Glossary of Terms
ARISTA: Nationally recognized honor society in which admission is based on character, scholarship and service.
ATS: Automate the Schools. Computer system linking the schools with the Central Department of Education.n DOE policies. Made
AYP: Adedquate Yearly Progress. Measure of school improvement from the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. Schools receiving federal funds must bring all students to academic proficiency.
CEP: Comprehensive Educational Plan.
Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council (CPAC): Advises the Chancellor on DOE policies. Made up of Parent Teacher Association leaders.
Community Based Organization (CBO): Private, non-profit organizations which are representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provide educational or other services to individuals in the community.
CPSE: Committee on Pre School Special Education
CSA: Council of Supervisors and Administrators
CSE: Committee on Special Education
C30: Process for appointing principals and assistant principals.
C37: Process for appointing Community Superintendents.
DC37: District Council 37. Union representing clerical, family workers, school aides and other staff members in other titles.
DCEP: District Comprehensive Educational Plan
DINI: District in Need of Improvement
District Family Advocate (DFA): Placed in each district to help parents who need assistance.
District 75: Citywide district for children with special needs.
DLT: District Leadership Team
ECLAS: Early Childhood Literacy Assessment.
English Language Learners (ELLs): Students who speak other than English at home. They score below the state level of proficiency in English when they enter school. The DoE has three types of Enlish language programs for Ells: Transitional Bilingual, Dual Language and English as a Second Language.
IDEA - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: This is the federal legislation which mandates that all students, regardless of abilities or
disabilities, are to receive a free and appropriate public education. It spells out specific requirements
under which all states must function.
IEP - Individualized Education Program: The IEP is an annual plan which must, by law, be written for each student receiving special education services. It describes the unique needs of the student and the manner in which those needs
will be met. The IEP is a legal document so adherence to regulations for its development and its content is critical.
NCLB: No Child Left Behind. Legal Act signed into law in 2002 as revision to ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act).
Parent Association (PA)/Parent Teacher Association PTA): Open to all parents. PAs only include parents while PTAs include teachers and parents. Coordinate parent/children activities in the school.
Parent Coordinator: This staff position was created in all NYC public schools to create a welcoming environment for parents.
Presidents Council: Made up of PA/PTA Presidents and their officers for each district.
Response to Intervention (RTI): A comprehensive, multi-step process that closely monitors how the student is responding to different types of services and instruction.
Section 504: Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Acto of 1973 bans discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability in federally funded programs.
SES: Supplemental Educational Services
SINI: School In Need of Improvement. NYS Education Dept identifies schools that have not met adequate yearly progress (AYP) in achieving state academic standards based on the NYS English Language Arts and math assessments.
School Leadership Team (SLT): School based organizations formed to solicit feedback ont he school and oversee budgets and school based planning. Composed of Principal, PTA/PA President, UFT Chapter Leader, and must include an equal number of parents and staff.
Title 1 of No Child Left Behind: Largest federally funded program for elementary and secondary schools. Purpose is to provide federal grants to schools with high concentrations of children living in poverty with low academic achievement.
