SBE HIGHLIGHTS

APRIL 3-5, 2007

Special Note:To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2007/04. 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

Amendments to SBE/APA Policies Following Public Notice (GCS 1) - Amendments were approved to accommodate the inclusion of the US History and Civics & Economics tests into growth for the 2006-07 school year; the extension of the eligibility criteria for students identified as limited English proficient to participate in the state-designated alternate assessments to include science at grades five and eight; and the removal of the dates of the annual administration of the state English language proficiency test. Approved changes will now be filed with the Rules Review Commission.

2007 Invitation to Submit Textbooks for Evaluation and Adoption in North Carolina (GCS 2) - The 2007 Invitation to Submit Textbooks for 6-12 Business and Technology Education, 9-12 Marketing Education, and K-12 Social Studies for evaluation and adoption in North Carolina was approved.

Middle Grades Education and High School Graduation Requirements (GCS 3) - Board members discussed a policy revision that would allow middle school students to receive credit toward high school graduation requirements for high school courses they take as long as they achieve a level 3 or 4 on the end-of-course test, if available. High school courses taken in grades 6-8 that do not have an EOC test shall use high school course codes and be aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Grades 9-12. In addition, students are strongly encouraged to complete at least one unit of mathematics in their final year of high school. The proposed policy would go into effect in grades 6-8 in the 2007-08 school year. The Board sent this item back to its Globally Competitive Students Committee for further clarification and action in May.

Reading Literacy Strategic Plan (GCS 4) - The Reading Literacy Strategic Plan was approved as a mechanism to help ensure that all students graduate from high school with the reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing skills necessary to interact successfully with a variety of audiences and for a variety of purposes. The next step is to identify stakeholders to determine who has the best resources to meet the identified needs.

Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 Transition Plan (GCS 5) - The Board met as the State Board of Career-Technical Education and approved the state's one-year transition plan for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. (Submission deadline was extended by the US Dept. of Education to May 17.) During this transition year to a five-year plan, Board members will still need to make a number of decisions related both to the one-year transition plan and the five-year plan. These include identification of high-skill, high-wage, or high-demand occupations; implementation of credentialing for accountability; development of processes for rewards and sanctions; and a decision to use 10 or 16 pathways/clusters.

Final Decision in Contested Case - Charlie Richardson vs. DPI, Licensure Section (TCP 1) - Board members adopted the final decision presented by the Attorney General's Office and discussed in closed session.

Recommendations from the Advisory Board on Requests for Exception from Teacher Licensing Requirements - (TCP 2) - Board members acted on requests for exception from teacher licensing requirements in closed session.

Action on First Reading

Changes to the 2005-06 ABCs/AYP Report (GCS 6) - Board members approved changes to the 2005-06 AYP report that affect special evaluation schools. These schools received a special evaluation because they didn't have enough students who were tested or enough students who met the full academic year requirement of 140 days in membership prior to spring testing. In addition, Board members approved the 2005-06 AYP status change for The New Dimensions School from "Under Review" to "Not Met" and 2006-07 Title I School Improvement Changes for Highland Charter to "Year 1 for Math and Reading," Henderson Middle to "Remove from list," and The New Dimensions School to "Year 1 for Math."

Individual Class Size Exceptions Waiver Requests (TCS 1) - Waivers pertaining to class size exception submitted by Edgecombe County Schools for Stocks Elementary and Princeville Montessori, and Randolph County Schools for Ramseur Elementary were approved.

Approval of Federal Grants (TCS 2): Board members approved the following federal grants' awards:

• Allotment of Federal Implementation Funds for Year I and II Charter Schools - Schools in their first (Charlotte Secondary School, KIPP: Charlotte, Columbus Charter School, Voyager Academy, Pine Lake Preparatory, Neuse Charter School, Wilmington Preparatory Academy) and second year of operation (Roxboro Community School) received Implementation Year I and Implementation Year II funding.
• NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant Awards - IMPACT II Awards -This grant funds the implementation of the IMPACT model in the following five schools: Walkertown Middle, Winston-Salem/Forsyth; Swain Middle, Swain County; Pembroke Middle, Robeson County; Canton Middle, Haywood County; and Union Middle, Sampson County. The grants will be used to provide the necessary personnel, resources, access, professional development, and student instruction to produce technologically literate students by the eighth grade and have a significant impact on the academic achievement of the school's student population.
• Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) Grant Cohort IV - The Mathematics and Science Partnership (MAP) grants are provided on a competitive basis to districts with demonstrated need in mathematics and science. Six existing programs will continue to be funded (Elizabeth City/Pasquotank, Thomasville City, Roanoke Rapids, Scotland, Guilford, and Onslow) and three new projects (Ashe, Cleveland and Columbus) will be added.
• Fruit and Vegetable Program Awarded to NCDPI through USDA - The USDA's Fruit and Vegetable program provides fresh fruits and vegetable snacks daily, free of charge, to students in 25 elementary schools selected by a competitive proposal process. School personnel are encouraged to promote fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the academic day.
• Reading First Grants - Reading First grants provide funds to districts to prepare kindergarten-third grade teachers to use methods and materials that address scientifically-based reading research and instruction to ensure that every student can read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. Thirty-five districts and four charter schools will receive grant funds.

Educational Interpreters and Transliterators Extension of Employment (TCP 3) - A final one-year extension was approved by Board members for interpreters and transliterators to be assessed for proficiency in order to work in the state's public schools. Boys Town Diagnostic Center, the only organization that evaluates the Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment required by the Board, recently went to a system that requires assessments to be scheduled and did not have any more slots available before the Board's testing deadline of June 30.

Testing Waiver Request for Teachers Participating in the Visiting Teacher Program Sponsored by the Spanish Ministry of Education (TCP4) -Board members approved waiving the ACTFL proficiency testing requirements for teachers placed in North Carolina public schools through the Spanish Ministry of Education for the 2007-08 school year. The Spanish government had posted an official announcement inviting applications from individuals to participate in the visiting teacher program prior to the Board's passage of the policy requiring ACTFL proficiency testing for international teachers who are licensed to teach but not in their own language. The testing requirement will be included in future postings. This item was added as a late item for action on first read.

Discussion Agenda

Revision of the North Carolina Mathematics Standard Course of Study (GCS 7) - Board members discussed a number of factors that support revising the North Carolina Mathematics Standard Course of Study including alignment with rigorous mathematics options proposed in the Core Course of Study, alignment with post-secondary expectations and alignment with national curriculum documents.

Approval of Supplemental Educational Service Providers for 2007-08 (GCS 8) - Of the 71 applications submitted to become Supplemental Education Service Providers for the 2007-08 school year, 49 were recommended for approval. Applicants were required to receive a minimum average of 90 out of 100 possible points in the scoring process to be recommended for approval. Once approved, providers will deliver supplemental educational services in reading and mathematics to students in schools that have been in Title I School Improvement for at least two years. All districts will have a choice of providers. The Board is expected to take action on the proposed list at its May meeting.

New AYP Threshold for 4-Year Cohort Graduation Rates (GCS 9) - Board members discussed changing the threshold for 4-year cohort graduation rates to 80 percent to reflect the new accountability system for graduates in making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) determinations. Under NCLB, schools and districts are required to show progress on their Other Academic Indicator (OAI) to make AYP. For schools that graduate students, the OAI is the graduation rate. The implementation of the 4-year cohort graduation rate suggests that a new threshold be set as the threshold associated with the former methodology for calculating graduation rates is no longer appropriate. The new threshold does not affect the progress criteria currently in place.

Ready Schools Task Force Recommendations (GCS 10) - Board members discussed endorsing the definition of Ready Schools and pathways to Ready Schools, the use of one of two Ready Schools' assessment instruments in its school improvement planning process for elementary schools, and the Power of K Position Paper. The first two recommendations are based on a report entitled "School Readiness in North Carolina." The report outlines a series of recommendations for what is needed in our state to assure that all children arrive at school "ready" and that schools, in turn, are "ready" for all children.

Personal Financial Literacy (GCS 12) - Legislation requires the State Board to determine the components of personal financial literacy that are to be covered in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. To this end, Board members discussed two recommendations: (1) mandating five days of personal financial literacy as part of the Civics and Economics Standard Course of Study and (2) infusing personal financial literacy topics into the Algebra I and Integrated Mathematics I Standard Course of Study or the Civics and Economics Standard Course of Study. It also was recommended that financial literacy focus on BSIC - budgeting, savings, investment and credit. Questions were raised regarding how financial literacy would be assessed.

Renewal Recommendations of Alternative School Model Charter (LFI 1) - Board members discussed approving the renewals of the following six charter schools that currently have Alternative School Model Status: Crossroads, Provisions, Grandfather Academy, Laurinburg Homework, Kennedy Charter and Crossnore Academy. Charter schools that have alternative school model status must apply for a renewal of the designation every three years.

Maximum Funded ADM Capacity for Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School (STARS) (LFI 2) - The recommendation to cap enrollment at Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School at 250 students was discussed. The capping coincides with the maximum capacity allowed by Moore County Health Department and the North Carolina Division of Environmental Health. The Board decided this item requires no action.

Program Approval and Exemption Requests Under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act (LFI 3) - Board members approved calendar waiver requests submitted by Beaufort County Schools, Cabarrus County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Davie County Schools, Guilford County Schools, Lenoir County Schools, New Hanover County Schools, Polk County Schools, Richmond County Schools, Wayne County Schools and Yadkin County Schools being made under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act. 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.

The Cooperative Innovative High School Program Act - Waivers for Educational Purposes (LFI 4) - Board members approved calendar waiver requests submitted by Burke County Schools, Lee County Schools, Lenoir County Schools, Macon County Schools, McDowell County Schools, New Hanover County Schools, Scotland County Schools, Wayne County Schools and Yadkin County Schools to allow students to participate in the designated programs located on college campuses.

Exemption Requests Under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act - Turnaround High Schools (LFI 5) - Board members discussed approving calendar waiver requests for the following ten turnaround high schools in order for them to implement the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) redesign model: Anson High, Anson County Schools; Bertie High, Bertie County Schools; James B. Kenan High, Duplin County Schools; Southern High and Hillside High, Durham Public Schools; Carver High, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; Northampton-West High, Northampton County Schools; Warren County High, Warren County Schools; Goldsboro High, Wayne County Schools; and Weldon High, Weldon City Schools.

Information Agenda

Presentation by Wake County Schools' Superintendent Del Burns - Superintendent Burns discussed his support for the State Board's efforts to implement more rigorous high school graduation requirements and how Wake County Schools are initiating a number of programs that support the Board's efforts to graduate students prepared for the 21st century. He also urged the Board to allow adequate time for districts to prepare for the new standards so that success could be achieved.

Future-Ready High School Core Curriculum Framework (GCS 11) - State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland provided Board members with a summary of the feedback received at the eight regional meetings held during February and March to receive public comment on the Board's future-ready high school core curriculum framework. Garland said most speakers expressed concern over how career technical education and the arts fit in the Board's proposed framework. She said the Board has received requests for additional meetings to be held once the policy is up for discussion and action. Garland recommended that three meetings be held (one in each geographic region of the state) to answer questions and clarify the Board's recommendations prior to action. The proposed framework has been remanded to the Board's Globally Competitive Students committee for further work. In particular, the Board leadership asked that that the committee look at four issues: the appropriate effective date for these changes; how the mathematics requirement sequence should be structured and a proposed opt-out policy; how second language learning could be effectively addressed in grades K-8, and the possibility of adding course requirements for the arts and for Career Technical Education. When the Committee's work is complete, they are to bring the framework back to the full board for discussion and action.

NC Virtual Public School (LFI 6) - NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Interim Director John Boling briefed Board members on the school's projects and timeline, including course audits. This includes the continued identification of liaisons for schools and central offices, the continued recruitment of teachers, course audits, review of the success of students currently taking online courses, hiring of NCVPS staff, and online registration to date (by lunch over 100 students had registered for courses since registration went live on Friday, March 30).

Annual Study of Suspensions and Expulsions: 2005-06 (HRS 1) - The 2005-06 Annual Study of Suspensions and Expulsions was presented to the Board for information. The report found that short-term suspensions (1-10 days) increased 4.3 percent but long-term suspensions (11 or more days) decreased 1.7 percent. The total days of suspension also increased to 7.2 percent. Analyses of data found that males were suspended more often than females; American Indian students had the highest short-term suspension increase of all ethnic groups, 29.4 percent; and Black students had the highest short and long-term suspension rates followed by American Indians. Ninth graders were most frequently suspended. Staff members are currently looking at how the information can be used to direct the work of the department and local school systems.

Committees' New Business

Globally Competitive Students Committee

Kindergarten Position Paper - The Board is being asked to endorse "The Power of K" - The North Carolina Position Statement on Kindergarten of the 21st Century. By endorsing this paper, North Carolina has the opportunity to again take the lead in supporting excellence in the state's kindergarten program for the 21st century. Committee members decided to recommend adding the "Power of K" position paper as a third item under the Ready Schools Task Force Recommendations (GCS 10) for Board discussion this month.

Twenty-First Century Systems' Business/Finance and Advocacy Committee

Update on Communications - NCDPI Communications and Information Services Director Vanessa Jeter provided Committee members with an update of Communications' initiatives during the month of March. Jeter said the messages have been more deliberate and in alignment with Board focuses. State Superintendent June Atkinson recommended using education conferences as another opportunity to relay Department/Board key messages.

Legislative Update - State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland provided the legislative update. Garland said hundreds of bills have been introduced including those that focus on Charter Schools (primarily dealing with raising the cap and the merging of two charter schools - American Renaissance Charter and American Renaissance Middle Schools); Students with Disabilities (some recommend alignment with federal standards and others are state specific; focus on homebound students); banning corporal punishment; sex education (bills would require more comprehensive approach to what is currently in curriculum); testing (move to look at nationally-normed standardized tests); governance (state superintendent appointment versus election; selection of Board members); American Sign Language as a recognized second language; move back the entry date for kindergarten; and raising the low-wealth school funding formula.

An Overview of Funding Public Schools - NCDPI Information Analysis and Reporting Section Chief Alexis Schauss provided an overview of how public schools are funded in North Carolina by looking at basic allotments and supplemental allotments. Allotment formulas ensure an equitable distribution of funds to local districts.

Suggestions for next month's agenda: proposed reinstitution of the Office of Indian Education within the NCDPI, progress of summer research projects, and uses of State Board reserve for at-risk student services/alternative schools.

Twenty-First Century Professionals

NCDPI's Consolidated Assistance Consultant Shayne Goodrum discussed professional development needs for high priority high schools broken down by administrators versus teachers. Administrator professional development needs revolve around ensuring quality instruction, developing a vision of a 21st century high school, leading and implementing change and learning to develop others as leaders. Teachers need professional development in instruction and working in a professional learning community.

SBE Response to the Report on Professional Development from the Center for School Leadership Development - UNC President Erskine Bowles has restructured the UNC Center for School Leadership Development to combine six independent programs into a unified organization providing services to public schools in two key areas: educator recruitment/pre-service training and leadership development at all levels. The Center will continue to operate its conference facility. The six programs currently operating out of the Center are the NC Model Teacher Education Consortium, NC Teachers of Excellence for All Children, Principal Fellows Program, NC Mathematics and Science Education Network, NC State Improvement Project/UNC Technical Assistance and Resource System, and the Principals' Executive Program.

Leadership for Innovation

Policy Issues for the NC Virtual Public School - Committee members discussed a variety of policy issues concerning the NC Virtual Public Schools including licensure issues of online teacher candidates from the University System and Community Colleges, who "owns" students' end-of-course scores, whether or not NCVPS will serve long-term suspended students, and how the school might serve students in federal schools such as those on the Cherokee reservation and Department of Defense installations.

Special Recognition

NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence - State Board members recognized West Wilkes High School (Wilkes County Schools) teacher Jim Brooks for his receipt of the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Special Presentation

State Board members presented a resolution to William Lucas honoring his wife, the late Senator Jeanne Hopkins Lucas, for her compassionate service and steadfast dedication to all public school children.

Chairman's Remarks

The Board approved appointing two members of the Charter School Advisory Committee to serve on the Leadership for Innovation Committee and disbanding the Charter School Advisory Committee.

The Board also approved extending the testing window for spring 2007 by up to seven school days to allow more flexibility for retesting under the Student Accountability Standards policy and the new High School Exit Standards. This flexibility also will help schools participating in a special study for online testing.

State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland provided the Legislative report. She said the high school reform retreat is April 19-20 and over 100 people have already registered. She also is going to the Education Committee of the States' meeting in Kansas on April 15-16, and will present on the Teacher Working Conditions Survey. In regard to technology/connectivity, it looks like we may be able to do some things. New technology plans are due August 2008 with School Improvement Plans and will include school connectivity information, which could be used to look at overall budget needs. The Department wants to work closely with LEAs to produce plans that are better coordinated with the state plan. The Leadership for Innovation Committee will take up this plan. Garland said that Speaker Joe Hackney would be pulling together a group of concerned legislators on the house side to talk about dropout prevention and graduation rates. Two public meetings will be held on what works. They would like to develop two to three pilot projects. The General Assembly would like the Board's position on the calendar bill. The Board remains concerned about synchronization of school calendars with university and community colleges calendars.

State Treasurer Richard Moore provided a presentation and handout on financial literacy. Last year with the NCDPI's assistance, the State Treasurer's office staff surveyed student knowledge on financial literacy. It is important in today's world for students to be financially literate.State

Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson highlighted a number of items in her monthly report including:

Professional Learning Communities - Stephen Greene gave an update on work being done to encourage professional learning communities. Melissa Thibault with LEARN NC discussed online professional development opportunities for 2006-07. She gave an overview of the type of professional development that is offered, how this has created a network of educators in conversation about global issues, including student achievement challenges.

Superintendent Atkinson provided Board members with an update on efforts to address a pandemic flu.

Shayne Goodrum, a consultant with NCDPI Consolidated Assistance, provided an update on high school turnaround activities. Goodrum said The Leadership Group for the Carolinas is currently doing baseline assessments of 54 high priority high schools. Department staff will use the information to develop improvement plans for these schools.

Ongoing Business

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton updated Board members on the Future-Ready Students Plan and Implementation. Divisions and areas have identified specific areas and targets to allow Board members to measure the Department's progress toward meeting its goals for future-ready students. The plan is in draft form and will be finalized in the next few weeks.