March 2023

Dear Colleagues,

New York’s women have always driven our state and nation forward in positive ways. This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, the New York State Museum is showcasing the talent of several female artists whose work inspires and uplifts. We invite you to join us in learning about the significant contributions of women by exploring the State Museum’s extensive resource page for Women’s History Month. These resources include research from historians and scientists, access to digital collections, virtual lessons and activities for the classroom, CTLE-certified professional development videos for educators, and information about public programming. To commemorate International Women’s Day, the State Museum recently unveiled a new display featuring a one-third scale model of the Women’s Rights Pioneers monument, the first statue of actual women in New York City’s Central Park. Designed by the group, Monumental Women, the statue depicts three historic women’s rights leaders—Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth—all of whom hailed from the Empire State. You can learn more about the Women’s Rights Pioneers monument, watch the donation ceremony, and visit the State Museum to view this inspirational monument in person as part of the Women Who Lead exhibition. I hope you will use these extraordinary resources to help celebrate Women’s History Month in your homes and your communities. Thank you to the women of New York who continue to inspire and uplift us all. In the words of Sojourner Truth, “because of them I can now live the dream.” Sincerely, Betty A. Rosa Commissioner

Statement From Chancellor Young and Commissioner Rosa on Board of Regents Appointments

Congratulations to Regents Judith Chin and Aramina Vega Ferrer on their reelection to the Board of Regents, and we are pleased to welcome Adrian Hale of Rochester, who will represent the 7th Judicial District. Each of these individuals’ unique set of knowledge, skills, and experience is vital to the Board’s deliberations and policymaking. Regents Chin, Ferrer, and newly elected Regent Hale will work to further the Board and Department’s commitment to improving the educational experience of all students in New York. Each will be critical in our efforts to reimagine the state’s assessment and accountability systems, renew our graduation measures and support efforts to foster school environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all. We thank Regent Ruth Turner for her service and commitment to New York’s learners and wish her success as she rejoins the Rochester City School District. We are grateful for her unwavering dedication to improving education for all of New York’s students.

Regent Judith Chin

Regent Aramina Vega Ferrer

Regent Adrian Hale

PLAN Pilot Webinar Series: Student Voices

Join us on April 20 at 11 AM for the fourth installment of our Performance-Based Learning and Assessment Networks (PLAN) Pilot Webinar Series! The webinar will feature a diverse panel of New York State high school students and recent high school graduates sharing their experiences learning in schools and programs implementing performance-based learning and assessment (PBLA). Register now!

Seal of Civic Readiness Application Now Available

The application to offer the Seal of Civic Readiness +1 Civics Pathway is now available for all districts, schools, BOCES, and entities in the SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System located within the Application Business Portal.   Schools that wish to offer this pathway beginning in the 2023-2024 school year must complete this application by August 31, 2023. Applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis. For more information on the Seal of Civic Readiness +1 Civics Pathway, please visit the Office of Standards and Instruction’s Civic Readiness Initiative webpage. Please contact the Office of Standards and Instruction at 518-474-5922 or via email at emscurric@nysed.gov if you have any questions.

Month of the Military Child

April has once again been designated the Month of the Military Child – also known as Purple Up! For Military Kids. Across the nation, states and school districts will celebrate the important role of military families through special events and by wearing the color purple. Please visit our Month of the Military Child web page to learn more and to get some great ideas for celebrating these special children.

Save the Date: New York State My Brother’s Keeper Symposium

The 2023 New York State My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Symposium will take place on May 19, 2023, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany. MBK communities and grant-funded programs won’t want to miss this exciting event. Registration is now open. Please speak to your MBK Project Director for registration information. Registration will close on April 19th.  While the Symposium event registration is available for our grant-funded programs, our 33 MBK communities, and their community partners, we will stream the event live on our website. If you are unable to attend in person, please take the opportunity to participate via webcast and hear from MBK students and programs across New York State as they share their success stories, challenges, and strategies.

News from the Office of Early Learning

The Office of Early Learning is hosting a series of fiscal guidance webinars for prekindergarten. The second webinar in the series will focus on guidance and support for the accurate completion and timely approval of 2023-2024 FS-10 proposed budgets for prekindergarten. The webinar will be held via Zoom on May 3rd, 2023 from 3:30-4:30 PM and will be recorded for future viewing. Register for the prekindergarten fiscal guidance webinar here. Any questions can be directed to the Office of Early Learning at oel@nysed.gov. Subscribe to receive additional updates about prekindergarten from the Office of Early Learning.

Helping Families Maintain Their Health Insurance With NY State of Health

Every family must have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage. This insurance is essential to ensuring that children are ready and able to learn and thrive in school and at home. The NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan Marketplace, remains committed to ensuring access to affordable, high-quality health insurance for all New Yorkers.  Students and their families who currently have health insurance through New York State Medicaid, Child Health Plus, or the Essential Plan will soon see significant changes to their coverage options. New York State will resume eligibility reviews and renewals for people enrolled in these programs beginning in spring 2023. As a result, families may need to act to renew their coverage.  Families that are enrolled in these programs should make sure that their address and other contact information is up to date with NY State of Health or their local Department of Social Services office to ensure they receive a renewal notice. To learn more, please visit the NY State of Health website or the Department of Health’s Medicaid website.