TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2006
TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2006JANUARY 26, 2006
Developing standardized assessments involves many steps to ensure that the assessments measure the appropriate material, that test questions are fair and accurate and that the tests' standards are set appropriately. This careful and necessary process of assessment development is why there is a delay in students' receiving results from the end-of-course test in Civics and Economics for students taking this assessment at the end of the first semester (under block scheduling). Those of you who teach at the high school level are familiar with this difficulty this year. The assessment development process also will mean a delay in receiving mathematics end-of-grade scores for the 2005-06 school year. The mathematics assessments are new this year to reflect changes in the mathematics curriculum. While these delays are frustrating and require flexibility on everyone's part, they are necessary in order to assure that North Carolina's assessments align with curriculum changes. I appreciate your patience in this area.
Regards,
June Atkinson
The State Board of Education will meet next Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 1-2, in the Education Building, Raleigh. Agenda items include the continuation of last month's Issues Session on reading and literacy programs and issues in North Carolina public schools. The Board also is expected to take action on options for growth models for determining AYP and calendar exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act. In addition, Board members will discuss middle and high school mathematics recommendations and its 2006-07 supplemental budget request. The complete agenda is available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings/index.html by clicking on the appropriate link. As a reminder, the monthly State Board of Education meetings are audio streamed. To listen, please go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings/ and scroll to the Live Audio Stream links.
SBE Ad Hoc Rigor, Relevance and Relationships Committee Meeting Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting, the R3 committee received and approved recommendations from Department of Public Instruction (DPI) high school and middle school math consultants. Department staff members were instructed to prepare the recommendations for inclusion in the February State Board meeting materials. Consultant presentations included recommendations to clarify and provide guidance regarding the awarding of units of credit for specified math courses in high school and guidance for middle school students selected to take Algebra I. DPI staff also presented a recommended timeline for implementing the default Standard Course of Study. This item will be added to the SBE February agenda as an information item. A concerned parent attended the meeting and shared thoughts with the committee on the current math requirements for the university/college preparatory course of study students. Committee Chair Kathy Taft reassured the parent that the R3 committee will be making a series of policy recommendations to the State Board as its work proceeds and that concerns expressed at the R3 meeting will likely become part of future discussions of the R3 committee.
2006 American Stars of Teaching
The U.S. Department of Education is honoring outstanding classroom teachers through its American Stars of Teaching program. The Department's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is seeking nominations and information about teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies in the classroom, and making a difference in the lives of their students. Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored this fall as 2006 American Stars of Teaching. Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators and others can nominate an exemplary teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching. One teacher will be recognized from each state. To learn more, or to nominate a teacher to become an American Star of Teaching, please visit the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative Web site at http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/index.html. All nominations must be received by April 15.