News and Notes

April 2023

At the April 2023 Board of Regents meeting, the Board received updates on New York State's Graduation Measures Review Initiative, including the Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) Pilot and the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission. The presentation provided information about the project timeline, professional learning activities, and advisory process for recommendations on the PLAN Pilot design and an update on the work of the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission.

Additional information about the Graduation Measures Blue Ribbon Commission, including results of public discussions via ThoughtExchange, can be found on NYSED's Graduation Measures website.

Additional information about the PLAN Pilot, including recordings of recent webinars, can be found on NYSED's PLAN Pilot website.

We look forward to continuing our work to explore what it means to obtain a diploma in New York State and what that diploma should signify to ensure educational excellence and equity for all students.

Sincerely,

Betty A. Rosa

Commissioner

The Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program is offering $168,000 in scholarship opportunities for middle and high school students to attend regional arts programs this summer. The funding will support the Empire State Summer Arts Scholarship Program’s goal of promoting access and equity to arts education by providing need-based grants to low-income students who want to pursue summer growth opportunities.

The scholarship application review process will evaluate financial need in addition to an audition or portfolio submission. Students may apply to receive a scholarship by completing the online application by May 1, 2023.

The New York State Education Department is pleased to announce the Statewide Elementary Mathematics Tournament regional contest winners!

The Grade 1 regional winners are from the following schools:

• P.S. 72 Lorraine Elementary, Buffalo City School District
• C.R. Weeks Elementary School, Windsor Central School District
• Bolivar Road Elementary School, Chittenango School District
• The Waverly School, Eastchester Union Free School District
• J. Fred Sparke Elementary School, Island Trees Union Free School District
• W.S. Mount Elementary School, Three Village Central School District
• Storefront Academy Charter School
• P.S. 144 Col. Jeromus Remsen School, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 184 Flushing Manor, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 174 William Sidney Mount, New York City Department of Education

The Grade 2 regional winners are from the following schools:

• Pine Brook Elementary School, Greece Central School District
• W. A. Wettel Elementary School, Vernon Verona Sherrill Central School District
• Orenda Elementary School, Shenendehowa Central School District
• Deasy Elementary, Glen Cove City School District
• Richard P. Connor Elementary School, Suffern Central School District
• Belmont Elementary School, North Babylon Union Free School District
• New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math, New York City Department of Education
• Old Mill Road Elementary School, North Merrick Central School District
• P.S. Q016 The Nancy DeBenedittis School, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 181Q The Brookfield School, New York City Department of Education

The Grade 3 regional winners are from the following schools:

• P.S. 99 Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center, Buffalo City School District
• Nathaniel Hawthorne School No. 25, Rochester City School District
• Hugh R. Jones Elementary School, Utica City School District
• Stewart School, Garden City Public Schools
• George A. Jackson Elementary School, Jericho Union Free School District
• Parliament Place Elementary School, North Babylon Union Free School District
• P.S. 075 Emily Dickinson School, New York City Department of Education
• Chancellor Livingston Elementary School, Rhinebeck Central School District
• Nassakeag Elementary School, Three Village Central School District
• Dutch Lane Elementary School, Hicksville Union Free School District

The Grade 4 regional winners are from the following schools:

• Hinsdale Elementary School, Hinsdale Central School District
• Thornell Road Elementary School, Pittsford Central School District
• General Herkimer Elementary School, Utica City School District
• Willow Road Elementary School, Valley Stream School District Thirteen
• Cantiague Elementary School, Jericho Union Free School District
• Hampton Bays Elementary School, Hampton Bays Union Free School District
• Fillmore Elementary School, Fillmore Central School District
• P.S. 77 The Bedford Park Elementary School, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 161 Arthur Ashe, Jr. School, New York City Department of Education
• Manor Oaks William Bowie School, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District

The Grade 5 regional winners are from the following schools:

• West Elementary School, West Seneca Central School District
• George F. Johnson Elementary School, Union-Endicott Central School District
• Christopher Columbus Elementary School, Utica City School District
• Main Street School, Irvington Union Free School District
• Hillside Grade School, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District
• Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School, Rocky Point Union Free School District
• The Equity Project Charter School
• P.S. 230 Doris L. Cohen Upper School, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 209 Clearview Gardens School, New York City Department of Education
• P.S. 094 David D. Porter School, New York City Department of Education

Congratulations and best of luck in the statewide tournament in May!

New York State Library

New Yorkers can connect to all kinds of expertise with New York State Library Public Programs! All programs are free, virtual, and open to the public. Find a calendar of upcoming public programs on the State Library's website.

Let's Learn

Build young learners’ literacy with “Let’s Learn,” an instructional learning series for children ages 3-8 from THIRTEEN, a flagship station of PBS. New episodes are airing on public television stations (check local listings) and you can find supplemental resources on the Let's Learn web page.

Sesame Street in Communities: Supporting Families Facing Addiction

Join public media stations across New York State on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 2:00 PM for "Sesame Street in Communities: Supporting Families Facing Addiction," a free virtual event highlighting resources created by Sesame Workshop for caregivers supporting children dealing with a parent or loved one struggling with addiction. The event will feature an in-depth presentation of tools and actionable strategies for families and service providers along with a panel discussion and Q&A with licensed experts.

Office of Cultural Education Newsletter

We're here to connect your classroom with New York State's rich natural and cultural history! Subscribe to the NEW newsletter from the Office of Cultural Education.

The New York State Education Department, in partnership with the Region 2 Comprehensive Center, has created a webinar series highlighting promising culturally responsive-sustaining practices that are being implemented across school districts in New York State. 

The recorded videos, a Video Viewing Guide to promote discussion and further professional development, and introduction videos from Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. and Deputy Commissioner for P-12 Instructional Support, Angelique Johnson-Dingle, are now available on NYSED’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education website.

The following schools and districts are highlighted in the video series: 

• Buffalo Public Schools
• Dansville Central School District 
• Eastern Suffolk BOCES
• Onondaga Nation School
• Penfield Central School District
• South Huntington School District 
• West Irondequoit Central School District
• Western Suffolk BOCES
• Yonkers Public Schools 

The Student Support Services Technical Assistance and Support team recently hosted a Summer Learning and Enrichment webinar. The webinar focused on best practices, resources, and available technical assistance regarding Summer Learning and Enrichment programming in anticipation of Summer 2023.

A recording and transcript of the webinar, as well as other resources (including the 2023 Handbook for Summer School), can be accessed on the Student Support Services website.

The Spring edition of the Office of Standards and Instruction’s quarterly newsletter is now available. This edition includes information about the Computer Science Standards as well as important information relating to standards-based instruction. 

To be notified of new editions or to receive other updates from the Office of Standards and Instruction, please subscribe to our Content Area Notification Service.

The New York State Education Department and the New York State Office of Mental Health encourage school leaders, educators, and student support professionals to attend "What’s Great In Our State: A Celebration of Children’s Mental Health."

Participants will learn valuable strategies and tools to improve mental health and wellness for students, families, and communities.

The in-person event will be held on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 in Albany. Pre-registration is required.