We are happy to announce our Keynote speaker is Deborah S. Delisle, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education (2012-2015). Deborah S. Delisle recently retired as president and CEO of All4Ed, a Washington, DC–based national policy, practice, and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all students, particularly those who are traditionally underserved, graduate from high school well prepared for success in college, work, and citizenship. Prior to her position with All4Ed, Delisle served as executive director and CEO of ASCD, a professional community of more than 120,000 education professionals around the world.
We are also very honored to announce NYSED Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa will speak to update us on the Department’s work to integrate the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures findings.
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What Is A Small City School District? Small city school districts are defined in New York State Law as the school districts of each city which, according to the latest federal census, has fewer than one 125,000 inhabitants. There are currently 57 small city school districts in New York State.Small city school districts serve nearly a quarter of a million children and employ more than 20,000 teachers and staff. These districts have approximately twice the student enrollment than the average district in the state and, collectively, they serve communities totaling more than 1.5 million residents. As a result, small city school districts have many of the same demographic characteristics as the five large city school districts in New York State. These characteristics include higher percentages of disadvantaged students, limited English proficient students, dropouts and students with special educational needs. Small city school districts are also typically characterized by higher percentages of families living on incomes below 200% of the poverty level, minority children, unemployment and single parent families.The New York State Association of Small City School Districts (NYSASCSD) was organized in 1985, and incorporated in 1986, by a group of concerned superintendents and board members. NYSASCSD is a not-for-profit Association comprised of small city school districts each represented by its superintendent and board of education.Small city school district superintendents and board members who are members of the Association have traditionally looked at issues from a small city’s perspective with particular focus on the children and parents living and working in our urban settings. Small city school districts continually strive to develop fiscally responsible and developmentally appropriate education programs for all their students.