In explaining the new process, Dr. Alexa Pochowski, assistant commissioner for learning services, used this formula: Q + P = A. Quality assurances + Performance criteria = Accreditation.

The new system, mandated in part because ESEA requires states to have one system of accountability for both Title 1 and non-Title 1 schools, contains many of the elements of the previous system. It also more clearly defines the performance levels expected of schools, while giving schools greater flexibility in how they will meet those performance levels.

Performance Criteria

Schools will be required to

ESEA requires states to establish systems for determining Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for every school that include the first and third bullets. It also requires that each school include another measure, hence the second bullet.

Quality Assurances

Schools will also have to attest every year that the following quality assurance measures are in place (most of these are in current regulations and/or statutes):

Levels of Accreditation

The following levels of accreditation are proposed:

Graduation Requirements

The following requirements are proposed as a minimum for school districts:

As soon as the proposed regulations are approved by the Attorney General's office and the Department of Administration, they will be posted on the KSDE website and included as a link from the KNEA website.

Comments should be directed to State Board of Education members, who will accept comments through the formal public hearing on December 10, 2002. The KNEA Instructional Advocacy Commission and the KNEA Board will be reviewing the proposed regulations to determine KNEA's position on the proposed changes.

Statewide Assessment Results Released

"Results of the 2002 State Assessments show that student performance is virtually unchanged from the previous year. Results for the all-student population show that the percentage of students performing at the top three performance levels has remained static and only minor changes are noted among disaggregated groups."

These words from the KSDE press release put it in a nutshell - test results on Kansas assessments remain "steady."

A thorough reading "actually gives us some reason to be optimistic," said Christy Levings, president of KNEA. Dramatic increases in the participation rates of minority students, students with disabilities and English language learners, coupled with steady scores, "demonstrates our commitment to meeting the needs of all students."

"We are pleased to see that the assessment results show some modest improvements among our minority students - in most cases the percentage of minority students in the basic and unsatisfactory categories has dropped - but clearly more needs to be done," Levings continued.

"The question for all of us is how we continue to address this achievement gap - and increase performance among all student groups - without additional resources," she observed.

"We've about squeezed out all the improvement we can reasonably expect from the current level of funding," concluded Bill Wagnon, Topeka, who represents State Board District 4.

Sue Gamble, Shawnee Mission, District 2, agreed. "We've done the easy ones. The improvement that's left will require change - expensive change - at a time that Kansas is experiencing economic downturn. We have to go forward and tell the story so we'll be prepared to take advantage when the economy recovers."

State assessment results are available on the KSDE website, www.ksde.or

Teacher Vacancies Down

Kansas USDs began the 2002-2003 year with 402 teaching vacancies, as of August 1. This is a decrease of 110.4 vacancies, or 22%, from last year.

As last year, the highest number of vacancies is for special education teachers (133.9 positions).

In other action, the State Board

Accreditation Decisions Announced

The following schools received accredited status:
USD 104 - White Rock elementary, ms, hs
USD 305 - Stewart elementary