The following guest blog is submitted by our Assistant Superintendent for Government Services, Chris Riso. The included picture was generated by Ideogram, a new AI program which generates images from prompts. Try it!

As Assistant Superintendent of Government Services, my job is to make sure our Catholic Schools are aware of and know how to access any funds or services available from NY or Federal Government entities. While many of these programs provide services or instructional material loans, a few of the programs provide reimbursements to your school. Most of you are aware of the Mandated Services and Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) Reimbursement programs which allow our schools to get reimbursed for performing tasks on behalf of NYS, mainly the taking of attendance and administering NYS assessments. Two other reimbursement programs are the NonPublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) program and the Mathematics, Science, & Technology Teachers (MST) program, both of which require the school to first expend the funds and then submit a claim for reimbursement.

NPSE reimbursement funds may be accessed when a school pays for any of the qualified school safety and health expenses under the program. Information on the program can be found on their website here. A large increase in funding and expanded uses of these funds for building repair and remediation have accompanied Year 10 of the program; unfortunately, we are still awaiting the updated Guidance document, final allocations, and reimbursement forms for this program. Here are the general categories of allowable expenses: Security & Student Safety, Security Personnel (Contracted or School Personnel), Prevention Training, Fire Safety, Environmental Safety, COVID-19, and “remediation, repair, and maintenance of buildings, facilities, and appurtenances, equipment and systems related to health and safety.” Any projects or purchases you wish to submit for reimbursement during Year 10 must be completed and paid for before 3/31/24. Applications for reimbursement must include project invoices and cancelled checks or other proof of payment; I believe they plan to extend the application deadline to 4/15/24. Eligible expenditures that occur beyond 3/31/24 may be submitted when the Year 11 forms are released closer to 3/31/25. Reimbursement may take up to a year from the application deadline so please consider that when budgeting for this program.

The MST Grant allows schools to be reimbursed for a portion of the salaries paid for qualified Math, Science, and Technology teachers. Qualified teachers have two requirements: they must not teach religion anywhere in their schedule; and they must be certified to teach in NYS, have a Master’s degree in a related field, or be currently working toward a Master’s degree in a related field. This is a very significant reimbursement program, with the exact percentage of reimbursement depending on the number of teachers submitted to the program and the amount of funding available that year. I believe Year 4 gave around 33% reimbursement for each salary amount submitted but could be higher or lower in the future. In Year 5, our WNY Catholic Schools received just over $2.7 million in reimbursement, with the 18 participating elementary schools averaging almost $52,000 in reimbursement while the ten participating high schools averaged around $178,000 in reimbursement (median of $134,000). We are still waiting for Year 6 reimbursement (submitted 8/1/23). This year’s application is not yet available but will be due by 8/1/24 and will be found here.

Please reach out to me at criso@buffalodiocese.org if you have any questions about these reimbursement programs.

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Dr. Tim Uhl

• • Sign up for the 8th Grade Retreat being held on April 19th at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

  • All Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Schools are invited to nominate one teacher for the Golden Apple Award. This award is meant to celebrate a teacher in your school who goes above and beyond and has had a positive impact on the education of your students. All nominations are due by Wednesday, April 17th.

  • The 34th Annual Diocesan Art Exhibition will be held at St. Mary, Swormville from May 13-15th. Please sign up here and use these posters to advertise in your schools. Entry guideline information can be found here as well.

  • The Character Virtue for March is Sacrifice. Please submit your names here by April 5th.

  • X-STREAM Games will be held on May 4th at St. Joe’s. See Rachel’s STREAM Blog for more detailed information. On-Line registration will open for school teams this week. The cutoff for registrations will be Friday, April 12.

  • Those students who prepared themselves for the Science Fair will have a chance to still show off their work! We will be holding a Science Fair Exhibition during the X-STREAM Games. Registration for that event can be found here.

  • Save the date for the Diocesan Track Meet at St. Francis High School on May 13th and 14th. More details to come. There are no rain dates this year.

  • We will be holding a Diocesan 7th and 8th Grade Dance on May 3rd, at St. Gregory the Great from 7-10pm. Proceeds will benefit BISON Fund. More details will be forthcoming, but please let me know ASAP if you would like to be on the committee for this fun activity. We need lots of chaperones and helpers!

Here's the link to the Office Blog

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I found myself struggling with unhealthy habits that impacted my physical health and mood adversely. Recognizing the need for change, I embarked on a mission to prioritize my well-being through nutrition, exercise, sleep, and hydration. By setting achievable goals and implementing structured routines, I have successfully sustained these changes for over a year and a half. This personal experience underscores the importance of commitment and systematic approaches in achieving desired outcomes.

Monitoring Student Progress:

Ensuring students meet New York State standards and acquire essential literacy and math skills requires diligent monitoring and assessment. The WNY Catholic Schools has adopted the STAR assessment program to evaluate student progress comprehensively. Currently, 29 out of 31 schools are utilizing the STAR assessment tool to screen and benchmark students in grades K-8 three times a year within defined testing windows in reading and math. Achieving 100% participation of all schools in the fall and winter screening windows underscores our commitment to student success.

Goals for Effective Implementation of STAR Assessment Program:

STAR School Leadership Goals:

1. Principals will effectively communicate the WHY and WHAT of the STAR assessment program to all stakeholders.

2. Ensure efficient administration of STAR tests.

3. Foster effective analysis of STAR data to drive instructional decisions.

STAR School Goals:

1. Attain 90% participation in Early Literacy, Reading, and Math assessments during fall, winter, and spring.

2. Target 75% of students to achieve at or above the 50th percentile student growth by spring 2024.

STAR Assessment Timeline and Activities:

March:

1. Complete the survey regarding STAR assessments.

2. Schedule a meeting and meet with Julie for a discussion on STAR data. All meetings to be completed by 3/29/24.

3. Present and share STAR data insights with teachers.

4. Verify fall and winter data with teachers and correct any errors with Laurie.

April:

1. Develop a STAR board presentation.

2. Review and refine presentation materials for clarity and effectiveness.

May:

1. Deliver the STAR presentation to the school board.

2. Spring test window begins May 20.

June:

1. Review STAR data with all stakeholders.

2. Develop a presentation on STAR participation, proficiency, and student growth data for all stakeholders.

3. Present the findings to all stakeholders (teachers, parents, school board, etc.).

The systematic implementation of the STAR assessment program serves as a cornerstone in our commitment to student achievement and academic excellence. By adhering to structured timelines and engaging in effective communication, we aim to empower educators with the insights needed to tailor instruction and support student growth effectively. Through collaborative efforts and a steadfast dedication to our goals, we strive to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in our schools.

STAR Windows

Fall: September 6-27

Winter: January 8-29

Spring: May 20- June 10

NYS TESTING

Resources

Grades 3-8 ELA, Math, Elementary- and Intermediate-Science Tests | New York State Education Department

Information for Practice Tests

Getting Started Tips: I am new to CBT, where do I begin? – Computer Based Testing

Test Administration Schedule

In Spring 2024, all students in Grades 5 and 8 will be required to take ELA, Math, and Science Tests via CBT.

Monday, April 8 – Friday, May 17

Make-ups must be given within the testing window Must be completed by Friday, May 24*

Previous Academic Corner blogs

3/11-12 Mandated Services Data Entry Sessions (Optional)

3/15/24 Last Day to Submit Erie 1 BOCES Textbook Requisitions

3/18/24 Save Mandated Services Claim online for C. Riso Review

4/1/24 Online 2021-22 Mandated Services Claim Due to NYSED

4/1/24 Parent Requests for 2024-25 Transportation Due to Public School Districts

4/15/24 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

4/15/24 NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

4/15/24 Request New 2024-2025 Health Services from District of Location

NYSED Mandated Services Update: Remember, there are only 14 school days until the 4/1/24 Mandated Services claim submission deadline, so if you have not started working on your claim I would encourage you to start this week. If you have not yet opened your 2023 claim online yet, please do so this week - you can enter the information later. Remember, I am hosting one more Mandated Services Data Entry Sessions on 3/12 at St. Amelia for those who have completed their Excel spreadsheets and “Form 2” and want to enter the data online with me nearby for questions. If you ask, I can look your claim over once it has been entered online on the NYSED Business Portal (but NOT submitted!) by 3/18/24. Any reviews left until after that date may result in insufficient time to correct any areas of concern prior to the submission deadline.

NYSED Safety Equipment Funds: We are still waiting for updated Year 10 guidance, forms, and allocations which will be posted here when they are ready.

Mandated Services – Forward any NYSED “Post Review” or “Hold” emails: As your Mandated Services claims are submitted, some schools labeled as “Post Review” or “Hold” will get an email from NYSED at some point. Please forward to me any emails you get from the state that request follow-up on your end to resolve a claim. I highly recommend you allow me to assist you during this review process. Be especially careful with anything you say to NYSED representatives on the phone – I recommend you get their requests in writing and make your responses in writing.

Print a Copy of your Submitted 2022-2023 Mandated Services Claim: Once you complete and submit your 2022-2023 Mandated Services Claim, I recommend that you print a copy of your claim and put it in your Mandated Services folder. Since NYSED only retains claims from the past three years, it would make sense for you to have a hard copy of your claim for your records. To print your claim, first click on “Summary of Expenditures” and then expand all Mandates that you are receiving reimbursement for. Then right click and select “print”. Once you are on the print/preview screen, you will probably need to change the layout to “Landscape” in order to ensure that all of the information prints (check the preview).

Previous posts from Mr. Riso

The Catholic School Matters podcast is back on the air!. A new episode dropped yesterday which serves as the third of the "Innovation Spotlight" series. Kristy Dunn, the principal at St. Theresa's Catholic School in Little Rock, describes how she has guided her school, along with the ACE Latino Enrollment Institute, to transform into a Latino-friendly school which has welcomed a significant number of new students. These podcasts are conversations with exemplars in Catholic education which can show up the bright lights in Catholic education. These spotlights will form part of each chapter of the the upcoming book I'm writing in partnership with NCEA. The book is focusing on innovations in Catholic schools which point to a brighter future. Look for a new spotlight every Monday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so it will automatically come to you every week.

Previous episodes:

• Jill Annable, the President/CEO of West Catholic HS in Grand Rapids, joins the podcast to discuss the use of the National Standards and Benchmarks in her fantastic school. They form the foundation for school improvement and accreditation
  
• The first podcast is a conversation with Jack Joyce of St. Labre Indian Catholic Schools in Montana. Joyce explores how the schools evangelize their school communities by appreciating and integrating what they already know and experience into the Catholic schools. It's a story of integration and creative catechesis!.

Here is a link to the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

A weekly newsletter of resources to spur enrollment and excellence in our Catholic schools.

Email: catholicschoolmatters@gmail.com
Website: www.wnycatholicschools.org
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA
Phone: 716-847-5520
Twitter: @WNYCatholicEd

1. The Equality Machine: Harnessing Digital Technology for a Brighter, More Inclusive Future (2022) by Orly Lobel.
   

2. More than a Dream: How One School's Vision is Changing the World (2008) By G. R. Kearney.

3. Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic--and What We Can Do About It (2023) by Jennifer Breheny Wallace.
   

4. Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things (2023) by Adam Grant

5. Redeeming Power: Exercising the Gift as God Intended (2024) by Ann Garrido.

Click this link for a full list of my professional reading

Mar 5, 2024 "The Eclipse is Coming"

Feb 27, 2024 "House of Belonging"

Feb 13, 2024 "Introducing Julie Gajewski"

Feb 6, 2024 "Catholic Schools Week"

January 30, 2024 "Catholic School Week Surveys"

For previous newsletters, click this link

A few years ago I set out to write a book which would explore the challenges of Catholic school leadership. My premise that there are no easy answers and that we have to learn from our (and other's) mistakes in order to form a mindset appropriate for orchestrating conflict proved prescient as we all faced completely new and unexpected challenges in 2020. The book,Orchestrating Conflict: Case Studies in Catholic Leadership is now available on Amazon or on the Barnes & Noble site in print or e-book formats. The book explores issues in Catholic school leadership and the tensions between building community and following Church policies and introduces deliberate practice as a method for leadership formation. Most recently, I have completed a new book proposal so book #2 is underway!