Friday, March 26, 2004.

State Education Commissioner Richard Mills told delegates the State Education Department will continue to work with NYSUT in efforts to make New York's schools better for students and their teachers.

"We campaigned together for standards," Mills said. "You brought them to life."

In what has become an annual appearance at the RA, Mills responded to a series of questions submitted by participants at the union's Local Presidents' Conference earlier in the week.

Conceding that there is more to education than test scores, Mills said test results provide "a powerful argument to increase state aid ... a summons to invest."

With middle-level reform on the minds of many in attendance, Mills said the state Board of Regents was "closing in" on a decision on how to improve performance in the middle grades and will act on the plan in May.

Offering at least a bit of encouragement to worried teachers of middle-level exploratory courses, Mills drew a round of applause - one of several he received - when he defended the importance of such courses as art, music, technology and home and career skills.

"Children need much more than math and English to be an educated person," he said. "We believe the exploratory courses are important topics and the remaining debate is over how much time to give them and when."

Acknowledging the benefits that $1.8 billion in No Child Left Behind funds can bring to New York, Mills said SED will seek changes to the federal program, particularly the "unrealistic rates of improvement" NCLB demands of students with disabilities.

"Holding schools and school districts accountable for unreasonable achievement levels does not recognize the value of what they're actually producing," Mills said. "It will not challenge schools to do better but will rather discourage excellence."

Mills said SED would continue to fight for state funding - including an additional $52 million in the Teachers of Tomorrow program - specifically for mentoring new teachers.

He reminded delegates that the first class of teachers to be trained under the Regents tougher standards for teacher preparation will enter the classrooms this fall.

By opening their classrooms to student teachers, "You participated in the education of every one of them, he said. "Remember that, and remember to continue to welcome them and guide them as they begin their practice."