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

SBE HIGHLIGHTS

SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2008

Special Note: To review background materials on each item, please go to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2008/09. 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

  • Update Policy on Interscholastic Athletics (HRS 1) - The Board approved revising the age limit rules for athletics participation to align with the kindergarten entrance date (moving in 2009 from Oct. 15 to Aug. 31), the eligibility rule for non-traditional school schedules and the definition of a school year.

  • Rubric for Preservice School Executive: Principal Programs (TCP 1) - Board members approved the proposed rubric to evaluate preservice school executives and school executive preparation programs. The assessment instrument aligns with the new evaluation instrument for school executives. The "re-visioned" school executive programs are expected to be operational no later than fall 2010.

  • Licensing Physical Education and Health Teachers (TCP 2) - The addition of a license area in physical education and health and the authorization of the NCDPI Licensure Section to issue the new license to physical education teachers who meet the requirements were approved.

  • Teacher Evaluation Policies (TCP 3) - Board members approved polices related to the new teacher evaluation instrument approved by members in June. Policies include requiring teachers to be evaluated annually using the new instrument, completing state-approved training on the new instrument and reporting summative ratings on the new instrument.

  • Charter School Mission Statement Changes (LFI 1) - Board members approved requests from Evergreen Community Charter, Forsyth Academy, Guilford Preparatory Academy, Raleigh Charter High and Vance Charter to change their mission statements. Forsyth Academy's revised mission was not approved because the revision would significantly shift the educational focus of the school under which the charter was approved.

  • Phoenix Academy Name Change Request (LFI 2) - Board members did not approve a request from Phoenix Academy to change its name to The International School of the Piedmont at Phoenix Academy because it changes the curriculum and initial mission of the school under which the charter was approved.

  • Revision of the Policy Regarding the State Advisory Council on Indian Education and Indian Education Programs (LFI 3) - Revisions to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education and Indian Education programs' policy to reflect membership and responsibilities of the Council and the role of the NCDPI in supporting local school districts and Title VII Indian education programs was approved.

Action on First Reading

  • More at Four Pre-Kindergarten Curricula Recommendations (GCS 1) - Board members approved the following curricula for statewide use in More at Four classrooms: "The Creative Curriculum for Preschool" (fourth edition, 2002); "Educating Young Children: Active Learning Practices for Preschool and Child Care Programs" (second edition 2002); "Empowered Child" (copyright 2005); "Explorations with Young Children: A Curriculum Guide from the Bank Street College" (copyright 1992); "LifeSmart" (copyright 2005); "Opening the World of Learning" (copyright 2005); and "Passports" (copyright 2007). This list becomes effective in the 2009-10 school year.

  • State Graduation Requirements Revision of HSP-N-004 (GCS 2) - Revisions WERE APPROVED to clarify the policy on State Graduation Requirements to address course and credit requirements for students entering ninth grade for the first time in 2009-10 and beyond and for students who entered ninth grade for the first time prior to 2009-10. Revisions primarily addressed consistency in word usage.

  • Changes Regarding Eligibility Criteria for Accommodations and Alternate Assessments Designated for Students Identified as Limited English Proficient (GCS 3) - Revisions to policies HSP-C-021 and HSP-A-011 to reflect limited English proficiency participation in the state' testing and accountability programs for 2008-09 and beyond were approved. The changes include the new criteria for receiving testing accommodations, participation in the state-designated alternate assessment, and changes in other areas for consistency with state and federal policies and practices.

  • Renaming the Hearing Impaired Teacher Licensure Area (TCP 1) - Board members approved renaming the Hearing Impaired licensure area to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing licensure area to reflect current and preferred terminology.

  • Rubric for Preservice Teachers and the Teacher Education Program Approval Process (TCP 2) - The proposed rubric to evaluate preservice teachers and teacher education programs was approved. The assessment instrument aligns with the new evaluation instrument for teachers approved by the Board in June. The re-visioned teacher education programs are expected to be operational no later than fall 2010.

Action on First Reading

  • Changes to the 2007-08 ABCs/AYP Results (GCS 4) - The following changes to the 2007-08 ABCs/AYP results were approved.
    ABCs Status Changes:
    • Whiteville Primary went from No Feeder to Expected Growth
    • Thomasville Primary went from No Feeder to Expected Growth
    • S.W. Edgecombe High went from Expected Growth to High Growth
    • West Oxford Elementary went from No Feeder to Expected Growth
    • Park View Elementary went from No Feeder to High Growth
    • South Elementary went from No Feeder to High Growth
    • Highlands School went from No Recognition to Expected Growth
    • East McDowell Jr. High went from No Recognition to Expected Growth
    • West McDowell Jr. High went from No Recognition to Expected Growth
    • Greenlee Primary went from No Feeder to Expected Growth
    • The SCORE Center went from Expected Growth to High Growth
    • East Laurinburg went from Unresolved to 95R
    • I. E. Johnson Elementary went from Unresolved to High Growth
    • Scotland High School of Health Sciences went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Scotland High School of Engineering went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Scotland High School of Visual & Performing Arts went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Scotland High School of Business Finance & Marketing went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Scotland High School of Leadership & Public Service went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Scotland High School of Math, Science & Technology went from Unresolved to Did Not Make Growth
    • Clover Garden went from Expected Growth to High Growth
    • Highland Charter went from No Feeder to High Growth
    • Pine Lake Preparatory went from No Feeder to High Growth
    • Lincoln Charter went from No Recognition to Expected Growth
    • Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy went from No Recognition to Expected Growth

    AYP Status Changes:
    • Whiteville Primary went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • Thomasville Primary went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • West Oxford Elementary went from No Feeder to Met
    • Park View Elementary went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • South Elementary went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • Greenlee Primary went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • East Laurinburg went from Under Review to Not Met
    • I. E. Johnson Elementary went from Under Review to Met
    • Scotland High School of Health Sciences went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Scotland High School of Engineering went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Scotland High School of Visual & Performing Arts went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Scotland High School of Business Finance & Marketing went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Scotland High School of Leadership & Public Service went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Scotland High School of Math, Science & Technology went from Under Review to Not Met
    • Highland Charter went from No Feeder to Not Met
    • Pine Lake Preparatory went from No Feeder to Not Met

  • Update on Framework for Change' Writing Assessment - Pilot LEAs (GCS 5) - Board members approved the following districts for the seventh grade writing pilot: Alamance-Burlington, Caldwell, Camden, Carteret, Craven, Davie, Durham, Edenton/Chowan, Haywood, Hoke, Iredell-Statesville, Jones, Madison, Moore, Stanly, Watauga and Magellan Charter School (Wake County). Six districts currently on SIMS expressed interest in participating and may participate in the pilot program in the spring if they are fully transitioned to NC WISE: Charlotte/Mecklenburg, Hertford, Lincoln, Onslow, Warren and Weldon City. The criteria used to identify participating districts included: currently in NCWISE, regional accountability area representation (6), size (small, medium and large), capacity/technology support staff, past performance on previous writing assessments and student demographics.

  • Approval of Supplemental Educational Services Providers for 2008-09 (GCS 6) - After reconsideration, the following Supplemental Educational Services Providers were approved for the 2008-09 school year: ATS Project Success, BrainWorks Learning Center, Burke County Before & After School Programs, Cool Kids Learn Inc., RICCE Inc., Sylvan Learning Center of Shelby and Denver, and TCAL: The Center for Accelerated Learning.

  • Approval of Grants (TCS 1) - Planning grants for Learn and Earn Early College High Schools totaling $429,000 were approved for 12 school districts and their partnering institutions of higher education. LEAs requesting planning grants are Weldon City Schools, Mitchell and Avery County Public Schools, Person County Schools, Wilkes County Schools, Franklin County Schools, Henderson County Schools, Granville County Schools, Craven County Schools, Stokes County Schools, Wilson County Schools and Wake County Schools. These planning sites will submit an implementation proposal in January 2009 for State Board approval to open a Learn and Earn early college high school in the fall of 2009. Federal grants totaling almost $7.2 million were approved to fund existing 21st Century Community Learning Center grantees, new grantees and expansion grantees for 2008-09. Fifty-six total requests for proposals were received - 27 of which were expansion and 29 of which were new.

  • LEA-Wide Calendar Waiver Requests (TCS 2) - LEA-wide calendar waiver requests were approved for the following schools districts for the 2009-2010 school year: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey Counties. The waivers were approved because these districts met the criteria of missing eight or more days of school in four of the last 10 years due to weather-related reasons.

  • Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children (TCS 5) - This item was moved to action on first read. Board members approved the reappointment of Teresa Mebane (Region 2) to a second, four-year term, and the appointment of Nicole Jimerson to a first term on the Council on Educational Services for Exceptional Children. Four additional vacancies have occurred since these names were brought before the Board. Staff will bring recommendations for Board discussion in October. Two of these appointments will be a parent of a child with a disability, one will represent charter schools and one will represent a general education administrator.

  • IHE Performance Report (TCP 5) - The 2007-08 Institutes for Higher Education (IHE) Performance Report was approved. The report will be forwarded to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.

  • Schools at Risk of Being Labeled A Persistently Dangerous School (HRS 1) - This item was moved to Action on First Read. Because the conditions that would identify Catawba Valley High School (Hickory City Schools) and Conway Middle School (Northampton County Schools) as Persistently Dangerous Schools are not likely to continue in the 2008-09 school year, Board members approved not labeling them as such. The schools have been placed on probationary status and will be provided technical assistance, including school safety training, on-site visits and review of the school' disciplinary data during the 2008-09 school year to assure the conditions do not reappear.

Discussion Agenda

  • Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities (GCS 7) - Board members discussed proposed amendments to the "Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities." The amendments, which are based on recent legislation, are currently undergoing a 60-day public comment period. A hearing to receive public comment on the proposed amendments has been scheduled for Sept. 17 in Room 150 of the Education Building.

  • High School Exit Documents (GCS 8) - Board members discussed a proposed policy that gives direction to local school districts regarding the awarding of certificates to students who do not meet the requirements for a high school diploma. The Graduation Certificate is primarily given to students who are severely and profoundly disabled and have Individualized Education Programs. The Certificate of Achievement is given to students who have not completed all the requirements for graduation (e.g. may not have passed required end-of-course tests or completed their graduation project). These certificates allow students to participate in graduation exercises.

  • Update Policy on Interscholastic Athletics (HRS 2) - A proposal to revise the rule for athletic age cut off to align with the kindergarten entrance date (Oct. 15 to Aug. 31) was discussed. Other proposed revisions address the eligibility rule for non-traditional school schedules and the definition of a school year.

  • Revision of Policy Regarding the State Advisory Council on Indian Education and Indian Education Programs (TCS 4) - Board members discussed revisions to the State Advisory Council on Indian Education and Indian Education programs' policy to reflect membership and responsibilities of the Council and the role of the NCDPI in supporting local school districts and Title VII Indian education programs. This item was referred to the Leadership for Innovation Committee for continued discussion in October.

  • Teacher Evaluation Policies (TCP 6) - Polices related to the new teacher evaluation instrument approved by Board members in June were discussed. Discussion focused on requiring teachers to be evaluated annually using the new instrument, completing state-approved training on the new instrument and reporting summative ratings on the new instrument.

  • Rubric for Preservice School Executive: Principal Programs (TCP 7) - The proposed rubric to evaluate preservice school executives and school executive preparation programs was discussed. The assessment instrument aligns with the new evaluation instrument for school executives. The re-visioned school executive programs are expected to be operational no later than fall 2010.

  • Proposed Revisions to the Non-Teaching Work Experience and Graduate Pay Policies (TCP 8) - Board members discussed proposed changes to the non-teaching work experience and graduate pay policies. The proposed revisions would allow one year of experience credit to be awarded for every year of full-time non-teaching work experience, up to 10 years, for work requiring a bachelor' degree or equivalent completed after the bachelor' degree was awarded. The proposed revisions also would recognize all graduate degrees earned through regionally accredited institutions. No revisions are proposed to the manner in which non-teaching work experience credit is awarded for teacher assistants or for Class V Career and Technical Trade and Industry licensed areas.

  • Licensing Physical Education and Health Teachers (TCP 9) - The addition of a license area in physical education and health and authorizing the NCDPI Licensure Section to issue the new license to physical education teachers who meet the requirements was discussed. 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 will be developed, and colleges and universities will be encouraged to develop programs that address the new license area as they re-vision their preparation programs.

  • Mission Statement Changes (LFI 1) - Board members discussed requests from the following charter schools to change their mission statements: Evergreen Community Charter, Forsyth Academy, Guilford Preparatory Academy, Raleigh Charter High and Vance Charter. NCDPI' Office of Charter Schools recommended accepting all revisions except for Forsyth Academy. Forsyth Academy' revised mission is not recommended for approval because the revision would significantly shift the educational focus of the school under which the charter was approved.

  • Phoenix Academy Name Change Request (LFI 2) - A request from Phoenix Academy to change its name to The International School of the Piedmont at Phoenix Academy was discussed. NCDPI' Office of Charter Schools recommended not approving the name change because it changes the curriculum and initial mission of the school under which the charter was approved.

  • High School Workforce Development Program (Learn and Earn Early College High School Initiative (LFI 3) - An update on the Learn and Earn Early College High School (ECHS) initiative (formerly the High School Workforce Development Program) was discussed. The initiative is designed to improve high schools, to better prepare students for college and careers, to create a seamless curriculum between high school and college and to provide work-based learning experiences to students. These programs are located on the campuses of two- or four-year colleges and universities. The program' goal is to ensure that all students graduate with a high school diploma and two years of university transfer credit or an associate' degree. Demographic data, funding and additional support information was provided to Board members for the 42 Learn and Earn ECHS that opened in 2007-08. School-level student achievement data is not yet available. A follow-up report addressing student achievement data will be submitted in January. Fourteen additional Learn and Earn ECHS will open in 2008-09.

Issues Session

The Message: Graduate - Dr. Shelley Stewart presented his video, "InsideOut," which focuses on death row inmates and the message they would send so that others will not follow in their footsteps: Get Your Education! All of the inmates Stewart spoke with had similar responses when asked what would have prevented them from going to prison and they were: "If I had just learned to read," or "If I had just gotten an education." Following the conclusion of the video, State Board Chairman Howard Lee said that both he and the Board would do everything they could to extend his message and get the word out to all North Carolina public school students. Stewart concluded his presentation by saying that they had remade a school bus so that the first half of the bus is designed as a public school classroom and the outside is painted and lettered as a public school bus. The back of the bus is designed as a jail cell and painted and lettered as belonging to the Department of Corrections. The bus is called the "Choice Bus," and they hope to visit every state in the country and talk to as many public school children and public school advocates as possible.

Information Agenda

  • WIDA Presentation Regarding New English Language Development Standards and Assessments (GCS 9) - Benefits of being a member of the World Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) consortium for the state' teachers and students was presented. Board members adopted the WIDA English language development standards at its June meeting and, as a result, North Carolina became a member of the WIDA Consortium effective with the 2008-09 school year.

  • Update: American Diploma Project Algebra II Exam (GCS 10) - Board members received an update on the American Diploma Project (ADP) Algebra II exam and North Carolina' performance. Twelve states participated in the spring 2008 administration of this assessment. The use of the ADP Algebra II end-of-course exam will eventually improve curriculum and instruction, help colleges determine if students are ready to do credit-bearing work and enable participating states to compare student performance. The Board' Globally Competitive Students Committee will consider whether North Carolina should have a representative sample for the fall 2008 and/or spring 2009 administrations and whether an online or paper/pencil assessment should be used.

Chairman' Remarks

State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee focused his remarks on the possibility of the Board' November and December meeting dates changing to allow for a Board delegation to go to China and participate in two simultaneously occurring education conferences. Board members Wayne McDevitt, Tricia Willoughby and Melissa Bartlett are expected to attend the education conferences as well as meet with educators at schools in the Jiangsu Province that are or will be partnering with North Carolina public schools. They also will be clarifying some points under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Board members in April. The conferences and meetings will be held Nov. 1-8. Chairman Lee recognized State Board of Education Assistant Executive Director Betsy West who noted recent activities of Board staff and highlighted dates of interest to Board members: Oct. 9 - Graduation by Design Conference and Oct. 16-18 - National Association of State Boards of Education Fall Conference. Chairman Lee will announce any rescheduling of the November and December Board meetings at a later date. West also noted that in March the Board would host the Joint Governing Boards meeting. State Board of Education Legislative Liaison Chris Minard noted in her update that the North Carolina General Assembly Dropout Prevention Committee was holding its first meeting today in Raleigh and would be discussing the process to award from the $15 million budgeted for dropout prevention grants, $5.5 million for new grant proposals. Eight technical assistance meetings will be held across the state - one in each Board member' region. Legislative committees are beginning to meet in preparation of the long session of the General Assembly. The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee will hold its first meeting on Oct. 14-15.


State Superintendent' Remarks

State Superintendent June Atkinson in her report to the Board provided a summary of the Graduation Awareness Week recognition luncheon and press conference held on Monday, which included the signing of a Call to Action and a student pledge to stay in school and graduate, and recognition of top school districts and schools for their graduation rates. She also highlighted North Carolina' recent performance on the SAT and Advanced Placement tests, the NCDPI Employee Recognition event award winners who were recognized at the Department' annual meeting, a conference call held with superintendents with turnaround schools to discuss progress made last year and to review expectations for 2008-09, the new superintendents' orientation and presentations she made during the past month.


Deputy State Superintendent' Report

Deputy State Superintendent J.B. Buxton focused his remarks on the Department' efforts regarding comprehensive support. All of the District Transformation Coaches' positions have been filled and staff members are working in the Bertie, Columbus, Halifax, Hertford, Lexington City and Richmond school districts. The Department also is hosting regional roundtables on a monthly basis to coordinate efforts. Approximately 30 local districts have submitted schools or school programs to highlight on "Innovation Day" which is being held in conjunction with American Education Week, Nov. 16-22. Board members may want to encourage those districts in their regions that have not submitted a school for recognition to do so. He concluded by saying that on Sept. 29 the Department would be hosting an invitation only roundtable discussion to look at future directions in pre-kindergarten education in North Carolina.


New Business

Board members approved the re-election of Howard Lee and Wayne McDevitt as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the State Board of Education respectively.

 

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