State Education Department Seal


THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234
_______________________________________________________________________________________

PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
AND COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

July 16, 2003

To:

The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents

From:

Richard P. Mills

Subject:

Math A Panel
Listed below is my recommended slate of candidates for the Math A Panel which will address the nine questions in the charge (attached). I asked Tom Sheldon to identify individuals who will be independent and open-minded in considering what accounted for the poor results in June and what needs to be done.

In seeking recommendations for Panel members Tom and I stressed integrity, strength of character, teamwork, intelligence and subject matter expertise. In developing the recommended panel, Tom also balanced many considerations including background, current responsibilities, work setting and geography. All are trained in mathematics and will be able to deal with the technical issues that are at the heart of the issue. All seem fair-minded and highly motivated to help.

Needless to say there were many other individuals who might have served effectively but I believe this to be an excellent panel with diverse perspectives that will provide careful analysis and thoughtful recommendations.

I also recommend that you appoint William Brosnan as Chair of the Panel.
  1. William Brosnan, Superintendent of Schools, Northport-East Northport (Long Island)
  2. Stanley Chapman, Teacher of Mathematics, Clara Barton High School (NYC)
  3. Gregory Cizek, Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
  4. Franco DiPasqua, Math Coordinator K-12, Erie I BOCES
  5. Andrew Giordano, Professional Engineer
  6. Lidia Gonzalez, Teacher of Mathematics, Washington Irving High School (NYC)
  7. Robert Gyles, Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Hunter College, CUNY
  8. Danny Jaye, Assistant Principal - Mathematics, Stuyvesant High School (NYC)
  9. Sophia Maggelakis, Mathematics Department Head, Rochester Institute of Technology
  10. Theresa McSweeney, Teacher of Mathematics, Marcellus (Syracuse area)
  11. Alfred Posamentier, Dean, School of Education, City College
  12. Katherine Staltare, Chairperson, Mathematics Department, Yonkers Public Schools
  13. Alan Tucker, Professor of Mathematics, SUNY Stony Brook

VOTED: That the slate of 13 candidates recommended by the Commissioner of Education be approved to constitute the Math A Regents Review Panel, effective immediately, and that William Brosnan be designated Chair of the Panel.

 

Attachment

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Charge to the Panel

The Panel is convened to evaluate the performance of the June 2003 Regents Math A. The Panel is advisory to the Commissioner and the Regents. The Regents will publish the Panel’s report without modification. The Panel will have access to all records, technical reports, and data related to the design and creation of the 2003 Math A exam and other Math A exams, and all members of the State Education Department and consultants who took any part in that work. They will have access to the results of the exams (including, for example, results for different grades, and students who sat for the exam multiple times).

We ask the Panel to provide its best answers and advice in response to these questions:

  1. Did the June 2003 Regents Math A exam measure achievement of the New York State mathematics standard three as defined through the core curriculum -- consistent with generally accepted standards for assessments? (Refer to the so-called "Joint Standards.")
  2. Were there anomalies in the test preparation process that could account for real or perceived changes in the level of difficulty in the June 2003 Regents Math A exam in comparison with prior Math A exams? This includes but is not limited to item writing, pre-testing and field testing (including adequacy of the samples), production scheduling, scaling, equating, final test assembly and review of the completed exam.
  3. Were groups of students taking the June 2003 Math A exam statistically similar to or different from those taking previous Regents Math A exams?
  4. Is the 2003 Regents Math A exam of the same level of difficulty as prior Regents Math A exams? (That is, in addition to the equating included in question 2, consider the content, cognitive demand, and perceived difficulty of the exam.)
  5. Is the June 2003 Regents Math A exam of a level of difficulty appropriate for high school graduation? In answering this question, consider available national and international benchmarks.
  6. Are the word problems at a reading level appropriate to high school? Is the sequence or grouping of more challenging questions a probable cause of lower performance?
  7. Are there any other factors that could explain the difficulty many students had in meeting the standards with the June 2003 Regents Math A exam? For example, are the guidelines about the exam, which were sent to the schools clear?
  8. If the June 2003 Regents Math A exam was not of the same level of difficulty as previous Math A exams, can the results be re-scaled appropriately and used to measure student achievement, and if so, how?
  9. What actions does the Panel recommend to improve the Regents Mathematics A testing program?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Regents Review Panel for June 2003 Math A Examination

  1. William Brosnan, Superintendent of Schools, Northport-East Northport (Long Island)
    • Former math teacher, chairperson of math, principal and assistant superintendent – Northport
    • Doctor of Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
    • Vice President, NYS Council of School Superintendents
    • Former President, Suffolk County Superintendents Association
    • 2003 NYS Superintendent of the Year
  1. Stanley Chapman, Teacher of Mathematics, Clara Barton High School (NYC)
    • Has taught pre-high school math, Consumer Math, Courses I, II and III and Calculus
    • Initiated, developed and supervised after school math center
    • Teacher mentor 2002-03
    • Former actuarial analyst for 10 years – Reliance Insurance Company
    • Graduate work – Long Island University and College of St. Rose
  1. Gregory Cizek, Professor of Educational Measurement and Evaluation, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
    • Former Associate Professor of Educational Research and Measurement – University of Toledo
    • Former Program Manager, American College Testing Program
    • Former elementary and middle school teacher
    • Doctor of Philosophy, Michigan State University
    • Member of editorial boards of Journal of Educational Measurement, Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, Applied Measurement in Education
    • Member, U.S. Department of Education, Advisory Council on Education Statistics
    • Former member and vice president of local board of education in Ohio
  1. Franco DiPasqua, Math Coordinator K-12, Erie I BOCES
    • Former math integration specialist, Madison-Oneida BOCES
    • Former math teacher, Whitesboro, NY (Utica area)
    • Master of Science, SUNY Albany
    • Trainer, NYS math learning standards
    • Involved in National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, NYS Teachers of Mathematics, NYSED Math Initiative
  1. Andrew Giordano, Professional Engineer
    • Project Executive, BBL Construction Services (Albany):
      • Manager for pre-construction/construction of commercial projects from Florida to New England
      • Coordination of design, integration of architects and engineers with owners
      • Construction budgeting and cost control
      • Supervision of staff of 24
    • Former Resident Engineer, Goodkind and O’Dea Consulting Engineers (New Jersey)
    • Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering – Clarkson University (Potsdam)
    • Coach and administrator of the NYS Professional Engineers Society’s Mathematics Competition (for students)
  1. Lidia Gonzalez, Teacher of Mathematics, Washington Irving High School (NYC)
    • Has taught Math I, II, III, Math A, Math B, IB Math and pre-Calculus
    • Previously worked in the Admissions Office at New York University
    • Master of Arts, New York University
    • Affiliated with National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State, Mathematical Association of America, Mathematics Teachers Committee of the United Federation of Teachers
  1. Robert Gyles, Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Hunter College, CUNY
    • Former Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Professional Development, CSD 4, NYC
    • Former Director of Math, CSD 4
    • Adjunct Professor, Math Education – Bank Street College
    • Former math teacher in NYC high schools, GED programs, intermediate school, after school gifted program, alternative junior high school
    • Doctor of Philosophy, New York University
    • Former member, Chancellors Advisory Committee on Mathematics Assessment (1991-95) and Commissioners Advisory Committee on Curriculum and Assessment in Math, Science and Computer Technology, NYSED (1995-97)
  1. Danny Jaye, Assistant Principal - Mathematics, Stuyvesant High School (NYC)

    • Former Teacher of Mathematics (Algebra – AP Calculus)

    • Masters’ Degrees from City College and College of Staten Island

    • Executive Director

      • NYC Math Team

      • CCNY Scholars Academy in Mathematics and Science

      • NYC Interscholastic Math League

    • Member of Chancellor’s Math Commission (2001-02)

    • Member, The Math Association of America; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Association of Math Teachers of NYS

  1. Sophia Maggelakis, Mathematics Department Head, Rochester Institute of Technology

    • Former assistant professor, associate professor and professor of mathematics, RIT

    • Doctor of Philosophy, Old Dominion University

    • Recipient of 1998-99 RIT Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching

    • Affiliated with American Mathematical Society, Mathematical Association of America and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics

  1. Theresa McSweeney, Teacher of Mathematics, Marcellus (Syracuse area)
    • Has taught Math A, Math 8, Pre-Algebra, Life Science
    • Master of Science, SUNY Oswego
    • President, Marcellus Faculty Association
    • NYSUT Policy Council and AFT Convention Delegate (2002)
    • Vice President, Onondaga County Teachers Association
    • Involved in National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and Onondaga County Math Teachers Association
  1. Alfred Posamentier, Dean, School of Education, City College
    • Professor of Mathematics Education
    • Former teacher of mathematics (Theodore Roosevelt High School - NYC) and part-time supervisor of math and science at Mamaroneck High School
    • Doctor of Philosophy, Fordham University
    • Fulbright Scholar, University of Vienna (1990)
    • Former member, local board of education (New Jersey)
    • Involved in Mathematical Association of America, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics
  1. Katherine Staltare, Chairperson, Mathematics Department, Yonkers Public Schools
    • Adjunct professor, Adelphi University, Long Island University, College of St. Rose
    • Has been math teacher, math curriculum developer, staff development facilitator
    • Initiated, developed and implemented Math/Art Program
    • Doctor of Education, Teachers College of Columbia University
    • Affiliated with National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, NYSUT’s NYS Committee for Mathematics
  1. Alan Tucker, Professor of Mathematics, SUNY Stony Brook
    • SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor
    • Co-chair SUNY Task Force on Math Education
    • Has been assistant professor, associate professor, professor, department chair, Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics at SUNY Stony Brook
    • Co-project director, $3.1 million NSF grant, "Preparing Mathematicians to Educate Teachers"
    • Doctor of Philosophy, Stanford University
    • Has been actively involved with National Research Council, National Science Foundation, Mathematical Association of America (former Chair of Education Council) and American Mathematical Society
    • Member of editorial boards of Applied Mathematics Letters and Mathematical and Computer Modeling
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