Mineola presents state graduation changes and literacy law; district says it is largely aligned

At the April 10 meeting the Mineola Board of Education heard a detailed presentation from Director of Curriculum Sarah Ortiz on two statewide shifts: the New York State Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations on graduation measures and a recently issued literacy requirement (referred to in the meeting as Education Law "8 18") that directs districts to align pre-K–3 literacy instruction with the science of reading.

Ortiz told the board the Blue Ribbon Commission favors moving to a single diploma with additional seals and designations, loosening the historical coupling between Regents exam scores and diploma issuance, and adding explicit expectations for career- and life-readiness skills including financial literacy and career-technical education. "This is going to impact our current ninth graders and everybody who…