NYS Board of Regents Meeting Summaries

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Summary of February 2025 Board of Regents Meeting 

The Board of Regents conducted their monthly meeting on Monday, February 10, and Tuesday, February 11, 2025. 

Regent Wade Norwood opened the meeting with personal reflections on Black History Month. Regent Norwood cited both the legacy of Frederick Douglas and his own personal experiences as they relate to the challenges our country continues to face in achieving true equality. 

P-12 related topics covered during the January 2025 meeting that are summarized in this report include: 

• Update on the Proposed Executive Budget 
• Proposed Amendment Relating to Requirements for District Staff Professional Learning Plans 
• Proposed Emergency Action Amendment Relating to Accountability Measures Associated with the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act Accountability System. 
• Updates from the New York State Museum and Office of Cultural Education 

• Update on Proposed Executive Budget 

Members of the State Aid Subcommittee presented an update on the status of the 2025 – 2026 Board of Regents Budget Proposal. 

Various components of both the Board Proposal and the Governor’s Executive Proposal were reviewed and compared. It was emphasized that NYSED will continue advocacy efforts and negotiations with the legislature in the coming weeks before the final budget is adopted. 

The link below includes the slides that were referenced during the presentation. The slides include a line item comparison of what is currently proposed in both budgets including specific information on: 

1. Changes to the Foundation Aid Formula that could better reflect actual district poverty levels and increase the maximum state share of funding in the Formula. The current Executive proposal includes a minimum 2% funding increase for all districts. 
2. Universal Free School Meals funding. 
3. Cell Phone Policy requirements. 
4. College in the High School Funding. 
5. Increased school district cost share for students enrolled in Residential Placements. 
6. New Requirements for Cybersecurity Measures. 
7. Funding for PreK Expansion. 
8. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Funding. 

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/SA%20-%20Executive%20Budget%20Proposal%20Summary.pdf 

• Proposed Amendment Relating to New Requirements for District-wide Professional Learning Plans 

The Board discussed a proposed amendment which would require school districts and BOCES to include professional learning opportunities associated with Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Instructional Practices and Pedagogy in District Professional Staff Learning Plans. It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the June 2025 Board of Regents meeting. 

The link below includes the text of the proposed amendment. 

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/225hed1revised.pdf 

• Emergency Action Amendment Relating to Accountability Measures Associated with the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Accountability System 

The Board unanimously adopted, as an emergency rule, amendments to update and align federal requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) accountability system with the New York State plan. The changes go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Amendments were presented relating to: 

1. Revisions for how certain accountability components are defined. 

1. Reintroduction of certain accountability indicators: science will be reintroduced at the elementary level while social studies will be reintroduced at the high school level. 
2. Revised criteria for identifying Schools/Districts in Need of Improvement. 
3. Reintroduction of Student Growth Data as an accountability indicator for informational purposes at the elementary level. 
4. Introduction of College, Career and Civic Readiness (CCCR) as an accountability indicator for informational purposes. 
5. Introduction of a new Attendance Indicator formula. 
6. Changes in the criteria used to determine if a school/district is identified as being In Need of Support/Improvement. 
7. A revised scaffolded model relating to levels of support provided for schools designated to be In Need of Support/Improvement. 
8. Updated exit criteria for determining if a school/district qualifies to be removed from the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) designation. 

It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the June 2025 Regents meeting. 

The link below includes the slides that were referenced during the Board presentation. 

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/P12%20-%20Reimagine%20Phase%20of%20the%20Accountability%20System-Regulatory%20Amendments%20Proposal.pdf 

• Office of Cultural Education and NYS Museum Update 

NYSED Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education, Michael Mastroianni, introduced a presentation which updated the Board on the overall goals of the NYS Museum Gallery Renewal Project and their efforts to enhance programming to better support P-12 education outreach. 

Current priorities for the NYSED Office of Cultural Education were reviewed. They include: 

1. NYS Museum Gallery Renewal and storage facility projects. 
2. Enhancing programming and rotating exhibits to bring more vitality to the building. 
3. Increasing outreach and marketing efforts to spread the word about the exciting initiatives that are being implemented. 

Additional information was also presented on how the Office of Cultural Education supports P-12 education. Ongoing efforts focus on: 

1. Increased professional development opportunities for teachers in multiple subject areas that include options to earn CTLE credits. 

1. Web based instructional resources such as primary source documents and artifacts that are available. 
2. Collaborative opportunities for teachers to access and share ideas. 
3. NYS Standards Based Lesson ideas in a variety of subject areas. 

A second presentation focused on specific collaborative projects that are occurring between the Office of Cultural Education and schools across the state to support teaching and learning. 

Washington – Saratoga – Warren – Hamilton – Essex (WSWHE) District Superintendent, Turina Parker, reviewed several examples of how schools in many of her districts are utilizing resources from the State Museum to carry out interdisciplinary Project-Based Learning units. 

The two links below include the slides that were referenced during each of the two presentations: The first link covers the presentation on the NYS Museum Gallery Renewal Project. The second link includes the slides that were used in the WSWHE BOCES presentation. 

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/FB%20Monday%201%20-%20Advancing%20Education%20and%20Culture-Updates%20from%20the%20New%20York%20State%20Museum%20and%20Office%20of%20Cultural%20Education%20%E2%80%93%20Part%201%20.pdf 

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/FB%20Monday%202%20-%20Advancing%20Education%20and%20Culture-Collaborations%20Between%20Cultural%20Education%20and%20New%20York%20State%20Schools%20to%20Support%20High%20Quality%20Teaching%20and%20Learning%20%E2%80%93%20Part%202.pdf