Regional Senate Hearings & APPR Appeals

The Senate Standing Committee on Education,  will conduct four (4) regional public hearings regarding The Regents Reform Agenda: “Assessing” Our Progress. The hearings are intended to provide the opportunity to review the impact and effectiveness of recent state education reforms and to dialog about the future of state education policy. Issues of interest to the senators include the implementation of common core state standards, state and local assessments, and the protection of student privacy.  
 
School administrators, members of the greater educational community, and members of the public are welcome to attend the hearings, but oral testimony shall be by invitation only. (I am informed that each site can accommodate approximately 150 people, and entry will be done on a first come-first served basis.) SAANYS will present testimony at the second hearing, to be held in Syracuse on October 1. SAANYS members from the Syracuse area who are available and plan to attend this hearing should contact Jim Viola. If possible, I would like to have some of you seated with me when our testimony is delivered.
 
The schedule for the four hearings follows:
 
September 17 – Suffolk Community College – 10:00 to 2:00
Grant Campus, Health, Sports and Education Center, 1001 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood, NY
                                                        
October 1 – Syracuse City Hall – 11:00 to 3:00
Common Council Chambers, 3rd Floor, 233 East Washington Street, Syracuse, NY
 
October 16, Buffalo City Hall, 10:00 to 2:00
Common Council Chambers, 13th Floor, 65 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY
 
October 29, Senate Hearing Room, 10:00 to 2:00
250 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY
 

Completed APPRs were to be issued to principals and teachers by September 3. While SED has indicated that the proportions of ratings across the HEDI categories is approximately the same for 2012-13 as in 2011-12, that statistic is statewide. The proportions across the HEDI categories on a school district or school basis, however, is sometimes substantially different this year compared to last year.

I am taking this opportunity to remind you to be mindful of the APPR Appeals procedures and timelines included in your respective collective bargaining agreements. I am not saying this as an encouragement to initiate such an appeal, but I do not want you to unintentionally lose the opportunity to appeal due to a detail or timeline (e.g., calendar days v. school days). Also, please share your experiences with me. How many teachers were you the lead evaluator for? How many teachers have initiated appeals? How does this impact your time as an education leader? How many principals are initiating appeals?
 
We hope you will find this information helpful. We will continue to keep you updated.

All the best,
Jim Viola