To: Science Education Colleagues
From: Arnie Serotsky, President, Science Teachers Association of New York State
Topic: March 8 Meeting of Regents and Regents Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education Committee to discuss the “Need to reduce costs of NYS Assessment program”
This past Monday, I attended the morning of meetings noted above. I tried to take detailed and accurate notes and am reporting on the deliberations in this e-mail. While the following comments are directly from my notes I have only included pertinent details.
Time: 9:10 AM – 10:00 AM Meeting of the Board of Regents
Someone from the budget office presented considerable and detailed financial data.
Regent Bennett was introduced by Commissioner Steiner stating that, “we face a difficult situation.” Bennett stated that, “more is expected of Education.. with less funds to do it.”
Regent Bennett explained that there are 20 – 30 revenue streams that contribute to the resources of the SED, but that the resources were decreasing while the expenses were increasing.
He also made the point that many (if not most) of the resources were not flexible; that is, there were relatively few streams of revenue that were not “locked in” to a function or a task.
Bennett suggested that there is a need to “realign” and “prioritize” where there is flexibility, and that there is a need to “advocate" across the street (NYS Legislature) and in D.C to realign based on Federal and State priorities.
The General Fund appropriation to SED was $61 million in 2008 – 2009; $42.6 Million is proposed for 2010 – 2011.
Chancellor Tisch pointed out that SED only has flexibility in less that 10% of the SED budget.
Regent Cohen suggested that we need to look for outside sources (grants) of funding; Regent Bennett agreed.
Vice Chancellor Cofield suggested that we need to rethink our process to define the value of some of our current expenditures.
Commissioner Steiner pointed out that the proposed FTE staffing for the SED would be almost 300 less than 2008 – 2009. He mentioned the implementation of the process of Zero Based Budgeting and that there is an expectation of additional Federal dollars for Districts at risk.
The topic of Race to the Top Federal Grant funds was brought up, along with the caveat from Commissioner Steiner that with Federal money comes new/more responsibilities.
Chancellor Tisch, Commissioner Steiner, and Deputy Commissioner King talked about the Application that made NYS one of the 16 finalists. They made the point that the score on the grant (at least 400 out of 500) was high enough to qualify for the first round even though we did not meet certain qualifications (e.g. Charter School quotas). They thanked many SED staff members for their “exemplary” efforts in accomplishing this.
Chancellor Tisch suggested that, “the status quo can no longer be tolerated” and that the Regents “ plan to speak out very aggressively” with the legislature.
Time 10:10 AM – 12:10 PM - Meeting of the Regents Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education Committee
The topic most of the people were there for was not the first item on the agenda. We first listened to a presentation and discussion on broadband access in schools across NYS.
The EMSC Budget Situation - Deputy Commissioner King announced that, “we are not proposing any particular cuts today” and “we are not proposing any particular action today.”
A budget person made a presentation about the EMSC funding situation. The emphasis was on where there were projected deficits and where there was and was not flexibility. Basically, flexible funding, beginning in 2008, has decreased by about a 1/3, while costs have increased, if only slightly. EMSC had anticipated need for $89 million next year with expected funding to be $77 Million. The projected deficit for 2010/2011 was $11.6 Million. To make matters worse, the projected deficit (at current trends) for 2011/2012 could be $21 Million. This presenter also brought up the ZBB exercise.
Options mentioned included:
Using more NYS money
Use new grant funds
Bring outside contracted work back into SED ($3 million)
Assess our programs – be more efficient / smarter
Pursue other public and private funds aggressively
Ask legislature for more assessment money
Deputy Commissioner King warned of the risking looking only at 2010 – 2011, citing the lager projected gap for 2011 – 2012.
Regent Dawson asked if consolidating contracts could save money (throughout the day we heard examples – same publisher doing similar work for more than one state; New York having separate multiple contracts with the same outside contractor, etc.)
Another Regent pointed out that we do not yet know what the Federal government will do (reauthorization?) regarding NCLB.
Regent Chafey asked the question: "What part do the public and professions play in the discussion process?"
Chancellor Tisch suggested that:
Solutions will require collaboration
This presentation was informational
We will keep our promise to raise standards
We will not dumb down standards
We will not have assessment driven standards
Regent Rosa said that practitioners need to know that any decision will be an informed decision.
Regent Phillips added that the federal government might require a move to “growth assessments” and that there may be a reason to add Regents Tests in areas like the ARTS and Technology. He also suggested that all the people he received e-mails from should bring this issue to their legislators.
Discussion specifically on assessments
Regent Cohen – "Curriculum should drive assessments and different states will have different ideas as to assessments."
Commissioner Steiner – "High performing countries tend to have a balance between formative and summative assessments."
Regent Dawson – questioned if the Federal government likely to reauthorize the year by year assessments for English and Math.
Vice Chancellor Cofield suggested/asked:
Assessment in the USA is in the hands of money making corporations.
What do other countries invest and how do they develop assessments?
We don’t need researchers and consultants.
Commissioner Steiner – "England has a hybrid system; approximately 60% formative and 40% summative; but at the moment we need to deal with a budgetary urgency."
Deputy Commissioner King – “We have a responsibility to have a conversation now.”
He suggested that the list of assessments on the agenda was in a priority order with respect to impact that cuts would have. He said that the first few things on the list have “less impact on the instructional core” (Note: the first four items, listed below with estimated savings were not about eliminating any specific subject assessments):
Review all test development processes to reduce reliance on Education Specialists (Special Payroll employees paid on an hourly basis) and limit their involvement to critical work e.g. standard setting. (savings) $1.25 million
Discontinue paper-based scoring materials for Regents exams and post all scoring training mat erials and answer keys to website to let schools download prior to scoring. (savings) $.60 million
Eliminate Component Retesting in Math & ELA. (savings) $1.6 million.
Immediately discontinue translating exams into Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, & Russian. Continue Spanish and perform the work with Department staff. (savings) $.75 million.
Eliminating science regents exams were next to last on the entire list, after the elimination of Grade 8 Language Pro ficiency, January and August Regents Exams, HS Foreign Language Regents Exams, all Social Studies (grades 5, 8, Global History, and US History and Government. Below eliminating the Science Regents, and last on the list, was eliminate 2 of the 3 Math. regents exams.
Chancellor Tisch requested more detailed information about the costs of all of the items on the list.
Commissioner Steiner ended the agenda item conversation with, “We are passionate about the core mission and goals…. the triad.” and “if we don’t get more NY and Federal money now, we won’t have money to cover … operations”