New York State Middle-Level Education Summit – Focusing on the Implementation NYSED’s 7 Essential Elements of Standards-Focused Middle Level Schools and Programs August 20-21, 2008 Hearing Room C Legislative Office Building Albany, NY Sponsored by the New York State Middle School Association

Purpose of the Summit “To bring about a common understanding of NYS middle-level policy and regulations and to develop a statewide plan to fully implement current State middle-level regulation, including the NYS Middle- Level Essential Elements, in all NYS schools serving middle-level students. This comprehensive implementation plan will utilize the added capacity and support made available through a collaborative effort by all stakeholder groups.”

Participants Association of Math Teachers of NYS Business Teachers Association of NYS Catholic School Administrators Association of NYS Cattaraugus-Allegheny MS Principals Group Council of School Supervisors and Administrators eSchool Data, LLC National Middle School Association NY Association of Colleges for Teacher Education NY Association of school Psychologists NY Counseling Association, Inc NY Daily News NYC Art Teachers Association NYS Art Teachers Association NYS Association for Staff and Curriculum Development NYS Association of School Nurses NYS Association of Teacher Educators

Participants NYS Council for the Social Studies NYS Council of Administrators for Music Education NYS Council of Educational Organizations NYS Council of School Superintendents NYS Department of Health NYS Governor’s Office – Secretary for Education NYS Middle School Association NYS Parent Teacher Association NYS Reading Association NYS School Boards Association NYS School Counselors Association NYS School Library Media Specialists NYS School Music Association NYS School Social Workers Association NYS Senate Research Services

Participants NYS Senator Saland’s Office NYS Technology Educators Association NYS Education Department Office of School Improvement and Community Services NYSUT Pearson Education Publications/Prentice Hall Rockwell Museum of Western Art School Administrators Association of NYS Science Teachers Association of NYS SED Middle-Level Liaisons Senator Hillary Clinton’s Albany Office Staff Curriculum Development Network WSWHE BOCES Middle-Level Principals’ Group

Guiding Questions – Day 1 What shared understanding do we need in order to be active participants in the Summit? How do the EE help us to understand m-l learners and meet their needs? What needs to be done in order to ensure that all ml schools have the EE in place? How can our individual organizations support and help ensure full implementation of the EE in all schools?

Guiding Questions – Day 2 What actions will we take to ensure the full implementation of the EE in all NYS ml schools and programs? How can our individual organizations collaborate to ensure full implementation of the EE? What does full implementation of the EE look like?

Speakers Regent Joseph Bowman, NYS Board of Regents Al Summers, NMSA Jeff Craig, NYSMSA Dr. Shawn Robertson, M-L Liaisons Don Nickson, SAANYS Elizabeth Sheffer, NYSUT Stephanie Fehr/Tamalin Martin, NYSPTA Cherroll Dossett, NYSED Office of School Imp Fish, MacBain, Root, Reed EE:STW Principals Steve Zielinski, NYSMSA

Results Great interest and excitement was generated over Essential Elements and EE:STW Program. A draft of an Action Plan was developed and people took responsibility for certain aspects of the plan. A post-Summit committee is working to keep up the momentum of the Summit, with a goal of Summit 2 next summer. There is a great amount of important work to be done to keep the M-L tsunami going!

Already… Invitations to present at each others’ conferences Invitations to write for journals and newsletters Invitations to formalize partnership between NYSMSA & NYSPTA NYASCD, SAANYS, NYSSBA, CSA have highlighted EE in Fall publications EE poster is hanging in middle-level classrooms across NYS Invitation to participate in Governor’s Summit on Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention

NYS Governor’s Summit on Student Engagement and Dropout Prevention October 10, 2008 Nazareth College - Rochester, NY

America’s Promise Alliance 5 Promises: 1.Caring Adults 2.Effective Education 3.Safe Spaces &Constructive Use of Time 4.Healthy Start and Healthy Development 5.Opportunities to Make a Difference Through Helping Others

Messages Chancellor Bennett – “We must end the silo approach to education” Commissioner Mills – “The promise of effective education is a promise we intend to keep.”

Messages Governor Paterson– “I will make decisions that you won’t like. We will make decisions that we won’t like. Yet, we must continue to find ways to educate our young people”

Messages Dr. Pedro Noguera – “Challenge the “normalization of failure” – Provide a relevant curriculum Personalize the learning environment Implement effective interventions Engage parents early Develop partnerships

SEDL Educators’ Focus Group (Social & Emotional Development and Learning) October 3, 2008 Albany, NY

SEDL 2006 – Mental Health Act – required the development of SEDL guidelines as part of P-16 Strategy –Social/emotional competencies as a strategy for closing the achievement gap –Aligned with and support of middle-level advisory; job is to build on the work that is already being done (including Advisory and EE #6)

SEDL Guidelines Gathered feedback on SEDL draft from educators representing urban, rural, suburban schools, Higher Ed, CBO’s, Social Services, etc. Revised draft is now being reviewed Voluntary guidelines – soft roll-out