SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Do the Regents approve the proposed work plan for the Regents College and Career Readiness Working Group? 

Proposed Handling

This item will come before the Regents EMSC Committee for discussion and approval at the February 2010 Regents meeting. 

Background Information

In November 2009, the Board of Regents approved a recommendation to create a Regents College and Career Readiness Working Group.  This group would be charged with developing recommendations for possible changes to the New York State high school diploma requirements and Regents exams to better align them with college and career readiness as well as a review of the GED policy and program.  In January 2010, the following members of the Board of Regents were appointed to serve on this Working Group:

Regent Bottar, Chair                                                   Regent Bowman

Chancellor Emeritus Bennett                                   Regent Tilles

Regent Cohen                                                               Regent Rosa

Regent Phillips                                                              Regent Young

              Attached is a proposed work plan and timeline for the work of this group.

Recommendation

That the Regents approve the proposed work plan and timeline for the Regents College and Career Readiness Working Group.   

                                                                                                                                            Attachment                                 

The Regents College and Career Readiness Working Group

Work Plan and Timeline

Outcomes

• The desired outcome is three sets of recommendations to be submitted to the             Board of Regents on the following topics:

• High School Diploma Requirements
• High School Assessments
• GED policy and program

Advisors

• A group of “advisors” will be appointed to meet with the Regents Working Group and             help to inform the discussions.  The Working Group will include:

• School Superintendents
• District Superintendents of Schools
• Principals
• Teachers
• Parents
• Higher Education representatives
• Business representatives
• Interest/Advocacy groups

Working Group Meetings

Meetings of the Working Group will be scheduled during the next fewmonths and will focus on the topics listed above (HS Diploma Requirements, HS Assessments and GED).  In advance of these meetings, the Chair of the Working Group will work with Department staff to develop policy discussion questions and background materials that will be provided to the members of the Working Group and the advisors to frame the discussion and guide the participants toward the development of recommendations. 

Working Group Recommendations

The Working Group’s recommendations will be presented to the Board of Regents for discussion and approval in July 2010.   A plan and timeline for the implementation of those recommendations approved by the Regents will be developed for the Regents subsequent approval.