SBE HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 3-4, 2007

Special Note:To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2007/01. Click on the appropriate agenda category: High Student Performance (HSP); Quality Teachers, Administrators and Staff (QP); Effective and Efficient Operations (EEO); Healthy Students in Safe, Orderly and Caring Schools (SS); or Strong Family, Community and Business Support (FCB).

Action Agenda

The Cooperative Innovative High School Program Act - Waivers for Educational Purposes (HSP 1) - Board members approved calendar waiver requests for educational purposes and a request to approve calendar waivers so that they align with the five-year span of the approved program application. High schools established under the Cooperative Innovative High School Program Act are developed in partnership with post-secondary institutions. Calendar alignment with these institutions is essential in order for these high schools to operate effectively.

State Evaluation Committee Program Approval Recommendations (QP 1) - Program approval recommendations for Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Pfeiffer University, UNC Asheville and UNC Wilmington were approved.

Appointment of Individuals to the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education (QP 2) - Board members reappointed Elizabeth City State University Professor Dr. Barbara Johnson and Catawba College Department of Teacher Education Chair Dr. James Stringfield and appointed East Carolina University Director of Teacher Education Dr. Vivian Covington, Lincoln County Schools' Associate Superintendent for Personnel Dr. Walter Hart and Salem College Director of Teacher Education Dr. Micha Jeffries to the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education.

Proposed Revisions to the Requirements for an International Faculty License (QP 3) - Proposed revisions to the requirements for an International Faculty License were approved to align them with licensure requirements of other teachers. The revisions were developed by an ad hoc committee convened by the State Board.

Proposal to Facilitate the Licensing of More at Four Teachers Through the Office of School Readiness (QP 4) - More at Four teachers in non-public school settings can now work through the Office of School Readiness to obtain and maintain their teaching licenses under a policy change approved this month.

Revision of SBE Policy to Reflect Changes in the Provisional Licensing Requirements for Career and Technical Education Teachers (QP 5) - Policy revisions to reflect changes to the Provisional Licensing Requirements for Career and Technical Education Teachers were approved. The Board had approved the changes in September.

Study of the Adequacy of Compensation of School Psychologists with National Certification (QP 6) - Board members approved the study of the adequacy of compensation of school psychologists with National Certification and its recommendation that the General Assembly consider adjusting the salary differential for all licensed personnel with specialist (6th year) level and doctoral level licenses.

LEA-Wide Calendar Waiver Requests (EEO 1) - LEA-wide weather-related calendar waiver requests were approved for the following school districts: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Asheville, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey. To receive this waiver, districts must have missed eight instructional days in four of the last 10 years because of inclement weather.

Recommendation of Appeal Panel on John H. Baker, Jr., Charter High School Revocation (EEO 2) - Board members approved the revocation of the charter of the John H. Baker Jr., Charter School effective June 30, 2007.

Appointment for Charter School Advisory Committee Membership (EEO 3) - Ken Butcher, with Shining Rock Technology, a private, independent engineering company located in Hendersonville, was appointed to the Charter School Advisory Committee representing District 8.

Action on First Reading

Report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the Implementation of the ABCs January 2007 (HSP 2) - The Implementation of the ABCs annual report was approved for submittal to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. Included in the report is an update of the 10th year of the ABCs results for schools, response to the Excellent Schools Act requirements, AYP results, schools identified as low performing, and composition and activities of the State Assistance Teams.

Changes to the 2005-2006 ABCs/AYP Report (HSP 3) - Board members approved changes to the 2005-06 ABCs/AYP report to reflect the following: Fairview Early Childhood changed from Year 2 Reading and Math to not in improvement; Creswell Elementary changed from Year 2 Reading to not in improvement; Powell Elementary changed from not in improvement to Year 1 Math; Alma O. Easom Elementary changed from Year 1 Math to not in improvement; Marie G. Davis Middle changed from Year 3 Reading and Year 1 Math to not in improvement; East Lee Middle changed from Year 1 Reading and Math to not in improvement; Waynesville Middle changed from Year 2 Math to Year 1 Math; Tabor City Middle changed from Low Performing to Priority, Catawba Valley High changed from No Recognition to Expected Growth; Francine Delany New School changed from Not Met AYP to Met AYP.

Recommended Final Academic Achievement Standards (Cut Scores) for the NCCLAS Alternate Assessment (HSP 4) - The interim academic achievement standards (cut scores) for the North Carolina Checklist of Academic Standards (NCCLAS) were approved. NCCLAS is a newly designed alternative assessment that was initially implemented during the 2005-06 school year. The assessment measures grade-level competencies for eligible English Language Learners and eligible students with disabilities using a checklist format. The new standards are effective beginning this school year.

Recommended Final Academic Achievement Standards (Cut Scores) for the Social Studies EOC Tests (HSP 5) - Final academic achievement standards (cut scores) for the revised North Carolina end-of-course tests in the areas of U.S. History and Civics and Economics were approved. The new cut scores are effective beginning this school year.

Final Decisions in Contested Cases (QP 7) - Board members remanded the final decisions in these contested cases for full hearing.

Individual Class Size Exceptions Waiver Requests (EEO 4) - Class size waiver exceptions submitted by Bladen County Schools, Forsyth County Schools, Madison County Schools and Clinton City Schools were approved.

Discussion Agenda

Science Laboratory Safety (HSP 6) - Board members discussed the revised Science Laboratory Safety Policy, which was originally adopted Aug. 4, 2005. The policy was revised to more clearly delineate the roles and responsibilities of those charged with ensuring that science classrooms are safe and hazard free. Policy revisions also better align NCDPI staff responsibilities with their capabilities both in time and number.

Program Approval and Exemption Requests Under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act (HSP 7) - Board members discussed calendar waiver requests submitted by Craven County Schools, Guilford County Schools and Scotland County Schools being made under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act. These requests are up for action in February. The Innovative Education Initiatives Act authorizes community colleges, the university system, independent colleges, and local boards of education to jointly establish cooperative innovative programs in high schools and community colleges that will expand students' opportunities for education success through high quality instructional programming. The programs target at-risk students and students who would benefit from accelerated academic instruction.

Charter School Grade Changes and Enrollment Increase Requests Above 10% (EEO 5) - State Board members discussed enrollment increase requests submitted by Bethany Community Middle School, Carolina International School, Carter Community, Learning Center, Lincoln Charter School, Millennium Charter Academy, Metrolina Regional Scholars' Academy, Union Academy, Woods Charter and Phoenix Academy; grade expansion requests submitted by Queen's Grant, Community Charter School, STARS and Kestrel Heights; and grade expansion and enrollment requests submitted by Lake Norman Charter, Success Institute, The Magellan Charter and Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy.

Information Agenda

Educational Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS) Demonstration - Dr. June Rivers and Dr. William Sanders with SAS Institute provided Board members with a demonstration of the SAS Educational Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS). EVAAS merges state end-of-grade and end-of course assessment data to project different levels of intervention needed by students and to help predict students' likelihood of success at the next level. EVAAS also can help local educators see where schools are being especially successful in particular grade levels or subjects and where schools need additional support to be successful in particular areas . The information can be used by schools and school systems to allocate and align resources to support students and school programs where the need is greatest. Administrators and teachers can use the data proactively to positively effect academic change for individual students and groups of students. Currently 34 districts are utilizing this program.

Academic Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Policy: Timeline for Implementing the Core Course of Study (HSP 8) - Board members received a copy of the approved version of the 2008-09 Implementation of the Core Course of Study framework approved by members in December.

Evaluation of Learn and Earn Early College High Schools (HSP 9) - Geoff Coltrane with the New Schools Project provided Board members with an evaluation of the Learn and Earn Early College High Schools' progress over the 2005-06 school year. The Learn and Earn initiative is designed to improve high schools, to better prepare students for college and career, to create a seamless curriculum between high school and college and to provide work-based experiences to students. Thirteen Learn and Earn early college high schools opened for students for the 2005-06 school year, and an additional 20 have opened for the 2006-07 school year. Besides site locations, the report includes data on student demographics, achievement and attendance, and funding and additional support

Healthy Active Children Policy Progress Report 2005-2006 (HSP 10) -NCDPI Healthy Schools' Section Chief Sherry Lehman provided Board members with a progress report on its Healthy Active Children Policy that included data from all 115 School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs). Key points of the report include: 92 percent of SHACs list a representative from each required area; 67 percent meet at least quarterly; 95 percent have a plan to provide 30 minutes of physical activity daily by 2006-07 school year; 49 percent report that half or more of their elementary schools provide 150 minutes of weekly physical education with a certified PE teacher; and 49 percent report that half or more of their middle schools provide 225 minutes of weekly Healthful Living with certified health and physical education teachers.

NC Virtual Public School - Director's Report (HSP 11) - NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Interim Advisory Board Chair John Boling briefed Board members on the school's progress to date on course audits (89 courses currently undergoing audit), teacher recruitment (more than 200 teachers have expressed an interest in teaching online) and communicating operational guidelines of the NCVPS with middle and high school principals.

Joint Technology Commission Report (EEO 6) - Myra Best with the Business and Education Technology Alliance (BETA) presented Board members with the Joint Technology Commission Report, which was compiled with the assistance of SBE Executive Director Rebecca Garland, NCDPI Director of Technology Frances Bradburn and the BETA/E-Learning Commissions with input from a number of other interested organizations. Included in the report are recommendations necessary for future-ready schools made jointly by the BETA, The School Technology Commission and the Joint Legislative Study Commission on Information Technology Studies. Board feedback is requested by Jan. 10 so that the report can be finalized by Jan. 15 and submitted to the General Assembly.

Update of School Connectivity Implementation (EEO 7) - Phil Emer, director of Technology and Systems Operations with the Friday Institute and School Connectivity Project provided Board members with a presentation on the plan for the School Connectivity Project. The 2006 General Assembly appropriated $6 million in non-recurring funds to upgrade school connectivity as part of efforts to establish a comprehensive PreK-20 state regional education network. Funds are to be used to expand the number of public schools serving PreK-12 with broadband connectivity, provide last-mile connectivity to public schools and enhance development of regional broadband networks, infuse technology into schools' infrastructure efforts, maximize the use of e-Rate and revise school technology plans.

Chairman's Remarks

Scotland County Schools' Superintendent Dr. Shirley Prince provided Board members with information on how her school district is reinventing its one comprehensive high school to meet the 21st century needs of students. Scotland County is in the process of changing its entire high school delivery system to focus on 21st century goals and outcomes. The district has taken its one large high school and broken it up in to smaller, more personalized, autonomous schools while infusing rigor into the curriculum and working on relationships between students and teachers.

Educators in Scotland County are in the very early stages of this major change but see forward movement. The Scotland County Board of Education has committed to having 95 percent of students taking college prep/college tech prep courses in 2007-08. Their goal is to have every student graduate college ready. Prince said the "means" is the journey from large to small. The "ends" is successful students prepared for the 21st century and a stronger local economy.

State Board Executive Director Rebecca Garland updated Board members on meetings she has attended, including a joint meeting of Achieve and NASBE concerning high school reform and two meetings with committees of the General Assembly on the New Schools Project and how students with disabilities will be affected by the Board's new core course of study.

Legislative Liaison Rita Joyner provided Board members with a draft of its 2007 Legislative Policy Agenda and discussed the recommended items. The long session of the General Assembly begins Jan. 24. She requested Board members review the proposed agenda for further discussion at its February meeting.

State Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson presented and the Board approved a list of new hires for the Department of Public Instruction. This list included the hiring of a new Deputy State Superintendent, J.B. Buxton, who will succeed Dr. Janice Davis when she retires on Jan. 31. Buxton is the Governor's Senior Education Advisor and will leave that post to begin in the Deputy's role on Feb. 1.

Atkinson then provided Board members with a summary report of notable Department activities. She also distributed a number of informational items including Food Lion's sponsorship of innovative educational technology, teacher training programs for state schools, a noteworthy graduation project in Clay County, Standard & Poor's recognition of 14 North Carolina schools for narrowing achievement gaps, a project summary of the North Carolina Birth-20 Education Insight Project, data sources for local superintendents and an announcement from Education: Everybody's Business Coalition's public forums on school facility needs.

Board members received an update on NC WISE from NC WISE Program Management Project Manager John Wetsch. He updated members on the conversion and deployment schedule, training, configuration management, production support, data management and ad hoc reporting. Some districts and charter schools in Wave 2 were moved to Wave 3.

NCDPI High School Turnaround Team Director Pat Ashley shared highlights of turnaround efforts since the December Board meeting. Thirty-five high priority high schools (those under 60 percent performance composite) must identify their redesign or reform model by Jan. 31. There are four models from which to choose: America's Choice, New Schools Project, Talent Development and First Things First. Thirteen of the 25 schools have chosen the New Schools Project. However, the New Schools Project has a limit on the number of new schools it can bring on board at one time. Ashley said that she is getting ready to send out 57 assessment teams to those high schools with a performance composite under 70 percent for two years or whose performance composite recently dropped to below 60 percent.

On-Going Business

NCDPI Deputy Superintendent Janice Davis presented Board members with a progress report on the Future Ready Students' Plan and Implementation. She said the project is moving forward. A clear framework for work to continue is in place and associate superintendents and division directors are holding meetings to ensure that the work stays on track following her departure at the end of the month.