Committee Report | November 2012

Report of

REGENTS P-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE

to

The Board of Regents

November 5, 2012

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on November 5, 2012.  All members were present, except for Chancellor Emeritus Bennett, Regent Dawson and Regent Norwood, who were excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Charter
School
Renewal Policy and Performance Framework for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents approves the Charter School Renewal Policy and endorses the Charter School Performance Framework as described in this item, and directs staff to revise and update the Performance Framework, in consultation with the field, as necessary, consistent with the Charter School Renewal Policy and the guiding principles outlined in the Performance Framework.  [P-12 (A) 1]

New Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents take the following actions:

That the Board of Regents approves and issues a charter and provisional charter to the Great Oaks Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

That the Board of Regents approves and issues charters to the New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science III, the New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities III, the New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and Science IV, and the New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities IV, and a provisional charter to New Visions Charter Schools to operate such schools, for terms of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

That the Board of Regents approves and issues a charter and provisional charter to The New American Academy Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

That the Board of Regents approves and issues a charter and provisional charter to the Unity Preparatory Academy Charter School of Brooklyn for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.

That the Board of Regents approves and issues a charter and provisional charter to the Utica Academy of Science Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.  [P-12 (A) 3]

Special Education Impartial Hearings

Your Committee recommends that action on the proposed amendments to subdivision (x) of section 200.1, paragraphs (3), (4) and (5) of subdivision (j) of section 200.5, and paragraph (9) of subdivision (h) of section 200.16 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to Special Education Impartial Hearings be deferred until the December meeting to allow additional time for Committee members to engage in discussions with their constituents and receive feedback on the proposed regulations.   [P-12 (A) 4]

MOTION FOR ACTION BY FULL BOARD


Madam Chancellor and Colleagues: Your P-12 Education Committee recommends, and we move, that the Board of Regents act affirmatively upon each recommendation in the written report of the Committee's deliberations at its meeting on November 5, 2012, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Seal of Biliteracy – The Committee discussed the State Seal of Biliteracy which was established to recognized high school graduates who have attained a “high level of proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English.”  This was signed into law by the Governor on July 31, 2012 and the Regents are now required to develop regulations to implement the provisions of this legislation.  Discussion focused on the criteria that students must meet and procedures districts must follow in order to award the NYS Seal of Biliteracy.  Department staff proposed that a Seal of Biliteracy Workgroup be created to provide advice on criteria for determining a high level of proficiency in languages other than English.  Staff will draft new regulations for Regents consideration at a future meeting.  [P-12 (D) 1]

Common Core Grade 9-12 Social Studies Framework and Graduation Requirements – The Committee continued their discussions around graduation requirements for social studies and the grades 9-12 social studies frameworks.  The Social Studies Content Advisory Panel met in October 2012 and recommends, consistent with the Board discussion in September, that the Global History and Geography course of  study be divided into two separate and distinct units of study required for graduation.  The Panel presented three options for this, where all three options include a Unit of Study 1 and a Unit of Study 2.  The Panel further recommends that if only one Regents exam were to be offered, that it focus only on Unit of Study 2.  Staff will gather feedback from the field concerning the development of these frameworks and bring back additional recommendations to the Committee at a future meeting.  [P-12 (D) 2]
Wrap-around, Full-service and Community-oriented Schools – A panel of experts was assembled and asked to share community-oriented approaches in their respective local settings and to discuss the benefits of community-oriented, wrap-around services, school design and how these lead to increased student achievement.

LawrenceWright, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at the Geneva City School District.

Anne Nowak, Coordinator at the Sweet Home Family Support Center.

The Committee discussed full-service and community-oriented schools and the services they provide to surrounding communities including academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and family and community engagement. 

Consent Agenda Items - The Committee discussed the following items scheduled for approval on the Full Board consent agenda:

• Petition of the Rome City School District for Consent to Exceed the Constitutional Debt Limit.
• ESEA Waiver.

November 5, 2012