Report of Regents P-12 Education Committee to The Board of Regents
Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on March 12, 2018. All members were present.
ACTION ITEMS
Laboratory Experiences Required in Order to Take a Science Regents Examination for Students in State Agency Educational Programs and Correctional Facilities [P-12 (A) 1]
Your Committee recommends that clause (d) of subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of §100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective March 13, 2018, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare in order to ensure that certain students who are attending educational programs administered pursuant to Education Law §112 and Part 116 or Part 118 of the Commissioner’s regulations are aware that the 1,200 minutes of laboratory experience required to qualify to take a Regents examination in science may be met through a combination of hands-on and simulated laboratory experience. It is also necessary to ensure that such programs are on notice that they must provide appropriate laboratory experiences in accordance with this regulation, and that school districts are on notice that such students will be eligible for admission to a science Regents examination.
The motion passed. Regent Mead abstained.
Revisions to a Charter Authorized by New York City Department of Education Chancellor [P-12 (A) 2]
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 revise 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 revise the charter would 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 Growing Up Green Charter School, as proposed by the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
The motion passed. Regents Collins, Hakanson and Mittler abstained.
Renewals to Charters Authorized by Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education [P-12 (A) 3 REVISED]
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 Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings 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, 2023.
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 Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School, The Shirley Rodriguez-Remeneski 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, 2021.
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 Equality 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.
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 Inwood Academy for Leadership 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, 2021.
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 Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation 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, 2021.
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 St. Hope Leadership 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, 2021.
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 Equity Project 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, 2023.
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 VOICE Charter School of New York 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, 2023.
The motion passed. Regents Collins and Mittler abstained. Regents Finn and Hakanson also abstained, based on absence from the discussion.
Revisions to Charters Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 4]
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 Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
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 Brooklyn Laboratory Charter High School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
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 Riverhead Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
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 Urban Dove Team Charter School and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
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 Young Women’s College Preparatory Charter School of Rochester and amends the provisional charter accordingly.
The motion passed: Regents Collins and Mittler abstained.
Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents [P-12 (A) 5]
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Brooklyn Urban Garden 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 Brooklyn Urban Garden 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.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the John W. Lavelle Preparatory 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 John W. Lavelle Preparatory 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.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the KIPP Always Mentally Prepared 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 KIPP Always Mentally Prepared 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.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the KIPP S.T.A.R. College Prep 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 KIPP S.T.A.R. College Prep 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.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Math, Engineering, and Science Academy Charter High 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 Math, Engineering, and Science Academy Charter High 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.
Your Committee recommends that the Board of Regents finds that, the Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn: (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 Unity Preparatory Charter School of Brooklyn and that a renewal charter be issued, and that its provisional charter be extended for a term up through and including June 30, 2023.
The motion passed. Regent Collins abstained from the vote.
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 13, 2018, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent.
MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION
Senior Deputy Commissioner’s Report
Displaced Students – Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert provided an update on the students affected by the natural disasters that have occurred in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other countries in the Caribbean. The Department has requested weekly updates from every school district regarding the number of enrolled displaced students. Currently, New York public schools have enrolled 3,078 displaced students and we will continue to explore ways to help these and future students stay on track.
The U.S. Department of Education will be awarding up to $2.7 billion to assist K-12 schools and institutions of higher education in meeting the education needs of hurricane impacted students and the California wildfires.
Funding for Preschool Special Class Integrated Setting (SCIS) Programs [P-12 (D) 1] – the Committee was provided with an update regarding the Department’s efforts to develop recommendations for a more effective program model and methodology of reimbursement for educating preschool students with disabilities alongside their typically developing peers within early childhood programs in New York State. Staff created a survey that was distributed to both school districts and providers, which afforded them the opportunity to identify the issues and challenges facing SCIS programs. Results were analyzed and shared with stakeholders. Additionally, seven meetings were conducted with stakeholders at which the issues and challenges facing SCIS programs were acknowledged but more importantly, input and recommendations for how program standards and funding methods could be better structured to promote inclusion opportunities for preschool students with disabilities. The Department will review stakeholder feedback, develop options and materials for consideration, and submit its initial recommendations for alternative methods of reimbursement for preschool inclusion programs to the Division of Budget on April 1, 2018.
Update on the East Ramapo Central School District [P-12 (D) 1] – the Committee was provided with an update on the East Ramapo Central School District as it relates to the report issued by State Monitors Charles Szuberla, Jr. and John Sipple. Discussion focused on the report issued by the monitors on January 24, 2017 titled, “A New Beginning: A Report on the East Ramapo Central School District.” The report notes several accomplishments including the implementation of full-day Kindergarten, partial restoration of the arts program, and increases in professional development for teachers and principals. The district continues to face significant obstacles such as the increasing numbers of students requiring additional support and high special education classification rates. The monitors recommend the continuation of the $3 million legislative grant. Without this, the district’s fund balance would be exhausted. It is also recommended that the Commissioner continue to provide support of the District’s $59 million school facilities improvement program. Continued oversight and communication with the public on the progress of the work is critical to ensure all students are educated in safe, healthful learning environments and have access to safe, modern athletic facilities. Regents also requested additional data regarding East Ramapo’s progress.