Betty Rosa

State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa helped get New York’s Foundation Aid fully funded, and now she’s pushing for a study to revise the formula for school funding. Meanwhile, as conservatives move to ban inclusive books and curriculums, her department partnered with state Attorney General Letitia James to launch a joint initiative to actively foster diversity in New York’s schools, and reaffirmed the rights of migrant students to enroll in the state’s public schools. Rosa also… Show more

State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa helped get New York’s Foundation Aid fully funded, and now she’s pushing for a study to revise the formula for school funding. Meanwhile, as conservatives move to ban inclusive books and curriculums, her department partnered with state Attorney General Letitia James to launch a joint initiative to actively foster diversity in New York’s schools, and reaffirmed the rights of migrant students to enroll in the state’s public schools. Rosa also banned the use of facial recognition in schools following a report of its potential harm to students. Show less

Education sits at the locus of many of the state’s most pressing issues – COVID-19 pandemic recovery, shifting workforces and battered trust in democratic institutions, among others – and overseeing it all is an influential but perhaps unenviable job. The Puerto Rico- and Bronx-raised Betty Rosa, boasting more degrees than a thermometer and plenty of hands-on experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent and state Board of Regents chancellor, has stepped up, overseeing 731 school districts… Show more

Education sits at the locus of many of the state’s most pressing issues – COVID-19 pandemic recovery, shifting workforces and battered trust in democratic institutions, among others – and overseeing it all is an influential but perhaps unenviable job. The Puerto Rico- and Bronx-raised Betty Rosa, boasting more degrees than a thermometer and plenty of hands-on experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent and state Board of Regents chancellor, has stepped up, overseeing 731 school districts and almost 2.5 million public school students, as well as the state’s entire higher education system. Show less

The leader of New York’s education system, Betty Rosa has waded into some of the most high-profile education debates in the state and country, from opposing charter school expansion and demanding New York City to conclude its yearslong investigation into yeshivas, to banning Native American school mascots and pushing back on Rep. Elise Stefanik’s claim that the state was providing instruction on critical race theory. Looking ahead, Rosa has called for the state to provide more funding for early… Show more

The leader of New York’s education system, Betty Rosa has waded into some of the most high-profile education debates in the state and country, from opposing charter school expansion and demanding New York City to conclude its yearslong investigation into yeshivas, to banning Native American school mascots and pushing back on Rep. Elise Stefanik’s claim that the state was providing instruction on critical race theory. Looking ahead, Rosa has called for the state to provide more funding for early childhood education and create vocational schools. Show less

After steering the state’s schools through both COVID-19 and the ongoing recovery efforts from pandemic-related distance learning, Betty Rosa has set her attention on a project that will remake the state’s education system: potential changes to the state's high school graduation requirements. A commission formed by Rosa is set to provide a final report to the state Board of Regents by next year on the issue, including potential changes to the Regents exam requirement or alternative paths to… Show more

After steering the state’s schools through both COVID-19 and the ongoing recovery efforts from pandemic-related distance learning, Betty Rosa has set her attention on a project that will remake the state’s education system: potential changes to the state's high school graduation requirements. A commission formed by Rosa is set to provide a final report to the state Board of Regents by next year on the issue, including potential changes to the Regents exam requirement or alternative paths to graduation, including career and technical programs. She also saw the governor and lawmakers boost education spending by $3 billion in the latest state budget. Show less

Since she was appointed commissioner of the state Education Department in 2021 after serving in an interim capacity, Betty Rosa has tried to get kids and struggling schools back on track after students’ learning environments were turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. A former teacher and principal with the New York City Department of Education and chancellor of the state Board of Regents, Rosa turned heads last month when she found a Brooklyn yeshiva was failing to meet state… Show more

Since she was appointed commissioner of the state Education Department in 2021 after serving in an interim capacity, Betty Rosa has tried to get kids and struggling schools back on track after students’ learning environments were turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. A former teacher and principal with the New York City Department of Education and chancellor of the state Board of Regents, Rosa turned heads last month when she found a Brooklyn yeshiva was failing to meet state standards for secular education, in violation of state law. Show less

Thanks to her many years spent as a teacher, principal and superintendent in the Bronx, Betty Rosa has a deep understanding of the inner workings of public education in New York. Rosa took the reins of 731 school districts with over 4,400 schools on an interim basis in early 2020 – at the start of the coronavirus pandemic – and was given the role permanently last year. Prior to becoming commissioner, Rosa was chancellor of the state Board of Regents.

State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa has withstood criticism from the New York Post editorial board and the third-ranking Republican in Congress, Rep. Elise Stefanik, to emerge with the full-throated endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul. After the Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, shootings, Rosa quickly canceled the U.S. history Regents Exam out of concern the topics on the test could traumatize students. And her department scored more funding than it ever has – $31.5 billion – in the 2022… Show more

State Education Department Commissioner Betty Rosa has withstood criticism from the New York Post editorial board and the third-ranking Republican in Congress, Rep. Elise Stefanik, to emerge with the full-throated endorsement of Gov. Kathy Hochul. After the Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, shootings, Rosa quickly canceled the U.S. history Regents Exam out of concern the topics on the test could traumatize students. And her department scored more funding than it ever has – $31.5 billion – in the 2022 state budget. Show less

The state Education Department received a record haul of $31.5 billion in school aid this year – but Betty Rosa didn’t get everything she wanted in the budget. New York City schools received $56 million less than what Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed, undocumented children missed out on child care services and privately run special education programs lost out on $240 million. Rosa has also called for civility amid disagreements in school districts over mask mandates.

Betty Rosa has been a driving force in the state’s efforts to shore up its education system during the coronavirus pandemic. As the first Latina woman to serve as the state commissioner of education, Rosa is dealing with pandemic-related learning deficiencies and a lack of school funding, among other challenges. In her previous role as chancellor of the state Board of Regents, Rosa crafted new learning standards and advocated against tying state student test results to the evaluations that… Show more

Betty Rosa has been a driving force in the state’s efforts to shore up its education system during the coronavirus pandemic. As the first Latina woman to serve as the state commissioner of education, Rosa is dealing with pandemic-related learning deficiencies and a lack of school funding, among other challenges. In her previous role as chancellor of the state Board of Regents, Rosa crafted new learning standards and advocated against tying state student test results to the evaluations that teachers receive. Show less

After leading the state Board of Regents, Betty Rosa was called to lead the state Department of Education on an interim basis during the coronavirus pandemic before being elected to fill the position full time in February. The first Latina to hold the position, Rosa oversaw the reopening of state schools and issued guidance related to COVID-19 safety after the governor – embroiled in scandal – and the state Department of Health failed to do so. Rosa was previously a teacher, principal and… Show more

After leading the state Board of Regents, Betty Rosa was called to lead the state Department of Education on an interim basis during the coronavirus pandemic before being elected to fill the position full time in February. The first Latina to hold the position, Rosa oversaw the reopening of state schools and issued guidance related to COVID-19 safety after the governor – embroiled in scandal – and the state Department of Health failed to do so. Rosa was previously a teacher, principal and superintendent in New York City schools. Show less

When the public school system needed a steady hand to lead New York’s 2.6 million students through the COVID-19 school year and the post-pandemic return to classes, Betty Rosa was the obvious choice. Rosa spent the last decade representing Bronx County on the Board of Regents, serving as chancellor since 2016. Now, Rosa is implementing policy instead of overseeing it, using $9 billion in federal stimulus to shore up the system and reduce inequities in the student population exacerbated by the… Show more

When the public school system needed a steady hand to lead New York’s 2.6 million students through the COVID-19 school year and the post-pandemic return to classes, Betty Rosa was the obvious choice. Rosa spent the last decade representing Bronx County on the Board of Regents, serving as chancellor since 2016. Now, Rosa is implementing policy instead of overseeing it, using $9 billion in federal stimulus to shore up the system and reduce inequities in the student population exacerbated by the pandemic. Show less

Former Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa has brought stability to the state education department since becoming its third commissioner in the past two years. Since Rosa’s interim title was removed, she’s wrestled with the U.S. Department of Education, which denied a request to postpone state testing for grades three through eight. She also became an advocate for emphasizing diversity and inclusion instruction in school curricula.

Last summer, City & State asked Betty Rosa whether the 2020-2021 school year would be a lost year due to the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19. The newly installed interim state education commissioner rejected the idea, but acknowledged a “loss of learning” that would have to be rectified. “And we have an obligation, we have to make a commitment in terms of what are the kinds (of things) that we do to make up for that,” she said, from ensuring that remote learning is effective in the short… Show more

Last summer, City & State asked Betty Rosa whether the 2020-2021 school year would be a lost year due to the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19. The newly installed interim state education commissioner rejected the idea, but acknowledged a “loss of learning” that would have to be rectified. “And we have an obligation, we have to make a commitment in terms of what are the kinds (of things) that we do to make up for that,” she said, from ensuring that remote learning is effective in the short term to potential long-term measures such as year-round school. The path forward hasn’t gotten any easier in the months since then, but vaccination efforts are underway – and whenever things do get back to normal, New York will benefit from having some of the best minds in crafting educational policy. City & State’s annual Education Power 100 recognizes the public officials and policymakers, superintendents and scholars, advocates and activists, and labor, business and nonprofit leaders who are putting in countless hours to ensure New York’s students get a top-notch education – pandemic or no. Show less

Recognized as the 5th most powerful woman in the State of New York. (#7 in 2019)

From the major influx of Puerto Ricans to New York City in the 1940s to the more recent migration of Central Americans to the five boroughs, Latinos have steadily broken barriers across all sectors of city life, including politics.

Within these pages, we spotlight the leaders helping to carve a path for greater visibility and a seat at the table, the many men and women who wield power in telling the story of Latinos while demonstrating the impressive strides made.

Our Bronx Power 50 recognizes the appointees, advocates, community leaders and others who are moving the Bronx forward.

1. Betty Rosa
Chancellor, State Board of Regents
No state schools chancellor has ever faced the challenge Betty Rosa will face this fall. With little help from the federal government and a still swelling pandemic, Rosa and the state’s education department recently released 145 pages of initial guidance on reopening schools. In her third term as regent for Bronx… Show more

Our Bronx Power 50 recognizes the appointees, advocates, community leaders and others who are moving the Bronx forward.

1. Betty Rosa
Chancellor, State Board of Regents
No state schools chancellor has ever faced the challenge Betty Rosa will face this fall. With little help from the federal government and a still swelling pandemic, Rosa and the state’s education department recently released 145 pages of initial guidance on reopening schools. In her third term as regent for Bronx County and her second term as chancellor, Rosa faces a Herculean task: overseeing a return to in-person instruction amid a once-in-a-century pandemic.
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The Barbara Clark Award - Presented to an individual who vigorously advocates for the needs of families and children in the areas of educational reform, comprehensive day care and/or dynamic community development. The individual will have demonstrated an unyielding commitment to policies and programs designed to empower parental involvement and equity within the education and childcare systems.

Recognized as the most influential individual in education in New York State.

https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/power-list/power-100/2020-education-power-100.html

Recognized as the 7th most powerful woman in New York State.

https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/special-list/power-100/new-york-2019-women-power-100-6-50.html

Dr Betty Rosa has shown dedication to our youth with her years of service to this city's Department of education on various levels.

Honoris Causa

As you might expect, the most powerful educator in New York has a resume littered with awards. But Betty Rosa says none of those were as valuable as a letter she received from a once-“challenging student” named Winnie who Rosa spent extra time with when Rosa was principal of I.S. 218.
“Realizing how I touched her life because she shared it with me, was probably the biggest award that (anyone) in this position can receive,” she says.
Born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico until… Show more

As you might expect, the most powerful educator in New York has a resume littered with awards. But Betty Rosa says none of those were as valuable as a letter she received from a once-“challenging student” named Winnie who Rosa spent extra time with when Rosa was principal of I.S. 218.
“Realizing how I touched her life because she shared it with me, was probably the biggest award that (anyone) in this position can receive,” she says.
Born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico until she was 10, a young Rosa returned to the Bronx to face a struggle as her parents struggled with work and their marriage. It was the kindness of a teacher that led to her success.
“There was a wonderful teacher and guidance counselor,” Rosa says haltingly. He stood up for the new girl from Puerto Rico and insisted she should take the gifted classes. “I realized the importance of people believing in you.” Show less

My Brothers Keeper - Yonkers

2018 MBK Advocate of the Year Award

For dedicated service and extraordinary commitment and dedication to not just the people of the 16th District but to all residents of the Bronx. "You are worthy of great esteem of the City of New York."

For her life-long work and exceptional talent in fostering a supportive environment where children can achieve their great potential.

For her thoughtful leadership and tireless commitment to education throughout New York State.

Thursday, November 2, 2017, Dr. Betty Rosa Day

For exceptional leadership in and contributions to the attainment of social, economic, racial, ethnic, and gender justice through education at all levels, with emphasis on adult and distance education.

We express our gratitude to her for serving as key-note speaker at our Graduation Ceremony on June 27, 2017

Honoris Causa

"Today we honor six outstanding Puerto Ricans whose distinguished careers in education are ample reasons to recognize them. In addition to their professional achievements, we honor them for their dedication to the advancement of Latino students, and for being exemplary leaders and role models. Each one has impacted and improved the many educational institutions and systems they have served. As a result, many Puerto Ricans and Latinos lives were improved and their futures altered! That is… Show more

"Today we honor six outstanding Puerto Ricans whose distinguished careers in education are ample reasons to recognize them. In addition to their professional achievements, we honor them for their dedication to the advancement of Latino students, and for being exemplary leaders and role models. Each one has impacted and improved the many educational institutions and systems they have served. As a result, many Puerto Ricans and Latinos lives were improved and their futures altered! That is worthy of our praise and recognition."
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, NPRDP Chairperson Lorraine Rodriguez-Reyes, NPRDP Education Chair
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For your Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to the Children in the New York City Public School System.

The New York State Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force
28th Annual Somos Conference
Albany, NY
March 20-23, 2015

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce
In commemoration of Women's History Month
March 27, 2015

Keynote Speaker at Commencement, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY
June 26, 2014

Women's History Month - Celebrating Women of Character, Courage, and Commitment
Co-Honorees: Hon. Nydia M. Velásquez, Congresswoman and Hon. Letitia James, NYC Public Advocate

In honor of your contributions to the TESOL profession, leadership and advocacy for English language learners.

In recognition of her Dedication and Significant contributions to the field of Education

Regent Betty Rosa is the second Puerto Rican woman elected to serve on the New York State Board of Regents, serving in the Twelfth Judicial District of Bronx County. In Regent Betty A. Rosa we see the personification of what it means to be a dedicated, focused professional.

For her dedicated service to advance the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Community of New York