July 2008 SBE Highlights

July 1, 2008

Special Note:To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings/0807/conferencecall/0807sbagendacc.html. Click on the appropriate agenda category: Globally Competitive Students (GCS); Twenty-First Century Professionals (TCP); Leadership for Innovation (LFI); Twenty-First Century Systems (TCS); or Healthy Responsible Students (HRS).

Action Agenda

Approval/Adoption of the New Teacher Evaluation Instrument (TCP 1) - The new teacher evaluation instrument - developed, piloted and validated by McREL - was approved. Under the evaluation rubric, teachers are to demonstrate leadership, establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students, know the content they teach, facilitate learning for their students, and reflect on their practice. The new instrument will be implemented in 13 local districts (selected on a volunteer basis) in the 2008-09 school year with half of the remaining districts implemented in the 2009-10 school year and the remainder implemented in the 2010-11 school year. District "train-the-trainer" training will be held the last week in July and the first week in August for those volunteer districts implementing the instrument in the 2008-09 school year.

Action on First Reading

Changes to NC's NCLB Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook (GCS 1) - Board members approved changes to North Carolina's NCLB Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook based upon correspondence from the U.S. Department of Education. Changes addressed revised Annual Measurable Objectives at the high school level, the definition of a new school for purposes of school improvement, AYP determinations for schools with fewer than two students meeting the full academic year requirements, including students with disabilities in AYP determinations, and science tests in grades 5, 8 and biology for high school students.
Changes to Policy Delineating the Components of the ABCs Accountability Program Including Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2007-08 School Year (GCS 2) - State Board Policy HSP-C-020 was modified for the 2007-08 school year to reflect the recent U.S. Department of Education's response regarding inclusion of reading results for AYP in grades 3-8 and not allowing a five-year cohort graduation rate for AYP purposes. It also reflects all appropriate alternate assessments in the policy.
Recommended Interim Academic Achievement Standards (Cut Scores) and Descriptors for the NCEXTEND1 Alternative Assessments (Mathematics Grades 3-8 & 10, Writing Grades 4, 7, & 10 and Reading Grade 10) (GCS 3) - Interim cut scores and achievement level descriptors for the NCEXTEND1 in the areas of mathematics grades 3-8 and 10, writing grades 4, 7, & 10 and reading grade 10 were adopted for implementation effective with the 2007-08 school year.
Approval of Supplemental Educational Services Provider for 2008-09 (GCS 4) - Achieve Success Tutoring by University Instructors, Inc. was approved as a supplemental educational services provider for 2008-09.

Chairman's Remarks

State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee asked State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland to provide a brief report on legislative activity. She updated members on the latest budget numbers in regard to fuel and ABCs bonuses, where the budget is in process, status of two bills of significant interest to the Board (HB 12 - Students with Disabilities and Special Education Changes and HB 388 - Tax Credits for Children with Special Needs), and the Department's pilot plan to assess writing (on target for Board discussion in August; Regional Education Services Alliances scheduling professional development in August for teachers in their districts).

State Superintendent's Remarks

State Superintendent June Atkinson noted the meeting she will be holding with association representatives on July 9 to preview the DVD "InsideOut," discuss the Board's mission of graduating 100 percent of students, and obtain input on how we can bring this issue to the forefront. She also mentioned that the second week in September is being designated "Graduation Awareness Week."

Deputy State Superintendent's Report

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton reported that he had shared with local superintendents the Department's updated organizational chart, "Who to Call" list, and the Department's Strategic Planning and Performance tool.

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