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

SBE HIGHLIGHTS

September. 2-3, 2009

Special Note:To review background materials on each item, please go to www.ncpublicschools.org/stateboard/meetings/2009/09. 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

  • High School Courses Taken in the Middle School: Considerations for English I (GCS 1) - This item was moved to the Board's October action agenda to allow for language changes.

  • K-12 Mathematics, English 10, Occupational Course of Study and K-12 Information and Technology Essential Standards (GCS 2) - Essential standards for K-12 Mathematics, English 10, Occupational Course of Study and K-12 Information and Technology were approved. The essential standards for these subject areas are the result of analysis of current research, national and international standards, as well as business and labor market standards. The standards will take effect in the 2011-12 school year.

  • Changes to Policy Delineating the Components of the ABCs Accountability Program for the 2009-10 School Year (GCS 7) - This item was moved to action on first reading. Board members approved changes to the policy delineating the components of the ABCs accountability program for the 2009-10 school year. Legislation requires removal from the state's testing program the Competency Tests in Reading and Mathematics, end-of-course tests in Chemistry and Physics and the Computer Skills Tests. Chemistry, Physics and Computer Skills also will be removed from ABCs performance composite calculations. In response to the U.S. Department of Education, the NCCLAS alternate assessments are removed from the state's 2009-10 testing program. This action also removes NCCLAS alternate assessments from the ABCs performance composite calculations and AYP results. Also eliminated is the High School Comprehensive Test of Mathematics.

  • Approval of Grants (TCS 1) - Thirty 21st Century Community Learning Centers were approved to receive grant funds totaling $7.1 million. Grants totaling $13.1 million were approved for 31 schools so that they can continue their IMPACT model. The grant monies are provided through No Child Left Behind's Enhancing Education through Technology (EETT) grant. Additional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act EETT funds will be allocated to North Carolina this year and will be used to enable IMPACT II and IMPACT IV schools to participate in the NC 1:1 Learning Technology Initiative as well as become pilot sites for ACRE initiatives.

  • Schools At-Risk of being Labeled Persistently Dangerous (HRS 1) - Longview School (Wake County Public Schools) and Metro School (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools) were placed on probationary status and will be monitored and receive appropriate support during the 2009-10 school year.

  • Addition of Elementary (K-6) Content Area Concentrations as License Areas (TCP 1) - This item was moved to the Board's October action agenda to allow for more research.

Board members also approved:

  • One hundred fifty-five providers for Supplemental Educational Services for 2009-10. (GCS 3)

  • Changes and clarifications to State Board Policy GCS-A-012 concerning Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives for NCLB Title III. These revisions were needed as a result of a new English language proficiency test during the 2008-09 school year. Approval of this item enables schools to meet the federal timeline of notifying parents of eligibility for services to LEP students. (GCS 8)

  • The recommendations of the National Board Certification Appeals Panel regarding requests for waiver of the repayment obligation of the National Board Certification participation fee. (TCS 2)

  • The appointment of Reginald Mathis (representing District 2) to a three-year term on the Governor's School Board of Governors. (TCS 3)

  • Modifying the Educational Value Added Assessment System (EVAAS) Teacher Module policy to allow for the data to be used as part of summative teacher evaluations. (TCS 4)

  • A qualifying score of 163 (formerly 155) for the revised School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA). The revised SLLA (core content remains the same but structure and formatting were updated) is now being given, as the current test is no longer available. (TCP 2)

  • Clarification of the effective date of the adjusted Praxis II score (from 158 to 152) for Physical Education to May 6, 2009, as opposed to July 1, 2008. Applicants scoring a minimum of 152 will be deemed to have successfully completed the requirement regardless of when they took the test. (TCP 3)

Discussion Agenda

  • Supplemental Educational Services (SES) Evaluation Policy (GCS 4) - Board members continued their discussion of a proposed policy that the NCDPI staff would use to monitor the quality and effectiveness of services offered by approved Supplemental Educational Services providers. SES providers offer additional academic assistance to eligible students outside the regular school day to increase their academic achievement. The policy also outlines procedures for withdrawing approval from providers that fail, for two consecutive years, to increase the academic proficiency of the students they serve. Recommended providers meet the minimal requirements as outlined by federal law.

  • Honors Course Policy Revisions (GCS 5) - Recommended changes to current policy outlining standards for Honors courses were discussed. The recommended changes would add NC Virtual Public School courses and online courses that are in accordance with the North Carolina Honors Course Implementation Guide, arts education courses that are in the third or fourth year course component of a numerical sequence and Project Lead the Way courses approved for college credit. Other recommendations include establishing a NCDPI Internal Honors Committee to work in tandem with an outside Honors Course Review Committee, LEA adoption of a formalized Honors Course approval process, a scheduled review process, and professional support.

  • Annual Report on the Reasons Teachers Leave (Teacher Turnover Report) TCP 7 - This annual report explores the numbers of teachers leaving the profession, and the reasons they give for doing so. The 2008-09 state turnover rate was 8.86 percent. The 115 districts reported that 12,595 of the 98,985 teachers employed during the 2008-09 school year left their systems for a system-level turnover rate of 12.72 percent. This represents a decrease in the turnover rate (13.85 percent) reported for 2007-08. Of the reasons given for leaving, resignation to teach elsewhere remained first with 21.81 percent, followed by retired (16.03 percent) resignation due to family relocation (11.73 percent) and other reasons or reasons unknown (11.60 percent).

Board members also discussed:

  • An implementation plan to support local districts in the implementation of the Healthy Youth Act of 2009 to ensure that local school districts, schools and health educators are appropriately prepared to deliver reproductive health and safety education in grades 7-9 as mandated through this Act. An integral part of this plan is the creation of a collaborative group of statewide partners and stakeholders who will advise and work in partnership with the Department's Healthy Schools Section in preparation for its implementation in the 2010-11 school year. (GCS 6)

  • Proposed standards for the evaluation of school psychologists that are aligned with the new teacher standards. Representatives from school districts, institutions of higher education, professional organizations and NCDPI staff developed the School Psychologist job description. Additional feedback was received from distribution of the proposed job description at meetings, emails, a Zoomerang survey and posting on the Web. When approved, the new standards will be the basis for a new evaluation instrument for school psychologists. (TCP 6)

Information Agenda

  • Data from Turnaround Schools (LFI 1) - Of the 103 schools in turnaround in the 2008-09 school year, 87 improved their performance composites, with 29 schools improving their scores by more than 10 points. Thirty-four schools (30 high schools and four middle schools) achieved performance composites above 60 percent, which enables them to move into self-directed Turnaround status. Eleven high schools improved their graduation rate over three years by at least 10 percentage points; and the following seven high schools increased their graduation rate over three years by at least 15 percentage points: North Brunswick High (Brunswick County Schools) 18.4, Hoke County High (Hoke County Schools) 20.5, Pasquotank County High (Pasquotank County Schools) 18.6, Pine Forest High (Cumberland County Schools) 15.5, Lexington Senior High (Lexington City Schools) 16.7, Northwest Halifax High (Halifax County Schools) 15.8, and Weldon High (Weldon County Schools) 15.

    Staff will now dissolve the existing cohorts and revise the turnaround assistance plan based on schools' 2008-09 performance. If a school exceeds a 70 percent performance composite, the school will be placed in self-directed turnaround and monitored at the end of the school year to ensure students are maintaining their progress. If a school has a performance composite between 60-70 percent, it will be placed in self-directed turnaround and monitored mid-way through the school year and at the end of the school year to ensure academic progress is continuing. If a school has a performance composite between 50-60 percent, the school will continue to receive turnaround assistance, a framework for action, a leadership facilitator and instructional coaches that will go to the school on a routine basis. The smaller group of schools with performance composites below 50 percent will receive intensive, customized assistance, a framework for action, a leadership facilitator and instructional coaches. If these schools do not make progress, a comprehensive needs assessment will be conducted.

  • Plan for Statewide Assistance for Schools (LFI 2) - Using a formula that incorporates ABCs status, No Child Left Behind status, court requirements, the Governor's priorities, and a district's capacity to provide resources, the NCDPI's Academic Services and Instruction Support area will compile a list of priority schools needing assistance. Schools and service to be provided will be identified through a roundtable approach: an internal strategic roundtable will identify schools/districts that need immediate assistance, agency roundtables comprised of directors within the academic services area will assist in identifying support for these schools/districts, and regional roundtables will work with districts to determine what resources are needed and develop a regional comprehensive list to customize services. Considerations that will be taken into account include whether the district is rural or urban, duration of low-performing status and prior assistance. Names of schools in the various assistance categories will be provided to Board members at their October meeting.

Special Recognition

State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison recognized new State Board of Education Superintendent Advisor Jack Hoke (Alexander County Schools) and the new Principal Advisor Vann Pennell (2010 Wachovia North Carolina Principal of the Year, South Brunswick High School, Brunswick County Schools).


Chairman's Remarks

State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison summarized the Board's planning session in his remarks. Harrison said Gov. Perdue spoke via phone with Board members and expressed her concern regarding low-performing schools and the need to improve their performances. Board members identified the following key initiatives that they will focus on in the coming year: ACRE (Accountability and Curriculum Reform Effort), CEDARS (Common Education Data Analysis and Reporting System), Low-Performing Schools, Race to the Top, Graduation Task Force, Use of Time, Innovation and Performance Navigator. As part of the Innovation initiative, an ad hoc committee, to be co-chaired by Harrison and State Board member Melissa Bartlett, will be created to address charter school issues including the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Charter Schools. As part of the Graduation Task Force, a committee will be formed in the spring that will focus on the state's graduation rate and how the Department can support local districts. State Superintendent June Atkinson will chair this committee. Harrison also said the Board will be adopting a new committee structure that will enable all Board members to participate in committee meetings. The Globally Competitive Students and Healthy Responsible Students Committees will be combined, as will the Business/Finance and Advocacy and Leadership for Innovation Committees. The 21st Century Systems committee will meet separately. Starting in October, Board meetings will begin with updates on ACRE. Updates on CEDARS and the Performance Navigator also will be provided but on an alternating schedule.

 

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