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. Public Schools of North Carolina . . State Board of Education . . Department Of Public Instruction .

SBE HIGHLIGHTS

MARCH 4-6, 2008

Special Note: To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2008/03. 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

  • Impact of Possible Revision of K-5 Standard Course of Study in Mathematics (GCS 1) - Board members approved moving forward with revising the K-5 mathematics curriculum. The 2003 revision incorporated initial steps toward power standards by increasing the rigor of the curriculum and reducing the number of objectives to be taught. This revision will continue that momentum and address the need to better integrate state standards with national and international mathematic standards. Revision of the 6-12 grades curriculum is on hold to allow for State Board review of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability.

  • Policy on Eligibility for State Teacher of the Year (TCP 1) - The Regional Teacher of the Year policy was revised to clarify information on the eligibility requirements for State Teacher of the Year.

  • 2008-09 Supplemental Budget Request (TCS 1) - Board members approved their 2008-09 Supplemental Budget request for submission to the Governor. The request totals $385,721,478 - meeting the State Budget Offices' 5 percent cap on expansion requests. The request is organized according to the State Board's five primary goals with an additional category for the NC Department of Public Instruction. Highlights include funds to enhance or extend More at Four, Learn and Earn Online, middle school literacy coaches and Learn and Earn; funds to provide one full-time mentor for every 15 newly hired teachers in their first three years of teaching; funds to cover the higher cost of operations for the new nutritional standards in the child nutrition program; funds for recruitment incentives for principals in hard-to-staff schools and to staff and provide comprehensive support for districts; funding for increased transportation fuel costs, connectivity funds, and technology to equip 21st century classrooms; and additional funds for children with disabilities and academically and intellectually gifted students.

Action on First Reading

  • Waiver to Allow Five Pilot School Systems to Replace Present Special Education Identification and Eligibility Procedures with the Responsiveness to Instruction Procedures (GCS 3) - This item was moved from discussion to action on first reading. Board members approved extending the wavier to allow all schools within the Bertie, Burke, Guilford, Harnett and New Hanover School Systems to use the Responsiveness to Instruction model. In 2005, ten schools within these five districts were allowed to pilot the Responsiveness to Instruction model to identify and determine eligibility, when appropriate, for students with disabilities in the four high-incidence areas of eligibility: Emotional Disability, Intellectual Disability, Other Health Impairment, and Specific Learning Disability. Based upon the evaluation of the Responsiveness to Instruction process in these five districts, NCDPI staff will be in a position to recommend changes in its Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities and advise school systems as to the most effective ways to evaluate and identify children with disabilities.

  • Adoption of a Praxis II Test for Licensure in Latin and Deletion of Expired Testing Requirements (TCP 3) - This item was moved to action on first reading. Board members approved adopting a Praxis II test and passing score as an option for individuals who hold a clear teaching license and are seeking to add Latin to their license, for teachers who are seeking to become highly qualified to teach Latin, and for lateral entry teachers of Latin. Prior to this decision, North Carolina did not have a test for individuals seeking licensure in Latin. The Board also approved the deletion of expired testing requirements.

  • Approval of Grants - NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology - IMPACT I Awards/NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology - IMPACT III Awards (TCS 2) -NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology - IMPACT I Model School Upgrade grants were approved for Perquimans Central (Perquimans County Schools), Wells Elementary (Wilson County Schools), Williford Elementary (Nash-Rocky-Mount Schools), and Westwood Elementary (Ashe County Schools). The grants, which are based on average daily membership, range from $163,700 to $250,000. NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology - IMPACT III grants were approved for schools in Asheville City Schools (Asheville High, Asheville Middle, Claxton Elementary, Hall Fletcher Elementary, Ira B. Jones Elementary, Isaac Dickson Elementary, School of Inquiry and Life Science, Vance Elementary), Pamlico County Schools (Fred A. Anderson Elementary, Pamlico Primary, Pamlico Middle, Pamlico High), and Scotland County Schools (South Scotland Elementary, Spring Hill Middle, I. Ellis Johnson Elementary, Sycamore Lane Middle, Washington Park Elementary). These grants also were based on average daily membership and range from $55,000 to $510,000. Both grants will be used to enhance student instruction and produce technologically literate students while having a significant impact on student achievement.

  • Program Approval Exemption Requests Under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act (LFI 1) - Board members approved the staff recommendations on exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act.

  • School-Based Calendar Waivers for Educational Purposes (LFI 2) - Alamance-Burlington Schools' Calendar Waiver request for H.M. Cummings High was denied. Calendar waiver requests for Eastlawn Elementary and Haw River Elementary were submitted, but no action was taken because waivers are not required in these two instances.

  • Recommendation for Revocation of Omuteko Gwamaziima Charter School (LFI 3) - This item was removed from action on first read due to recent receipt of a letter from the Omuteko Gwamaziima Charter School's Board stating that it was surrendering its charter.

  • Final Approval of New Charter Schools (LFI 4) - Endeavor Charter School (Wake County) and Triad Math and Science Charter School (Guilford County) were given final approval by the State Board of Education. These schools are completing their year of planning and will begin operation for students in the 2008-09 school year.

Discussion Agenda

  • 2008 Invitation to Submit Textbooks for Evaluation and Adoption in North Carolina (GCS 2) - Board members discussed the 2008 Invitation to Submit Textbooks for Evaluation and Adoption in North Carolina for the following curriculum areas: Mathematics K-5, Healthful Living K-12, Career Development 6-12, Health Occupation 6-12, and Trade and Industrial 9-12. The 2008 Invitation will be emailed to all publishers listed on the Publishers Registry and posted on the Department's Web site.

  • Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 Five-Year State Plan (GCS 5) - Acting as the State Board of Career-Technical Education, Board members continued their discussion of the draft Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 Five-Year State Plan (2008-2013). The state is currently operating under a transition plan approved by Board members in April 2007. The purpose of the Act is to develop more fully the academic and career and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary education students who elect to enroll in CTE programs. The plan focuses on rigorous academics related to career goals with technical skills to prepare students for high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand current and emerging occupations in the 21st century.

  • Changes to Policy Delineating the Components of the ABCs Accountability Program Including Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2007-08 School Year (GCS 6) - The following proposed changes to the policy delineating the components of the ABCs accountability program including Adequate Yearly Progress for the 2007-08 school year were discussed:
    • including the new reading end-of-grade (EOG) assessments in grades 3-8 in the performance composite only of the ABCs and not in the growth composite;
    • not using the new reading EOG assessments in grades 3-8 for sanctions for schools based on the AYP determinations of NCLB (pending US Dept. of Education approval);
    • not including science results in grades 5 and 8 in growth, performance composite or AYP calculations and not including Biology end-of-course (EOC) results in AYP calculations;
    • including new EOC assessment results in Algebra II, Biology, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Physics in the performance composite of the ABCs and not in the growth composite;
    • using the five-year cohort graduation rates for AYP calculations (pending US Dept. of Education approval) and continuing to report four-year cohort graduation rates; and
    • dropping the Competency Passing Rate from the ABCs due to the new high school exit standards.

  • Standards for School Executive Preparation Programs (TCP 2) - Proposed standards for the new school executive preparation programs were discussed. The standards reflect statutory requirements and recommendations from the State Board's Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership in the 21st Century. The standards outline what school executive preparation programs must provide in order to be approved by the State Board of Education. One change that has been incorporated at the request of principals is the use of the term "principals" rather than "school executive."

  • Addition of Elementary Level (Grades K-6) Licensure Areas in Reading, English-as-a-Second Language, and Special Education: Cross-Categorical (TCP 4) - A proposal to add elementary (K-6) level licenses in Reading, in English as a Second Language, and in Special Education: Cross-Categorical was discussed. Currently North Carolina's licenses in these areas are K-12. The proposed change would facilitate the licensing of teachers from other states.

  • Revision of SBE Policy EEO-U-006, Policy for Charter Schools on Financial and Governance Non-Compliance (LFI 5) - Proposed revisions to the State Board's Policy EEO-U-006, Policy for Charter Schools on Financial and Governance Non-Compliance, was discussed. The revisions reflect relevant changes in the teacher certification area, delete references to the charter school advisory committee, and identify the number of calendar days a charter school will remain in cautionary or probationary status during which they must correct the exception that caused the warning(s).

Information Agenda

  • NCLB Enhancing Education Through Technology - IMPACT Evaluation Report (LFI 6) - The NCDPI, in partnership with the Technology in Learning unit of SERVE Center at UNC-Greensboro and The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NCSU, conducted the Looking at North Carolina Education Technology project in order to study the implementation of the state's education technology IMPACT Model and communicate the effect on schools, teaching practices and student achievement. NCDPI Instructional Technology Interim Lead Wynn Smith and Jason Osborne, senior research fellow for Evaluation at the William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, discussed the project's outcomes as they related to schools, teachers, administrators and students, and noted several recommendations as a result of the three-year evaluation of the project. In general, student performance and teacher retention were improved for participants in the IMPACT model as compared to matched schools that were not participating in IMPACT.

  • Performance Audit of Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted Program (GCS 6) - NCDPI Academically Gifted consultant Elissa Brown highlighted the NC State Auditor's performance audit of the state's Academically/Intellectually Gifted (AIG) program and the Department's response to the report's findings. The audit was initiated by the State Auditor's office in response to parent concerns that AIG program funds were being used for other purposes while AIG students are left under-served. In its response, NCDPI reiterated its commitment to ensuring that AIG students' needs are met and will explore a number of initiatives to address the monitoring, oversight and guidance of the services provided by districts to AIG students.

  • Selection of LEAs to Implement the New Teacher Evaluation Instrument in 2008-09 (TCP 5) - NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission Executive Director Carolyn McKinney discussed the process that will be used to select the school systems (a total of between 15 and18 systems) that will implement the new teacher evaluation system for Phase I based on the new standards adopted by the Board. A letter of invitation to participate in Phase I was sent to superintendents on Feb. 22 with responses due back by March 20. Participating districts will be selected by March 31. A cadre of 60 professionals will receive training in late July/early August and will then provide the district-level training for participating districts in August. An additional 50 districts will receive training in 2008-09 to implement the instrument in the 2009-2010 school year with the remaining districts receiving training in 2009-2010 to implement the instrument in the 2010-2011 school year.

Committees' New Business

Globally Competitive Students

  • Additional Discussion of Dropout, Suspension and Expulsion and Data Reports, 2006-07 - Additional information regarding the 2006-07 Dropout, Suspension and Expulsion Data Reports was brought to the committee. This included school districts that had the most favorable results among the three reports and programs the districts had implemented to positively impact the dropout, suspension and expulsion rates. It also included those districts that had the least favorable results among the three reports and what initiatives those districts have in place to address the dropout, suspension and expulsion rates. Committee members discussed the possibility of establishing a small working committee that would look at state and local board policies/practices to make sure they are not encouraging students to drop out of school (seat time, grading policies, etc.).

Healthy Responsible Students

  • NC Prevention Partners - Zone Health Project - NC Prevention Partners' Executive Director Meg Molloy discussed the Zone Health School Obesity Prevention Program and how it strongly links to the mission and goals of the State Board. She noted that the program was piloted in 2003-2006 in nine North Carolina public schools as a way to improve student fitness measures. All participating schools were offered support to implement the Winner's Circle Healthy Eating Program, provided with FitnessGram software and toolkits that include no-cost educational resources, and assistance in establishing school-wide Zone Health teams. The program is currently operating in 25 public schools and staff are partnering with state leadership at DPI and the State Board to identify opportunities to strengthen capacity to understand and address the school's role in obesity prevention.

  • Discussion of Future-Ready Core Opt-Out - Approximately 8 percent of students may be eligible to opt-out of the Future-Ready Core curriculum, which goes into effect for the first time with students entering ninth grade in the fall of 2009. Committee members discussed the need to ensure that the math courses students opting out must take to earn a high school diploma were as rigorous as those in the Future-Ready Core. This will be a discussion item at next month's Board meeting.

  • Non-reporting LEAs on the Healthy Active Children Policy - Four school systems have still not submitted their Healthy Active Children Policies: Hyde County Schools, Lee County Schools, Rutherford County Schools and Stanly County Schools. All have committed to getting this to the Board as quickly as possible. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is analyzing the Healthy Active Children data and the results will be shared with Board members in May. The report will provide insight on the trend data for including 30 minutes of physical activity per day for grades K-8, and recommendations on how to move forward with a new reporting process.

  • Update of HSP-M-001 Course for Credit (GCS 4) - This item was moved from discussion to new business. The recommended revision of HSP-M-001 would remove references to seat time for online courses, and clarify the expectations for end-of-course test administration at the local level and the requirement for course evaluation when a statewide assessment is not available.

Business/Finance and Advocacy Committee

  • Update on the 2008 Intern Program - Duke University is assisting with two projects at this time: More at Four and why there is a slippage in student performance after the initial bump, and Level IV students' performance and why it slips in the middle school grades. The NCDPI has a very solid intern applicant pool. The deadline to apply for an internship is March 15. Board members are encouraged to submit research ideas to staff.

Leadership for Innovation Committee

  • NC Virtual Public School Director’s Report - NCVPS Director Bryan Setser discussed NCVPS activities since the February Board meeting. Setser said NCVPS staff would soon be out of the Friday Institute building and that half the staff would be housed at the NCDPI’s Education Building and the other half on NC State’s Centennial Campus. He also reported on the 2007 K-12 study report, balanced scorecard highlights, the NCVPS/Learn and Earn Online strategic plan, their new Web site, update on the nine pilots, and state communication and professional learning communities.

  • Learning Labs Initiatives - New Schools Project Co-Director John Parker provided an update on the Learning Laboratories Initiative. Four high schools will be selected to become model sites to provide educators opportunities to see first-hand what it takes to graduate all students ready for college, careers and life. Two of the Learning Labs will be redesigned traditional comprehensive high schools and the other two will be Learn and Earn early college high schools. Within two years, the four Learning Labs will be prepared to host visiting teachers and principals for "residencies" over several days, allowing them to observe and explore instructional practices and policies used in the model schools. A panel of national high school reform experts assembled by the UNC-General Administration and the New Schools Project will review self-assessment narratives prepared by interested schools and make recommendations for finalist sites. The Advisory Committee for Demonstration School Site Selection will visit all finalist schools and make recommendations for the four Learning Lab Schools. The sites will be selected by fall 2008.

Special Presentation

U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings on Wednesday morning met with Board members for conversation about No Child Left Behind and other priorities. In the absence of reauthorization of the law, Spellings has been visiting with state education leaders and asking them what needs to be done to make NCLB work as well as possible. In her remarks, Secretary Spellings noted that there is more to praise about North Carolina public schools than to criticize, and she highlighted North Carolina as a pioneer in school accountability. She noted that NCLB - "whether you love it or hate it - had been a 'game-changer' in education" and had caused everyone to look more closely at the performance of all students. In her recent visits to a number of states around the country, Secretary Spellings said that educators encouraged her and the U.S. Department of Education to look at using a growth model for measuring school accomplishment, provide more nuance in the accountability system to move away from the "all or nothing" nature of Adequate Yearly Progress, to put more emphasis at the middle and high school grade levels, to find ways to give incentives for the most skilled teachers to work in the most difficult assignments, and to provide needed resources to carry out these suggestions.


Special Recognition

State Board members recognized Cisco Fellows Ed Carney, Ray Holland and Don Smith for their assistance with the school connectivity project. They each received State Board of Education coffee mugs and a plaque. Cisco Systems Inc. also was presented with a plaque for its support of this project and its continuing support of North Carolina public schools. Cisco Systems Inc. Community Relations Leader Kirsten Weeks accepted the plaque on behalf of the company.

Board members approved a resolution on Partnering with NC Prevention Partners on Issues of Wellness and Physical Activity for All Children. NC Prevention Partners is one of the state's leading nonprofit prevention and health organizations focusing on reducing obesity and chronic disease. A copy of the signed resolution and a State Board of Education coffee mug were presented to Dr. Meg Malloy with NC Prevention Partners.


Chairman's Remarks

State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee noted several upcoming events in his remarks including the Wachovia Principal of the Year presentation on April 3 and the Teacher of the Year banquet on April 29. State Board Vice Chairman Wayne McDevitt noted that a working group of the Board met to consider the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability including the status of each recommendation and possible consequences if implemented. The group will meet again in the near future.

State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland provided a brief report on legislative activity and noted that staff members have been extremely busy responding to requests from the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. This committee will meet again next week and discuss Exceptional Children laws and procedures, child nutrition, and the state of K-12 education. Staff also are looking at reports required by the General Assembly to see if any can be removed or combined. She mentioned that the annual High School Reform meeting sponsored by the New Schools Project, the North Carolina Business Committee for Education, and others is taking place in Pinehurst April 10-11. The legislative Committee on Dropout Prevention is continuing its work and also will be meeting next week.


State Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson highlighted recent activities of the NC High School Athletic Association as they prepare for realignment of conferences; a 30-minute documentary entitled "InsideOut," which features the consequences of not graduating from high school; upcoming conferences; and presentations she gave, schools she visited and events she participated in during February.


New Business

The N.C. Rural Economic Center Development Board is very interested in getting involved in the dropout issue. State Board Vice Chairman Wayne McDevitt, who serves on their Board, encouraged the members to work with the State Board as they plan for their May meeting and the discussion of this issue.


Deputy State Superintendent's Report

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton reported to the Board on the Department's partnership with WestEd and other states to develop an enhanced assessment grant proposal to develop and implement simulation-based science assessments for use at the classroom, district and state levels; the New York Leadership Academy trip and how this organization is turning out 21st century principals and helping current principals better their game; an update on the Department's Data Management Infrastructure project; and the Department's progress toward defining its core functions within the agency.

 

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