On Board Online • November 10, 2025
By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief
What is the role of local school boards as the state prepares to shift from graduate credentials based on passing Regents exams to a new, one-diploma system based on a state-endorsed Portrait of a Graduate? Top state officials addressed that question, and others, at NYSSBA's 2025 Annual Convention & Education Expo.
In response to questions from NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider, Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said her vision is for schools to find ways for students to express and expand upon their natural gifts.
Her chief deputy, Jeff Matteson, said school board members can play a key role in the transition to new graduation criteria by ensuring that local assessments are strong.
"Ask your superintendent: In our school district, what is our assessment strategy?" he advised. In other words, it's important for school board members to understand how teachers are tracking student progress.
Matteson noted that the State Education Department's website has a page devoted to assessment strategy at bit.ly/47dwVKl .
Below is a summary of what Rosa and Matteson said on a variety of topics.
Student school board members. Rosa emphasized "the importance of growing our future leaders." She expressed satisfaction with the first-ever statewide student board member welcome, co-sponsored by NYSSBA, that was held in September and attracted more than 600 participants. She noted that the training included the state Open Meetings Law and Roberts Rules of Order, as well as advice such as "how you agree to disagree."
Matteson advised elected board members not to underestimate student school board members, many of whom use social media and surveys to gain insights about student sentiment. "Don't assume they aren't interested in even the mundane issues of the day," Matteson said.
Dual enrollment. Matteson said the problem with many dual enrollment programs is that too many don't leave the student with transferrable credits that can be used at whatever college the student attends. He urged schools to partner with colleges and universities to create programs with transferrable credits, noting, "Every student is 30 minutes away from a SUNY, CUNY or community college . There are more people willing to partner with you than you imagine."
Media literacy and critical thinking. "This generation is exposed to so much information, including malinformation and disinformation," Rosa said. "They need the skills of being critical thinkers. What's fact? What's opinion?" They also need to be skilled in problem-solving, she said.
Artificial intelligence. "We can't miss the boat the way we did with social media," Matteson said. He called AI "a different being," adding: "It is a reasoner."
Federal vs. state policies. The conversation also included the general counsel at the State Education Department, Daniel Morton-Bentley. He addressed concerns that the federal government and state government have many contradictory policies, such as whether programs to promote diversity, equity and inclusion are lawful.
According to Morton-Bentley, presidential directives about curriculum and other topics should not be considered definitive regarding what is legal for schools in New York State.
Morton-Bentley, who also spoke at the Pre-Convention School Law Seminar, added: "The attorneys who come to this conference, they give you good advice."