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State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner has received a request from Mayor Bloomberg seeking a waiver for Dennis M. Walcott to serve as New York City’s Schools Chancellor and has begun the process of reviewing and evaluating that request.

Education Law §3003(3) provides that the Commissioner may grant an exception or waiver to the precise preparation and experience required by law for a superintendent’s certificate. Specifically, the Commissioner is empowered to grant a waiver to an "exceptionally qualified" candidate who does not meet all the graduate course or teaching requirements in law if he finds that the candidate has "exceptional training and experience" which are the "substantial equivalent" of such requirements.

The process for review and consideration of a waiver request is outlined in the Commissioner’s regulations (8 NYCRR §80-3.10[b][3][iii]). Commissioner Steiner will follow the process outlined in those regulations as was done with prior requests.

Specifically, following well established precedent, the Commissioner will convene an advisory screening panel consisting of representatives of the State Education Department and appropriate educational organizations for review and advice. The panel will meet in Albany on Wednesday, April 13 at 1:00 p.m. in the Regents Room of the Education Building. The members of the screening panel are listed below.

The panel will receive the application and supporting documentation provided by the Mayor’s office for its review and consideration. The Commissioner will give guidance to the panel about the questions it should consider in reviewing the application and materials.

The Commissioner will carefully review and consider the advice he receives from the panel. He will thenÌýapply the law to the facts presented and render a decision on the waiver request.

The request for a waiver of specified training and experience is part of a credentialing process. That process comprises an objective review of education, training, and experience to determine if an applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and experience that qualify him or her to perform the functions authorized by the credential.

Nothing in the law or regulation prescribes a time frame for this process. However, the Commissioner is mindful of the need for prompt action.

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Screening Panel

James N. Baldwin

Dr. Baldwin is Chief of Staff and Interim Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education in the ²ü¶¶Ð¡ÃÛÌÒ. Ìý

Rebecca Cort

Dr. Cort serves as Associate Commissioner for Special Education in the ²ü¶¶Ð¡ÃÛÌÒ.

David Lavallee

Dr. Lavallee currently serves as Provost and Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the State University of New York system.

Susan D. Phillips

Dr. Phillips currently serves as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for the University at Albany, State University of New York.

Oliver Robinson

Dr. Robinson is Superintendent of the Shenendehowa Central School District in Saratoga County, New York.

Deborah A. Shanley

Dr. Shanley is Dean of the School of Education At Brooklyn College.

Marilyn Terranova

Dr. Marilyn C. Terranova is the Superintendent of Schools of the Eastchester Union Free School District in Westchester County, New York.

Mark Vivacqua

Mr. Vivacqua is the District Superintendent of the Herkimer, Fulton, Hamilton, Otsego Counties BOCES.

Janice White

Dr. White is the Superintendent of the Saratoga Springs School District in Saratoga County, New York.
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Attached you will find application materials submitted by Mayor Bloomberg in support of Dennis Walcott.