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October State Board News

Hearing Set for QPA Regulations

The date, time and place for the public hearing on proposed regulations for QPA has been officially set. It will occur in Tuesday, December 10, 2002, at 1:30 pm, at the KSDE boardroom, 120 E. 10th Street, Topeka.

That means that between now and then, members of the State Board will be accepting comments regarding the proposed changes, which were outlined in the September State Board News. (See link at bottom of page.)

KNEA staff members have presented information on these proposed regulatory changes to the Instructional Advocacy Commission and at numerous UniServ meetings. The IA Commission will review the changes in November and recommend potential KNEA positions to the KNEA Board for their meeting December 7.

KNEA members are urged to review the proposals, discuss them with colleagues and contact State Board members with concerns, questions, and/or support for the changes. They WILL impact how QPA works and how you do your job!

System Redesign Discussion Continues

The State Board reviewed a beginning draft of a blueprint for redesigning Kansas schools to better ensure learning for all. The blueprint is based on almost two years of Board and staff work, including a literature review, numerous presentations from experts in school design, forums held in every State Board district, and discussions at State Board meetings.

The draft, which will be discussed again in November, is based on seven core principles:
1. All students must be held to a common set of essential and challenging learning standards.
2. All students must be given appropriate instruction to successfully learn the essential standards.
3. The system must be flexible and adaptable to meet the learning needs of any student.
4. Curricular and instructional decisions and corresponding policies must be based on data and research.
5. Professional growth and development that increases the capacity of those who work in the system to help all children learn well must be ongoing and continuous.
6. Parents must be actively engaged in the education of their children.
7. The community must be involved in establishing the expectations and determining the structure of the system and receive regular reports on its progress.

"A very interesting coincidence is that these 7 standards are completely consistent with the KNEA Quality Public School Standards adopted by KNEA during the 1999-2000 school year," commented Christy Levings, KNEA President.

"We are excited that the State Board thinking has led the same direction that ours did. Together, we have a much better chance of making sure that every student in Kansas gets a quality education in a quality public school."

Focus on USD 233, Olathe

As the host district for the October State Board meeting, Olathe students, staff and administrators had an opportunity to highlight current and future activities in the district. Superintendent Ron Wimmer and Associate Superintendent Pat All discussed the district in general. Jan Heinen and Carol Williamson described changes in the high school curriculum and a process the district used to create the curriculum for Olathe Northwest High School, which will open in 2003. Earl Martin and Stephanie Dansco described Project Plus, a before-school and after-school program funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Center initiative. In addition, two students described the Youth Court and Youth Congress activities available to Olathe students. Williamson, Martin, and Dansco are members of Olathe NEA.

Mentor Teacher Program Evaluated

960 new teachers in 122 USDs in 2001-2002 were mentored by 1,065 veteran teachers who received funding under the now-unfunded Mentor Teacher program.

Responses to a survey indicated that the programs did what they were intended to do, and that districts would make every attempt to continue them, despite a lack of state funds to pay mentors.

The survey also showed that 624 teachers from 115 responding districts would be returning for the 2002-2003 school year and that 52 teachers from 19 responding districts were not rehired because of budget restrictions.

Board Endorses PTA Standards

Following a presentation by officers of Kansas PTA, the State Board endorsed the National PTA Standards for Parent Involvement/Family Involvement Programs. The standards can be found on the PTA's website at http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/standards/index.asp The 6 standards address communicating, parenting, student learning, volunteering, school decision making and advocacy, and collaborating with community.

Board Receives List of Schools Designated for Assistance

As required by ESEA, the Board in October received a list of Kansas Title 1 schools designated as needing assistance. This status was determined by the formula that has been used for several years in determining AYP for Title 1 schools. In 2002-2003, 51 Kansas schools are listed.

"The important thing to note, according to Education Commissioner Andy Tompkins, is that Title I schools designated for assistance are not "failing" schools.

"In most cases, these are schools that are doing a good job of helping a portion of their students learn, however there is another portion of their students that they have been unable to reach."

All of the 51 schools will be required to offer public school choice, beginning by January, 2003. Thirty-nine of the schools will be required to offer supplemental educational services because they have been designated for assistance for two years. Twenty-one of the schools must implement certain corrective actions because they have been designated for assistance for three years.

Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, the formula for determining AYP for Title I schools will change, as required by ESEA, and will include only student performance on state assessments and school attendance rates. Beginning in 2005-2006, all schools will be reviewed for achievement of AYP.

The list of Kansas schools designated for assistance will be available on the KSDE website beginning Thursday, October 10, 2002. Schools listed will be invited to a special conference in Wichita later in October. KNEA will also be working through UniServ offices to offer assistance to schools through the QPA Assistance Cadre.

In other action, the State Board

KNEA Legislative Contacts

Blake West, President
Peg Dunlap, Director, Instructional Advocacy
Mark Desetti, Director, Legislative and Political Advocacy
Terry Forsyth, Director, Political Action

The KNEA Lobby Team consists of elected leaders and staff. The Lobby Team welcomes member feedback on issues before the Legislature and on this site.