ENGAGE
NEW YORK
Become an Advocate for Change
A Friend of Education
Mission
To unite New York State's business community to speak with
one voice on sustaining public school education reform. And to
join together with other stakeholders to help raise the level
of academic achievement for all students in New York State.
Note: This is a preliminary brochure
Dear
Business Council Member:
Raising the level of academic achievement for all students
in New York State is a daunting challenge indeed. Added
to the complexity of dealing with multiple stakeholders
are factors such as funding, legislative mandates, a
rapidly changing world, ever-evolving technology and
increased global competition.
Engage New York is a process designed to tap
into the knowledge resources of the business world in
cooperation with stakeholders to help New York State
continue to raise the level of academic achievement for
all students.
The public education system in New York State is widely
recognized as a leader in education reform. Together
we want business to speak as one voice in support of
reforms that will help sustain New York's economic future
and quality of life.
This brochure highlights four key areas of support
that BCNYS Education Task Force members believe are most
critical to support: higher standards, school improvement,
teacher quality, and an increased focus on math, science
and technology. We have outlined how business can work
together to affect these areas. And, for those of you
who wish to learn more about education in New York State,
we have created an Engage New York Seminar.
We hope you will join us in this pursuit.
Sincerely,
Margarita Mayo |
What We Support
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Higher Standards
- Assessments/Regents
- Accountability/Report Cards
- Alignment of Activity
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School Improvement/Recognition
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Teacher Quality
- National Board Certification
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Increased Focus on Math, Science and Technology |
Engage New York Seminars
The goal of the seminars is to arm business leaders with the information
needed to influence the debate on education reform around a common
standards-based school improvement agenda.
Attend a Seminar and learn:
- About NY's high academic and skill standards and why they
are important to business.
- About New York State's testing program and why it is a key
component of reform.
- How to find and use state school report cards.
- How you can support school improvement efforts in your community
by encouraging the use of student achievement data.
- How you can support enhancing teacher and administrator quality.
- How you can celebrate Success by supporting and expanding
the BCNYS Pathfinder Awards.
In addition, the seminar will provide opportunity to collaborate
with other business leaders across the state - to share ideas and
discuss strategies.
Engage New York Process
Engage New York is a process designed to provide the business
community with an effective way to get involved in public school
education reform. Your active participation in the process will
help assure success. Here is how it works:
Step 1 -- Decide to Engage. Make a commitment
to be a voice of support for sustained education reform.
Step 2 -- Send a key employee to an Engage New
York basic training seminar.
Step 3 -- Use the knowledge gained from the seminar
to be voice in support of standards and testing and to help your
employees improve their understanding of standards-based reform.
Step 4 -- Determine the level of support your
business wants to give:
- A voice of support for school reform
- Provide a person to be a member of the Engage New York team.
- Participate in business-to-business mentoring to rally other
businesses to the cause.
- Become part of a business/education coalition in your community
- Provide financial support to the Pathfinder Award and/or the Engage
New York process.
Step 5 -- Engage. By the time you reach this
step you will have gained a good working knowledge of the issues
surrounding education reform and will also have determined your
own goals. Engagement will take many different forms and the Engage
New York process will provide you with current information
and the sharing of best practices to help you succeed. The resources
of the Engage New York Team will be available to you as
you meet new challenges along the way.
For more information about Engage New York please contact :
The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
152 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12210
(518)465-7511
www.bcnys.org
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