This week, the Board of Regents acted to adopt revisions to the New York State Learning Standards for Languages Other Than English (LOTE). The revisions will align the standards with high-leverage practices and update them to represent what students should know and be able to do in the languages and cultures which they study. The full learning standards may be found on NYSED's website.

NYSED also presented regulation changes to rename the learning standards from LOTE to “World Languages.” Public comment on the proposed changes will be accepted through May 31.

NYSED and the Office of the Attorney General released guidance to assist local education agencies in their obligations to students experiencing homelessness to help ensure that these children are connected to education and other supports. While the number of homeless students has likely increased due to the COVID pandemic, identifying children experiencing homelessness has become more difficult because many schools across the state are delivering instruction remotely.

To ensure that children experiencing homelessness receive equal access to education, LEAs are encouraged to reference the resources provided for assistance, strategies, and best practices related to identifying and enrolling homeless students.

Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr., the Board of Regents, and Commissioner Betty A. Rosa expressed their deep concern about the rise in violence against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The Board of Regents and NYSED condemn these acts of violence and the hatred that drives them. We will not be delayed or deterred in our work to lift up every one of New York’s 2.6 million students, confident in the knowledge that the way to a better world is through education, respect, and compassion.

NYSED's Teaching in Remote/Hybrid Learning Environments (TRLE) program is facilitating new online professional learning opportunities through our Level 1 Center partners that can be attended by any educator in New York at no cost. Please visit our TRLE website and event calendar for more details. Be one of the first to learn about new professional learning opportunities and join our listserv.

NYSED recently warned licensed professionals in New York State about a scam involving telephone calls from individuals posing as NYSED Employees or law enforcement officials to defraud and extort victims.

The scam is targeting such licensed professionals as physicians and pharmacists, and is seeking the professional’s social security number and an immediate bond payment under the guise that the professional’s license has been suspended and payment is required to reverse the suspension and avoid further charges.

NYSED will never telephone or fax any individual to request a bond fee or payments related to an ongoing investigation of professional misconduct. If you receive such a phone call, please hang up immediately and report it to the proper law enforcement authorities.

We recently sent information to you about SUNY's ​'Big Dreams, Small Step' campaign to provide assistance to high school students who are at risk of being left behind this year — and who stand to benefit the most from a college degree.

The City University of New York (CUNY) is also providing additional support for students to complete their applications, including several application workshops this month. Explore options with your students by reading about the 25 CUNY campuses across the five NYC boroughs and the thousands of CUNY degree choices. Visit the CUNY website to get to know the campuses and learn more about the application process.

If you are feeling stressed, isolated, scared, anxious, sad, or angry during this trying time, emotional support is available. Trained crisis counselors are available at the NY Project Hope COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline to provide a listening ear, information, and referrals to a vast array of community resources. The helpline is open 7 days a week from 8 AM to 10 PM.

To meet increased need, NY Project Hope has expanded its crisis counseling program in 12 counties that have been highly impacted by COVID-19, including Dutchess, Erie, Nassau, NYC (all boroughs), Orange, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester. NY Project Hope has contracted with several local agencies in these 12 counties that will now provide COVID-19 related crisis counseling in their respective communities. By expanding the NY Project Hope crisis counseling program in these areas, more New York residents will be able to receive the emotional support they need, along with local resources and referrals from trained crisis counselors who know their community.

NYSED recently honored three schools as New York State Green Ribbon Schools. These schools are New York’s nominees for the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) program distinction. The award recognizes schools that reduce environmental impact and costs; improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and provide effective environmental and sustainability education. This year’s honorees are the Magnet School for Environmental Studies and Community Wellness (PS90) in Brooklyn, Scarsdale Middle School in Scarsdale, and New Roots Charter School in Ithaca.

Honorees of the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools competition will be announced in a ceremony held in Washington D.C. this fall. Congratulations to the honorees!