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The Board of Regents conducted their monthly meeting on Monday, February 14th, and Tuesday, February 15th. The meeting began with recognition of the Lunar New Year by Regent Judith Chin as she expressed her hope that the Year of the Tiger will foster strength, tolerance and acceptance across the country.

Chancellor Young also acknowledged February as Black History Month. The Chancellor specifically recognized the work of Lonnie Bunch, the first African American to serve as the head of the Smithsonian Institution, for his ongoing efforts to ensure that museums play a role in supporting social justice.

The opening presentation included a review of the recently proposed 2022-23 Executive Budget. NYSED Chief Financial Officer, Phyllis Morris, and Director of the Office of Government Relations, Jennifer Trowbridge, presented details of the Governor’s Executive proposal and the Board of Regents plan. The side-by side comparison highlighted areas in the NYSED plan that are currently supported in the Governor’s Executive Budget, as well as the items not targeted for funding at this time.

Key areas of the presentation relating to the Executive Budget proposal included:

Newly proposed grant funding in the Executive Budget which would provide:

  1. $100 million over two years matching federal funds for mental health supports

 

  1. $2 million for an expansion of master teacher awards

 

  1. $2 million for SED to develop pilot programs to create positive school climate in high-need schools

Proposed statutory changes in the which would:

  1. Create a temporary professional permit allowing applicants to be employed as teachers or   other school professionals in a public school.

 

  1. Authorize individuals holding an expired certificate to be employed in a teaching or other professional capacity.

 

  1. Allow retired persons to be employed and earn compensation in a public school without a waiver or any effect on their retirement status.

Also included in the Governor’s proposal is the requirement that all new school buses be zero-emissions by 2027 and that all school buses be zero-emissions by 2035.

It was emphasized that the final enacted budget could be much different than what was presented at the meeting.  Many items in both the Executive and Board of Regents proposals will be adjusted, restored, or reduced as the budget now moves through the approval process with the legislature.

The link below provides more detailed specifics on the information that was presented.

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/FB%20-%20Monday%20–%20Review%20of%20the%202022-2023%20Executive%20Budget.pdf

The Office of Higher Education continues to make recommendations aimed at addressing the growing teacher shortage. Deputy Commissioner Bill Murphy presented two proposed amendments for discussion.

-The first amendment focuses on the persistent statewide shortage of science teachers. A proposal was presented that would reduce the number of courses teacher candidates or certified teachers must complete to become certified in multiple subject areas.  The amendment would reduce the core content semester hour requirement from the current 30 semester hour credits to 18 semester hours. This will make it easier for science teachers currently certified in one area to pursue certification in another science content area and for teacher candidates to earn dual certification while they earn their undergraduate degree. Candidates would still be required to successfully complete the content specialty assessment for each of the subjects they are seeking certification for. 

Following the 60-day public comment period, the amendment could be presented for adoption at the June 2022 Board of Regents meeting.

More specific information is provided in the link below.

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/222hed1.pdf

-The second proposal recommends the creation of a Literacy (All Grades) Certificate. The current Birth — Grade 6 and Grade 5 – 12 certificates would no longer be issued and  the “Remedial Reading” tenure area would be renamed to “Literacy and Reading”.

Core Coursework in teacher preparation programs would maintain the same existing framework except for the fact that they would now encompass a P -12 developmental focus. Candidates would now be required to complete a supervised practicum comprised of both 50 hours at the P-6 level and 50 hours at the 7-12 level.

This proposal could also be presented for adoption at the June 2022 Board of Regents Meeting after the 60 day public comment period.

https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/222p12hed1.pdf

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