October State Board News
QPA - AYP - Performance Levels
What Should Kansas Do?
New regulations for QPA, scheduled to go into effect in the 2005-2006
year and currently being piloted by about 160 schools, call for
schools to meet a combination of quality assurances and performance
criteria. That was the subject of continuing discussions at the
October SBOE meeting.
QPA, and AYP, call for a certain percentage of students each year
to score at the proficient level or above on state assessments for
reading and mathematics.
QPA's new regulations also require that an as-yet-to-be-determined
percentage of students each year score at the proficient level or
above on the other state assessments (writing, science, history/government).
Just what those levels should be, and even IF they should be established, has
raised concerns among many stakeholder groups. These concerns include
Whether setting levels for the other state assessments will pull focus from
reading and mathematics
Whether not setting levels will pull focus from writing, science, and history/government
Whether levels should be set after the new assessments go into use in the
'05-'06 and '06-'07 years
Whether set levels or just increased performance should be the standard of
measurement.
State Board members reached no specific conclusions and agreed to continue
these discussions at future board meetings.
Board Reviews Educator Licensure System
Martha Gage, State Department of Education, updated the board regarding the
implementation of the new licensing system for educators. Ms. Gage reported
that the department had a very busy summer with a larger than normal number
of applicants for renewal. She attributed this increase to a rumor circulated
among teachers that they had to renew their licenses by July 1.
The board reviewed the Kansas Performance Assessment timelines. The baseline
content testing was held on September 13, 2003 with 388 teachers registered
to take the assessment. The test results will be used to help set cut-scores
for the assessment by 1/05/05.
Ms. Gage also reported that licenses for substitute teachers were expected
to rise from 6,500 in 2002 to approximately 7,000 in 2003. One reason cited
for the increase was the number of teachers who wanted to work part-time rather
than full-time.
Finger Print Clearance is required for initial licensing and for those whose
license has lapsed for more than 6 months. The cost to the individual for
the clearance check is $44.00. The finger print clearance is conducted by
the KBI and the FBI.
The board also learned that there are 109 teachers in Kansas who are National
Board Certified. There are 60 teachers waiting to hear results and there are
30 who are in the process.
Lastly, the board learned that the vast majority of teachers in Kansas meet
the requirements to be Highly Qualified under the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act.
In other action, the State Board:
Heard a presentation from Tim Rooney, Shawnee Mission, about his school finance
formula proposal.
Accepted recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to deny
two applications and revoke one teaching certificate.
Approved amendments to the SWK Interlocal #625 (Meade).
Approved QPA waivers for
o USD 501, Quinton Heights elementary, extend cycle
o USD 241, Wallace County, extend cycle
Approved Ed Flex waiver requests for
o USD 383, Woodrow Wilson elementary
o USD 512, Apache, Merriam, Shawanoe, and South Park elementaries
Approved license waivers for
o USD 353, Wellington, administrator out of field (special education)
o USD 437, Auburn-Washburn, teacher out of field (library media)
o USD 453, Leavenworth, teacher out of field (special education)
o USD 490, El Dorado, 3 teachers out of field (special education)
o USD 607, Tri-County, teacher out of field (special education)
o USD 608, NEKESC, teacher out of field (special education)
Appointed Rick Riffel, Phillipsburg, to represent middle level administrators
on the Professional Practices Commission
Approved a bond election for USD 230, Spring Hill
The November meeting of the State Board will occur on Wednesday and Thursday,
November 12 and 13, due to the Veteran's Day holiday on November 11.
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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.
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