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 9^th 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	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Publish freshman to sophomore student persistence and graduation rates of associate and baccalaureate programs in New York State. Analyze by sector, proportion of under-represented students, and other key criteria. Draw comparisons to national averages and to states with similar demographics.	$57,425	$982,000	$61,000*	None	.5	1.0	1.0*	None
Research and benchmark practices that improve persistence and graduation rates. Share them with colleges and universities through field visits, best practices guidelines, forums, and web-based resources, and help them to replicate successful strategies.	None	$305,000	None	None	None	3.0	None	None
Seek additional investment to expand the State’s highly effective opportunity programs for low income students.	None	$34 million* aid to localities	$188,000 staff*	None	None	None	2.0*	None
Monitor high-risk institutions and take action when standards are not met.	$345,000	$271,000  staff $30,000 field team support*	None	None	3.0	3.0	None	None
Require colleges and universities to provide prospective students with accurate information on the institution, job placement, and/or transfer opportunities before they enroll.	X	None	None	None	X	None	None	None

6. Raise the learning standards to exceed global standards to graduate all students ready for citizenship, work, and continued education.   Align standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction across P-16, emphasizing transitions.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request			New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08		2008-09
Adopt a schedule and process to raise the student learning standards, using expert panels. The schedule will address standards in science, U.S. and global history and geography, English and other languages, and pre-kindergarten.  Benchmark the standards of other states and nations to match the demands of citizenship, higher education, and work. Align standards, assessment, curriculum, and instruction from P-12 and between high school and college.	None	$14 million	$400,000*	$1.35 million for renewal of 9 standards areas	None	19.0	3.0* (5)		None
Revise State assessments based on the higher standards.	None	None	None	$500,000  for each exam (6)	None	None	None		None
Make online professional development courses available to all teachers, (such as the DOE-funded PBS TeacherLine NY and NYS Virtual Learning System). Create standards-aligned content with teacher guides, extensive online library resources, and interactive flexibility to fit classroom needs.	$2.5 million Federal None	$10 million* Annually None	$5 million* additional annually None	None None	3.0 None	None None	6.0* 5.0*		None None

7. Strengthen instruction.   Define, reduce, and then eliminate the inequitable distribution of teaching talent.   Require all teachers of core academic subjects to be highly qualified in the subject they are teaching by July 2007. Improve teacher retention.   Focus professional development on promising instructional practices.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Ensure all students are taught by qualified, certified teachers.  · Require all teachers in core academic subjects to be certified in the subject they are teaching by July 2007. · Report the percentage of low income and minority students, as compared to other students, who are assigned unqualified, out-of-field, and inexperienced teachers in core courses. · Set escalating targets to reduce the percentage of inexperienced teachers authorized to teach in SURR schools and Schools in Need of Improvement (SINI).	Unknown None	None None	None $1.5 million* Upgrade to TEACH system	None None	Unknown None	None None	None 1.0*	None None
Expand the pool of qualified teachers in areas where they are needed most, based on school district need. Identify specific needs and set targets.	Unknown	$564,000*	None	None	None	None	None	8.0 OT revenue* (7)

Actions:	Funding					Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request			New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09				2007-08	2008-09
· Revise the teacher certification structure to provide greater flexibility (e.g., reciprocity options for out-of-state teachers) without compromising quality.	X	None		None	None	X	None	None	None
· Provide regional teacher supply and demand data to school districts and colleges to align workforce demands, the types of teacher education programs colleges decide to offer or expand, and the subjects in which prospective teachers seek certification.	X	None		None	None	X	None	None	None
· Expand the Teachers of Tomorrow Program and the Teacher Opportunity Corps to provide incentives to an additional 7,500 qualified teachers to teach in school districts with shortages and to provide an additional 1,200 teachers with training, professional development, and mentoring.	None	None		$280,000* (for staff) + $25.0 million Teachers for Tomorrow* + $2.0 million  for TOC*	None	None	None	2.0* Teachers for Tomorrow + 1.0 * for TOC	None
· Foster new alternate teacher education programs where they are most needed and support the development and expansion of innovative programs that link the P-12, higher education, the business, community, and other USNY partners.	None	$115,000		None	Grant proposal to fund the Planting the Seed program under development	None	1.0 to facilitate new alternative teacher ed programs	None	None
Strengthen the knowledge and skills of teachers and prospective teachers by assessing teacher education programs and professional development and improving as needed. · Review requirements for teacher preparation based on areas of greatest academic need. Work with colleges and universities to establish a schedule for strengthening the content of teacher education programs so that all new teachers have necessary knowledge and skills in four priority areas – literacy, mathematics, teaching students with disabilities, and teaching English Language Learners.  Evaluate and incorporate recognized effective practices in teacher education programs as needed.	None	$345,000		None	None	Unknown	3.0 (8)	None	None

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
· Partner with the New York Comprehensive Center to ensure faculty in college teacher education programs prepare all prospective teachers to use scientifically based reading instruction in the classroom.	New York Comprehensive Center	None	None	None	None	None	None	None
· Evaluate the quality of professional development and ensure current teachers get adequate knowledge and skills in how to teach reading and other key areas. Align the 175-hour professional development requirement with effective instructional practices related to improving student achievement. Monitor school districts’ implementation.	Unknown X	None None	None $375,000*	None None	None X	None None	None 3.0*	None None
· Using recommendations from the USNY Technology Policy and Practices Council, integrate technology into teacher education programs and professional development and into classroom resources. Insist that technology resources be provided equitably among all students and educators.	X None	None $500,000	None None	None None	X None	None 3.0	None None	None None

8. Advocate for a Foundation Formula to provide State Aid that is adequate, sustainable, fair, and commensurate with the cost of educational programs that enable students to meet the standards.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Advocate with the Executive and Legislature for a foundation formula that is adequate, sustainable, fair and commensurate with the cost of educational programs that enable students to meet the standards. The Regents have estimated that the total additional amount in foundation aid needed will be about $6 billion.	X	None	None	None	X	None	None	None
Enlist the help of major statewide organizations and the Education Finance Advisory Group to advocate, preparing articles for publications distributed by major statewide organizations, and preparing materials for distribution at meetings and for posting on the web	X	None	None	None	X	None	None	None

9. Strengthen the capacity of the State Education Department to support schools and postsecondary institutions as they work to improve student outcomes and the Department’s capacity to hold them accountable for doing so.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Advocate for the Regents 2007-08 budget proposal for additional staff to enhance our ability to help schools strengthen instruction and fiscal management, monitor and hold schools accountable for results, and prevent fraud, waste and abuse of school resources.  With these resources, the Department will:
· Benchmark effective actions to improve results in middle and high school.	X (9)	None	None	None	X	None	None	None
· Develop an early warning system for local school districts to better understand their financial status and prevent fiscal distress.	None None	$0.3 million None	None $1.5 million*	None None	None None	None None	None 2.0*	None None
· Streamline local districts’ requirements for requesting and accounting for State Aid.	X	$5.0 million	None	None	X	None	2.0	None
· Provide expert support to implement internal controls in fiscally distressed school districts.	None	$1.0 million	None	None	None	10.0	None	None
· Deploy academic intervention teams to help low performing schools and school districts.	None	$13.0 million	None	None	None	None	None	None
· Expand the Department’s program monitoring to ensure that districts are in compliance with State and federal requirements for school improvement.	X X	$3.1 million $.4 million	None None	None None	X X	24.0 EMSC 7.0 VESID	None None	None None
· Increase the Department’s audit staff to ensure that fiscal resources are used effectively and that data are accurate and reliable.	X	$2.4 million	None	None	X	24.0	None	None

10. Create a P-16 student data system to drive improvements in graduation rates in high school and higher education.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Benchmark existing P-16 data systems in other states.	X	None	None	None	None	None	None	11.0  (8 ITS;    3 OHE)
Engage all the partners in K-12 and in SUNY and CUNY. Define the system requirements in terms of expected outcomes, content (the data elements), personnel, and  technology. Establish a schedule to construct the system.	None	None	$5.3 million*	None	None	None	7.0*
Begin an initial project with SUNY and CUNY to identify, collect, integrate, and report on pertinent data to meet mutual goals. Create a fully integrated system for public schools, colleges, and universities.	None	None	$5 million*	None	None	None	4.0*

11. Reduce barriers to teaching and learning in high need schools by creating a vision and leadership framework for an integrated education, health and mental health collaboration.  Promote strategies found to be promising in resolving high incident health and mental health problems among children.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Establish an interagency health and mental health council to (1) create a vision and framework for an integrated education, health and mental health collaboration focusing on high need schools, and (2) set goals, annual measurable targets, and actions to achieve them.	None	None	$250,000*	TBD (10)	None	None	2.0*	None
Working with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and other stakeholders, develop a preliminary Children’s Mental Health Plan to address coordinated services, identification and dissemination of best practices, data collection and reporting across systems, building a qualified and adequately trained workforce, and identifying required appropriations for implementation. Maximize impact of OMH’s Children’s Initiative funding on highest need schools and ensure replication of the most effective intervention models.	None	None	None		None	None	None	None
Develop guidelines that incorporate social and emotional development into elementary and secondary school programs.	None	None	None		None	None	None	None

12. Create a P-16 Council to advise the Regents on actions to improve student outcomes dramatically at each transition point in the P-16 system.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Benchmark the best of the 30 states that currently have P-16 strategies and councils.  Benchmark also the nations with the highest performance on international assessments, and highest high school and college completion rates.	Leadership Academy Graduates	None	None	None	Lead’shpAcademy Grads	None	None	None
Regents adopt a vision, mission and goals for a P-16 Council, then appoint distinguished leaders of USNY, business, the community and parents to serve.  The Commissioner will appoint expert staff to support the Council.	Council – None Leaders - X	None None	None None	$200,000 None	None X	None None	None None	2.0 None
Regents approve the annual charge to the Council and receive quarterly reports on Council recommendations.	X	None	None	None	X	None	None	None
The Commissioner will provide for an independent evaluation of Council recommendations and Regents response.	None	None	None	$200,000	None	None	None	None

13. Identify resources and adopt policy to focus regional USNY networks on joint action on a P-16 strategy to improve student outcomes.

Actions:	Funding				Staffing (FTEs)
	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other	Existing	Budget Request		New/ Other
		2007-08	2008-09			2007-08	2008-09
Evaluate the effectiveness of current technical assistance and professional development activities provided through the regional networks and adjust their responsibilities as needed. Establish policy for the regional education networks in helping to close the achievement gap. Identify resources and the roles of the participants in the regional network strategy in implementing the P-16 strategy.	$200,000 to evaluate effectiveness of TA and PD	None	None	None	None	See 24.0 for school improve- ment in # 9 above	None	None

Footnotes:

(1) Early Childhood

(1a)  To be determined as discussions with other key State agencies progress.  Funds will be sought through foundation application grants.

(2)  State Aid

(3) To be determined as discussions with other key State agencies progress.

(4) Teacher Institutes ($5,000-$10,000 per Institute); Teacher Leadership Academy ($650,000/yr); Intensive Teacher Institutes ($1 million/yr); Administrators          Leadership Academy ($350,000).

(5)  External funds must be identified in 2006-07 to fund these positions or the standards renewal activities must be deferred until staff can be hired.

(6)  If extensive revisions are needed to 16 exams, it could cost $8 million in new resources.

(7) These staff will be needed to handle added volume for these actions and ensure that qualified teachers are certified promptly.

(8)   Funding to the New York Comprehensive Center already provided by the USDOE to support States in carrying out NCLB and strengthening teacher quality.

(9)  With the assistance of the New York Comprehensive Center.

(10)  To be determined as discussions with other key State agencies progress.  Funds will be sought through foundation application grants.