Regents Approve 180-day Regulations and Begin Discussion of Aid Proposal

The Board of Regents held its monthly meeting September 17-18, 2018.  The agenda and materials are posted at www.regents.nysed.gov/meetings.

Instructional Requirements For State Aid. The Regents approved a proposed Amendment to Sections 175.2 and 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to the minimum instruction requirement for State Aid. This amendment gives school districts more flexibility in meeting instructional requirements for state aid by counting hours on an annual basis rather than on a daily basis.

Regents State Aid Proposal

Regents Ouderkirk and Mead described feedback from educational associations, including ASBO New York, about state aid priorities for school year 2019-20.

The Department described priorities for the Regents aid proposal as “5 E’s”:

1. Equity

2. Every Student Succeeds Act implementation

3. Early Learning

4. English Language Learners

5. Efficiency (Initiatives and investments that will enhance and/or streamline Department and school district functions)

Other Regents discussions and actions included the following:

Early childhood education. The Regents heard and adopted final recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee on early childhood education, of which ASBO was a member. Here is the link to the Final Draft Report of recommendations as well as the Power Point Slides from the presentation. The recommendations were guided by eight priority areas:

1. Age Appropriate Standards, Curriculum and Assessment

2. Comprehensive Family and Community Engagement

3. Comprehensive and Coordinated Services That Support the Full Range of Developmental Pathways Among Early Childhood Service Providers

4. Recruitment, Preparation and Professional Development of High Quality, Culturally Responsive and Linguistically-Prepared Teachers and Leaders Across All Programs

5. Sustained and Coordinated Funding Structure

6. Coherent and Comprehensive Early Childhood Policy

7. High Quality Instructional Programs and Services

8. Quality, Evaluation and Accountability

Focus on Safety. The Senior Deputy recognized Paul Overbaugh, Pupil Transportation Director for an award he received from the New York State Association of Pupil Transportation as a ‘Friend of NYAPT.’

Federal Accountability. The Board of Regents approved amendments to ESSA regulations by emergency action. After extensive public engagement and comment, changes addressed participation rates, N-size and school interventions. For example the Department has removed the provision allowing a school to be placed under preliminary registration review where excessive percentages of students fail to fully participate in the State assessment program and school districts are no longer required to identify promising practices but now must identify effective practices. In addition, the regulations have been clarified to specify that the additional amount to be spent on Participatory Budgeting at the school level is based on the school’s first year allocation for Participatory Budgeting and does not continue to double or triple each year. The Department will explore use of a high school improvement indicator for future work. The Regents discussed the opt out movement and the need to have an assessment system that effectively assesses skills and knowledge students need for success. The regulations become effective September 18, 2018.

Implementing new child nutrition programs. Board of Regents added a new §114.5 to the Commissioner’s regulations to establish standards to prohibit meal shaming in schools. The Department’s Child Nutrition Program Administration (CNPA) Office has posted on the Department’s website a Meal Shaming Policy and approved regulations to implement the Breakfast After the Bell program, which is required for schools with 70 percent or more students eligible for free and reduced price meals.

Reports on Bullying Incidents. The Regents adopted a proposed Amendment to Section 100.2(kk)(1) of the Commissioner’s Regulations Relating to Reports of Incidents of Harassment, Bullying, and/or Discrimination Pursuant to the Dignity for All Students Act.  

Charter School Performance Framework. The Regents approved a proposed 2018 Charter School Performance Framework. It is effective immediately, which means the updated Charter School Performance Framework will apply to schools subsequently chartered or renewed beginning in the 2019-2020 school year and thereafter.