University of the State of New York Board of Regents Chancellor's Correspondence and Subject Files

Alphabetical; chronological; unarranged.

Carl T. Hayden served as a Regent from the Sixth Judicial District from 1990 to 2002. He was elected chancellor of the Board of Regents in 1995 and re-elected in 1998 and 2001. Under Chancellor Hayden's leadership, working with Commissioner Richard P. Mills, the Board authorized disclosure of school "report cards," strengthened standards for the teaching profession, upgraded educational standards and testing requirements for public schools, improved programs to monitor and support under-performing schools, reformed remedial education programs in the City University of New York (CUNY), and addressed many additional issues.

Records consist of files compiled by Carl T. Hayden during his service as a Regent from the Sixth Judicial District, 1990-2002, and as Chancellor of the Board of Regents, 1995-2002. Files include correspondence, memorandums, manuscript notes, unpublished reports, news reports, and other documents. The files concern initiatives in statewide education policy and programs, as well as controversies and litigation involving the Board of Regents and the State Education Department.

Topics extensively documented in the subject and correspondence files include establishment of the state's charter school program; elevation of student learning standards; expansion of state testing programs; proposals for alternative student assessments; efforts to improve performance of disadvantaged students; proposals for a school voucher program in New York City; and initiatives by the Board of Regents and the Education Department to strengthen teacher preparation and school leadership.

Other files concern City University of New York (CUNY) Master Plan amendments and remedial program; fiscal problems of Regents College (a distance learning institution renamed "Excelsior College" in 1998); and the "Schools under Registration Review" (SURR) program for under-performing schools and problems in the Roosevelt Union Free School District in Nassau County and the Kiryas Joel Village Union Free School District in Orange County. The files contain communications with members of the Board of Regents, Commissioner of Education Richard P. Mills, state legislators, and others. Correspondents of note include Assembly Majority Leader Michael J. Bragman, Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, New York City Board of Education Chancellor Howard O. Levy, and Deputy Commissioner for Elementary, Middle, Secondary, and Continuing Education, James A. Kadamus. Also present are speeches and a few photographs of Chancellor Hayden.

Chronological files contain general correspondence, memorandums, and other documents pertaining to topics generally not documented in the subject files.

Litigation files include documents relating to the following cases: Trustees of Adelphi University vs. Board of Regents (N.Y. Supreme Court); Amber P. et al. vs. State of New York et al. (N.Y. Supreme Court); Campaign for Fiscal Equity vs. State of New York et al. (N.Y. Supreme Court); Giulino et al. vs. Board of Education, City School District of New York et al. (U.S. District Court, Southern District of N.Y.); LaValle et al. vs. Hayden et al. (N.Y. Supreme Court); Pivar vs. Wilkinson et al. (petition to Board of Regents); and United States et al. vs. Yonkers Board of Education et al. (U.S. District Court, Southern District of N.Y.).

Videotapes include presentations given by Hayden and recordings collected by Hayden pertaining to education issues likely of concern to the Regents.

This series was transferred to the State Archives by Chancellor Hayden in 2014.

Litigation files and a few other files include some privileged materials, which are restricted by Civil Practice Law and Rules sections 3101(b) and 4503 (attorney-client communications) and 3101(d)(2) (materials prepared for litigation). Subject and chronological files contain a few communications regarding individual students, which are restricted by Education Law section 2-d and the U.S. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), section 1232(g); and a few documents referring to professional discipline cases, which are restricted by Education Law sect. 6510(8).