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The °ÄÃÅÌØÂëÍõ will hold regional stakeholder engagement meetings to gather input from the religious and independent school community, as well as their counterparts in public schools, to inform policy decisions related to the substantial equivalence of instruction in nonpublic schools as required by Education Law Section 3204(2).Ìý The Department’s goal is to develop a culturally-sensitive and efficient process by which local school authorities and the Commissioner, where required, can determine that children are receiving the education to which they are entitled within the diverse school settings in °ÄÃÅÌØÂëÍõ.Ìý

There will be five regional meetings conducted virtually. The regions will be based on nonpublic school and student enrollment concentration in the state. For each region, a virtual meeting will be held to include public and nonpublic school stakeholders, members of the Board of Regents, and Department staff.

A sixth virtual meeting will engage current nonpublic students, parents, and alumni from across the state.

The stakeholder engagement sessions will provide information for the Board of Regents to consider as it amends the proposed regulations for substantially equivalent instruction for nonpublic school students.

Nomination forms for stakeholders and nonpublic school parents, students, and alumni are available here.