THE STATE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF |
TO: |
EMSC-VESID Committee |
FROM: |
Jean C. Stevens |
SUBJECT: |
Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the
Commissioner Relating to State Assessments and Graduation and Diploma
Requirements |
DATE: |
November 15, 2006 |
STRATEGIC
GOAL: |
Goals 1 and 2 |
AUTHORIZATION(S): |
|
Issue for
Discussion
Does the Board of Regents concur with the intent of the proposed amendment of section 100.5(b)(7)(ii) to clarify alternative assessment requirements for students to earn a Regents diploma with honors or a Regents diploma with advanced designation with honors?
Review of policy.
Proposed
Handling
This question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee on December 4, 2006.
Procedural
History
Not applicable.
Background
Information
Under current regulations, a school district may award a student a Regents diploma with honors or a Regents diploma with advanced designation with honors if a student achieves an average of 90 percent in all required Regents examinations. The proposed amendment provides an opportunity for students to substitute up to two approved alternative assessments in lieu of required Regents examinations to be awarded the “Honors” designation on their diploma. The student’s score on the alternative assessments will not be considered in the calculation to determine whether the student has achieved an average of 90 percent.
A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register on November 29, 2006. Supporting materials for the proposed amendment are available upon request from the Secretary to the Board of Regents.
Recommendation
Staff recommend that the Regents reach consensus on the intent of the proposed amendment prior to its submission in February for approval.
Timetable for
Implementation
The proposed amendment will be submitted to the Regents for approval in February 2007, with a proposed effective date of March 8, 2007.
Attachment
AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Pursuant to sections 101, 207, 208, 209, 305, 308, 309 and 3204 of the Education Law.
1. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective March 8, 2007, as follows:
(ii) Regents Diploma with
Honors.
a.
A local school district may award a student a Regents diploma with honors
or a Regents
diploma with advanced designation with honors [To earn honors, a
student shall achieve] to a student who achieves an average of 90 percent
in all Regents examinations [, or their equivalent pursuant to section 100.2(p)
of this Part,] required for the diploma.
Each Regents examination score carries a weight of one and such score
shall not be multiplied by the number of units of study being examined. Averages below 90.0 percent shall not be
rounded upward to 90 percent.
(b)
Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this subparagraph, a
district may award a Regents diploma with honors or a Regents diploma with advanced
designation with honors to a student who has substituted no more
than two alternative assessments approved pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this
Part for a Regents examination required for the diploma. In such instance, the student’s score on
any substituted alternative assessments shall not be considered in the
calculation to determine whether such student has achieved an average of 90
percent.