[node:field_meeting_type] | December 2004

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

SUMMARY:

The economy and demographics of New York State and the nation are rapidly changing. In order for USNY to be in the forefront of this change as it relates to education, it is essential that the Board of Regents and the State Education Department provide the support necessary to preserve and advance education as an important investment in the well-being of our society. As our State is evolving so must our strategic direction. Commissioner Mills has directed the Department�s leadership to begin to develop a forward-looking strategy, one affecting all parts of USNY to ensure our ability to meet our mission: to raise the knowledge, skill and opportunity for all the people in New York. We must create a strategy that results in a future that involves highly visible standard setting throughout USNY, state of the art testing and assessment, strong regional networks, compliance oriented regulations, a technology rich environment, melded systems, expedient customer service, performance driven data systems, enhanced capacity of the Trustees of USNY, maximization of resources, and needed staff capacity to achieve our mission.

The following is a summary of the current state of our staffing capacity and the work force trends affecting the State Education Department�s future. Taken from information you received in October, it includes the demographics of the work force today and changes projected over the next several years. There will be a presentation highlighting these trends and issues at the December meeting of the Board of Regents. Following the presentation, there will be a discussion of steps and strategies for developing the SED work force of the future.

Attachments

• SED Flow Chart

• Percent of SED Employees by Age Range

• Age Range of SED Employees

• Retirement Eligible based on Age & Classified Seniority Date Department Totals As of September 1, 2004

• Retirement Eligible based on Age & Classified Seniority Date by Program Area As of September 1, 2004

• Comparison of FTEs in 4/97 and 9/04

• State Education Department Employees by Years of Service

• State Education Department Percent of Employees by Occupational Category

The State Education Department is a dynamic organization responding to forces and changes both internal and external to this Department and State government. Significant among these are the aging of the work force and the economy and fiscal situation of the State. Both impact the staffing and capacity of the Department. Major trends impacting the SED work force include:

1. The baby boomers are aging out of the work force.

2. • Staff are retiring at higher rates than ever before.

   • People who graduated from high school or college in the 1960s and early 70s are retiring. Nationwide 25 million people will leave the work force between 1998 and 2008.

   • Approximately 50 percent of the SED work force are or will be of retirement age within the next five years. Based on age and years of service, 25% will certainly leave within the next five years.

   • More staff in SED are 60 years of age or older than 30 years of age or younger.

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3. The size of SED work force and the State work force is gradually decreasing.

4. • Program areas and offices within programs have lost and gained staff at different rates.

   • Deputies have made hard decisions to focus staff resources in specific areas. As a result there has been improved performance; examples include improved testing, licensing services, school facility reviews and Department-wide technology. Other areas at the same time have become lean.

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5. The capacity of the Department is affected by staff turnover.

6. • Significant institutional knowledge is lost with retiring staff.

   • Although new staff hired have less experience than those departing, they often bring new and different knowledge, skills and perspectives.

   • There are fewer staff/candidates available for succession planning purposes. Approximately 5% of the SED staff are under 30 years of age and 12.6% are between 30 and 39 years of age. There are no Executives/Administrators under 40. In the Professional category 2.24% are under 30, while 7.42% are between 30 and 39.