1. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network As representatives of statewide middle level education, our purpose is to advocate for middle level needs, inform SED about ML issues, and collaborate with SED on matters that impact Middle Level Education.

2. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network Report from the Spring 2010 Meeting of the NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

3. New SED Leadership Kenneth G. Slentz Associate Commissioner, District Services Statewide Ira Schwartz Assistant Commissioner, Accountability Laura Smith Assistant Commissioner, External Partnerships and Research Sally Bachofer Executive Coordinator Office of Innovative School Models NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

4. SED’s Reform Agenda Standards, curriculum, and instruction: incorporating common standards into NY standards. Make improvements to our assessments. Ensure better curriculum guidance documents that will result in deeper curriculum frameworks. NY is a member of several assessment consortia, with the intent of having an assessment system that makes more sense. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

5. SED’s Reform Agenda Data: While the timeliness of data reports has gotten better, it is sort of the goal to develop a comprehensive P-20 system. There are many important data questions that could be answered with such a comprehensive system. The estimated cost of such a system is $120M. They are writing grants to find this money. They are also hoping to build formative assessments that can be used across the state. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

6. SED’s Reform Agenda Teachers and Leaders: the goal is to ensure that all children have the best teachers and best leaders possible. They are looking to change the preparatory programs to become more clinical in their nature. Student growth ought to be a part of how we evaluate teachers and leaders. At the next Regents meeting they will discuss the idea of adding student growth to the APPR process. Highly effective, effective, developing, and ineffective will be the categories considered in the APPR discussion. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

7. SED’s Reform Agenda Turnarounds: Failing (persistently low achieving) schools can choose from the four options to move forward. Implementing these models is problematic in the affected districts due to contracts. Yet, the USDOE has said that Title 1 money can only go to the failing districts who utilize one of these four options. Most of the failing schools are high schools. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

8. National Common Core Standards Drafts of grade-level Common Core Standards for math and ELA are out. Input is being sought by SED or you can submit feedback directly to Common Core. These standards will become at least 85% of our new state standards. July or August adoption of the common core standards by the Regents (timeline dictated by the RTTP application). The CI&IT Department of SED has a collection (toolkit) of information and resources about the Common Core Standards. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

9. School Library Media Program Evaluation A revised rubric has just been released that can be used to evaluate library media centers and programs. The rubric is available in several formats at the SED website. There are three main sections of the rubric: 1.Teaching and learning 2.Building the learning environment 3.Empowering learning through leadership NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

10. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), is an important part of the program at Merton Williams Middle School in Hilton, NY, a recent EE:STW. Rather than a program, it’s about a positive and proactive approach to student management. PBIS is like a big unit plan for teaching behavior in a school. NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

11. Difficult Times We are all facing a number of challenges due to the fiscal situation. It is a good idea to be armed with research and regulation when discussing the impacts of the budget in schools and districts. NMSA has research about the middle- level that might be helpful. Also, use CR 100.4 in your discussions. The next Research at a Glance column in In Transition will also point out resources to inform the discussions. Presentation NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

12. Difficult Times Remember these documents and regulations: –Regents Policy Statement –Essential Elements –CR 100.4 –Three Models NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

13. Teacher Certification Special ed certification will be changing Relief of middle level certification possible via emergency action in April NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

14. Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School Yorktown Heights, NY – Principal: Jean Miccio Merton Williams Middle School Hilton, NY – Principal: Carol Stehm Bay Trail Middle School Penfield, NY – Principal: Winton Buddington North Salem Middle School – Redesignated North Salem, NY – Principal: – Patricia Cyganovich NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network New Class!

15. RISING Essential Elements: Schools-to-Watch Hugo Newman College Prep School PS/IS 180 New York, NY – Principal: Peter MacFarlane Carrie Palmer Weber MS Port Washington, NY – Principal Marilyn Rodahan Van Wyck Junior High School Wappingers Falls, NY – Principal: Steven Shuchat NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network New Class!

16. Essential Elements What middle-level programs are supposed to do in NYS Research based Required by Commissioner's Regulation: “districts shall ensure that the middle-level program is aligned with the Regents policy statement on middle-level education and the State Education Department's essential elements of standards-focused middle-level schools and programs” Go to nysmsa.org “Middle Level Essentials” to learn more and view resourcesnysmsa.org NYS Middle Level Liaisons Network

17. As representatives of statewide middle level education, our purpose is to advocate for middle level needs, inform SED about ML issues, and collaborate with SED on matters that impact Middle Level Education.