NYSED Updates 2/20/25

David Frank, the NYSED Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Education Policy, periodically shares important updates regarding New York State Education Laws, Commissioner’s Regulations, and Federal Guidelines with our leadership team. This information is valuable for public school administrators as they carry out their daily responsibilities. Below is the latest update from NYSED, which includes essential “Must Know” information on various key state and federal policies and programs that impact our members across the state.

As information evolves, we’ll keep you informed about developments affecting New York State school administrators. Note, the most critical time sensitive information is labeled ‘MUST KNOW.’

Your ESSAA/CAS Team

New York State STEM Incentive Program

·     The New York State STEM Incentive Program application is now open for New York State students attending a SUNY or CUNY college in the fall! To be eligible, students must:

·     Be ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class at a New York State high school.

·     Apply in their senior year of high school.

·     Enroll in an undergraduate program in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.

·     Commit to living and working in New York State for five years in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.

·     Students who don’t meet residency requirements may qualify through the NYS DREAM Act.

·     The application deadline for the 2025-2026 academic year is August 15, 2025.

·     For more information and to apply or request an appointment, visit the New York State STEM Incentive Program website.

FYI

Uplifting All Students Statewide Conference on March 19, 2025 (attachment)

·     The New York State Education Department (NYSED), in collaboration with the BOCES and Big 5 school districts, will be hosting a statewide conference on March 19, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at designated BOCES and Big 5 sites.

·     This event will be a hybrid conference along with in-person discussion and will provide district and school administrators, leaders, and educators with an opportunity to learn about how school districts across the state are implementing programs that enhance student identity and overall well-being, partnering with families and communities, and collaborating with a range of stakeholders to support all students.

·     Promising practices will be shared from districts across the state with opportunities for collaboration with colleagues.

·     Individuals must attend in person and register through their local BOCES or Big 5 school district site.

·     Registration questions can be sent to Amalia Schiff at Amalia.Schiff@nysed.gov.

FYI

Office of Early Learning P-3 Winter Newsletter Release

·     The Office of Early Learning has released the 2025 P-3 Winter Newsletter.

·     This issue includes:

·     Message from the Executive Director

·     Early Childhood Strings Pathways

·     P-3 Literacy Instructional Best Practices

·     OEL Classroom Spotlight – Carle Place UFSD

·     Free K-5 Platform for Educators from PBS

·     To subscribe, please join the OEL Newsletter email list.

·     Questions can be directed to the Office of Early Learning at OEL@nysed.gov.

FYI

Register for the Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners in PreK Webinar

·     The Office of Early Learning is hosting the Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners (EMLs) in PreK webinar on Wednesday, March 5, from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

·     Participants will learn about the importance of cultivating a culturally and linguistically responsive learning environment for EML students, as well as practical applications for supporting EML students in the PreK classroom.

·     Interested parties can register for the Supporting Emergent Multilingual Learners in PreK webinar here.

·     For more information on the webinars being offered by the Office of Early Learning this year, as well as recordings of past webinars, please see the Early Learning Webinar Series webpage.

·     Questions can be directed to the Office of Early Learning at OEL@nysed.gov.

FYI

National School Breakfast Week Free Resources

·     Join the New York State Education Department (NYSED) in celebrating the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success during the week of March 3-7, 2025. This year’s detective theme, “Clue In To School Breakfast,” invites everyone to channel their inner sleuth in the quest for a healthy and delicious school breakfast. To support your efforts in promoting this special week, we have several free resources available:

·     Posters: Developed by NYSED’s Office of Child Nutrition. These posters can be displayed throughout your school(s) to raise awareness.

·     Social Media Toolkit: Created by Hunger Solutions New York and No Kid Hungry New York. This toolkit includes sample language and graphics that you can easily integrate into your social media channels.

·     National School Breakfast Week celebrates the National School Breakfast Program and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day. By participating, you help amplify the importance of school breakfast for student success, from pre-K through graduation.

Please contact the Office of Child Nutrition with any questions at cn@nysed.gov.

NYSED March Conference Flyer