Betty Rosa is the State Commissioner of Education. She received our 2025 Class Size Matters Skinny Award for standing up to the Trump administration when they demanded that the state certify that all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs were removed from our schools. A judge just confirmed that this order was illegal. Below is the Keynote address she recently gave at the City and State Education Summit on August 14, 2025, reprinted with her permission, in which she calls for education to address the scourges of misinformation and disinformation, which are "currently one of the greatest threats to our students and to our democracy." She also connected that goal with the new Graduation requirements she is pioneering.
Good morning. It’s an honor to be here with all of you today at this pivotal moment in our state’s - and our nation's -- history.
It’s a time when our institutions are being tested, when trust is being questioned, and when young people are looking to us for both direction and inspiration.
I want to begin with three words. Just three. But they changed the world. "We the People.”
It’s not just the beginning of our Constitution, it’s the beginning of an idea.
The idea that a nation could be built not on bloodlines or monarchies, but on shared purpose, collective voice, and active participation.
That we could build a society not through power alone, but through principle.
And as we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we have a moral imperative to ask ourselves: What does “We the People” mean today?
And more importantly: How are we preparing our students to carry that promise forward? Because the truth is, our democracy does not—and will not—sustain itself.
Every generation must shape it. Safeguard it. Sometimes, even redefine it.
That responsibility now belongs to the young people sitting in our classrooms. And that’s why we’re here today.
To ask how we ensure our school communities remain one of the most powerful engines of democracy in our society.
To ask how we innovate in ways that are not only effective, but human. Culturally grounded and civic-minded.
We often hear the word “innovation,” and we immediately think of new tools, new tech, or new techniques. And yes, innovation must include all of those.
But real innovation means going deeper. means reimagining how we prepare students to thrive in a changing world and lead it with empathy, wisdom, and courage.
Innovation in education is no longer optional. It’s imperative.
How will we shape tomorrow’s schools—not just to meet the moment, but to prepare young people to thrive, lead, and protect the very fabric of our democracy?
Our classrooms today are at the intersection of rapid technological change, cultural transformation, and historic polarization. We are teaching children who are both more connected and, in some ways, more isolated than any generation before them.
And so, when we talk about innovation, it must mean more than gadgets and technology. It must mean rethinking what we teach, how we teach it, and, most importantly, why we teach it.
We must build systems that recognize each student as an individual, as a future citizen with ideas to share, challenges to face, and potential to unlock.
As some of you know, I serve as co-chair of the New York State 250th Commemoration Commission to recognize the anniversary of the American Revolution.
As we prepare to mark America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026, we have a tremendous opportunity to use this historical moment as both a mirror and a compass.
New York played a defining role in the birth of our nation. From the Federalist Papers to the abolitionist movement to Seneca Falls and the fight for women’s suffrage, this state has never been on the sidelines of history.
So, let’s make the 250th not just a celebration, but a catalyst to reignite civic education and promote service and engagement.
Let’s use it to help students see history not as something to memorize, but something to make. To see themselves as more than passive observers—as participants, as the next generation of “We the People.”
But let me offer a reminder: Education is not the bystander of history. It is the scaffolding of our society. It is the quiet, daily work that holds up democracy, generation after generation.
Our students don’t need us to predict the future. They need us to prepare them for it.
That starts with creating a culture of belonging and purpose in every school, in every district, in every community. In uncertain times, the most radical, most innovative act—is to lead with humanity. Let me pause here and tell you a brief story.
Not long ago, I was at a conference focused on learning and teaching models for modern students, where the organizers invited students to provide reflections on what they had heard at the conference.
One student shared his concern that the current education system feels too “one size fits all,” which, he suggested, might be a reason some of his peers struggle to stay engaged.
That’s not a criticism of educators. It’s a call to action, for all of us, to connect learning to life and make it meaningful.
This student, like so many, is growing up with access to more information than any generation in history.
And yet, we’ve all seen how easily that information can mislead, divide, or overwhelm.
One of the greatest threats to our democracy, and to our young people, is not simply what they don’t know. It’s what they think they know that may not actually be true.
Misinformation and disinformation are currently one of the greatest threats to our students and to our democracy.
We cannot assume that because students are adept to the digital world, they are also critical thinkers. In fact, the opposite is often true.
That’s why media literacy must become a core pillar of modern education. A foundational skill, just like reading, writing, and math.
Because today, knowing how to verify a source is as important as solving for X or Y. We must teach students to:
· Verify before they share
· Recognize bias, both in others and in themselves
· Understand the algorithms shaping their world
· Engage in dialogue without falling into division
That is civic education for the 21st century.
And it’s how we nurture not just intelligent learners, but culturally competent, civic-minded citizens.
Through our New York Inspires graduation measures initiative, we’re reimagining what it means to earn a diploma in New York—shifting to a more meaningful vision grounded in the recommendations from our Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures.
This vision reflects the skills, mindsets, and values our students need to thrive—not just in college and careers, but as engaged citizens in a complex world.
This work is guided by voices from every corner of our state. We are thankful to the many educators, students, families, and community members who have participated in thoughtful dialogue and public comment.
Each of them is critical to ensuring that the path we chart forward reflects both local values and a shared commitment to equity, excellence, and innovation.
New York’s Portrait of a Graduate offers us a visionary framework for doing exactly that. It doesn’t just define academic readiness; it defines life readiness.
It invites us to build school systems that support whole children—not just academic outcomes.
Young people who are:
· Academically prepared
· Creative innovators
· Critical thinkers
·
Effective communicators
· Global citizens
· Reflective and future focused
These six attributes are grounded in the principles of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education.
A New York State high school graduate who is culturally responsive doesn't just succeed academically—they build strong, respectful relationships and recognize that diverse perspectives are essential to a vibrant, inclusive learning environment.
And, a student who embodies both cultural responsiveness and academic readiness is equipped not just to learn but also to lead, grow, and contribute in meaningful ways.
Ultimately, these graduates will leave our schools with the interpersonal and intellectual skills they need to thrive in a world that is diverse, interconnected, and constantly evolving.
The Portrait of a Graduate is a blueprint for future graduates, where academic excellence meets the ever-evolving world outside the classroom.
It paints a picture of students who are not just knowledgeable, but also curious, compassionate, and capable of turning challenges into opportunities.
It is a testament to the belief that education is not just about learning facts, but about becoming the kind of person who can change the world for the better.
This is not just education reform. It is democracy reform.
So as we approach 250 years of American history, let’s not simply mark the occasion. Let’s answer the call.
Let’s shape tomorrow’s schools to be places where innovation and integrity walk hand in hand. Where students don’t just prepare for college and careers, but for citizenship.
Let’s ensure every child in New York is prepared not just to pass tests—but to ask better questions, build stronger communities, and write the next chapter of “We the People.”
That chapter begins with us. Thank you.
