The Board of Regents conducted their monthly meeting on Monday, October 18th and Tuesday October 19th, 2021.
The opening session focused on an update of four major grant initiatives NYSED is working on which include:
i. State Personnel Development Grant – Funded by the US Dept of Education, the project focuses on both in-service professional learning, and collaboration with educator preparation institutions to implement academic and behavioral Integrated Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS-I) for special education students.
ii. Teaching in Remote/Hybrid Environments (TRLE) Grant – Also funded by the US Dept of Education, this grant is focused on building the capacity of teachers and educational leaders to effectively implement remote/hybrid learning and close the digital divide.
iii. Study of Equitable Access to Advanced Courses and Early College Programs in High School– Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this grant seeks to ensure equitable access to advanced courses and programs in high school including, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes, Pathways to Technology Programs (P-Tech), and Smart Scholars-Early College High School programs.
iv. Performance Assessment Networks Pilot– Funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, this grant seeks to reexamine state assessments and explore the use of performance assessments as a means to increase potential alternative pathways to achieving a high school diploma and to better prepare students for the college and workplace.
The link below provides more specific information on each of the grants:
The Board was updated on the status of the 2022-2023 Non-State Aid Budget and Legislative Priorities along with potential priorities for the 2022-2023 Regents State Aid Proposal.
With regards to the Non-State Aid Budget and Legislative Priorities – NYSED Chief Financial Officer, Phyllis Morris, reviewed a line-by-line summary of potential priorities which are included in the link below.
https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/1021sad1.pdf
With regards to the Regents State Aid Proposal, potential priorities were discussed which include advocating for:
i. Providing CO-Ser agreements for supporting implementation of DEI.
ii. Expanding CTE opportunities.
iii. Expanding access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
iv. Improving access and opportunity for students through expansion of BOCES Aid in areas such as:
v. Providing CO-Ser agreements for supporting implementation of DEI.
vi. Expanding CTE opportunities.
vii. Supporting medically fragile students with virtual instruction.
viii. Increased funding to improve access to instructional materials such as textbooks, computer hardware and software, and library materials.
Below is a link to the summary of the Regents State Aid presentation:
Further discussion of the proposed 2022-2023 budgets will occur at the November Board of Regents meeting. Adoption of the finalized proposal will be voted on at the December meeting.
The Board was updated on the status of the 2022-2023 Non-State Aid Budget and Legislative Priorities along with potential priorities for the 2022-2023 Regents State Aid Proposal.
With regards to the Non-State Aid Budget and Legislative Priorities – NYSED Chief Financial Officer, Phyllis Morris, reviewed a line-by-line summary of potential priorities which are included in the link below.
https://www.regents.nysed.gov/common/regents/files/1021sad1.pdf
With regards to the Regents State Aid Proposal, potential priorities were discussed which include advocating for:
i. Continuing the full funding of Foundation Aid to school districts
ii. Fully funding Expense-Based Aids such as reimbursement-based services related to transportation and BOCES.
iii. Expanding access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs
iv. Improving access and opportunity for students through expansion of BOCES Aid in areas such as:
v. Providing CO-Ser agreements for supporting implementation of DEI.
vi. Expanding CTE opportunities.
vii. Supporting medically fragile students with virtual instruction.
viii. Increased funding to improve access to instructional materials such as textbooks, computer hardware and software, and library materials.
Below is a link to the summary of the Regents State Aid presentation:
Further discussion of the proposed 2022-2023 budgets will occur at the November Board of Regents meeting. Adoption of the finalized proposal will be voted on at the December meeting.
Deputy Commissioner Kim Wilkin and Assistant Commissioner Emily DeSantis updated the Board on the Graduation Measures Initiative.
Since the initiation of the project in January 2020, nineteen in-person stakeholder feedback meetings were held across the state prior to the COVID-19 interruption. Deputy Commissioner Wilkins informed the Board that the eight remaining meetings will take place virtually in the coming months. It is anticipated that the meeting dates will be announced at the December BOR meeting and all sessions should be completed by the end of February.
After completion of the stakeholder input meetings, NYSED will continue working with the educational consulting firm, West Ed, to generate a summary of the input from the twenty-seven meetings along with information collected through a review of related literature and research. A finalized report is will be presented to the Board in the Fall of 2022, with the announcement of the Blue-Ribbon Commission shortly thereafter.
The Board approved an amendment to permanently allow the six-hour DASA training course to be presented entirely online.
