April 2008
TO: District Superintendents of Schools
Superintendents of Public
Schools
Teacher Organizations
Deans of Institutions of
Higher Education
Parent Organizations
Interested Parties
FROM: Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT: Public Forums on the
The Board of Regents P-16 Education: A Plan for
Action calls for all New Yorkers to be prepared for “citizenship, work
and continued learning throughout their lives.”
In order to achieve this goal we must close the gaps in student academic
achievement along the lines of income, race and ethnicity, language and
disability; and keep up with the growing demands for still more knowledge and
skill in the face of increasing competition in a changing economy. A key strategy to address these two
challenges is the periodic review of the New York Learning Standards, starting
with English language arts.
As part of the Standards review
process, a series of public forums will be convened in April and May throughout
the State in order to provide the Regents and the Department a representative
sampling of stakeholder views. In
particular, we encourage teachers and school administrators, school board members, and other groups to
participate, including parents and higher education representatives. Following
is the schedule of forums:
Date |
Location |
Time |
April 24, 2008 |
Education Campus Conference Room B -1 Pre-registration: Geri
Hoffman (tele: 716-821-7161/ e-mail: ghoffman@e1b.org) |
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. |
May 7, 2008 |
Pre-registration: Joan
Johnson (tele: 631-549-4900/ e-mail: jjohnson@wsboces.org)
|
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. |
May 8, 2008 |
United Federation of Teachers Headquarters 52 Broadway, 5th Floor Pre-registration: Jerrill Adams (tele: 718-722-2784/ jadams@mail.nysed.gov) |
1:00 – 3:30 p.m. |
May 9, 2008 |
Gymnasium* Queensbury Pre-registration: Janice
Keller (tele: 518-746-3310/
e-mail: jkeller@wswheboces.org) |
12:00 – 3:00 p.m.** |
May 13, 2008 |
Cafeteria Pre-registration: Kathy
Southwell (tele: 315-433-2602/ e-mail: ksouthwe@ocmboces.org)
|
3:00 – 5:30 p.m. |
May 21, 2008 |
Putnam-Northern Pre-registration: Marla
Gardner (tele: 914-248-2330/ e-mail: mgardner@pnwboces.org)
|
2:00 – 4:30 p.m. |
*
The Gymnasium is the first building on the right on entering the
campus’ south entrance on
**
Participants are invited to bring lunch, if they so wish. Food and beverages will be available for
purchase.
Each
forum will include some introductory remarks on the Standards initiative with
the bulk of the session devoted to small group discussions focusing on a few
key issues related to the Standards review.
Since the purpose of these forums is to get input from the field,
participant comments will be recorded and shared with the Regents.
To ensure that the proper arrangements
are made, I ask that you contact the person indicated above for the forum in
which you wish to attend to pre-register.
However, pre-registration is not required.
I strongly urge you to participate in
one of the forums to present your views on this critical issue.