Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on January 22, 2018.  All members were present, except for Vice Chancellor Brown, Regent Norwood, and Regent Johnson, who were excused.

ACTION ITEMS

Revision to a Charter Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that: (1) the charter school meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the charter school can demonstrate the ability to operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the request to amend the charter is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of Article 56 of the Education Law; and (4) granting the request to amend the charter will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the charter revision for the Charter School of Educational Excellence and amends the provisional charter accordingly.  Motion passed.  Regent Mittler was in opposition; Regents Collins, Mead, and Reyes abstained.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 2 REVISED]

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Charter School of Educational Excellence: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Charter School of Educational Excellence and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.  Motion passed.  Regents Collins, Mead, and Reyes abstained.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Great Oaks Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Great Oaks Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2022.  Motion passed.  Regent Collins abstained.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Harlem Hebrew Language Academy Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant 7 educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Harlem Hebrew Language Academy Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2022.  Motion passed.  Regents Collins and Reyes abstained.

Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Utica Academy of Science Charter School: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) the applicant can demonstrate the ability to operate the school in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) granting the application is likely to improve student learning and achievement and materially further the purposes set out in subdivision two of section twenty-eight hundred fifty of this article; and (4) granting the application would have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves the renewal application of the Utica Academy of Science Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.  Motion passed.  Regents Collins, Mead, and Mittler abstained.

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 January 23, 2018, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Senior Deputy Commissioner’s Report – Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert updated the Committee on the following important initiative.

• Arts Assessment Pathway – On January 16, Chancellor Rosa, Regent Tilles, Regent Johnson, Commissioner Elia, and other SED staff held a meeting to discuss the Arts pathway to graduation.  Carolyn Adams and Kathy Colletti, from the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Arts were also in attendance.
• Professional Learning Team (PLT) – On January 9, the Professional Learning Team, led by Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert, held their second meeting at the Capital Region BOCES to discuss strategies around the rollout of the Next Generation Learning Standards.  The group will have the final roadmap in place by February 1.

Innovative Strategies to Maximize Access to the Federal Child Nutrition Programs [P-12 (D) 1] – the Committee was provided with an update regarding the Department’s efforts to expand access to all federal child nutrition programs and to optimize technology to improve program integrity, efficiency, transparency, and the availability of services.  NYSED is responsible for administering one of the largest National School Lunch Programs and the largest Summer Food Service Program in the country. New York State schools and summer sponsors annually receive more than $1 billion in federal reimbursements for meals prepared and served to children. These funds not only support the local economy but provide New York State children access to quality nutritious foods that promote normal growth, development, and readiness to learn. SED’s Child Nutrition Program Administration (CNPA) staff work closely with school administrators, business officials, and foodservice personnel to provide training, technical assistance, and guidance to assist schools in providing the highest level of services to their students.  SED will continue to maximize efforts to engage sustainable program partnerships, and expand community awareness to increase participation and access to these vital programs.

Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to Health Education [P-12 (D) 2] – the Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations that conform Commissioner’s regulations to Education Law §804 as amended by Chapter 390 of the Laws of 2016 and Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2017.  The amendments clarify that required health education in schools must include instruction in mental health. The statutory amendments further provide that such instruction shall be designed to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behaviors that promote health, well-being, and human dignity. The proposed amendments to Commissioner’s regulations additionally require instruction on the prevention and detection of certain cancers.  Committee members requested a review of who will be teaching these new standards.