Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board of Regents
Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 16, 2015. All members were present, except for Regent Tallon who was excused.
ACTION ITEMS
Advanced Designation Diploma and Pathway Requirements [P-12 (A) 1]
Your Committee recommends that clause (f) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a), subparagraph (v) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b), and paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended as submitted, effective March 17, 2015, upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare to immediately adopt technical amendments to: (1) clarify the requirements for earning a Regents Diploma with advanced designation by students who elect to meet the requirements for a Regents diploma through the mathematics or science pathway options; and (2) allow students to earn a Regents diploma through the humanities pathway by passing either an additional Regents assessment or Department approved alternative in a different course in Social Studies or in English; and thereby allow for their timely implementation in the 2014-2015 school year.
Democracy Prep Endurance Charter School [P-12 (A) 2]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed revised charter: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) 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 Democracy Prep Endurance Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
Renewal Decisions for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 3]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Brighter Choice Elementary Charter School for Boys: (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 Brighter Choice Elementary Charter School for Boys and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2018.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Brighter Choice Elementary Charter School for Girls: (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 Brighter Choice Elementary Charter School for Girls and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2018.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Charter School for Applied Technologies: (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 for Applied Technologies and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2020.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Southside 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 Southside Charter School and that a renewal charter be issued, and that is provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2017.
The motion was approved by the Committee with Regent Finn opposing and Regent Bendit abstaining.
Conversion Charter School in Tuxedo Union Free School District [P-12 (A) 4]
Your Committee recommends that the Regents find that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues a charter and provisional charter to the Tuxedo STEM Academy at George F. Baker High School Conversion Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with §2851(2)(p) of the Education Law.
A motion was made by Regent Phillips, and seconded by Regent Tilles, to approve and issue a charter and provisional charter to the Tuxedo STEM Academy at George F. Baker High School Conversion Charter School for a term of five years in accordance with section 2851(2)(p) of the Education Law. The motion was defeated by a vote of 8 to 1, with Regent Bendit abstaining.
A second motion was made to return the item to the Tuxedo Board of Education to address programmatic and fiscal concerns. This motion was approved by the Committee with Regent Bendit abstaining.
2015 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Waiver Renewal Application
[P-12 (A) 5]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents directs the Commissioner of Education and the State Education Department to submit an ESEA Waiver Renewal Request for 2015-16 through 2018-19 and associated waiver amendments to the United States Department of Education based upon the materials provided to the Board of Regents in the attachments to this item.
Charter Renewal Recommendations Authorized by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education [P-12 (A) 6]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2019.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the KIPP AMP Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter with the current maximum enrollment be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2018.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the KIPP Infinity Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2019.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Teaching Firms of America-Professional Prep Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter with the current maximum enrollment be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2017.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2015.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that the proposed charter school: (1) meets the requirements set out in Article 56 of the Education Law, and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations; (2) will operate in an educationally and fiscally sound manner; (3) 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) will have a significant educational benefit to the students expected to attend the charter school, and the Board of Regents therefore approves and issues the renewal charter of the Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2020.
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 March 17, 2015, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.
MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION
Creation of the Online Learning Advisory Council – the Committee discussed the establishment of the Online Learning Advisory Council as required by Chapter 513 of the Laws of 2014. In order to comply with the membership requirements and ensure that the diversity of New York State school environments is represented, the five members appointed by the Commissioner will include:
- A representative from a rural district;
- A representative from a suburban district;
- A representative from a Big 5 district;
- A representative from a smaller urban district; and
- A second representative from one of the above categories
Once all members are appointed, the Department will convene the advisory council and assign committees as deemed necessary to inform the development of the final report. [P-12 (D) 1]
Development of a New York Statewide School Climate Index – due to time constraints, this item has been moved to the April Regents meeting for discussion. [P-12 (D) 2]
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and New York State’s Structure of Support – the Committee was provided with information on the Department’s initiatives related to Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and information on how PBIS provides a framework to improve school climate, reduce suspensions and improve outcomes for all students. Panelists from three schools and a representative of the NYS PBIS TAC discussed the multi-tiered system of support and their PBIS implementation and results. Panel Members included: Kevin Quinn - NYS PBIS TAC Representative; Ray Raefski, Principal at Hawthorne Cedar Knolls; Patti LaBarr Principal at Harold T. Wiley School in Watertown; and Erika Tobia Principal at P.S. 41(Gun Hill Road School) in the Bronx. [P-12 (D) 3]
Reimbursement for Preschool Special Education Itinerant Services – the Committee discussed proposed amendment of section 200.9 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, relating to the reimbursement methodology for preschool Special Education Itinerant Services (SEIS). The proposed amendment would provide that reimbursement is to be paid upon the actual provision of SEIS to the student, in conformity with Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2014; allow flexibility in how the minimum billable units of service adjustment are applied; and clarify that consultation with a student’s regular early childhood provider is an expected function of a special education itinerant teacher. The amendment will be brought back to the Regents at their June meeting for approval. [P-12 (D) 4]
Consent Agenda
The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda item at their March 17, 2015 meeting.
- Regulations relating to School Use of Epinephrine Auto Injectors.