of the Code of Ethics for Educators. Several
Board members made presentations at statewide meetings of the following
organizations:
Association of Colleges of
Teacher Education
April 2005
The Standards Board completed the second year of
participation in the Regents Accreditation of Teacher Education (RATE) program.
The Board’s Higher Education Subcommittee acted on RATE accreditation reviews of
seven teacher education institutions. This entailed a panel reviewing staff
reports and recommendations, and then making a Board recommendation regarding
the accreditation status of each institution’s teacher education programs. The
Subcommittee also continued to advise the Department concerning the development
of RATE program, recommending a number of refinements and improvements to the
review process that have been subsequently implemented by staff. Board members
and staff also began planning for an additional review responsibility beginning
next year, when submission of progress reports of previously reviewed
institutions will begin.
The following RATE reviews were conducted in 2004-2005:
· Ithaca
College
· Marist
College
· Barnard
College
· College
of New Rochelle
· Wells
College
· Daemen
College
· Pratt
Institute
On March 24, Board members visited key
Executive and Legislative staff members and Legislators. For this fourth year of visits, members focused
on the need to strengthen teaching through support of mentoring programs,
Teacher Centers, the Regents school funding formula and new scholarship and
incentive awards for teachers.
In May, the Board held its monthly meeting in New York City, hosted by
Pace University. Members had the opportunity to visit PS 64 and IS 218 to gain
insight into recruitment and retention efforts, and to visit Pace High School,
established under the New
Visions New Century Small School program. In addition, Lincoln Center presented
information on aesthetic education and its inclusion in teacher preparation
programs at New York City colleges and universities.
A summary list of the Board’s accomplishments during the past year
appears on the following page.
State
Professional Standards and Practices Board for
Teaching
Board
Activities and Accomplishments
Dissemination activities
continued. Board members made presentations on the Code of Ethics to statewide
organizations: SAANYS, NYSPTA, NYSSBA, NYSATE/NYACTE, and NYSCOSS. Code of
Ethics poster was reprinted and made available to the field through the
Department’s Publications Warehouse.
Completed draft of standards
for mentoring programs. Reviewed and made recommendations on staff draft of an assessment rubric for
development of district mentoring programs.
Meetings held with key
Legislators and staff and Executive staff members on March 24, 2005.
May
meeting in New York City, with focus on school recruitment and retention
efforts, aesthetic education in teacher preparation programs, and the
New
Visions New Century Small School Program.
Review and action on 102
cases brought under Part 83 of Commissioner’s Regulations pertaining to teacher
moral character requirements. (Professional Practices
Subcommittee)
Regents
Accreditation of Teacher Education (RATE)
Review
of staff reports and recommendations on accreditation of teacher education
programs at seven institutions under the RATE program. Recommendations to staff
on refinements to RATE review process, a number of which have been implemented.
Planning for review of institutional progress reports, an additional Board
responsibility that begins September 2005. (Higher Education Subcommittee)
Regulatory Amendment:
Validity Period of Initial Certificate
Review of proposed
amendment to Commissioner’s Regulations changing the validity period of the
Initial classroom teaching certificate from 3 to 5 years. Reaffirmed support of
the proposed amendment.
Regulatory Amendment:
Full-time Faculty Requirement
Review of proposed
amendment to Commissioner’s Regulations allowing for exception to full-time
faculty rule for teacher preparation programs. Recommended against amending the
regulation.
Began review and
recommendations on proposed amendment to Commissioner’s Regulations establishing
certification requirements for school leaders.
Approved
the Teacher Center 2005 Expenditure Plan.
Began
discussion of ways to improve teaching, beginning with examination of The
Teaching Commission’s report, “Teaching at Risk: A Call to Action.” Presentation
by The Teaching Commission, followed by presentations in response from the
National Education Association and New York State School Boards Association.
Videotape
Review Panel (ATS-P)
Participation
of individual members on NYSTCE Performance Assessment of Teaching Skills
(ATS-P) Review Panels during the January and April 2005 scoring
sessions.