NYSED News

New York State Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch and New York State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. today released high school graduation rates for the 2008 cohort (students who entered 9th grade in 2008). Overall statewide graduation rates remained stable at 74 percent despite increased rigor required for graduation phased-in over the past four years. The graduates of 2012 were the first cohort for which a local diploma was not available for general education students. King said today’s announcement shows the hard work of educators, parents, and students across the state proved the opponents of higher standards wrong.

State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. today announced that 125 grants totaling approximately $78.1 million in annual funding have been awarded under the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program. The purpose of the grants is to create or expand community learning centers that provide academic enrichment and youth development opportunities for students who attend schools that serve a high percentage of low-income families.

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of Accountability is seeking proposals from vendors with demonstrated knowledge, expertise and the capacity to conduct district and school-based reviews aligned to the Diagnostic Tool for School and District Effectiveness (DTSDE) protocol. Focus Districts and Districts with Priority Schools use the feedback from the DTSDE to complete a District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and any necessary School Comprehensive Education Plans.

State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. today announced the State Education Department (SED) is accepting applications for a second round of the competitive Strengthening Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (STLE) grant program. STLE grants are targeted to support school districts and charter schools utilizing, as part of their implementation of an Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) plan, a comprehensive approach to recruitment, development, support, retention and equitable distribution of effective teachers and school leaders.

New York State Education Commissioner John B. King, Jr. today released his teacher and principal evaluation plan for New York City.

Section 1003(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires that State Education Agencies allocate funds to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) for Title I Priority and Focus Schools to meet the progress goals in their District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and School Comprehensive Education Plan(s) (DCIP/SCEP) and thereby improve student performance. Funds will be allocated to Focus Districts to support partnerships with Higher Education Institutions (IHE), Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), education research organizations and/or local business and industry. The funds must be used to develop leadership programs for implementation of Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS) and Annual Personnel Performance Reviews (APPR) as required under the provisions of Education Law §3012-c, and to provide college and career enrichment programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for historically underserved students.

Dr. John B. King, Jr., Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, will engage with student reporters across the state via video conference on Tuesday, June 4. The Commissioner will speak for a few minutes and then answer questions from student reporters.

The 2013-14 grant application for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Section 611 and Section 619 Federal Funding for the Education of Students with Disabilities is now available. Application materials are due to the State Education Department (SED) by July 1, 2013.

This memorandum provides critical updates regarding school districts, BOCES, and charter schools reporting and verifying Teacher-Student Data Linkage (TSDL) information and principal linkages in the Student Information Repository System (SIRS) for the 2012-13 school year. As a reminder, these data are necessary to meet federal and State requirements, and for school districts to demonstrate full implementation of an approved APPR plan for the 2012-13 school year.

Statements from NYS Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch and NYS Commissioner John B. King, Jr. on Assembly Passage of the NYS Dream Act

Check out the latest edition of News and Notes from Commissioner King