SBE HIGHLIGHTS

OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER. 1, 2007

Special Note:To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2007/11. 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

Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities (GCS 1) - Board members approved replacing the current "Procedures Governing Programs and Services for Children with Disabilities" with "Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities" to meet the requirements of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 and the accompanying regulations (34 CFR Part 300). A separate best-practices publication will be provided to local districts. The new policies will go into effect immediately except for the one relating to class size and that will take effect on July 1, 2008. The class size requirements delay provides school systems time to prepare for implementation of the changes noted in this section. This item has been before the Board for several months and has received thorough vetting through the public hearing process.

Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children (TCS 1) - Board members approved the appointment of two new members to fill current vacancies to the Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children: Jana Griggs, Exceptional Children Director for Buncombe County Schools, to a first, four-year term; and Dr. Cathy Kea, special education professor at NC A&T State University representing an Institution of Higher Education to complete the four-year term (June 30, 2010) vacated by Dr. Diane Browder. The Council advises the State Board of Education on unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities.

Action on First Reading

Changes to the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP Results (GCS 2) - The following changes to the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP results were approved.

2006-07 ABCs Status Change List:

Ray Childers Elementary (Burke County) from Progress; Expected Growth to No Recognition
Grover Elementary (Cleveland County) from Distinction; Expected Growth to No Recognition
East End Elementary (Martin County) from Priority; Expected Growth to Priority; High Growth
Topsail High (Pender County) from No Recognition to Progress; Expected Growth
Southmont Elementary (Randolph County) from No Recognition to Progress; Expected Growth
Fairmont Middle (Robeson County) from Low Performing to Priority; Expected Growth
Wake Early College of Health (Wake County) from Distinction; High Growth to Distinction; Expected Growth

2007-08 Title I School Improvement Change List:

Broadview Middle (Alamance-Burlington) from Title I School Improvement (TI SI) Year 1 Reading and Math to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
STARS Academy (Harnett County) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 2 Math
Gentry Primary (Harnett County) from TI SI Year 2 Math to TI SI Year 2 Reading and Year 3 Math
NB Mills Elementary (Iredell-Statesville) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 1 Math
Parkview Elementary (Mooresville Graded Schools) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 1 Reading and Math
Troy Elementary (Montgomery County) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 2 Math
D.C. Virgo Middle (New Hanover County) from in TI SI to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
Williston Middle (New Hanover County) from in TI SI to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
Ronald Grise Middle (New Hanover County) from in TI SI to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
Charles P. Murray Middle (New Hanover County) from in TI SI to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
Murrayville Elementary (New Hanover County) from in TI SI to removed due to not receiving TI funds in 2005-06
Central Elementary (Orange County) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 1 Math
Millbridge Elementary (Rowan-Salisbury) from TI SI Year 1 Reading to not in TI SI
Brogden Middle (Wayne County) from not in TI SI to TI SI Year 4 Math Year 1 Reading

2006-07 LEA Improvement Status Change List:

Wake County Public Schools from Year 2 Reading and Year 1 Math to Year 2 Reading

Report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the Implementation of the ABCs, November 2007 (GCS 3) - Board members approved the report on the continued Implementation of the ABCs plan for submittal to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. Information in the report includes an update of the 11th year of the ABCs results for schools, report on State Assistance Teams (composition, major activities and performance results of schools assigned teams), response to the Excellent Schools Act requirements, AYP results as required by NCLB, ABCs recognitions, and an update on the Accountability program. Changes to the 2006-07 ABCs/AYP results approved by Board members this month (GCS 2) will be reflected in the submitted report.

Recommended Final Academic Achievement Standards (Cut Scores) for the EOC Tests of Algebra I, Geometry and English I (GCS 4) - The interim academic achievement standards (cut scores) for the Algebra I, Geometry and English I end-of-course assessments that were approved by Board members last February for use in 2006-07 were approved for use as final cut scores beginning in 2007-08.

Approval of Grants (TCS 2) - Board members approved Mathematics and Science Partnership Grant funds for 2007-08 in the amount of $75,000 to implement NC STEM in Weldon City Schools. Education for Homeless Children and Youth Grant awards in the amount of $2,500 each were awarded to Buncombe County Schools, Chatham County Schools, and New Hanover County Schools for grant planning. Currently there are approximately 12,000 homeless students in North Carolina.

Discussion Agenda

National Board Certification Promissory Note for State Funding (TCS 3) - Board members discussed recommended changes to the National Board Certification Promissory note that teachers must complete prior to applying for state funding of the $2,500 assessment fee. The changes are to ensure that teachers are more aware of the promissory note they are signing. Additional tightening of the language is still needed before resubmitting to the Board next month as an action item. The new promissory note will be in place by March 1, 2008, for the new candidate cycle.

Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Program (TCS 4) - Board members received background information regarding the parameters used to determine which school systems would be eligible to participate in the Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars pilot program. Senate Bill 1030 was passed in the last session of the General Assembly as a means to strengthen middle grades education in order to provide students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with the core academic skills needed for postsecondary education and high-skilled employment and to reduce the high school dropout rate, increase high school and college graduation rates, and decrease the need for remediation in institutions of higher education. By looking at those school systems with more than a 5 percent dropout rate and less than a 95 percent attendance rate, the number of districts eligible to participate in ROPE was reduced to 44. Potential costs for this program also were discussed. These costs are estimated to be around $985,000 for an average-size middle school. Although there is no funding for this project, the State Board has been directed to develop a framework to pilot the Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Program. The framework, which is to be developed in cooperation with the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and the State Board of Community Colleges, is to be delivered to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by Dec. 15. The framework will help determine if this program should be funded and at what levels. Three LEAs (at least one will be rural and one will be urban) from different geographic areas of the state would be selected to participate in the pilot, which would begin in the 2009-2010 school year if funding is provided.

Revision of Licensure Policy to Facilitate the Licensing of Administrators and Instructional Support Personnel as Teachers (TCP 2) - Board members discussed a revision to the licensure policy that would allow individuals who hold a clear administrator, supervisor or student services license, but are not licensed in a teaching area, to be issued a lateral entry license in order to complete an approved program in the teaching area.

Revisions to the NC Teacher of the Year Policy (TCP 3) - Currently the North Carolina Teacher of the Year receives 12 months of employment and a three step, or 6 percent, pay increase while they serve as Teacher of the Year. Because many of the state's teachers of the year do not return to the classroom the following year due to other education career options, a revision to the teacher of the year policy to retain the salary increase and the option for 11 or 12 months of employment was proposed and discussed as an incentive to keep these teachers in the classroom. To facilitate the receipt and discussion of additional information, this item will continue as a discussion item next month.

Information Agenda

Report from the Center for School Leadership Development on Professional Development
Planned for the 2007-08 School Year (TCP 4) - Dr. Mike Williams with the Center for School Leadership Development presented to Board members the Center's plan for professional development activities, strategies and evaluation measures for the 2007-08 school year. The report is divided into three sections that correspond with the broad areas identified by the State Board. These areas are: areas needing continued/on-going professional development, areas needing specific support, and support for state initiatives. Each section then lists the specific State Board needs followed by a list of strategies and/or activities the Center for School Leadership Development will provide to meet the specific need. Evaluation components also are noted if required.

NC Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Director's Report (LFI 1) - North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) Interim Director Jim Barber updated Board members on recent NCVPS activities. NCVPS is in the middle of its fall semester. There are 4,400 students enrolled in courses offered by NCVPS and 1,400 students enrolled in courses offered by external providers. North Carolina is in the top five Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states in regard to virtual school student enrollment. Mid-term grades will be distributed to local schools on Nov. 2, and the spring course catalog will be available via the NCVPS Web site beginning Nov. 7. Course registration will open for a two-week window beginning Nov. 19. The payroll was recently run with no problems, and technical support for the program is being outsourced and is working very well. Staff members also are currently developing an extensive training program for local school distance learning advisors and working with Department staff to enhance its Web site to make it more user friendly.

Committees' New Business

Globally Competitive Students

Graduation Rate Issues Update - Committee members discussed other state's standard numbers of years established for calculating graduation rates. Forty-three states use four years or less as the standard but others include four years plus summer school, five years or less and six years or less as their standard. Committee members discussed what it would possibly take to include summer school graduates in North Carolina's standard number of years, the need to re-define "on time graduation" as schools work hard to graduate students (some in three years; others in five years through Learn and Earn programs), and how any changes may impact the state's participation in the National Governors' Association compact agreement. This item will be discussed further at the committee's December meeting. Members also discussed the National Governors' Association and U.S. Department of Education's position on the General Education Diploma, statistics on North Carolina's GED and Adult High School Diploma programs and the Learn and Earn program and its effect on Cohort Graduation Rate calculations.

Honors Credit Update - Board members received an update on the May 23, 2007, Community College transfer course list, which now includes physical education courses, three health courses and 12 pre-major/elective courses that are not included for honors course consideration in State Board Policy HSP-L-004. This policy, adopted by the Board in 2004, outlines honors credit for Community College courses. An Oct. 10 memorandum sent to local superintendents clarifies that honors credit for Community College courses will remain the same as outlined in existing State Board policy and will not include the additional courses listed in the May transfer course list.

Achieve Algebra II Pilot Update - Committee members discussed the use of the Achieve Algebra II end-of-course exam. Staff members feel that the first version of this exam is not as robust as the state's current end-of-course assessment for Algebra II; however, staff members are interested in exploring the possibility of using future versions of the exam. Staff will poll local districts to see if any would like to volunteer to have their students take this assessment this spring (would not replace state assessment). Data could then be used to determine if it offers a fair assessment of the state's Algebra II standards.

Mathematics Survey Update - At the Oct. 9 Superintendents' Quarterly meeting, superintendents were surveyed to determine how they felt about Integrated Mathematics I, II and III having their own end-of-course assessments. The current testing policy requires students to take the Algebra I, II and Geometry tests. Results of this survey were provided to Committee members. Also presented were possible testing models for Integrated Mathematics.

Business/Finance and Advocacy Committee Update

Discussion of Allotments Targeting At-Risk Students - NCDPI School Business Services Director Paul LeSieur provided committee members information on budget allotments targeting improving student accountability, disadvantaged students and at-risk student services/alternative schools. He noted the eligibility and purpose of the allotments, how the allotment formulas work, and appropriations and expenditures. He also provided FY 2007-08 allotments for each by district.

NC WISE Update - NCDPI Technology and Information Services Associate State Superintendent Peter Asmar provided Committee members with an update on NC WISE. Wave III implementation has begun with trainers conducting workshops in local districts. Production support continues to work well. Market assessment also has begun with staff looking three years down the road to determine which system module to use.

Communications Update - NCDPI Communications and Information Director Vanessa Jeter drew committee member's attention to the communications summary sheet for October. In particular, she noted the NC School Report Cards that were launched on Oct. 30, staff communications regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA (fact sheet in both English and Spanish sent to central offices and principals), and the distribution of all 2006-07 ABCs banners, plaques and certificates.

Budget Process for FY 2008-09 - NCDPI Financial Services Assistant Director Becky McConkey said Department staff members are beginning the 2008-09 budget process, which will need to be discussed by Board members in January and February for approval in March and submission to the State Budget Office. Agencies are in the first year of the 2007-09 biennial budget. Budget requests must be measurable and show relevancy to the Governor's agenda. In putting the budget together, Board members may want to consider items not funded in the previous budget cycle, and survey educators and education associations to identify their priorities. The State Budget Office is expected to provide budget instructions to agencies in December. Staff will begin working on the 2009-2011 biennial budget in July.

21st Century Professionals Committee Update

Update on the Development and Piloting of Teacher and School Executive Evaluation Instruments - Dr. Jean Williams, vice president for research and evaluation at McREL, presented an overview of the progress in developing and piloting new teacher and school executive evaluation instruments. The evaluation systems are designed as growth models to improve and enhance professional practice, to be flexible enough to be fair to teachers and school executives at various experience levels and in various school settings, and to be formative in nature based on a rating continuum from "developing" to "distinguished." Each evaluation system includes a rubric with performance indicators and a rating scale; multiple data sources, artifacts and evidence will be used in assessing performance; and the systems will be validated by McREL and approved by the State Board of Education. Both instruments have been developed, widely field-tested and prepared for pilot testing (to begin Nov. 1). The pilot test will end Dec. 14, and the final evaluation instrument will be presented to the SBE in March 2008 for implementation during 2008-09.

Leadership for Innovation Committee Update

Assistance Update - NCDPI Consolidated Assistance Director Pat Ashley provided an update on assistance efforts with the seven cohort groups of schools (four high school cohort groups, two middle school cohort groups and one elementary school cohort group). Each cohort group contains approximately 20 schools. Assistance efforts vary between cohorts based on where they are in the process. Also briefly mentioned was the Assistance Model Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool currently being piloted in two school systems: Anson County Schools and Columbus County Schools.

NC Virtual Public School Presentation on Active Online Courses - North Carolina Virtual Public School Chief Academic Officer Cheryl Keeton provided insight into active online courses, including the welcome page where daily postings from teachers to students are recorded, a sample of online courses and activities, and the grade book. There are 5,800 students enrolled in the NCVPS fall session. The Web site is available 24 hours a day/seven days a week. The program structure stays the same no matter what course(s) the student takes. There also are lots of evaluation and assessment opportunities with immediate feedback given to students. In addition, a virtual gallery to display student work is in the planning stages.

Update on Recent Judge Manning Hearing - Special Deputy Attorney General Tom Ziko provided a summary of the Sept. 26 Judge Manning hearing. Department staff provided Manning with a wealth of information primarily focused on the costs of supporting the various assistance cohorts. Staff testified to the use of the Personalized Education Plan in the elementary and middle schools and how it might be modified for use in high schools. A Pender County middle school principal testified as to what they were doing to improve student achievement: teach the Standard Course of Study and continuously assess student progress. Ziko said the Board has repeatedly emphasized these two methods as ways to improve student achievement and schools that have been successful at improving student achievement credit doing just that. Manning also received an update on staff assistance to the various cohorts. The hearing concluded with a presentation on the Teacher Working Condition survey and the need to address the disconnect between principals who believe they are involving teachers in decision making and teachers who feel this involvement is not happening.

Assistance Model Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool - NCDPI Associate State Superintendent for Innovation and School Transformation Robert Logan discussed the Assistance Model Comprehensive Needs Assessment Tool that is currently being piloted in two local school districts: Anson County and Columbus County. The Tool provides a framework for conducting a comprehensive needs assessment as a self-review or a supported review. School districts will be annually screened using both state and federal measures to determine if the district needs to conduct an assessment. NCDPI will facilitate support for the needs assessment process for those school districts identified as needing assistance. State education agency staff, along with local district staff, will comprise the assessment team. The assessment will address instructional excellence and alignment, leadership capacity, professional capacity, planning and operational effectiveness, and families and communities. This model also can be used to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment at the school level.

Special Recognition

Board members recognized Dr. A. Craig Phillips, North Carolina's longest serving State Superintendent (1969-1989). Phillips is particularly noted for assisting schools during desegregation, implementing a statewide full-day kindergarten program, and spearheading the Basic Education Program. During his remarks to the Board, Phillips encouraged Board members to "marry your mission and goals to the Basic Education Program" and to speak in "one collective voice in support of public education." Board members presented Phillips with a resolution honoring his outstanding service as State Superintendent.

Good News Presentation

Futures for Kids Executive Director Susan Milliken provided the Board with a progress report on Futures for Kids, an online career exploration tool. The program is currently being offered to middle and high school students in 22 counties. Participating in the program are over 500 career coaches who are providing mentoring services. The program helps students identify possible career choices and then notes courses they should take in high school to help them with this career field. Also speaking in support of the program were Glaxo SmithKline Vice President of Human Resources Steve Sons, Durham Public Schools Career Development Coordinator Starletta Williamson and eighth grade students Jasmine Boler and Tarryn Nunn, and Wakefield High School (Wake County) Career Development Coordinator Barbara Wiggins.

Chairman's Remarks

State Board Chairman Howard Lee noted that Board members and staff had recently received a number of awards. Board member Kathy Taft was honored by East Carolina University (ECU) as one of its "100 Incredible ECU Female Graduates" and for donating textbooks received from vendors to ECU's School of Education. State Board Chairman Howard Lee was inducted into ECU's Education Hall of Fame and NCDPI Agency Operations and Information Management Executive Director Priscilla Maynor was named UNC-Chapel Hill's 2007-09 Barbara L. Jackson Scholar.

The Board also approved two new staff appointments. Chris Minard was approved as the Board's new legislative liaison, effective immediately. Minard will represent the State Board and the NC Department of Public Instruction in the NC General Assembly. Dr. Bryan Setser was approved as the director of the North Carolina Virtual Public School. He will begin his new duties on Dec. 3.

State Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson announced that NCDPI Instructional Technology Director Frances Bradburn received ECU's Outstanding Alumna and Friends Award and NCDPI Accountability Services Director Lou Fabrizio was appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board. She congratulated State Board Chairman Howard Lee on his receipt of the National Association of State Boards of Education "Distinguished Service Award." She drew Board members' attention to scheduled activities associated with American Education Week (Nov. 11-17), Department graduation project efforts, recent activities of the State Superintendent, and upcoming events.

Special Recognition

State Board members recognized the Board's Principal Advisor and 2007 North Carolina Wachovia Principal of the Year Craig Hill, who is leaving the Board because he has accepted an assistant superintendent position with Wilson County Public Schools. Hill was presented with a certificate in honor of his service to the Board.

Board members also recognized outgoing 2006-07 Local Board of Education Advisor and 2006 Raleigh Dingman Award Recipient Carr Ipock for his dedication and service to the board in representing the views and interests of local boards of education. Members presented Ipock with a certificate in honor of his service to the Board.