SBE HIGHLIGHTS

JUNE 3-5, 2008

Special Note: To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2008/06. 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

• Discussion of HSP-M-001 Course for Credit Policy (GCS 1) - Revisions of HSP-M-001 Course for Credit Policy were approved. They include revisions addressing the requirements for an online course to qualify for credit, expectations for end-of-course test administration at the local level, and the requirement for course evaluation when a statewide assessment is not available.
  
  
• Standard Course of Study for English Language Development, K-12 (GCS 2) - Board members approved adopting the Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL)/World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Consortium Standards as the North Carolina English Language Development Standard Course of Study for students.
  
  
• School Executive: Principal Evaluation Policies (TCP 1) - Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, principals are to be evaluated annually using the North Carolina School Executive Evaluation Rubric. Policies related to the new evaluation instrument addressing training for school executives on the rubric and evaluation process, an orientation on the evaluation process, and a mid-year review were approved. The policy's reporting component was not approved but will be discussed further at the Board's August meeting.
  
  
• State Evaluation Committee Program Approval Recommendations (TCP 2) - Program approval recommendations presented by the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education were approved for Appalachian State University, Brevard College, Catawba College, Chowan University, Mars Hill College, Meredith College, Montreat College, North Carolina Wesleyan College, UNC-Pembroke, and Western Carolina University. In addition, Board members approved Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' alternative school executive licensure program "New Leaders for New Schools."

Action on First Reading

• Changes to NC's NCLB Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook (GCS 3) - This item was pulled from the agenda pending official response from the U.S. Department of Education.
  
  
• Approval of Grant (TCS 1) - NC Children's Trust Fund grants totaling $520,026 were approved for the following 14 initiatives: Teddi Bear Children's Advocacy Center, Child Advocacy & Parenting Place, Exchange Clubs Child Abuse Prevention Center, SAFEchild, Child Advocacy Center, Inc., Chatham County Health Department: Focus on Fathers, Cabarrus Health Alliance: Stepping Stones, Catawba Valley Healthy Families, Child Abuse Prevention Team: Our House, Family Place of Transylvania County, Mountain Youth Resources, Prevent Child Abuse NC: Training Initiative, Prevent Child Abuse NC: School Personnel Initiative, and NC Parents as Teachers Network. The NC Children's Trust Fund was established in 1983 by the North Carolina General Assembly to provide funds for programs and services to prevent child abuse and neglect. Grants are for the 2008-09 school year.
  
  
• Pre-Approval of Financial and Business Services' Policy Manuals (TCS 2) - Board members pre-approved issuance of the "Public School Personnel State Salary Schedules and Manual," "Allotment Policy Manual," and the "Benefits and Employment Policy Manual for Public School Employees." Pre-approval allows the Department to incorporate changes approved by legislative action that do not require State Board approval to change policy directives. It also allows the Department to distribute resources and disseminate documents to local districts and charter schools in a timely manner.
  
  
• Membership for the State Advisory Council on Indian Education (TCS 3) - This item was moved to action on first read. Diane Goins, Velina Ebert and Teresa Jones were appointed and Claire Morrow was reappointed to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education. The 15-member council advises the State Board of Education on ways to more effectively meet the educational needs of American Indian students. Council members serve two-year terms and represent 11 tribal organizations and tribes.
  
  
• Approval of Guilford County Schools' Alternative Licensure Program for Lateral Entry Teachers (TCP 4) - This item was moved to action on first read. Board members approved Guilford County Schools' alternative licensure program for lateral entry teachers. Guilford County's alternative licensure track offers lateral entry candidates the option of selecting a 19-month long, locally customized licensure and support program as an alternative to a university affiliated program or Regional Alternative Licensure Center program of study. The alternative program also has several unique aspects, including a more rigorous entry requirement, an alignment to North Carolina's new teaching standards, a process that affords customization while ensuring quality, and a rigorous program evaluation.

Discussion Agenda

• Graduation Project Policy Revision (GCS 4) - Board members discussed revisions to State Board Policy HSP-N-000 that included removing language specific to graduation requirements. Graduation requirements would be addressed in State Board Policy HSP-N-004. Removal of the graduation requirements would ensure that HSP-N-000 would focus only on student accountability standards at grades 3, 5, 8 and high school. The Board will address this topic again at its August meeting.
  
  
• Approval/Adoption of the Teacher Evaluation Instrument (TCP 5) - The new teacher evaluation instrument - developed, piloted and validated by McREL - was discussed by Board members. Under the evaluation rubric, teachers are to demonstrate leadership, establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students, know the content they teach, facilitate learning for their students, and reflect on their practice. If approved next month, the new instrument will be implemented in 13 local districts in the 2008-09 school year with half of the remaining districts implemented in the 2009-2010 school year and the remainder implemented in the 2010-11 school year.
  
  
• Licensing Physical Education and Health Teachers (TCP 6) - Board members discussed the addition of a license area in physical education and health. Currently, North Carolina issues discrete licenses in physical education and health. In many schools however, physical education teachers are assigned to teach health classes. If approved, standards for physical education and health teacher preparation programs would be developed, and colleges and universities would be encouraged to develop programs that address the new license area. Board members also discussed authorizing the Department's Licensure Section to issue individuals who hold licenses in physical education the new license in physical education and health upon the recommendation of the local district.

Issues Session

Two Million Minutes - Board members discussed the film documentary, "Two Million Minutes." The film follows three groups of students - a male and female student from China, India and the United States - from the time they leave eighth grade through high school graduation and how the way they spend that time or their "two million minutes" (in class, studying, playing sports, working, sleeping, etc.) will impact their economic futures. Board member discussion focused on the differences in academic preparation, internal/external motivators/drivers, and personal perspectives and reflections between students in North Carolina and the United States and students in China and India.

Information Agenda

• Annual Report: State Advisory Council on Indian Education (GCS 5) - NCDPI Agency Operations and Information Management Executive Director Priscilla Maynor and State Advisory Council on Indian Education Chair Dr. Louise Maynor presented to Board members the State Advisory Council on Indian Education's Annual Report, "Tribes, Communities and Schools: Fostering Student Success Through Partnerships." This year's report focused on gaining a better understanding of factors that contribute to improved engagement between schools, students, parents and communities including a look at the role of the state in facilitating improved communication and coordination with Title VII Indian education programs. The report also listed four recommendations that would address the readiness of American Indian students for life in the 21st century and beyond.
  
  
• 1:1 Laptop Initiative Update (LFI 1) -NCDPI LEA Council Director Rob Hines provided Board members with an update on the 1:1 Laptop Initiative. The 1:1 Laptop Initiative is a public-private partnership between the Golden Leaf Foundation, SAS Institute, New Schools Project, the Friday Institute and the NCDPI that provides 21st century resources to teachers and students at eight North Carolina high schools (Wilson County/Hunt High, and Davidson, Edgecombe, Macon, Nash-Rocky Mount, Rutherford, SandHoke, and Wayne Early College High Schools). The program's goals are to increase student engagement by introducing technology to support the educational approach selected by each school, to graduate students who are prepared for life in the 21st century, and to increase student achievement. Hines discussed the current status of laptop distribution, professional development, instructional and technical personnel, connectivity, classroom tools/instructional technology, evaluation, and next steps. Also discussed was professional development needs, allocations and allotments by school as of May 21, 2008, and lessons learned.

Good News

• State Board members recognized the 2008 Schools to Watch winners:
  • Kernersville Middle School, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Debbie Brooks, principal
  • Rogers-Herr Middle School, Durham Public Schools, Drew Sawyer, principal
  • West Pine Middle School, Moore County Schools, Herb Cameron, principal
  These schools were named Schools to Watch by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform because of their academic excellence, responsiveness to the needs and interests of young adolescents, and their commitment to helping all students achieve at high levels. In addition, each school has strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and a commitment to assessment and accountability in order to bring about continuous improvement. The Board presented each principal with a plaque and State Board coffee mug in recognition of their achievement
  
  
• 2006-07 Teacher of the Year Diana Beasley and 2006-07 North Central Region Teacher of the Year Bill Ferriter, reported on the 2006-07 Teacher of the Year team's educational trip to Denmark. Four members of the team were able to attend the trip: Diana Beasley, Bill Ferriter, Jay Strope and Debbie Stuckey. Beasley shared her experiences through pictures that focused on design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning. Ferriter discussed how he integrated his experiences into his classroom through a video travel blog and online pictures that students respond to either by audio or text messages. Next year, his classes will partner with a school in Denmark.
  
  
• Board members recognized outgoing State Board 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year Advisor Diana Beasley and outgoing State Board 2007-08 Principal Advisor Deshera Mack. Beasley will continue to serve on the Board's 21st Century Professional Committee. Mack was thanked for stepping in to serve as Board advisor when 2007-08 Wachovia Principal of the Year Craig Hill left his school to serve as associate superintendent for Wilson County Public Schools. Both were thanked for their dedication and service to the Board and were presented plaques in recognition of their invaluable contributions.

Chairman's Remarks

During the Chairman's remarks, Board members concluded their discussion of and approved the "Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability." State Board Vice Chair Wayne McDevitt reported that the Board office received over 200 emails regarding the framework, and that there was overwhelming support for the changes and the opportunity to comment on the document. In the report, there are a number of recommendations that will quickly take effect. These include:

1. Release one form of each test on an annual basis.
2. Enact a moratorium on the content standards revision/test development cycle.
3. Make results from new tests comparable to prior tests.
4. Move to a five-year graduation rate for Adequate Yearly Progress purposes.
5. Count retest scores in performance composites.
6. Eliminate the redundancy in end-of-course (EOC) and end-of-grade (EOG) testing by allowing EOC scores to count as EOG scores in middle grades.
7. Change the current approach to writing assessment.
8. Replace the current English I EOC with a high school English assessment given in grade 10.
9. Revamp the current Computer Skills Test to ensure it measures 21st century Information Communication Technology literacy.
10. Eliminate the misalignment of assessment for the integrated math courses.
11. Shorten the timeframe for reporting results after new tests are administered.

In addition, there are several other recommendations that will take effect at a later date or one to be determined. These include:

1. Overhaul the PreK-12 Standard Course of Study (SCOS) to focus on essential standards in order to narrow and deepen the state's curriculum.
2. Develop a next-generation assessment system, which includes formative, benchmark and summative assessments based on the new standards.
3. Allow LEAs to develop and pilot 21st century assessment models.
4. Create a comprehensive, customized professional development system to provide teachers and administrators with the skills and understandings needed to use data to inform instructional practice and make formative assessments a daily practice in the classroom.
5. Update the analysis of the technology infrastructure needed to support a 21st century curriculum and assessment system and to move additional testing to appropriate technology formats.
6. Examine the K-8 accountability model with a 21st century focus.
7. Develop a new high school accountability model that includes the high school graduation rate, participation in the high school Future-Ready Core, student performance in core subjects, and other measures of readiness for postsecondary education and skilled work.

Department staff will report to the Board in August with a plan for transitioning the writing program and then again in October with a detailed implementation plan - including timelines, resources needed, and involvement of stakeholders - for those recommendations taking effect beyond 2008-09. Chairman Lee emphasized that this decision was the first step of many steps to come.

State Board of Education Executive Director Rebecca Garland provided a brief report on legislative activity. She shared what is and is not in the House budget, which is expected to be passed by the House this week and go to the Senate the first part of next week. She also discussed bills of interest to Board members, and promised to send Board members what is finally passed by the House, including any amendments. She stated that money to support comprehensive support efforts is not in the budget, which is of major concern. She said that support efforts in the past have been funded through reversions but that with reversions you never know how much money will be available and that is a problem when you are in a three-year agreement with local school districts.

State Superintendent's Report

State Superintendent June Atkinson in her report introduced Duke Energy's Chief Information Officer and Chair of the North Carolina Commission on Workforce Development Chris Rolfe who discussed the Commission's recent enactment of a resolution for support of creating a "Valuing education initiative in North Carolina to raise statewide awareness that education is a critical factor for individual and economic prosperity." She then introduced Interim Chair for the Department of Technology Dr. Elmer Poe and Information and Computer Technology Program Coordinator and Associate Professor Dr. Phil Lunsford who discussed the articulation agreement formalized in April between East Carolina University's College of Technology and Computer Science and NCDPI's Career and Technical Education Division to accelerate the preparation of students entering the fields of engineering and technology. The primary goal of the partnership is to eliminate redundancy of instruction in engineering and technology areas. Atkinson reported that the state's 2007-08 writing scores were released that morning and that fourth, seventh and tenth grade scores are up over the previous year's scores. She concluded her presentation by noting the presentations she has made during the month of May and the events she has either attended or been a participant.

Deputy State Superintendent's Report

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton provided a presentation on the Department's Strategy and Performance Management Tool. He explained that the tool takes the Board's strategic priorities and translates them into core functions for the department's various divisions. The core functions clearly define what matters most in the agency. He also noted objective measures that will show whether the department is making progress toward meeting the Board's strategic priorities. This information will be posted online to provide transparency to local districts and the public schools community.