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P-16 News & Notes
From Senior Deputy Commissioner Johanna
Duncan-Poitier |
Back to EMSC Home SED Home Disclaimers and Notices emscsupinfo@mail.nysed.gov |
Quick Links to Items in this issue of News and Notes:
Teaching and Curriculum Resources now Available
School Leadership Certification Information
Important Assessment Information
Other Updates and Announcements
Congratulations to the fourth cohort of Essential Elements Schools to Watch. We are pleased to announce that Pioneer Middle School in Yorkshire, NY and Islip Middle School in Islip, NY have joined other Middle Schools as models of Academic Excellence, Developmental Responsiveness, Social Equity and Organization. Please visit http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/mle/EESTW/eestwdesignees08.htm.
Congratulations to the fifteen New York State students recently recognized as the top forty finalists for the nationally acclaimed Intel Science Talent Search 2008. Deserving of special recognition are fourth place finisher, Katherine Banks from Stuyvesant High School in New York City, sixth place finisher, David Rosengarten from John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School in Great Neck, and ninth place finisher, Alexis Mychajliw from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington.
To be recognized as a finalist in this prestigious talent search is a dream of many students but a reality of few. More than 1,600 students entered this year's competition. All fifteen finalists, their parents, their schools, and their communities should be very proud of this remarkable achievement. More information on Intel's annual science talent search may be accessed at http://www.intel.com/education/sts/index.htm.
Congratulations to Vanessa Baratta from Thomas High School in Webster and Sheel Tyle from Pittsford Mendon High School in Pittsford for their selection as the New York State delegates to the 2008 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC). Emily Melvin from General Douglas MacArthur High School, William Hutchison from Warwick Valley High School, and Cornelia Willis from Clarence High School were selected as first, second, and third alternates, respectively. The delegates and alternates, as well as, their parents, schools, and communities should be very proud of this accomplishment.
The NYSC is an annual summer forum where two delegates
representing each state exchange ideas with leading scientists
and other professionals from academic and corporate worlds. Delegates
to the NYSC are challenged to explore new areas in the biological
and physical sciences, art, and music with resident staff members.
Delegates also present seminars covering their own areas of
research and interest. More information about the NYSC may be
accessed at http://www.nysc.org/.
The New York State Education Department has posted the Global History and Geography Online Resource Guide at http://www.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/ghgonline/home.html to help school districts implement their Global History and Geography instructional programs.
This rich online resource provides direct access to:
The Curriculum, Instruction, and
Instructional Technology Team recently updated the questions
and answers document on transfer student regulations and policy. This
document includes a section on Special Education. The q/a’s can be reached by going
to the "Education Laws and Regulations" link on the CIIT website,
clicking on the link to "Part 100 Regulations", and then on
the "Policy" icon or by going directly to http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/part100/pages/policytransqainrevision.html.
Education in civics is fundamental to ensuring that all of New York State's students graduate ready for active and informed citizenship. This toolkit promotes a standards-based, interdisciplinary focus for civics education. It includes a crosswalk that describes the infusion of civics throughout all New York State Learning Standards. It includes a rationale for teachers, curriculum supervisors, and school district administrators with responsibilities for planning a standards-based instructional program that infuses civics education across content areas; definitions and frequently-asked questions about civics education; and strategies and online resources for strengthening civics education in local school districts. Visit the toolkit now at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/civics.html.
The Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology Team has been posted a Champlain/Hudson/Fulton Commemorations Online Resource at: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/chf/chf.html to help local school districts celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Samuel de Champlain and Henry Hudson explorations, and the 200th anniversary of the launching of Robert Fulton’s steamboat, Clermont. This online resource includes 10 standards-based, interdisciplinary elementary, middle and commencement level instructional modules and 3 scholarly overviews that focus on the broad themes of encounter, trade and commerce. It also provides strategies for using the Champlain, Hudson, Fulton Online Resource.
Information pertaining to School Leadership Certification Requirements may be accessed from the Office of Teaching website. This information includes scheduled test administrations required for school leadership certification examinations; examination descriptions; registration of "companion" (non-certificate) programs; proposed amendments allowing flexibility in employment of school leaders; a new supplementary certificate for school leadership titles and new transitional "D" certificates pertaining to the School District Business Leader title. Complete information regarding this can be found at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/resteachers/memo41508jf.
Earlier this school year it was announced that results for the 2008 Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) assessments would be released to districts and the public in May. For 2008, both ELA and math results are scheduled for release to districts on the nySTART data reporting system and to the public in June, to allow time for the first round of improvements to that system. Questions about the release of data or nySTART can be directed to the Office of Information and Reporting Services at (518) 474-7965.
This memorandum is intended for use by school administrators, Science Department Chairpersons and Earth Science teachers and provides information on two changes impacting the Physical Setting/Earth Science Performance Test (Part D). A revision has been made to the originally planned June 2008 Physical Setting/Earth Science Performance Test (Part D). The new version of the Part D will include hands-on laboratory activities that students will perform at three stations rather than four. In addition, effective June 2008, all students taking the June 2008 Regents Examination in Physical Setting/Earth Science, including those retaking the written examination, must take the new version of the Part D. Scores earned on the Earth Science Performance Test in conjunction with prior administrations of this written examination may no longer be carried over and applied to the student’s final examination score for this Regents Examination. For more information, please visit: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/hssci.html.
The age criteria for the 2008-09 administration of the New York State
Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) are currently available at http://emsc.nysed.gov/osa/nysaa/home.shtml.
This timely information will assist Committees on Special Education and
lead special education teachers in planning for students with severe cognitive
disabilities who will be eligible for NYSAA in 2008-09. The required content
areas are also provided for each age range.
New Administration Period Dates
The 2008-09 NYSAA administration period is October 6, 2008 through February 13, 2009. During this time, lead special education teachers are required to administer NYSAA on an individual basis and compile students’ performance data into a datafolio. The administration dates are posted on the Office of State Assessment’s alternate assessment website at http://emsc.nysed.gov/osa/nysaa/home.shtml.
The New York State Education Department is seeking skilled professionals interested in joining a team to oversee the transformation of New York State’s data collection, management, and reporting processes that contribute to the State education accountability and school improvement system, including implementing and monitoring the Department’s data collection schedule and reporting calendar for Federal and State accountability. The Coordinator of Education Plans and Reports will supervise the Office of Information and Reporting Services. Please view the full posting at: http://www.oms.nysed.gov/hr/flyers/EMS574.htm.
For 2008-09, the federal government has reduced funding for Title V, Part A - Innovative Programs to zero, offset by small increases in other Title programs. As a result, in 2008-09 local educational agencies will not receive Title V allocations, but those with carryover funds from 2007-08 will be able to apply in the NCLB Consolidated Application to use them. Alternatively, LEAs may choose to expend all available funds in 2007-08. To ensure that LEAs make maximum use of their Title V funds, we encourage those responsible for Title V programs to work closely with their business offices to obligate and spend all funds available to them as part of their 2007-08 or 2008-09 budgets. To verify the amount of Title V, Part A funds available to an LEA, please go to http://www.oms.nysed.gov/cafe/reports.html.
More information about the phase-out of Title V will be made available as the 2008-09 budget cycle nears, and questions may be directed to emscprofdev@mail.nysed.gov. Detailed information about federal allocations to New York State is available at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/tables.html.
If you have an elementary school teacher (K-6) that you think deserves recognition, you can nominate him or her for the Better Beginnings Award. The spirit of the award, which celebrates the life and career of Helen Bach Moss, is that better beginnings make for stronger completions. It strives to recognize elementary school teachers who are gifted in finding and nurturing the strengths of each student and fostering trusting relationships among pupils, parents, teachers, and administrators. The award recipient is honored at an award ceremony held at the discretion of the local school community. Applications are at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/kiap/TEACHING/BBA/bbaindex.htm
The New York State Education Department encourages school and community stakeholders interested in the quality and effectiveness of children's social and emotional development to attend the regional public forums for the Children's Mental Health Plan. For more information, please see http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/SEDL.htm.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is pleased to announce an upcoming change to the administration of user accounts needed to access many NYSED information systems. The name of the software program is State Education Department Delegated Administration System (SEDDAS), pronounced SED DAZ.
Here is a list of the NYSED information systems that will be involved in this change:
C4E – Contract for Excellence VADIR – Violent
and Disruptive Incident Report
OSA – Exam request system SAMS – State
Aid Management System
MSA – Mandated Services Aid IHRS – Impartial
Hearing Reporting System
BEDS – Basic Educational Data System
Note: TEACH and NYSSIS use the OFT log-in system and will not be
affected by the SEDDAS system.
The need for the SEDDAS system was recognized over a period of
years as more and more of NYSED’s information systems were made
accessible to school/district users via a web based interface referred
to as the NYSED Portal. Access to protected application systems
until now has been a function of user-ids and passwords created, distributed,
and maintained by NYSED’s office of Information Technology Services
(ITS). A district would specifically request user-ids and passwords
from NYSED or in other instances these user-ids and passwords would be
sent to the Chief School Officer to be distributed to key school personnel. Such
user-ids and passwords would permit access to school/district users and
would also control what specific NYSED information systems could be accessed.
How will SEDDAS work? As an automated system to be used by all New York school institutions that will permit designated district users to create User IDs and passwords for their own district employees thus allowing access into the NYSED Portal. Once the new user has an account created, a designated district user will then be able to entitle the new user to access one or more of the protected NYSED information systems found in the NYSED Portal. Which information system the user has rights to access is a function of the institution in which he/she is employed as well as the position that he or she holds in the institution. This new system for creating users and entitling access to protected NYSED information systems is called SEDDAS.
New York State will participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for the 2008-2009 school year, which will enable 25 schools to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, free of charge, to all enrolled students. The program encourages nutritious snacking, increases consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, and expands the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience. Selected applications for the discretionary grants must be postmarked by May 22, 2008. Applications, a guidance manual, and the evaluation criteria we will use to score the applications are available at www.nysed.gov/cn/cnms.htm.
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02/01/08