FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 19, 2008
For More Information, Contact:
Jonathan Burman or Tom Dunn at (518) 474-1201
Internet: http://www.nysed.gov
BOARD OF REGENTS TO REVIEW
NEW YORK STATE’S ENGLISH STANDARDS
The Board of Regents announced that it will review New York’s Learning Standards, beginning with the standards for English Language Arts (ELA) and English as a Second Language (ESL).
The Regents adopted the current standards in 1996. They cover the major subjects including:
- English Language Arts,
- mathematics, science, and technology,
- social studies,
- the arts,
- languages other than English,
- career development and occupational studies, and
- health, physical education and family consumer sciences.
In conducting their review of the standards, the Regents will seek recommendations from teachers, school administrators, members of the higher education community, business and community leaders, parents, and other state and national experts in each of the content areas. They will also organize focus groups throughout the State that will be open to the public.
Comments and recommendations can be emailed to emscocis@mail.nysed.gov
In reviewing the English standards, the Regents will pay particular attention to the standards for early childhood, from birth to age 5.
The standards are critically important. They determine the curriculum content and State assessments, including grade 3-8 tests and the Regents Exams. The standards represent the core of what all students should know, understand and be able to demonstrate. Meeting the standards should ensure that students are prepared for college, work and citizenship.
To conduct the necessary work, Regents Chancellor Robert M. Bennett has appointed Regent Saul B. Cohen, President Emeritus of Queens College, as Chair of the Regents Steering Committee for Standards Review. Dr. Walter Sullivan, former school superintendent and currently Director of the Center for Educational Policy and Practice, is Coordinator of the standards review.
The standards review will be supported by State Education Department leadership and curriculum specialists, as well as by national educational advisory organizations.
The Regents Steering Committee consists of the following members:
- Regent Saul B. Cohen (Chairperson)
- Vice-Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch
- Regent Charles R. Bendit
- Regent Geraldine D. Chapey
- Regent Milton L. Cofield
- Regent Karen Brooks Hopkins
- Regent Roger B. Tilles
- Ms. Anne M. Byrne, Northeast Regional Director, New York State School Boards Association
- Matthew T. Crosson, Esq., President, Long Island Association, Inc.
- Dr. Sharon Dunn, Senior Instructional Manager for the Arts, New York City Department of Education
- Dr. Howard Everson, Professor, Fordham University
- Dr. Phyllis Glassman, Superintendent, Ossining Union Free School District
- Ms. Marguerite D. Izzo, 2007 New York State Teacher of the Year
- Mr. Donald Jacobs, Founder and Director, Center for Applied Technologies in Education, SUNY at Buffalo
- Dr. Augusta Souza Kappner, President, Bank Street College
- Dr. James T. Langlois, District Superintendent of Schools, Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES
- Dr. Pamela Mills, Associate Professor of Chemistry, CUNY, Hunter College
- Ms. Maria Neira, Vice President, New York State United Teachers
- Dr. Folasade Oladele, Chief Academic Officer of English Language Learning, Buffalo Public Schools
- Dr. Kavita Pandit, Senior Vice Provost, SUNY System Administration
- Mr. James Vitale, Principal, Clarkstown South Senior High School
- Dr. Walter J. Sullivan, Director, Center for Educational Policy and Practice/Associate Professor The College of New Rochelle
Chancellor Robert M. Bennett and Regent Anthony S. Bottar are ex-officio members of the Steering Committee.
The English Language Arts standards will be reviewed by the ELA/ESL Content Panel, composed of the following members:
- Dr. Bonne August, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, New York City College of Technology, CUNY
- Stephen Bongiovi, Teacher of the Year 2006, Seaford High School
- Ella Briand, ELA Coordinator, Syracuse City School District
- Regent Saul B. Cohen
- Regent Geraldine Chapey
- Elizabeth F. Day, Teacher of the Year 2005, Mechanicville Middle School
- Sandra Feinberg, Middle Country Library Director, Selden
- Andrea Gabor, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Baruch College
- John Harmon, Humanities Curriculum Coordinator, Skaneateles Central Schools
- Dr. Kate Hathaway, Assistant Professor of Literacy, New Rochelle Graduate School
- Dr. Kathleen A. Hinchman, Professor and Chair, Reading and Language Arts Center, Syracuse University
- Estee Lopez, Director of Bilingual/ESL, New Rochelle City School District
- Dr. Raymond Peterson, Principal and Project Director, Bard High School Early College, Brooklyn
- Jacqueline Pryce-Harvey, Special Education teacher, 7th grade CTT at MS4, NYC
- Mercedes Qualls, Principal, Humanities and Arts Magnet High School, Queens
- Dr. Donna Scanlon, Associate Professor, University at Albany State University of New York Child Study and Research Center,
- Elisabeth Sheffer, Assistant in Educational Services, NYSUT
- Janet Smith-Hackshaw, Dr. Roland N. Patterson PS 203X, Bronx
- Dr. Brenda Weaver, Assistant Professor of Education and Early Childhood Studies, Cazenovia College
- Ximena E. Zate, TESOL Education Program Director, Stony Brook University.
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