Summary of proposed changes to A-655 Regulation on School Leadership Teams

This is a summary of the new A-655 Chancellor's Regulation for School Leadership Teams. It incorporates changes in the recent School Governance Law. One area of contention is in the clause that the principal makes the final determination on the CEP if consensus can not be reached after appropriate intervention. This appears to conflict with the law (2590-h(15))as the principal is a SLT member, and therefore should not have final determination.Comment period is until January 25th. Comments can be sent to SLTpolicy@schools.nyc.gov.


http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/6CD79BF3-24B6-46D6-BA23-79309DA56B60/73820/A655121109.pdf

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
This regulation supersedes Chancellor’s Regulation A-655 dated December 3, 2007.
Changes:

The SLT is responsible for developing the school’s Comprehensive Educational Plan (CEP) and ensuring that it is aligned with the school-based budget. (Page 1, Section II.)
SLTs must use a consensus-based decision-making process as their primary means of decision-making. (Page 7, Section VIII.)
The principal is responsible for developing the school-based budget, after consulting with the SLT, and ensuring that it is aligned with the CEP. (Page 1, Section II.A.)
To ensure the alignment of the CEP and the school-based budget, the principal shall provide to the SLT appropriate reports from Galaxy. (Page 1, Section II.A.)
The principal determines that the school-based budget is aligned with the CEP and sends justification to the superintendent. (Page I, Section II.A.)
SLT members, other than the principal, may provide a response to the justification if they reach a consensus that they disagree with the principal’s justification that the school-based budget is aligned with the CEP, and that the principal’s proposed budget is inconsistent with the goals and policies set forth in the CEP. The superintendent must then make a determination. (Page 1, Section II.A.)
If the SLT cannot reach agreement on the CEP, it should seek assistance from the District Leadership Team (DLT) or the community or high school superintendent. If no agreement can be reached following assistance, then the principal makes the final determination on the CEP. (Page 1, Section II; also Page 7, Section VIII.)
Support is provided to SLTs and DLTs by parent engagement staff or superintendents. (Page 1, Section II; also Page 7, Section VIII.)
SLT meetings, which must take place at least once a month during the school year, must take place on school or DOE premises. (Page 7, Section VII.)
Notice of SLT meetings must be provided in a form consistent with the open meetings law. (Page 7, Section VII.)
The SLT must be consulted prior to the appointment of a principal or assistant principal candidate to the school. (Page 7, Section X.)
The SLT shall provide to the superintendent an annual assessment of the principal’s record of developing an effective shared decision-making relationship with SLT members. (Page 2, Section II.B.)
Parent members of the CEC (and in an election year, candidates for the CEC) may serve as parent members of an SLT in the school their child attends. (Page 3, Section III.C.b.1.)

The SLT may amend its by-laws, if necessary. (Page 4, Section IV.B.)
The superintendent (or designee) will consult with the SLT regarding any school restructuring plans. The SLT shall participate in the joint public hearing regarding proposals to close a school or make significant changes in school utilization. (Pages 7-8, Section X.B.)
The DLT develops the District Comprehensive Educational Plan (DCEP), which includes annual goals and objectives for the district aligned with the Chancellor’s goals. (Pages 5-6, Section V.A.)
The Central Plan for school-based planning and shared decision making incorporates the individual district 100.11 plans adopted by the DLTs as well as the procedures set forth in this Regulation. The Office of School Improvement is responsible for maintaining copies of each district’s plan and for compiling them into the Central Plan. (Pages 5-6, Section V.A.)
A citywide high school subcommittee will be formed to meet on a monthly basis to review relevant data and identify issues impacting student performance at the high school level and will report on a monthly basis to the DLTs. (Page 6, Section V.C.)
Each SLT must provide a list of its members and a copy of its current by-laws to the DLT annually, by October 31. (Page 9, Section XII.)
Each DLT must provide a list of all SLT member names from the schools in the district and a list of its own members and by-laws to the Chief Family Engagement Officer annually, by November 15. (Page 9, Section XII.)
Parents may file grievances regarding the election of parents to serve on the SLT in the school their child attends within 7 school days of the election. (Page 9, Section XIV.B.)
Parents may appeal grievance decisions to the Chancellor (c/o The Office of Legal Services) within 10 days of receipt of the superintendent’s decision. (Page 9, Section XIV.C
) school based management teams developed pursuant to paragraph 26 (b) of this subdivision shall possess the following powers and duties: 27 (i) develop an annual school comprehensive educational plan [that is 28 aligned with] AND CONSULT ON THE SCHOOL-BASED BUDGET PURSUANT TO SECTION 29 TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-R OF THIS ARTICLE. SUCH SCHOOL COMPREHENSIVE 30 EDUCATIONAL PLAN SHALL BE DEVELOPED CONCURRENTLY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 31 THE SCHOOL-BASED BUDGET SO THAT IT MAY INFORM THE DECISION-MAKING PROC- 32 ESS AND RESULT IN THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL PLAN 33 AND the [school based] SCHOOL-BASED budget FOR THE ENSUING SCHOOL YEAR.