0306emscvesidd1

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

TO:	EMSC-VESID Committee
FROM:	Jean C. Stevens
SUBJECT:	Proposed Amendment to Regulations of the Commissioner Relating to State Mathematics Graduation and Diploma Requirements
DATE:	March 13, 2006
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

SUMMARY

Issue for Discussion

Has the Board of Regents reached consensus on the intent of the proposed amendment to section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner relating to the State mathematics graduation and diploma requirements?

Reason(s) for Consideration

Implementation of Regents policy.

Proposed Handling

The question will come before the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee for discussion in March and will be submitted for approval in May.

Procedural History

In March 2005, the Regents adopted the high school performance indicators for Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, along with the alignment modifications to pre-kindergarten through grade 8, as recommended by the Mathematics Standards Committee. The Regents also agreed to consider the Mathematics Standards Committee’s remaining four high school recommendations relating to the mathematics graduation and diploma requirements. In October 2005, the Regents approved a revision in policy concerning the mathematics graduation and diploma requirements based on the new high school performance indicators for Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry courses. In December 2005, the Regents approved the implementation timeline for the revised corresponding Regents examinations for these courses.

Background Information

The proposed amendment to section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is now necessary to implement revisions to the commencement level mathematics graduation and diploma requirements to align with the revised high school performance indicators for the following three mathematics courses: Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry.

The proposed amendment limits to two the number of units of credit earned for any of these three commencement level mathematics courses. It clarifies that, to earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation, students entering grade 9 prior to September 2009 must pass two of the three commencement level Regents examinations through one of the following combinations: Mathematics A and Mathematics B, or Mathematics A and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry, and that students who enter grade 9 in September 2009 and thereafter must pass three commencement level Regents examinations in mathematics titled Mathematics A or Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry. The proposed amendment also provides for students who first enter grade 9 in September 2009 and thereafter, who complete all coursework and testing requirements for the Regents diploma with advanced designation in mathematics and/or science, and who pass, with a score of 85 or better, three commencement level Regents examinations in mathematics and/or three commencement level Regents examinations in science, will earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation, with an annotation on the diploma that denotes mastery in mathematics and/or science, as applicable.

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will be published in the State Register on March 15, 2006.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Regents EMSC-VESID Committee reach consensus on the intent of the proposed amendment prior to taking action at its May meeting.

Timetable for Implementation

Upon approval by the Regents at their May meeting, the proposed amendment will become effective June 15, 2006.

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

Pursuant to Education Law sections 101, 207, 208, 209, 305, 308, 309 and 3204

1. Paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective June 15, 2006, as follows:

(3) Students first entering grade nine in the 2001-2002 school year, but prior to the 2008-2009 school year, shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive either a Regents or local high school diploma. Students first entering grade nine in the 2008-2009 school year and thereafter shall have earned at least 22 units of credit including two credits in physical education to receive a Regents diploma. Such units of credit shall incorporate the commencement level of the State learning standards in: English; social studies; mathematics, science, technology; the arts (including visual arts, music, dance and theatre); languages other than English; health, physical education, family and consumer sciences; and career development and occupational studies. Such units of credit shall include:

(i) English, four units of commencement level credit;

(ii) . . .

(iii) . . .

(iv) mathematics, three units of credit of mathematics, which shall be at a more advanced level than grade eight, [ and ] shall meet commencement-level learning standards as determined by the commissioner, provided that no more than two credits shall be earned for any Integrated Algebra, Geometry, or Algebra 2 and Trigonometry commencement level mathematics course;

(v) . . .

(vi) . . .

2. Paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective June 15, 2006, as follows:

(5) State assessment system. (i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this paragraph, all students shall demonstrate attainment of the New York State learning standards:

(a) . . .

(b) Mathematics:

(1) for students who first enter grade nine prior to September 1997, by passing either the Regents competency test in mathematics, or a Regents examination in mathematics; or

(2) for students who first enter grade nine in September 1997 and thereafter, by passing a commencement level Regents examination in mathematics. For purposes of a Regents endorsed diploma a score of 65 shall be considered passing. For a local diploma a score of 55-64, as determined by the school, also may be considered passing up through the 2007-2008 school year; or

(3) . . .

(4) . . .

3. Paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) of section 100.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective June 15, 2006, as follows:

(7) Types of diplomas. (i) . . .

(ii) . . .

(iii) . . .

(iv) Earning a Regents diploma. Students first entering grade nine in 2001 and thereafter shall meet the commencement level New York State learning standards by successfully completing 22 units of credit and five New York State assessments distributed as specified in clauses (a) through (k) of this subparagraph. After passing the required New York State assessment or approved alternative in mathematics, science, and English language arts, the remaining units of credit required in that discipline may be in specialized courses. A specialized course is a course that meets the requirements of a unit of credit as defined in section 100.1(a) of this Part and the New York State commencement level learning standards as established by the commissioner. A specialized course develops the subject in greater depth and/or breadth and/or may be interdisciplinary. Successful completion of one unit of study in an interdisciplinary specialized course may be awarded only one unit of credit but may be used to meet the distribution requirements in more than one subject. In a public high school, an interdisciplinary specialized course shall be taught by a teacher certified in at least one of the subjects.

(a) . . .

(b) . . .

(c) Mathematics, three units of credit and [ the ] a commencement level Regents examination in mathematics designated by the commissioner or an approved alternative pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part. [ Students must pass either the Regents examination titled Mathematics A, or until January 2002, both Regents examinations titled Course I and Course II or both Course I and Mathematics A.]

(d) . . .

(e) . . .

(f) . . .

(g) . . .

(h) . . .

(i) . . .

(j) . . .

(k) . . .

(v) Earning a Regents diploma with advanced designation. To earn a Regents diploma with an advanced designation a student must complete, in addition to the requirements for a Regents diploma:

(a) additional Regents examinations in mathematics as determined by the commissioner or approved alternatives pursuant to section 100.2(f) of this Part. Students entering grade 9 prior to September 2009 must pass [ the ] two of the three commencement level Regents examinations in mathematics [titled] through one of the following combinations: Mathematics A and Mathematics B, or Mathematics A and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry [ or the three Regents examinations titled Course I, Course II and Course III or the two Regents examinations titled Mathematics A and Course III ]. Students entering grade 9 in September 2009 and thereafter must pass all three commencement level Regents examinations in mathematics titled Mathematics A or Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and Trigonometry ].

(b) . . .

(vi) . . .

(vii) . . .

(viii) . . .

(ix) . . .

(x) Students who first enter grade nine in September 2009 and thereafter who complete all coursework and testing requirements for the Regents diploma with advanced designation in mathematics and/or science, and who pass, with a score of 85 or better, three commencement level Regents examinations in mathematics and/or three commencement level Regents examinations in science, will earn a Regents diploma with advanced designation, with an annotation on the diploma that denotes mastery in mathematics and/or science, as applicable.