SBE HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY 8-10, 2008

Special Note: To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2008/01. 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

• Achieve Algebra II Assessment (GCS 1) - Board members approved the timeline for piloting the Achieve Algebra II Assessment and incentives to offer school districts that participate. The testing window is May 1-June 13. Benefits to participating schools include comparative data to nine other participating states and limited diagnostic information that could be used to determine the success of students in higher-level mathematics courses. This assessment would not replace the Algebra II end-of-course assessment students are required to take.
  
  
• Reaching One's Potential for Excellence (ROPE) Scholars Program (TCS 1) - Board members approved a revision to the licensure policy that allows 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.
  
  
• Joint Technology Commission Report (TCS 2) - The Joint Technology Commission Report was approved as submitted. The report identifies a number of recommendations focused in the areas of workforce preparedness, educational technology readiness and policy. The report includes best practices for using technology to enhance teaching and learning in North Carolina's public schools. Report revisions reflect changes made by the 2007 session of the General Assembly and for continued implementation.
  
  
• Appointment of Individuals to the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education (TCS 3) - Board members approved reappointing Queens University of Charlotte Assistant Professor Dr. Patrice Petroff, Newton-Conover City Schools' Superintendent Dr. Barry Redmond and former Pender County Schools' Assistant Superintendent Dr. Audrey Toney, and appointing West Montgomery High School teacher Roy Beaman, McDowell High School teacher Tom Turner, and Pfeiffer University School of Education Dean Dr. Joyce Edwards to the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education. Dr. Redmond also was reappointed chairman.
  
  
• Program Approval Recommendations from the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education (TCP 1) - Program approval recommendations for East Carolina University, Elon University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, Saint Andrews Presbyterian College, Saint Augustine's College, and Winston-Salem State University were approved.
  
  
• Proposed Revision of the Teacher Education Program Approval Process (TCP 2) - Proposed revisions of the Teacher Education Program Approval Process were approved. The revisions create an annual review cycle that is aligned with the evaluation instruments being developed for teachers and school executives. The revisions also eliminate some of the barriers to teacher recruitment and preparation, and incorporate 21st century skills and assessments into the programs.
  
  
• Annual Report on the Reasons Teachers Leave the Profession (TCP 3) - The Annual Report on the Reasons Teachers Leave the Profession was approved. The report notes that the aggregated system-level turnover rate for 2006-07 was 12.31 percent - a slight decrease from the 12.58 percent reported for 2005-06. "Resigned to teach elsewhere" (22.20 percent) remains the number one reason why teachers left, with retirement (16.48 percent) and resignation due to family relocation (13.35 percent) coming in at second and third. For future reports, department staff were directed to develop a different way of reporting data so that it more accurately reflects what is reported by teachers upon departure.
  
  
• Request to Establish an Additional Regional Alternative Licensure Center (TCP 4) - Board members approved establishing a fourth Regional Alternative Licensure Center due to the volume of teachers currently being served by the centers. The centers work with state-approved teacher education programs and local district personnel to provide assistance to lateral entry and provisionally licensed teachers. The center's location will be based on which region demonstrates the greatest need based on volume of alternative licensees. State Board member Shirley Harris noted that resources to fund the center would be available July 1.
  
  
• Policy on Financial Incentives for the State and Regional Teachers of the Year (TCP 5) - Board members approved retaining the three-step or 6 percent salary increase Teachers of the Year receive and the option for 11 or 12 months of employment as incentives for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year to return to the classroom.
  
  
• Enrollment Increase Requests Above 10% and Charter School Grade Changes (LFI 1) - Enrollment increase requests above 10 percent and charter school grade changes were approved with changes made by the State Board for Gaston College Preparatory, Pine Lake Preparatory, Kennedy Charter and Sallie B. Howard.
  
  
• Renewal Recommendations for Charter Schools with Charters Expiring June 2008 (LFI 2) - Board members approved charter school renewal recommendations for Brevard Academy, Cape Lookout Marine Science High, East Wake Academy, Franklin Academy, Kestrel Heights School, Lake Norman Charter School, Lincoln Charter School, The Hawbridge School (formerly New Century Charter), River Mill Academy, Tiller School and The Woods Charter School. The charters for these schools expire June 2008. The renewal recommendation for Cape Lookout was changed from three years to two years; and additional information was requested for Dillard and Kennedy Charter.

Action on First Reading

• Changes to the 2006-07 Accountability Status Report (GCS 2) - The following changes to the 2007-08 Non-Title I School Improvement List Changes were approved:
  • Perquimans County High (Perquimans County Schools) from Non-Title I School Improvement (SI) - YR1 Reading to not in Non-TI SI
  • Charles H Tuttle Elementary (Catawba County Schools) from Non-Title I SI - YR 1 Math to not in Non-TI SI
  • Hawkeye Elementary (Hoke County Schools) from Non-Title I SI - YR 1 Both to Title I School
  • Conover Special Education (Newton-Conover Schools) from Non-Title I SI - YR 1 Reading to not in Non-TI SI
    
    
  The following change to the 2007-08 Title I School Improvement List was approved:
  • South Hoke Elementary (Hoke County Schools) from Non-Title I SI - YR 1 Both to Name Change to Hawkeye Elementary
    
    
• Recommended Interim Achievement Level Descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 Occupational Course of Study (OCS) English I and Mathematics (GCS 3) - Board members approved recommended interim achievement level descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 OCS English I and Mathematics. The descriptors went into effect with the 2006-07 school year and will remain in effect until the final descriptors are adopted.
  
  
• Recommended Final Academic Achievement Standards (Cut Scores) for NCCLAS EOC Assessments of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and English I, and Achievement Level Descriptors for NCCLAS EOC Algebra I, Geometry and English I (GCS 3) - The recommended final academic achievement standards (cut scores) for NCCLAS EOC Assessments of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and English I, and Achievement Level Descriptors for NCCLAS EOC Algebra I, Geometry and English I were approved. The recommended final standards and descriptors are effective with the 2007-08 school year.
  
  
• Recommended Final Achievement Level Descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 EOG
  Writing Grades 4 and 7 (GCS 5) - Board members approved recommended final Achievement Level Descriptors for the NCEXTEND2 EOG Writing Grades 4 and 7. The final descriptors are effective with the 2007-08 school year.
  
  
• New Members for the BETA (TCS 4) - Board members reappointed Stanly Community College President Michael Taylor, Alphanumeric President Darleen Johns, Cleveland County Commissioner Mary Accor, Catawba County Commissioner Glenn Barger and Kim Graham from Greer & Walker, and appointed Rutherford County Schools' Chief Technology Officer Bennie Hendrix and SAS Education Practice General Manager Kathy Lee to the Business Education Technology Alliance. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue also serves on this committee.
  
  
• Individual Class Size Waiver Requests (TCS 5) - Class size waiver requests submitted by Clinton City Schools and Wake County Schools were approved. Wake County Schools, however, is to provide a detailed report to the Board by Feb. 11 that includes a description of how the school district notified parents of children in classes that exceed the class size limit, why they denied parent requests for transfer, action they will take during 2007-08 to mitigate the impact of class size overages on students' educational opportunities, and a detailed corrective action plan that describes how the school system will reduce class sizes in 2008-09 to eliminate overages. In approving Wake's waiver requests, Board members noted the extenuating circumstances of a court challenge and mid-summer decision regarding student assignment to year-round schools as factors in their decision.
  
  
• Approval of Charter School Technology Plans (LFI 3) - Technology plans for Queen's Grant Community and PreEminent Charter were approved. Board approval qualifies these charter schools for the School Technology Trust Fund, No Child Left Behind, and federal eRate monies, as well as for a variety of private technology grants.
  
  
• Evaluation of Learn and Earn Early College High Schools (LFI 4) - Board members approved receipt of the report on the Evaluation of the Learn and Earn Early College High Schools. The report provides data on the schools' progress over the 2006-07 school year. Much of the evaluation data for these schools, such as graduation rates and higher education persistence rates, will not be available until the schools have operated for several years. Currently, 42 Learn and Earn Early College High Schools are open to students.
  
  
• Evaluation of Small Structured High Schools (Redesigned or Conversion High Schools) (LFI 5) - Board members approved receipt of the report on the Evaluation of Small Structured High Schools. The North Carolina New Schools Project is monitoring and evaluating each school's progress in implementing its plan for redesign, as well as progress in meeting the needs of each student. The report provides data on the schools' progress over the 2006-07 school year and plans include tracking graduation rates and higher education persistence rates as these become available. Currently 34 redesigned or conversion schools are open for students.

Discussion Agenda

• Revision of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Mathematics K-12 (GCS 6) - Although discussed in the Board's Globally Competitive Students Committee meeting, Board members pulled this item from full board discussion in light of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability's Report presented Wednesday morning at the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee meeting.
  
  
• High School Courses Taken in the Middle School - Considerations Beyond Mathematics and Second Language (GCS 7) - Board members discussed expanding existing Board policy to give students credit for taking high school-level science courses at the middle school level. Currently three sciences courses are required for graduation and many students do not have room in their high school schedules to pursue more science. By allowing students to take high school science courses and receive credit at the middle school level, educators hope more students will take additional rigorous high school science courses and, in particular, chemistry, physics and other advanced science courses. Concerns were raised regarding compacting science curriculum to allow students the opportunity to take high school science courses (do not want to drop a strand in the process), the availability of these courses to all students, how compacting earlier science coursework may affect quality lab experiences, and how all of this may affect required science assessment under NAEP. Those students taking high school science courses in middle school would be strongly encouraged to take the minimum three science courses at the high school level.
  
  
• Educational Value Added Assessment System (EVAAS) Teacher Module (TCS 6) - Additional policy revisions relating to teacher privacy, access to reports, report applicability and viability of reports were discussed. Department staff recommended that the Board adopt the policy revisions prior to releasing data to NC WISE schools. Appropriate professional development also was recommended to ensure that EVAAS was used correctly. School administrators can use EVAAS to design and implement professional development programs that address the unique needs of their teachers based on their students' performance.
  
  
• 2008-09 Supplemental Budget Request (TCS 7) - Board members continued their discussion of potential budget items for their 2008-09 Supplemental Budget request. Members requested that at their February meeting staff present those items that were requested in the budget last year and those items recommended in Board studies and commission reports. Staff members also were asked to prioritize the new items being requested. Supplemental budget requests for 2008-09 must be finalized and submitted to the Governor in March. The Board will continue this discussion in February and take action at its March meeting.
  
  
• Report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Development for School Leaders (TCP 7) - Board members discussed the Report from the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Development for School Leaders. The report included a number of recommendations that focused in the areas of delivery system(s); content; connection between license renewal and professional development; succession planning, career advancement and professional development; accountability; and resources and coordination.
  
  
• Clarification of the Lateral Entry Licensure Policy (TCP 8) - Board members discussed a proposed revision to the Lateral Entry Licensure policy that would enable individuals who do not fulfill the requirements of their lateral entry license within the three years provided to be issued another lateral entry license as long as they had passed the required Praxis II exam(s) for the license area. The Board asked staff to clarify the wording of this item.
  
  
• Policy on Eligibility for State Teacher of the Year (TCP 9) - The Regional Teacher of the Year policy is being revised to clarify information on the eligibility requirements for State Teacher of the Year.
  
  

Information Agenda

• More at Four Progress Report to the North Carolina General Assembly (GCS 8) - North Carolina Office of School Readiness Executive Director John Pruette provided Board members with a progress report on More at Four, the state-funded pre-kindergarten program that prepares at-risk 4 year-olds for success in school. As of Dec. 16, 2007, More at Four has served 25,445 children in fiscal year 2007-08. (The latest numbers will be included in the report submitted to the General Assembly.) The program is available in all 100 counties. The report examined children's developmental growth over time from the beginning of the More at Four pre-k program through the end of kindergarten for two cohorts of children (2003-04 and 2005-06). The results indicated that children exhibited substantial developmental growth through this time period across all skill areas - language/literacy, math, general cognitive knowledge and social skills. The North Carolina Office of School Readiness provides extensive, ongoing professional development and technical assistance for local More at Four programs to promote ongoing quality improvement.
  
  
• Comprehensive Support Pilot Program Update (LFI 6) - NCDPI Innovation and School Transformation Associate State Superintendent Robert Logan provided Board members with an update on the Comprehensive Support Pilot Program, currently being piloted in Columbus County and Lexington City Schools. He discussed the program's framework including screening, needs assessment, support and monitoring, and collaboration between the districts and NCDPI.
  
  

Committees' New Business

Globally Competitive Students

• Pre-K Age of Eligibility - North Carolina Office of School Readiness Executive Director John Pruette stated that as a result of the General Assembly moving the eligibility date of students enrolling in kindergarten to Aug. 31 as of the 2009-10 school year, it also is necessary to adjust the pre-kindergarten age of eligibility to 4 years of age on or before Aug. 31, effective with the 2008-09 school year, one year prior to the kindergarten age eligibility requirement. This change is expected to result in a smaller cohort of age-eligible children for the More at Four program in 2008-09. In addition, Title I preschool programs also would need to move their age of eligibility accordingly. Potential future effects related to the kindergarten age of eligibility adjustment in 2009-10 include a reduction in the kindergarten cohort by 11-14 percent resulting in a significant loss of ADM and related teaching positions at the kindergarten level, and an expansion of the Exceptional Children Preschool program by an estimated 1,200 children per year.

Healthy Responsible Students

• SBE Physical Activity Policy Implementation Update - NCDPI Physical Education & Athletics/Sports Medicine Consultant Kymm Ballard reported that the following five school systems still have not submitted their Healthy Active Children Policy report: Hyde, Lee, Perquimans, Rutherford and Stanly. The report was due July 15, 2007. State Superintendent Atkinson will contact the superintendents of these districts.
  
  
• Child Nutrition Emerging Issues - NCDPI Child Nutrition Services Section Chief Lynn Hoggard outlined six emerging issues that are threatening the viability of the state's child nutrition program if they continue unchecked:
  1. The pressure to be financially self-supporting is in direct conflict with the legislative and public mandate to provide more nutritious school meals for students. Currently costs are outstripping revenue.
  2. The requirement to be revenue producing in order to cover indirect costs for the school districts.
  3. The epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity is prompting child nutrition programs to provide more healthful meal and snack options to students.
  4. The sale and availability of competitive foods and beverages undermine the Child Nutrition Program's financial, nutritional and operational integrity. Unrealistic meal times (average 17 minutes) encourage consumption of foods and beverages from vending machines.
  5. Congressional Reauthorization of Child Nutrition Programs mandated oversight of these programs in three areas: increased student access, increased nutritional integrity and increased accountability for child nutrition funds.
  6. The pool of qualified Child Nutrition Administrators is shrinking as they leave for other opportunities.
  North Carolina has the eighth largest child nutrition program. Nearly half of all students qualify for free or reduced price meals. Over 400,000 children live in households where the school lunch is the only meal that they are certain to receive each day. The average cost for a school lunch is $1.75 but the average cost to produce a healthy school lunch is $2.80. Hoggard will report back to the committee on potential policy changes that could address some of these issues. The Department also has requested $20 million to meet these needs in the 2008-09 supplemental budget request.

21st Century Professionals Committee Update

• New Evaluation Instrument(s) Deployment Plan - Dr. Steve Greene, senior professional development coordinator, shared a preliminary plan for how the new evaluation instrument for school executives will be rolled out statewide. Dr. Greene has been talking with representative stakeholders about needed training. A more detailed plan will be brought back to the TCP Committee at the February meeting.
  
  
• Non-Teaching Work Experience Credit - When a person enters the teaching profession from another career background, a determination is made by the local school district regarding the person's proper placement on the salary schedule and how much credit he or she should receive for non-teaching experience. Since the policy was approved describing this process, there have been a number of appeals heard by a special appeals panel. In response to these appeals, it seems to be a good time to reconsider this issue. The 21st Century Professionals committee will do so in future months.

Leadership for Innovation Committee

• NC Virtual Public School Director's Report - NCVPS Director Bryan Setser reported that the NCVPS strategic plan now aligns with the State Board's strategic plan for 21st century schools. The plan has five 21st century goals and 15 objectives focused on data from the Friday Institute Study, NCVPS Advisory Board, the North American Council for Online Learning, the Southern Regional Education Board, and feedback from the local school districts. The staff at NCVPS has been reorganized to support nine communications and professional learning regions. Nine pilots will be carried out this spring to deploy and refine the NCVPS strategic plan in focused partnerships with districts so that results and best practices can be shared statewide. Interested applicants must apply on the NCVPS Web site
  (www.ncvps.org) by Feb. 4. Setser also noted potential policy changes the Board may want to consider:
  • 21st century coach for each district
  • 21 percent of textbook allocation for 21st century goals
  • Online course graduation requirement
  • By 2010 NCVPS would be 21st century credit recovery model
  • Modular and/or full course virtual graduation project (embedded)
  • Online teacher licensure
  • Leadership requirements for virtual learning in the LEA

Chairman's Remarks

State Board of Education Vice Chairman Wayne McDevitt presided on behalf of Board Chairman Howard Lee, who was in Charlotte presenting at Leadership North Carolina's State of the State Forum. McDevitt provided several announcements:

• The Joint Education Governing Boards will meet Feb. 6 in Chapel Hill at the Friday Center, which is the same day the Board will hold its next monthly meeting. The Board schedule will be adjusted to allow Board members to attend both events.
• State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland said that both Board and Department staff recently had made presentations to members of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. The Committee was particularly interested in the core curriculum and the importance of increasing rigor in the mathematics requirement, as well as the opt-out option for students who cannot meet these requirements. Committee members also asked several questions regarding the graduation project and expressed concern over how the Department will support schools in graduation project implementation.
• Garland provided a progress report on staff involvement with the General Assembly's Dropout Prevention Grant Committee and noted that the process for awarding the grants had been a very thorough one, requiring considerable effort and expense for technical assistance workshops, compiling grant applications, training readers, and compiling grant scores for submission to Committee members who will be deciding grant recipients.

State Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson highlighted in her report districts, educators and Department staff who had received various awards; upcoming events including the North Carolina High School Network Conference and the NCPAPA Assistant Principals' Retreat. She provided a summary of her recent activities including groups she had addressed, special events and school visits. She also mentioned that on Friday she would be traveling to Singapore with a delegation from the Center for International Understanding to study mathematics and science education.

Deputy State Superintendent's Report

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton reported to the Board that work continues on the agency reorganization and on aligning agency work with metrics that link to the State Board's mission and goals.