Report of Regents Higher Education Committee to The Board of Regents

The Higher Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on June 13, 2022. All members were present except for Regent Wade S. Norwood, who was excused. Regent Roger Tilles, Regent Elizabeth S. Hakanson, Regent Shino Tanikawa and Regent Roger P. Catania also attended the meeting but did not vote on any action.

ACTION ITEMS

Proposed Amendment of Sections 52.21 and 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and Section 30-3.2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents Relating to the Standards for School Building Leader Preparation Programs, Definition of ‘Leadership Standards” for Annual Professional Performance Reviews, and Safety Net for the School Building Leader Assessment [HE (A) 1] – Department staff presented proposed amendments to the Commissioner’s regulations to extend the date by which school building leader preparation programs must align with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSELs) to September 1, 2023, Annual Performance Assessment Reviews for school building leaders must align with the PSELs to the 2025-2026 school year, and the School Building Leader Assessment safety net will end August 31, 2025.

The Committee recommends that sections 52.21 and 80-1.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and section 30-3.2 of the Rules of the Board of Regents be amended, as submitted, as an emergency measure, effective June 14, 2022, upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to extend the date by which school building leader (SBL) preparation programs must be aligned with the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSELs), with some modifications, to on or after September 1, 2023, to provide programs with additional time to revise their curriculum, if needed, given the continuing challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The motion passed unanimously. 

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Proposed Amendment of Section 80-3.14 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Implementation Timeline for the Computer Science Statement of Continued Eligibility (SOCE) [HE (D) 1] - Department staff presented proposed amendments to the Commissioner’s regulations to extend the computer science SOCE application deadline to September 1, 2024 and extend the time period during which teachers must be employed as teachers of computer science courses to within seven years immediately preceding September 1, 2024 in order to be eligible for the computer science SOCE.

Deputy Commissioner William Murphy reviewed the items on the Consent Agenda.