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Dear Colleagues,
This edition of News and Notes also includes the following information:
As always, thank you for all you do for the students of New York State.
Sincerely,
MaryEllen Elia
Commissioner
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 Help for Students and Teachers Displaced By Recent Natural Disasters
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Recently, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria battered Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several other countries in the Caribbean, leaving thousands of people displaced. Some families from these impacted areas, and their school-aged children, have already relocated to New York and many more may relocate in the coming weeks and months. Last week, NYSED issued
guidance to school districts to help students displaced by the recent hurricanes.
Students who are temporarily displaced due to disaster are likely protected by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, a federal law that details the educational rights of students in temporary housing. Under the McKinney-Vento Act, students in temporary housing can enroll immediately in a school in the district where they are temporarily living even if they do not have the documents normally needed or missed enrollment deadlines. In addition, these displaced children are eligible for free school meals, Title I services, and services to support students with disabilities and English language learners.
NYSED stands ready to help school districts enroll these displaced students who likely have no school records available as a result of the devastation caused by these unrelenting natural disasters. Our guidance provides important information and resources for displaced families and the schools that will serve them.
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Last month, NYSED submitted New York's ESSA plan to the U.S. Department of Education. The Board of Regents approved the plan at its September meeting.
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New Pathway to High School Equivalency Diploma
This week, NYSED proposed regulatory changes to provide an additional pathway to earn a New York State high school equivalency diploma (HSE) by allowing individuals to use passing scores on certain Regents exams in place of the corresponding TASC subtests. A 45-day public comment period on the proposed amendment will be held from November 1 through December 18.
More information about the proposed regulatory change to provide a new pathway to a high school equivalency diploma is available in our news release.
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Gale Resources Available to New York Students
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- InfoTrac Newsstand: offers over 2,000 full-text newspapers that include several New York State newspapers--Buffalo News, Glen's Falls Post-Star, New York Times, New York Post, and Newsday.
- Kids InfoBits: contains over 550 age-appropriate magazines for grades K-5. Also includes Merriam-Webster's Elementary Dictionary, maps, flags, seals, charts, graphs, and 600 videos to support STEM topics.
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context: contains a range of perspectives on many important issues, with over 21,000 pro/con viewpoints. Includes a variety of resource types: reference, news, primary sources, multimedia, and more.
- Research in Context: resources for students in grades 6 to 8. Offers magazines, newspapers, primary sources, over 12,000 videos, and more on a variety of topics. Supports national and state curriculum standards in language arts, social studies, and science.
For more information, please contact your school librarian or the NOVEL
NY
Help Desk at NYSLNOVEL@nysed.gov. Provided by the New York State Library, NOVEL
NY
is a Statewide Internet Library connecting New Yorkers to 21st century information. NOVEL
NY
is supported with temporary federal Library Services and Technology Act funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
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NYSED Announces No-Cost Children's Eye Exams, Glasses, and Resources as Part of School Vision Health Month
Proper
vision
plays a critical role in children's physical, cognitive, and social development, and many students do not have accessible visual care. Earlier this month, NYSED announced a new partnership with the New York State Optometric Association, VSP Global, and the New York State Society of Opticians to provide access to no-cost eye exams and glasses to students at seven schools across New York as part of School Vision Health Month.
In June 2017, the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate passed resolutions proclaiming October 2017 as School Vision Health Month to raise awareness about providing accessible visual care and resources to those who are in need.
This initiative will provide the necessary awareness to encourage parents to bring their children to an eye care professional and will bring
vision
care experts to certain schools across the state to help screen students, provide education and resources, and promote healthy eye care.
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NYS Library Acquires Harry Rosenfeld Collection and Dutch Genealogical Book Collection
This week, the New York State Library announced two recent acquisitions: a collection of documents donated by newspaper editor Harry Rosenfeld and a collection of 3,000 books from the Holland Society of New York Library that expands the State Library's large local history and genealogy resources.
The Harry Rosenfeld collection documents Rosenfeld's career in newspaper journalism, including his time as an editor at the Washington Post and the Albany Times Union.
The Holland Society Library acquisition offers the public an opportunity to research genealogical documents that contains rich information on the history and culture of families that populated the Dutch colonies in America over three centuries ago.
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State East Ramapo Monitors Provide Update on District's Continued Academic & Fiscal Progress
In the report on the district's progress, Monitors Charles A. Szuberla, Jr. and Dr. John W. Sipple noted the district collaborated with them and community stakeholders to develop and implement strategic and academic improvement plans.
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