The latest episode of NYKids Deep Dive features Regent Roger Catania, a lifelong educator whose career has spanned teaching, school counseling, and district leadership in New York's North Country. In this conversation, Regent Catania offers an inside look at the New York State Board of Regents—one of the state's most influential, yet often misunderstood, institutions. Established in 1784, the New York State Board of Regents is one of the oldest educational governing bodies in the nation, predating the U.S. Constitution. Early members included Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, reflecting the Regents' longstanding role in shaping education and public life. Today, the Board's responsibilities extend far beyond Regents exams. It oversees P–12 and higher education, cultural institutions such as libraries and museums, professional licensing across more than 50 fields, and adult education. As Regent Catania explains, the Regents serve as an independent policy body that helps guide education and professional standards across New York State. One of the Regents' most significant initiatives is reimagining high school graduation requirements. Rather than centering student success solely on standardized testing, the Board is advancing the Portrait of a Graduate framework, which emphasizes critical thinking, communication, creativity, global citizenship, and readiness for college, careers, and civic life. Regent Catania notes that this vision is intended to influence teaching and learning across the entire P–12 system. While many educators welcome the shift, successful implementation will require thoughtful professional learning and support to ensure all students have opportunities to develop and demonstrate these competencies. Beyond statewide policy, Regent Catania highlighted local efforts to address educational inequities. About a decade ago, he helped establish Lake Placid's Educational Opportunity Fund (Ed Fund) to expand access to enriching academic and cultural experiences for students who might otherwise lack those opportunities. The nonprofit partners with the school district to provide experiences that build students' knowledge, social capital, and future aspirations. Although created to meet local needs, the Ed Fund offers a model other communities can adapt to help close opportunity gaps through strong school-community partnerships. This episode explores how history, policy, and local innovation intersect to shape the future of education in New York. We invite you to listen and reflect on questions such as: What should a meaningful high school diploma represent today? How can schools successfully implement the Portrait of a Graduate? What can communities learn from initiatives like the Ed Fund to expand opportunity for all students? 🎧 Listen to the full episode, and be sure to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts by contacting nykids@albany.edu. We'd love to hear how these ideas connect to your work and how we can support Portrait of a Graduate implementation in your school or district.
