See what’s happening through your seat at the table with NYSED policymakers this month:
In this issue:
Role of Public Broadcasting as an Educational and Civic Resource
Update/Overview of the Senate and Assembly Education Budget Proposals
Proposed Amendment Relating to the Athletic Placement Process
and Use of the Tanner Sexual Maturity Scale
___________________________________________________________________________
Summary of April 2026 Board of Regents Meeting
The Board of Regents conducted their monthly meeting on Monday, April 13, and Tuesday, April 14. Chancellor Lester Young opened the meeting by introducing Regent Patrick Mannion who commemorated the life of teacher, Christine Calogero, who passed away recently. Regent Mannion remembered Christine, a science teacher in the Rome City School District, as an educator who represented all that is good and honorable in the teaching profession.
Chancellor Young recognized the month of April as Arab American History Month and also welcomed new Board of Regents member, Dr. Janice Shorenstein.
P-12 related topics covered during the April 2026 meeting Include:
- Role of Public Broadcasting as an Educational and Civic Resource
- Update/Overview of the Senate and Assembly Education Budget Proposals
- Proposed Amendment Relating to the Athletic Placement Process and Use of the Tanner Sexual Maturity Scale
Role of Public Broadcasting as an Educational and Civic Resource
Senior Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Mattison introduced representatives from the NYSED Office of Educational Television and Public Broadcasting. The department administers roughly $14 million annually in state funding to support public television, radio stations, digital instructional technology, and community outreach initiatives across the state.
Staff members presented an overview of the role public broadcasting plays as an educational resource in supporting early childhood learning, P-12 education, lifelong adult learning and civic engagement. They also reviewed the efforts that were required to work through the impact of the federal funding cuts that occurred last year.
The link below provides access to the slides referenced during the presentation.
Overview of the Senate and Assembly Education Budget Proposals
The Board was updated by NYSED staff members on the status of the current NYSED Budget Proposal. At this time, deliberations continue as we are approximately two weeks past the April 1 deadline for adoption.
The most recent proposals from the Board of Regents, the Governor’s Office, the NYS Assembly, and the NYS Senate were reviewed and compared. Most Board members continue to express that they are pleased with the overall scope of the proposed budget. They are encouraged with the support that key NYSED priorities are receiving in areas such as Universal PreK, professional development associated with the Graduation Measures Initiative, and Foundation Aid. Concerns were also expressed, however, for areas that they feel could be significantly underfunded such as special education, early college programs and arts education.
The link below provides access to the slides referenced during the discussion. It includes charts that break down the most recent funding proposals on key budget items from each of the four entities involved.
Proposed Amendment Relating to Athletic Placement Process and Use of the Tanner Sexual Maturity Scale
The Board discussed the adoption of a proposed amendment relating to the Athletic Placement Process used in determining a student’s eligibility to participate in physical education, extra class activities and/or interscholastic sports. A key component of the proposal would eliminate use of the Tanner Sexual Maturity Scale as a factor in determining eligibility.
In recent months NYSED has conducted a review of athletic regulations and has participated in a series of meetings with stakeholders across the state. Based upon the review of current law and research, along with the stakeholder feedback that was received, the Board is proposing an amendment that:
- Clarifies and creates more consistency with the required documentation needed from physicians in determining eligibility for students to participate in physical education, extra class activities, and/or interscholastic sports.
- Clarifies and codifies requirements for health examinations prior to the beginning of tryouts for school sports.
- Removes the requirement that the Tanner Rating Scale of Secondary Sex Characteristics be used to assess physiological maturity. Healthcare providers will now be responsible for assessing the overall physical fitness and readiness of a student to participate in a physical activity.
It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the July 2026 Board of regents meeting.
The link below includes the entire proposed amendment and provides very specific information for schools to follow as they prepare to implement the new regulations.
https://www.regents.nysed.gov/sites/regents/files/426p12d2revised4.9.26.pdf
