?lial? ?EiB??kRTi?jiEhii/ YHE OF THE STATE 0? NEW YGRK Commissioner of Education Email: commissioner?Dni/sedgos 9resideot of the University of the State of New York . Twitter:@NYSEDNews 89 Washington Avenue, Room Tet: {518} 537458411 albany. New York 12234 - Fax: (518} 473490? lnly 153 2019 Dear Chancellor Rosa and Honorable Members of the Board of Regents: am writing to notify you that will resign from my post as Comissioner for the New York. State Education Department (NYSED) on August 31, 20l9. It has been my great pleasure and honor to serve the students and teachers of New York over the last four years as we work to advance equity and excellence in our education system. Together with the Governor, State Legislature and distinguished Board of Regents, I am proud of our department?s work to reform school accountability and improvement programs; offer improved professional development for our dedicated team of educators; and build an inclusive and responsive education system that is re?ective of our diverse and vibrant student population. During my tenure; we were guided by our goal to close the opportunity gap in all districts across the state, most recently with the development and implementation of the $1.6 billion Every Student Sticceeds State plan in January 2018. This vital and comprehensive set of helped to boost educational equity and put in place a new? more dynamic school improvement process that requires staft; parent and student involvement. New York was also the first state to accept the landmark My Brother?s Keeper initiative into law, in an effort to ensure all boys and young men of color in school are on a track for success. in line with this agenda, we took targeted steps to help address the individual needs of unique and vulnerable student populations, from children with learning dif?culties to students experiencing homelessness to English Language Learners and immigrant By promoting a culturally responsive and well-rounded education With additional support systems} we made academic and socialhemotional development for every child a top priority. We also identified the State?s most challenging schools and urban centerswand developed case by case solutions. In Rochester; for example, we deployed a Distinguished Educator to assess Why the district had been failing students for years and used that report as a basis for the development of the District?s plan to support students to success. Similarly in New York City. we established a comprehensive Corrective Action Plan that set forth system-wide reforms speci?cally targeted at improving services for students with disabilities, English Language Learners and their I families. NYSED championed efforts to improve. educational opportunities outside of the traditional Classroom setting by working closely with colleagues in the State Departments of Health, Children Services, Mental Health, Juvenile Justiee, and Alcoholism aed Substance Abuse. also partnered with higher education institutions, with a focus on strengthening access to colleges and universities for all students and preparing them for life after high school. Our approach centered on addressing teacher shortages, strengthening student teaching requirements, and ereating a pilot principal preparation program, As a, former teacher, administrator, and superintendent, have devoted my entire 45?year career to putting children on a path to success both in school and beyond, and i an enormously grateful fee the opportunity to lead the sehool system here in New York State, Going forward, I hope to translate the experiences I?ve gained from one of the lasgest, most complex educaties systems in the country into lessens to help improve classrooms, schools, and districts for students in every state. Thank you for your.? support. Mer?z?llen Commissioner New York State Edecetion Department