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NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Materials From the April 8th CEC 31 Meeting on Common Core State Standards & NYS Tests

Just click on the following links to access the materials handed-out at the April 8th CEC 31 Meeting.  Our special guest, DoE Chief Academic Officer Shael Suransky, answered questions about the Common Core State Standards and the upcoming NYS Tests.

Overview of the Common Core Learning Standards

NEW >>>>>>> RULES & FAQs ABOUT TEST PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS <<<<<<<

Common Core Resources for Parents

Chancellor Dennis Walcott’s Letter to Families  

NYS Education Dept. Elementary/Intermediate Tests Information (2013)

"Information on Student Participation in State Assessments” memo from Steven Katz, Director, Office of State Assessment dated January 2013, which states, "There is no provision in statute or regulation allowing parents to opt their children out of State tests."

Parents Want to Know (questions compiled by CEC 31 that were addressed by Shael Suransky at the April 8th meeting)

Implementing the Common Core Standards

More FAQs about Common Core and State Tests:

• http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/4763B369-1D2B-47CB-8938-60FD860DE79E/0/CommonCoreFAQ.pdf

• http://engageny.org/sites/default/files/resource/attachments/parent_workshop_faq.pdf

• http://www.corestandards.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions

• http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/CommonCoreLibrary/ForFamilies/UnderstandingCC/default.htm

Chancellor’s Regulation A-501 concerning DoE Promotion Policy

Click on the links below to view SAMPLE QUESTIONS from the NYS Tests:

PARENTS: SIGN UP FOR DoE E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS

You can get updates about public schools delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for one or more of DoE’s e-mail newsletters:

• Breaking News (snow alerts and other important notifications) will be sent to you as soon as they’re issued.

• Weekly Update (This Week in Your Public Schools)keeps you informed with all of the latest news, programs, and events.

• Monthly Update (City Schools)includes features and in-depth stories.

• Press Releases give you access to the latest news as it's released by the Department of Education.

• Enrollment Updates (Gifted and Talented, Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, High School) alert you to important deadlines and events in your area of interest.

To sign up for the newsletters, click here to visit a DoE webpage and enter your e-mail address to subscribe.

* GREAT EXPECTATIONS *

English
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Spanish
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Chinese
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th,8th

Russian
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Arabic
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Urdu
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Bengali
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Korean
    K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Haitian Creole
   K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

CAPITAL PLAN 2010-2014 AMENDMENT POWERPOINT

At the December 5th CEC public Calendar Meeting, the November 2011 Amendment to the Five Year Capital Plan was presented.

CLICK HERE to view the PowerPoint presentation of the Capital Plan Amendment. PLEASE GIVE IT A FEW MOMENTS TO LOAD - IT IS A LARGE DOCUMENT.

The PowerPoint document contains information and pictures of 3 new schools being established on Staten Island:

Gifted & Talented ADMISSIONS UPDATE

For information about Gifted &Talented admissions, visit the G&T web page.  If you have questions, call (718) 935-2009 or e-mail to ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov.

The G&T Admissions Calendar is available ONLINE HERE

As of January 2012, all Pre-K students interested in applying for a Gifted & Talented (G&T) program, whether in a Department of Education (DOE) or non-DOE Pre-K program, will be tested under the same conditions on a weekend date.

Important Gifted and Talented Sites:

• Visit the Eligibility/Applications page to download a copy of the Gifted & Talented Information Handbooks.
• Sign up to receive Gifted & Talented email updates.

Gifted & Talented Handbooks
Review the Handbook for test preparation tips, important dates, and other key G&T information. You can access the 2012 – 2013 Gifted & Talented Handbooks at this webpage: http://schools.nyc.gov/Academics/GiftedandTalented/default.htm

Please click on the link that corresponds with the year your student was born:

Elementary School Gifted and Talented (G&T)
Every year, the DOE determines the number of programs needed by each district based on the number of students who meet the eligibility requirements.  Should your child be eligible for a NYC DOE G & T program, a complete list of sites available to your child will be included with the G & T application.

Please note: not all schools with G&T programs in 2012-2013 will have a G&T program next year, and some schools not listed may start new G&T classes in 2013-2014. Find the current list of 2012-2013 Elementary G&T Classes here.

Middle School Academically Enriched Programs and Schools
To find an academically enriched middle school program/school for your student, please review the middle school directory for your district.  Middle School Directories can be found here.

Specialized High Schools
Review the specialized high schools section of the High School Admissions FAQ to learn more about applying to specialized high schools. Visit the online high school directory to find the specialized schools in your borough.

Citywide Gifted & Talented Schools
Review this site to learn more about the gifted and talented schools throughout the city.

Other Opportunities for Gifted Students in NYC
Please review this list of opportunities for gifted students in New York City.

SEM Programs
To find out if a school is implementing The Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), please contact the school directly.

If you have questions, call the G&T Admissions team at (718) 935-2009 or e-mail ES_Enrollment@schools.nyc.gov

PARENT INFORMATION ON STUDENT BUS TRANSPORTATION:

Our goal is to give parents and families the information they need to be informed and involved. You can learn more about general education eligibility and student MetroCards, find important safety guidelines and valuable tips to share with your child.

In the KEY DOCUMENTS section on the following webpage: http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Transportation/ParentResources/default.htm you will find helpful information about OPT policies and procedures including what happens if the school bus arrives at a student's destination and there is no adult at the stop to receive the child and how to request to
change the location where a special education student is dropped off after school.

Search School and Student Information

You can use the OPT School and Student Transportation Search to search for transportation information by school and by student.

Choose the School Transportation Information search to see a school's session times, yellow bus and MetroCard information.

Choose the Student Transportation Information search to see your child's information. You will need to enter your child's 9-digit student ID number and date of birth in order to view this information. For a general education student, you can see information that includes session times, scheduled morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off times, bus stop locations and bus company information. For a special education student you can see session times, route number and bus company information.

GENERAL EDUCATION ELIGIBILITY:

Transportation eligibility is determined on the basis of the student's grade level and the distance between the student's residence and school. The table below shows how OPT determines student eligibility for transportation based on the student's grade and the distance the student lives from school. For example:

A first-grader who lives 3/4 of a mile from school would be eligible for full fare transportation.

An eighth-grader who lives one mile from school would be eligible for half fare transportation.

The questions and answers below are designed to give parents the information they need about the following:
How eligibility is determined
Half Fare Transportation
Full Fare Transportation—MetroCards
Full Fare Transportation—Yellow Bus

Eligibility is determined by the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT).

How are the residence/school distances determined?
Residence/school distances are determined by OPT using the shortest walking route. Please note: Driving distances are not used to calculate eligibility.

How is eligibility determined for students participating in the No Child Left Behind Program?
All students in kindergarten through sixth grade who have accepted transfers under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Program and who meet the eligibility requirements for free transportation will receive yellow school busing to their new school. All other students enrolled in the NCLB Program, even if they do not meet the eligibility requirements, will receive a MetroCard that provides free fare on public transportation. Click here for more information on the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

HALF FARE TRANSPORTATION

Students eligible for half fare transportation will be issued a Half Fare MetroCard by the office in their school that distributes MetroCards.

What is a Half Fare MetroCard?
A Half Fare MetroCard allows an eligible student to travel to and from school and school-related activities on buses only.

How much does a student pay?
The student contributes half of the cost of the fare.

Click here for more information about student MetroCards

FULL FARE TRANSPORTATION—MetroCard

Students eligible for full fare transportation may be issued a Full Fare MetroCard by the office in their school that distributes MetroCards or they may apply for yellow bus service.

What is a Full Fare MetroCard?
A Full Fare MetroCard allows an eligible student to travel to and from school and school-related activities by bus and subway.

How much does a student pay?
There is no charge to the student.

How do I request a Full Fare MetroCard for my child?
You may request a Full Fare MetroCard from your child's school.

Click here for more information about student MetroCards.

FULL FARE TRANSPORTATION—Yellow Bus Service

Students eligible for full fare transportation may apply for yellow bus service. Yellow bus service is bus service provided from designated stops at designated times to and from schools receiving this service.

To apply for yellow bus service, a student must meet the following criteria:

• The student must be eligible for full fare transportation as described above.
• The student's school must have yellow bus service.
• The students must be in grades K-8.
• The student's residence must be in the same district as the school (if attending a public school) or the same borough (if attending a charter or non-public school).
  

If the above criteria are met and the student applies for and is assigned yellow bus service, the student will be assigned to a bus stop by his or her school.

Please Note: Admission to a gifted and talented program or school does not guarantee a student yellow bus transportation. Eligibility for yellow bus transportation for general education students attending gifted and talented schools and programs is based on the same criteria that apply to public school general education students as indicated above. Students attending one of the three citywide gifted and talented schools (PS 334—The Anderson School, NEST + M and TAG School for Young Scholars) are eligible for busing if they live in the same borough (Manhattan) and the route, as measured by bus stops, is no longer than five miles.

When can a K-2 student receive yellow bus service?
If a K-2 student lives a half mile or more from school, the school is in the same district as the student's residence, the school has yellow bus service and the parent or guardian requests yellow bus service, the K-2 student shall receive yellow bus service.

How do I determine whether my child's school has yellow bus service?
To determine whether or not your child's school has yellow bus service, contact the school. As an alternative, you may contact the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) directly by dialing 311. If contacting OPT to determine if a school has yellow bus service, please have the name and address of the school ready.

What if my child's school does not have yellow bus service?
If your child's school does not have yellow bus service, only your child's school (not parents) may request that service be instituted.

Why are transportation policies for charter and non-public schools different than those for public schools?
Transportation policies for non-public schools differ from those for public schools because non-public schools are not part of the Department of Education's geographical district structure. By law, transportation policies for charter school must be identical to those for non-public schools. For more information, please contact your non-public or charter school directly.

What if my child is assigned to a stop I find unsuitable?
If you find the stop to which your child is assigned is unsuitable, work with your school to select a different stop from those available to the school. OPT does not assign stops to students, only schools do.

What if I find none of the stops available to my child's school are suitable?
If you find none of the stops available to your child's school suitable, your child's school may request that a new stop be created. Only schools may request the creation of new stops. New stops will be granted only if they can be created using existing guidelines.

How do I request an exception to the Department of Education's transportation policies?
Exceptions to the Department's transportation policies must be applied for in writing. If an exception is granted, it will be documented by the issuance of a formal variance.

Variance Request Forms for Student Eligibility to School Busing:

• HAZARD VARIANCE REQUEST
• MEDICAL VARIANCE REQUEST & RELEASE FORM
• EMERGENCY VARIANCE REQUEST

For more information about the types of variances for which you can apply go toDOE PUPIL TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION page or call the DOE OFFICE OF PUPIL TRANSPORTATION (OPT) at 718-392-8855.  OPT Customer Service Agents are available Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at (718) 392-8855 and via e-mail at PupilTransportationTeam@schools.nyc.gov to answer questions, take service complaints, and provide information for parents and guardians and schools. Staff is always available at OPT until bus companies report that all bus routes have been completed and children have arrived safely at home. OPT Customer Service Agents are also available on weekends during peak periods of the year to assist families and schools with information concerning school opening in September and summer transportation in late June.

SPECIAL EDUCATION BUS ELIGIBILITY:

State education law mandates that the City provide transportation for special education children residing in New York City to and from the school they legally attend. The type of transportation provided (yellow bus or MetroCard for public transportation) is determined by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) which is developed by the Committee on Special Education. Unlike general education where eligibility is determined by a student's grade level and the distance he or she lives from school, a special education student's eligibility for transportation is determined solely by the requirements of their IEP.

The Chancellor's Regulations define the key responsibilities of everyone involved in the movement of special education school children. This includes the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT), the Division of Special Education, the Committee on Special Education, the bus companies, drivers, escorts, schools, parents, and children.

Change of After School Drop-Off Location for Special Education Students:

Special education busing is a door-to-door service. In some cases, parents may need an afternoon drop-off location that is different from their child's morning pick-up location. Parents should complete the Request to Change a Special Education Student's After School Drop-Off Location form to request that their child be dropped off in the afternoon at a location other than their home address. Regulations do not require that a student be dropped off after school at any location other than the student’s home, but OPT will make every effort to accommodate these requests provided that the following conditions apply:

• The student must be entitled to and receiving door-to-door transportation.
• The student may be dropped at only one alternate location within the same week.
• The new drop location is in the child’s home borough.

To assist in processing your request, please be sure to:

• Print the information clearly.
• Enter the student ID number.
• Sign the form: Parent/guardian or other designated person responsible for the child.
• Mail or fax the request to the address listed on the form.