Keyword: 'New York State Education Department' | Herald Community Newspapers

Work continues at SSHS, but slow approvals from the state are putting other projects around the district on indefinite hold.

Because of long delays from the State Education Department, the Rockville Centre Board of Education must decide whether to move forward with the installation of air conditioners at district schools without department approval — and possibly forgo hundreds of thousands of dollars in state aid. more

By Alex Costello | 4/29/15

Dr. James Hunderfund, Malverne Superintendent, said this is the first year the school district had fallen below the 95 percent participation rate in the exams that is required by the state.

‘Opt-outs’ increase

Contrary to federal rules requiring 95 percent student participation in the third- through eighth-grade standardized state assessments, 25 percent of Malverne students and 10 percent of those in West Hempstead opted out of the state’s English exam last week, school district officials said, leaving many wondering about the potential financial ramifications. more

By Rossana Weitekamp | 4/22/15

Four Five Towns area residents are part of a group that is resubmitting an application for a charter school in the Lawrence School District. Atlantic Beach Estates resident Evelyn Gargano attended last year’s charter school public hearing.

Lawrence charter school plans revised

Despite last year’s vehement opposition to a proposed charter school in the Lawrence School District, which forced the applicants to withdraw the application in November, a similar group wants to open a newly named charter, the Lawrence Charter School. The group behind the effort submitted a letter of intent to the State Education Department ahead of the Feb. 10 deadline. more

By Jeff Bessen | 2/18/15

Storm moved exams

Last week’s storm was a day off for schools, but it also fell in the middle of regents and midterms for many area schools. At Oceanside High School, plans had to be made to make sure no exams were missed. more

By Rebecca Melnitsky | 2/4/15

Superintendent Phyllis Harrington is concerned about safety audits in Oceanside Schools.

State faults O’side school crime reports

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office audits school districts in order to gauge compliance with the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act, and to determine if they are accurately reporting statistics on crime and other incidents to the State Education Department. According to a report issued Jan. 13, Castleton Academy High School of Oceanside neglected to note seven incidents. The audit covered July 2011 through June 2014. more

By Barbra Rubin-Perry | 1/21/15

Island Park’s full-day pre-kindergarten program is underway

Even though it had just a little over a month to prepare, Island Park’s full-day pre-kindergarten program is off to a great start. The program, which is funded by a $600,000 grant from the New York State Board of Education, started on Sept. 29 at Lincoln Orens Middle School. more

By Rebecca Melnitsky | 10/8/14

After a round-table discussion with East Meadow School District administrators, teachers, parents and students on Oct. 2 at Clarke, State Education Commissioner Dr. John King Jr. lauded the school for its interdisciplinary collaboration.

Top education officials visits Clarke M.S.

New York State Education Commissioner Dr. John King Jr. had high praise for the East Meadow School District last week, after he visited W.T. Clarke Middle School on Oct. 2 to see firsthand how instructors teach the Common Core State Standards. more

By David Weingrad | 10/8/14

Superintendent Rosmarie Bovino answers questions at a pre-K parent meeting on Sept. 4.

Island Park approved for full-day pre-K

Island Park’s full-day pre-kindergarten will start Sept. 29, thanks to a grant from the New York State Education Department. On Aug. 18, the Island Park school district was informed that it would receive a $600,000 grant for a full day pre-K. Since grantees for the 2014-15 school year must have a program ready this year, the district plans to set up the program as soon as possible. more

By Rebecca Melnitsky | 9/10/14

Students’ test scores qualify North Merrick School District for $225,000

The North Merrick School District announced in March that each of its schools — Camp Avenue, Fayette and Old Mill Road — had qualified for a $75,000 “Reward School Dissemination Grant” from the state Education Department due to their students’ high performance on state assessment tests in 2011 and 2012. more

By Brian Racow | 4/17/14

Students across the state sat for English Language Arts exams earlier this month. 246 third- to eighth-graders in the Merricks' public schools refused to participate, at their parents' direction.

Common Core test refusals are up in Merrick

When New York state debuted new standardized tests for third- to eighth-graders in English and math last year, a handful of Merrick parents told school administrators that they would not allow their children to take them. Earlier this month, the number of students whose parents have joined this protest nearly doubled at Merrick Avenue Middle School, more than doubled in the North Merrick School District and more than tripled in the Merrick School District. more

By Brian Racow | 4/17/14