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Dear Colleagues,
Happy National Assistant Principals Week! This week, we have been honoring assistant principals for their contributions to student success. I hope you celebrated in your schools and communities as well. Thank you, assistant principals, for everything you do.
It is also National Library Week and School Library Month, and we have launched a social media campaign to communicate the value of librarians and other library workers, school library programs, and community libraries across New York State. Follow along with the hashtags #SLM19 and #NationalLibraryWeek.
This edition of News and Notes includes information and updates related to the following:
Sincerely,
MaryEllen Elia
Commissioner
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 Proposed Changes to Enhance Teacher Preparation Programs to Better Serve English Language Learners
This week, NYSED proposed regulatory changes that would require teacher preparation programs in certain subject areas to dedicate at least three of the currently required six semester hours to language acquisition and literacy development of English language learners (ELLs). The revision would apply to registered programs beginning on September 1, 2022.
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Social Emotional Learning Guidance and Resources
To help ensure that students across the state receive every aspect of support that they need, new guidance and resources are available to help school districts implement policies and programs that promote Social Emotional Learning (SEL). These tools facilitate systemic whole school implementation and include district-developed resources aligning SEL competencies, academic standards, classroom activities, and teaching practices.
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| $5.1 Million in Federal Grants to Programs Supporting Homeless Students
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Statement from Chancellor Rosa and Commissioner Elia on the Enacted State Budget
The Enacted Budget continues many important educational programs that are helping achieve equity in education, which is the Board of Regents’ and Department’s top priority. Children in need are at an even greater disadvantage and we must sustain our commitment to them. The state’s investment in our children, including advancing the phase in of Foundation Aid with an increase of over $600 million-and a total of over $1 billion for state aid- puts school districts in a better position to provide a high-quality education for all students while taking the state’s fiscal reality into account.
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Parent Dashboard Survey
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is developing a Parent Dashboard to increase transparency and make information about school performance and other school-level data easier for parents and the public to access. This is part of New York’s ESSA plan.
NYSED is gathering feedback from parents and stakeholders to guide the work of developing the Parent Dashboard. Please encourage parents to complete our five-minute survey and tell us how we can make the Parent Dashboard as useful as possible. NYSED will use feedback from the survey to identify the data that is most useful to parents and the public. Informational resources in English and Spanish are available on our Parent Dashboard web page. Translations of the survey and resources in other languages will be posted as they become available. If you have any questions, please email us at ParentDashboard@nysed.gov.
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2019 Essential Elements: Schools to Watch
NYSED, in partnership with the New York State Middle School Association and the Statewide Network of Middle Level Liaisons, recently recognized five new schools as 2019 Essential Elements: Schools to Watch (EE:STW). The designation is awarded to exceptional middle level schools that meet rigorous criteria and are on a path of continuous improvement. New York is proud to announce the five newly designated 2019 Essential Elements: Schools to Watch:
Corning Painted Post Middle School (Painted Post, NY)
Millbrook Middle School (Millbrook, NY)
Mineola Middle School (Mineola, NY)
Plainedge Middle School (Bethpage, NY)
Rocky Point Middle School (Rocky Point, NY)
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No-Cost Children’s Eye Exams, Glasses, and Resources
No-cost eye exams and glasses were provided to students at several New York schools through a partnership between NYSED, the New York State Optometric Association, VSP Global, and the New York State Society of Opticians. This is part of an effort to raise awareness about providing accessible vision care and resources to those who are in need, as well as the critical role clear vision plays in children’s physical, cognitive, and social development.
The school vision clinics took place in Newburgh Enlarged City School District and East Ramapo Central School District, where eight volunteer NYS-licensed optometrists provided no-cost eye exams to 152 students. Of the students who were examined, 129 received free glasses fitted by four volunteer NYS-licensed ophthalmic dispensers.
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Handwritten Draft of New York State’s First Constitution on Display April 15-20
The handwritten manuscript draft of New York State’s 1777 state constitution, adopted in Kingston on April 20, 1777, will be on public display on the 11th floor of the Cultural Education Center (222 Madison Avenue, Albany) from Monday, April 15 through Saturday, April 20 from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. The display marks the 242nd anniversary of the state constitution and the establishment of New York as a state.
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New York State Summer School of the Arts – Media Arts Program
High school students are encouraged to apply to the Media Arts program at the New York State Summer School of the Arts. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis in the areas of Film Production, Digital and Experimental Photography, Animation, and Video. The program will be held July 13 – August 9, 2019 at Alfred State College. Interested applicants can find more information at the Summer School of the Arts website. Tuition assistance is available.
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Host of “Ben Franklin’s World” to Speak on April 25
The New York State Archives will host Dr. Liz Covart, host of the popular podcast “Ben Franklin’s World,” for a talk on early American history on Thursday, April 25 at the Cultural Education Center in Albany. A reception will begin at 5:00 followed by a talk at 6:15.
This event is free and open to the public; reservations are strongly encouraged by calling 518-473-7091 or registering online.
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