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News and Notes
Dear Colleagues,

Last month, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released new draft P-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards for public comment. The new draft standards build upon the feedback I have received over the past year of traveling more 35,000 miles across the state to talk with parents, teachers, and the public about the state's learning standards and assessments.  The new draft learning standards for ELA and mathematics are available for public review and comment through November 14. Please take this opportunity to review the new draft standards and provide us with your feedback.

In this edition of News and Notes, I also provide updates related to the following:
As always, thank you for all you do for the students of New York State.

Sincerely,

MaryEllen Elia
Commissioner
standardsState Education Department Releases New Draft NYS English And Mathematics Learning Standards For Public Comment
 
Last month, the New York State Education Department released new draft New York State P-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics Learning Standards for public comment. Two committees composed of more than 130 educators and parents recommended changing 60 percent of the ELA and 55 percent of the math standards.

NYSED is accepting public comments on the draft standards through November 14. Visit our AIMHighNY website to review the standards and submit comments.

Watch this video of Commissioner Elia and standards review committee members describing the standards review process.

educators working together on a standards review committee

essaState Education Department Proposes High-Level Concepts for Draft Every Student Succeeds Act Plan
 
Last year, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law. ESSA reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the national education law. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has established an ESSA Think Tank that will help us develop New York's ESSA state plan.

On October 17, NYSED proposed 36 high-level concepts to be incorporated into the state's ESSA plan. The high-level concepts are designed to help New York State develop and maintain highly effective schools under ESSA and to ensure that all New York's children receive the best possible education.

It is very important for school districts to prepare for implementation of the new ESSA provisions. For that reason, we are being proactive in our efforts to gather input from across the state. NYSED will solicit feedback on the proposed concepts in two rounds. The first round of comment will be gathered from educators, parents, and students at more than 45 Regional State Plan Development meetings being held across the state in October and November. District and BOCES leaders are hosting the meetings and invited key stakeholders such as administrators, school board members, teachers, parents, and students, including students with disabilities and English language learners.

After the Board of Regents approves the state's draft ESSA plan in 2017, a general public comment period will be held and will include public regional meetings across the state.

Read our ESSA news release for more information about the regional meetings and the ESSA plan.

Visit our ESSA website for additional information and a link to the 36 high-level concepts.
athleticsPublic Comment Period for Proposed Amendments to Athletic Eligibility Regulations
 
football players on the field
On October 17, NYSED announced a public comment period on changes to the current athletic eligibility regulations. The underlying spirit of these regulations is to provide for the safe and equal opportunity for athletic participation. The proposed changes would provide clearer guidance to determine when a seventh or eighth grader may play at the high school level and when circumstances beyond the control of a student lead to the extension of athletic eligibility to a fifth season. The proposed amendments will be made available for public comment for 45 days starting on November 9.

safety-netState Board of Regents Approves Extension of Safety Net Regulations for Teacher Certifications
 
teacher on a college campus
This month, the New York State Board of Regents extended the teacher certification safety net regulations. The extension will allow higher education teacher certification programs more time to prepare students for the revised content specialty tests (CST).

The regulations adopted by the Regents today will help take some of the financial pressure off of students by eliminating the need to take the revised exam first and, if unsuccessful, be allowed to take the existing exam.

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Emergency Action will be published in the State Register on November 2, 2016. NYSED will accept comments on the proposal through December 19.

More information is available in our safety net news release .
archivesNew York State Archives Announces 2016 Annual Archives Award Winners
 
Regent Tilles and Annual Archives Award winners
In celebration of American Archives Month, this week the New York State Archives announced the winners of the 2016 Annual Archives Awards. This annual awards program recognizes the outstanding archives and records management work of individuals and organizations in New York State. In addition, three awards were given to students for their use of historical records in research projects at a ceremony at the Cultural Education Center in Albany on October 17.

Please see our 2016 Annual Archives Awards news release for more information.
ndeamState Education Department Recognizes Employers of Individuals with Disabilities
 
several happy workers in a warehouse
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! The New York State Education Department is celebrating NDEAM by recognizing businesses from across the State that do an outstanding job of employing individuals with disabilities.

The Department's Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES), with the help of several partner organizations, is hosting several events across the state to highlight the connection between businesses seeking qualified workers and workers, who just happen to be individuals with disabilities. Through the Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) program, the Department assists individuals with disabilities in securing and maintaining employment so they can live independently.

Throughout the month of October, businesses of all sizes from all parts of the state are being celebrated for their willingness to invest in qualified people with disabilities in their communities by offering them employment opportunities.

Learn more about NDEAM and this month's events.
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