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Dear Principals and Administrators,
As part of our ongoing commitment to simplifying the substantial equivalency pathways, we are issuing memos for each pathway to provide clearer guidance.
For NYC schools: The NYC DOE Office of Nonpublic Schools will be hosting a webinar in collaboration with NYSED discussing the substantial equivalency pathways, tomorrow, Thursday, November 9, from 12:00– 1:00 P.M. Please register here for the webinar. NYC DOE has also created a form for schools to select and demonstrate their pathway. We will be holding a webinar at a later date to go through the form in detail.
Pathway 1: Registered High Schools and Related Elementary Schools
What is a Registered High School?
Registered high schools have been visited and reviewed by SED and approved at a Board of Regents meeting to issue Regents diplomas. Schools can confirm their registration status on the Department's database.
What do I need to tell the LSA?
Inform the LSA that you intend to use the Registration Pathway and be prepared to share the Registration certificate.
Can an elementary school use the Registration Pathway?
An elementary school can use the Registration Pathway IF:
- It has an organizational relationship with a registered high school, AND
- It has the same general academic program, AND
- The students automatically matriculate to the high school (i.e. there are no admission requirements that preclude 8th graders from entering the high school if they choose)
- Please see below for more details
What if my school has pending registration status?
High schools with "pending" registration status can use the registration pathway ONLY if they've been recently visited by NYSED staff, deemed approvable, and are waiting for a Board of Regents meeting to grant full registration status. If a high school with pending registration status falls into other categories, like needing to provide more information or having changed location, they must select a different pathway.
What if I anticipate becoming registered soon?
If you anticipate becoming registered by December 1, 2024, you should be able to use the registration pathway. We recommend that you choose the assessments pathway for now, (Regents exams are approved assessments) and inform the LSA when you are registered that you would like to change the pathway.
How do I become a registered high school?
Schools that meet the academic requirements for students to earn a Regents Diploma can voluntarily apply to become a registered high school. The registration process for high schools involves site visits, reviews by the Department and a vote by the Board of Regents. Please see HERE for more information.
What is the definition of an organizational relationship between an elementary and high school?
Related elementary and middle schools can also be considered substantially equivalent if they meet specific criteria to be considered related for substantial equivalency purposes:
1- Same ORISS Code Under a Single BEDS Code: They should share the same ORISS code within a single BEDS code, indicating a common educational identity.
OR
2- Same Organization with Different BEDS Codes in the Same Location: Alternatively, they can belong to the same organization but have different BEDS codes at the same physical location.
OR
3- Same ORISS Code and Leadership with Different Locations: They can also have the same ORISS code and leadership but operate in separate physical buildings at different locations.
4- In conversations with SED, they suggested that schools may be able to demonstrate an organizational relationship even if they do not have the same ORISS code
These related elementary, middle, and high schools can be at the same or different addresses. However, not all elementary and middle schools with close relationships are considered related for substantial equivalency purposes.
For example:
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Coordinated Programs but Independent Organizations: Some nonpublic schools may coordinate their programs and regularly send their students to the same nonpublic high school. However, if these elementary/middle schools are organizationally independent from each other, they must use a different pathway to demonstrate substantial equivalency.
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Low Matriculation to the Registered High School: Even if elementary/middle schools share the same BEDS or ORISS codes, they may not be considered related if there are barriers to matriculation of their students to the registered high school. For instance, if students in these elementary and middle schools can only attend high school if they meet specific enrollment criteria, they cannot be considered related and must choose an alternative pathway to demonstrate substantial equivalency.
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Separate Boys and Girls schools: Even if an elementary school / middle school/ high school share the same administration and ORISS code, if the boys and girls are in separate schools the boys elementary / middle school can only be considered related to the boys high school and the girls elementary / middle school can only be considered related to the girls high school.
Real-Life Examples:
Example of Coordinated Programs: An elementary school prepares students for admission to a nearby private high school. However, the schools maintain separate administration and governance structures, making them organizationally independent. In this case, the elementary school would need to explore a different pathway for substantial equivalency.
Example of Low Matriculation: An elementary school shares the same ORISS code with a registered high school. However, students must pass a separate entrance exam to attend the high school. Since there is no automatic matriculation, the elementary school would need to choose an alternative pathway to demonstrate substantial equivalency.
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