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

Your P-12 Education Committee held its scheduled meeting on September 12, 2016.  All members were present. 

ACTION ITEMS

Establishment of Criteria for the Approval of Work-Readiness Assessments for Earning the New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential  [P-12 (A) 1]

Your Committee recommends that paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of section 100.6 of the Regulations of the Commissioner be amended as submitted, effective September 13, 2016, 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 provide sufficient time for the Commissioner to approve work-readiness assessments for students to earn a NYS CDOS Commencement Credential on or after April 3, 2017.

Establishment of Tuition Rates Resulting from Fiscal Audits of Approved Programs Educating Students with Disabilities Ages 3 to 21 Who Have Been Enrolled Pursuant to Articles 81 and 89 of the Education Law [P-12 (A) 2]

Your Committee recommends that section 200.18 of the Regulations of the Commissioner is amended, as submitted, effective October 1, 2016, as an emergency action upon a finding by the Board of Regents that such action is necessary for the preservation of the general welfare by allowing the Commissioner to exercise discretion in setting tuition rates based on an audit to the extent that the Commissioner determines the audit findings and recommendations are warranted and consistent with applicable federal and state Education Law, Commissioner’s regulations, and tuition reimbursement guidelines and requirements.

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 September 13, 2016, copies of which have been distributed to each Regent. 

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Update on Activities related to the Workgroup to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color – Regent Lester Young provided the Committee with an update on the work of the Workgroup to Improve Outcomes for Boys and Young Men of Color.  The Committee discussed the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) associated with this initiative; (a) Teacher Opportunity Corps II (closed August 22); (b) Family and Community Engagement Program (closed August 26); and (c) My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Challenge Grant (deadline September 15).  Regent Young also provided information on the eleven mayoral-led MBK communities in New York State.  A convening of the statewide communities is being planned for early 2017.

2016 Grades 3-8 ELA and Math Assessment Results [P-12 (D) 1] – The Committee was provided with the results of the 2016 Grades 3-8 English language arts (ELA) and mathematics assessments.  The results were released on July 29, 2016.  While the 2016 tests and prior year’s tests are based on the same content standards and are similarly rigorous, the proficiency rates from exams administered prior to 2016 are not directly comparable to the proficiency rates for the 2016 tests because of the changes that were made to the 2016 tests. Nonetheless, the 2016 results are valid and reliable indicators of student proficiency in the tested grades and subjects.  The Committee also discussed Not Tested and Test Refusal Data and the characteristics of the Test Refusal students.

Uniform Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting System (VADIR) [P-12 (D) 2] – The Committee discussed proposed amendments to regulations relating to the Uniform Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting System (VADIR).  The New York State Safe Schools Task Force recommended that the Department “develop a new process and criteria for the Persistently Dangerous designation and a new set of definitions of incident categories for reporting using a School Climate Index. The reporting process for Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) and Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting (VADIR) should be combined and renamed into one system that is not punitive and is reflective of the school climate and can be used for prevention and intervention purposes; also, that it includes positive measures and incorporates most improved schools.”  As a result, the reporting categories were revised to reflect the following nine categories: 1) Homicide, 2) Sexual Offenses, 3) Physical Injury, 4) Weapons Possession, 5) Material Incidents of Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying, 6) Bomb Threat, 7) False Alarm, 8) Use, Possession or Sale of Drugs, 9) Use, Possession or Sale of Alcohol.  The proposed regulations will be brought back to the Regents for adoption at a future meeting.

Consent Agenda

The Board of Regents will take action on the following consent agenda items at their September 13, 2016 meeting.

• Regulations relating to School Safety
• Regulations relating to Social Studies Graduation Requirement
• Regulations relating to Hardship Waiver for Independent Evaluators
• Regulations relating to APPR Technical Amendments
• Regulations relating to Appeals of Impartial Hearing Officer Determinations for Students with Disabilities to a State Review Officer
• Regulations relating to Superintendent Determination as to Academic Proficiency for Certain Students with Disabilities to Graduate with a Local Diploma
• Registration of a Public Intermediate School
• Appointment to NYS School for the Deaf Board of Visitors