2008 Update from the
New York State Assembly
Assemblywoman Nolan
EDUCATION
COMMITTEE
Sheldon Silver, Speaker • Catherine Nolan, Chairwoman
February 2008


Chairwoman Catherine Nolan Invites Dr. Manuel Rivera to Address Assembly Education Committee Meeting
Leaders agree on the need for collaboration and optimism for the future of education.
photo
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, Education Committee Chair, welcomes Dr. Manuel Rivera, New York State Deputy Secretary of Education.
Assembly Education Committee Chair Catherine Nolan welcomed New York State Deputy Secretary of Education Dr. Manual Rivera today at the committee’s first meeting of the 2008 legislative session. Duffy Palmer, Director of Education Policy, also attended the meeting. Dr. Rivera and Mr. Palmer are involved in the development and implementation of the Governor’s educational policy reforms.

"New York State educates 2.8 million public school students enrolled in 4,448 schools in 697 districts. We take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and look forward to working together with Dr. Rivera and Governor Spitzer in the coming months," said Assemblywoman Nolan.

"New York State educates 2.8 million public school students enrolled in 4,448 schools in 697 districts. We take this responsibility with the utmost seriousness..."

Catherine Nolan
Assembly Education Committee Chair

Legislators asked some difficult questions of Deputy Secretary Rivera, including how Governor Spitzer plans to address issues related to parent involvement, drop-out rates, special education, preschool and middle school programming, and state funding in general.

photo
Assemblywoman Nolan listens as Dr. Manuel Rivera speaks to the Education Committee.
Dr. Rivera was optimistic about the future, "We will work together to invest more in prevention and identification. As we understand more about these issues we will have the strategies to intervene more effectively."

Legislators asked how Governor Spitzer plans to get parents more involved and knowledgeable about school policy and procedures for special education and student assessment. Assemblywoman Nolan cited the recent case of a Queens kindergarten student who was handcuffed as an example of the inability of schools to communicate effectively with parents.

"Something went awry before this happened. We need to approach these situations with care. We need to ensure school districts are giving parents information about special needs so they feel empowered by it and understand it. The same is true with student assessments that tend to be too technical and are unable to actually help parents understand where their children need improvement. We need schools to clearly define the role of parents," said Assemblywoman Nolan.

"There is so much that can be done with the role parents play. We need to give them the knowledge to connect them to their children’s education. The best programs in the state are those with a highest level of parent participation and involvement."

Dr. Manual Rivera
New York State Deputy Secretary of Education
Dr. Rivera was receptive to the idea of creating an educational partnership with parents. "There is so much that can be done with the role parents play. We need to give them the knowledge to connect them to their children’s education. The best programs in the state are those with a highest level of parent participation and involvement.

The Education Committee voted unanimously to pass two key measures at the meeting today. Assemblywoman Nolan sponsored a resolution urging the New York State Department of Education to begin review of the level of compliance on physical education, extending the Committee’s dedication the goals of a recent hearing that all students in New York State receive the legal amount of instruction. The Museum Education Act would expand cultural education by launching a partnership between museums and schools.

Assemblywoman Nolan said, "I am grateful to Speaker Sheldon Silver for his continuing support for the Education Committee and his support of Dr. Rivera’s attendance at this meeting".


Assemblywoman Nolan Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan
 Assembly Education Committee Chair 		NYS Seal
ALBANY OFFICE:
Room 836 LOB
Albany, New York 12248
518-455-4851
Fax: 518-455-3847 		DISTRICT OFFICE:
61-08 Linden Street
Ridgewood, New York 11385
718-456-9492
Fax: 718-417-4982
E-mail: 		DISTRICT OFFICE:
45-25 47th Street
Woodside, New York 11377
718-784-3194
Back