Substantial Equivalency Review (SER) Service
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- By October 9, 2023: Local School Authorities (LSAs) should use their best faith efforts to complete the LSA survey via the internet through the NYSED Business Portal which can be found in the attached PowerPoint or on the NYSED website at https://www.nysed.gov/nonpublic-schools/substantial-equivalency.
- August 23, 2023: New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Office of Religious and Independent School Support (ORISS) released guidance for Substantial Equivalency Implementation. Click for more detail
- September 13, 2022: Final Substantial Equivalence Regulations were approved by the New York State Board of Regents. Click for more detail
- June 2022: NY State Education Department proposed regulations regarding the statutory requirement for substantial equivalency of instruction for students attending nonpublic schools to ensure that all students receive the education to which they are entitled under the law. The Board of Regents discussed the proposed regulations at its March 2022 meeting. The proposed rulemaking was published on March 30, 2022 and the public comment period ran through May 31, 2022. The final regulation will come before the Board of Regents for its consideration in fall 2022. Click for more detail
- May 10, 2021: NY State Education Department releases a report summerizing feedback on substantial equivalence of instruction in nonpublic schools gathered during six regional meetings held last fall. The feedback gathered will be used to inform revised proposed regulations. Click for more detail
- October 27, 2020: NY State Education Department announced that it will hold a series of regional meetings to engage and gather input from stakeholders in religious, independent and public schools, to inform policy decisions related to the substantial equivalence of instruction in nonpublic schools as required by Education Law Section 3204(2). The Department is conducting these regional meetings that will take place virtually. Click for more detail
- Spring 2019: The state Supreme Court justice suspended Substantial Equivalency guidelines. Click for more detail
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CoSer: 470.5917
Nassau BOCES Substantial Equivalency Review (SER) will provide support to participating districts in evaluating nonpublic schools within their geographical boundaries. Education Law §§3204, 3205, and 3210 require the Local School Authority (LSA) to ensure that students of compulsory school age 6 -16 (or 17 in some localities) who reside within the boundaries of their school district are receiving an education. Local public-school officials must ensure that the education received by students is substantially equivalent to that received in district public schools. Nassau BOCES, at the request of districts, will provide assistance in reviewing non-public schools.
Based on the regulations, Nassau BOCES will make a recommendation to determine if the non-public schools are substantially equivalent regarding instructional practices. The results of the review will be reported to the Local Education Agency (LEA). In collaboration with the LEA, Nassau BOCES will, if necessary, review the non-public and attempt to remediate instructional practices so the school can move toward substantial equivalency.
The LSAs are responsible for substantial equivalency determinations except in the case of Registered High Schools, State-Approved Private Special Education Schools, State-Operated or State-Supported Schools, Accredited Schools, International Baccalaureate Program Schools, Federally Approved Schools, and schools that offer standardized summative assessments; these schools are already subject to Department review.
While conducting such reviews, the LSA must use the criteria outlined in the guidance. For schools that meet the criteria for a Commissioner’s final determination, the LSA conducts the review using the appropriate criteria and makes a recommendation to the Commissioner for his/her final determination. If there are concerns about the substantial equivalency of the instruction, the regulation recommends, among other things, that the LSA and nonpublic school work collaboratively to develop a clear plan and timeline, including benchmarks and targets, for attainting substantial equivalency in an amount of time that is reasonable given the concerns identified. After careful review and consideration of the information provided, Nassau BOCES will inform the LSA in writing of the recommended determination. The LSA should send written notification to the administration of the nonpublic school and provide a letter for the nonpublic school to distribute to parents. The LSA must notify Office of Religious and Independent School Support (ORISS) of the positive determination.
Contact:
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Stephanie Witt
Supervisor
(516) 608-6623
switt1@nasboces.orgTammy Mazza
Program Specialist
(516) 608-6633
tmazza@nasboces.org