State Board of Regents Chancellor Stepping Down

“Tisch has served the students of New York State with integrity and independence, managing to always remain above and separate from the special interest-dominated politics of education.” said Jenny Sedlis, director of StudentsFirstNY, a group that supports higher standards and more teacher accountability.

Merryl Tisch, the chancellor of the state Board of Regents, told her colleagues during a board meeting Monday that she will not seek re-election when her term expires in March and will leave the board.

In April more than 200,000 eligible students statewide refused to take the Common Core-oriented standardized tests, a trend the state education department has been trying to turn around. So she’s also been a face of the discord over the regulations, leading her to be on the receiving end of criticism about the policies.

“I do not think that Tisch’s resignation will calm parents”, said Diane Venezia Livingston, a Port Washington attorney and mother who has removed her three children from state tests.

Karen Magee, president of New York State United Teachers, said that New York can now “move past an era that put far too much emphasis on standardized testing and, too often, dismissed the concerns of parents and educators”.

“The mistaken direction in state education policy led to a serious erosion of trust and confidence”, Magee added.

Tisch has been a strong advocate of the Common Core learning standards, and she’ll be departing amid calls from Governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as many critics, for an overhaul.

“It’s a tough, tough area to work in because it is controversial and people have different ideas”, Cuomo said Monday. “It’s very hard…. So I thank her very much for her service”. This is also a time where you’re going to see a lot of changes in the education system.

Tisch also was facing increased resistance from a few of the 17-member board.

Tisch’s tenure as chancellor will be remembered for the state’s transition to the Common Core education standards, which has become one of the most-debated issues in school hallways and on the campaign trail in recent years.

“Our state’s education system is in desperate need of a change; schools across New York are failing their students due to a lack of leadership and mismanagement among the Board of Regents and the state Education Department”, Walter said. “I’ve been on this board for 20 years and I think that sounds just about baked”. She has been with the Board of Regents for 20-years, first appointed in 1996.

Tisch’s announcement spurred talk over who might replace her, with speculation focused on two veteran Regents – Lester Young of Brooklyn, a former community school superintendent and youth-development administrator in New York City, and Roger Tilles of Great Neck, a former Long Island University board chairman and founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island. But the process is controlled by Assembly Democrats, who make up a majority of the entire 213-seat Legislature.

The Regents will vote for its new chancellor next spring. As federal officials themselves noted, New York State since 2014 has limited to 1 percent the time schools spend on state tests, with another 1 percent restriction on time devoted to standardized tests that are chosen by local districts.

Tisch didn’t reveal her hand when speaking to reporters Monday, other than to say: “Stay tuned”.

“With Tisch not seeking re-election, there is a real chance for change and a huge opportunity for education reform in New York State”.