A virtual meeting of the New York State Board of Regents was held today, March 15th, 2021.  We will post the recording of this meeting on our Authorizer Update page as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, you can access our Livestream covering charter items and state assessments on our Facebook page.

Full Board Meeting  

Proposed Amendment of Sections 52.21, 60.6, 61.19, 80-1.2, 80-3.7, 100.1, 100.2, 100.4, 100.5, 100.6, 100.7, 100.19 and 151-1.3 and the addition of Section 80-5.27 to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Addressing the COVID-19 Crisis  The Board unanimously approved revisions to the proposed amendment relating to state assessments to provide additional regulatory flexibility during the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion surrounding this item focused on accountability and community concerns. During the discussion, it was noted that NYSED plans to distribute an in-depth guide to schools regarding state assessments tomorrow. The full resolution can be found here. The presentation can be found here.

The Board also approved the Consent Agenda, found below, and took few other actions.

  • P-12 Committee: To read the consent agenda items relevant to the P-12 Committee, click here.

  • Higher Education: To read the consent agenda items relevant to Higher Education, click here.

  • Professional Practice: To read the consent agenda items relevant to Professional Practice, click here.

  • Adult Career and Continuing Education Services: To read the consent agenda items relevant to Adult Career and Continuing Education Services, click here.

  • Cultural Education: To read the consent agenda items relevant to Cultural Education, click here.

  • Board: To read the consent agenda items relevant to the Board, click here.

P-12 Education Committee Meeting

During the P-12 Committee meeting, the Regents addressed the following topics:

Proposed Amendment of Sections 100.4, 100.10 and 175.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Addressing the COVID-19 Crisis

The Board unanimously approved regulatory amendments to the Commissioner’s regulations to extend the home instruction annual assessment exemption through the 2020-21 school year; provide additional flexibility and make a technical correction to the annual instructional hour waiver; and to provide that credit for an accelerated course in grade 8 may be awarded where a student passes the course and has been exempted from the associated examination. The full resolution can be found here.

Digital Equity Summit Update

Department staff provided the Board of Regents with an update on two of three Digital Equity Summits. You can learn more about these summits here.

Approval of the Revised New York State Learning Standards in Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

The Board unanimously approved revisions to the New York State Learning Standards in World Languages. The full resolution can be found here. The presentation can be found here.

Proposed Amendment of Part 30 of the Rules of the Board of Regents and Part 80 and Sections 52.21, 100.1, 100.2, 100.4, 100.5, 100.7, 151-2.2, 154-2.2, 154-2.3, and 154-2.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to World Languages

The Board unanimously approved the change of the name “Languages Other than English” learning standards and related items to “World Languages”. The Board also approved the change of the term “Language Other Than English” and “Foreign Language” throughout the certification, teacher preparation program, and tenure regulations to “World Language Other Than English” or “World Languages”.  The full resolution can be found here.

Proposed Amendments to Sections 200.1 and 200.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to Special Education Impartial Hearing Officers and the Special Education Due Process System Procedures

The Board approved amendments to §§ 200.1 and 200.5 of the Commissioners Regulations to expand the pool of applicants to serve as impartial hearing officers (IHOs) to hear special education due process complaints filed in New York City, require IHOs to render a decision using a consistent format to ensure IHO’s maintain confidentiality consistent with NYSED guidelines that comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and allow IHOs to conduct hearings by video conference. The full resolution can be found here.

Charter School Dissolutions  

The Board approved the judicial dissolution of the following education corporations authorized by the New York City Department of Education Chancellor:

  • Ethical Community Charter School (The): New York City Department of Education Chancellor-authorized formerly in NYC CSD 14

  • Lefferts Gardens Charter School: New York City Department of Education Chancellor-authorized formerly in NYC CSD 17

Revision Recommendation for a Charter School Authorized by the Board of Regents 

The Board approved the following charter school revisions:

  • American Dream Charter School: Increase the charter school’s authorized

enrollment from 565 students to 600 students.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the Board of Regents 

The Board approved the following full term, five-year renewals and revisions:

  • Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys: Full-term five-year renewal and a revision to amend the mission and key design elements of the school’s charter to align them with those proposed for the Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls.

  • Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls: Full-term five-year renewal and a revision to amend the mission and key design elements of the school’s charter to align them with those proposed for the Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys.

  • School in the Square Public Charter School: Full-term fiver-year renewal and a revision to expand current grade span to add Grade 1 through Grade 5 to the school’s currently approved kindergarten and Grade 6 through Grade 8 configuration; and in the expanding grades, increase authorized enrollment from 424, by adding 100 students for each year of the proposed renewal charter term, up to a maximum of 924 students.

The Board approved the following short term renewals and revisions:

  • Discovery Charter School: Short-term three-year renewal.

  • La Cima Charter School: Short-term four-year renewal and revisions to reduce the authorized enrollment from the currently approved 430 students to 330 students; and to amend the school’s key design elements.

  • Renaissance Academy Charter School of the Arts: Short-term three-year renewal.

  • Urban Choice Charter School: Short-term two-year renewal and a revision to add a Comprehensive Management Service Provider.

Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools Authorized by the New York City Department of Education Chancellor 

The Board approved the following short term, three-year renewals:

  • Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Charter School, The Shirley Rodriguez-Remeneski School: Short-term three-year renewal.

The Board approved the following full-term, five-year renewals and revisions:

  • Renaissance Charter High School for Innovation: Full-term five-year renewal and a revision to change the school name to Innovation Charter High School.

  • St. HOPE Leadership Academy Charter School: Full-term five-year renewal.

We will continue to bring you summaries of meetings of the Board of Regents in the months ahead.