ALBANY - The Albany City School District appointed Dr. Marguerite Alecia Vanden Wyngaard to serve as superintendent of Albany’s schools.  The appointment required a waiver from State Education Commissioner John King, Jr.

Education Law §3003(3) provides that the Commissioner may grant an exception or waiver to the precise preparation and experience required by law for a superintendent’s certificate. The Commissioner is empowered to grant a waiver to an "exceptionally qualified" candidate who may not meet all of the very detailed regulatory requirements if he finds that the candidate has "exceptional training and experience" which are the "substantial equivalent" of such requirements.

The process for review and consideration of a waiver request is outlined in the Commissioner’s Regulations.  Commissioner King followed the process outlined in those regulations.

The panel received the application and supporting documentation provided by the Albany City School Board for its review and consideration. The Commissioner provided guidance to the panel about the questions it should consider in reviewing the application and materials.

The Commissioner carefully reviewed and considered the advice he received from the panel. He applied the law to the facts presented and rendered a decision granting the waiver request. A copy of the Commissioner’s decision is attached.

The request for a waiver of specified training and experience is part of a credentialing process. That process comprises an objective review of education, training, and experience to determine if an applicant possesses the knowledge, skills, and experience that qualify him or her to perform the functions authorized by the credential.