• KNEA Legislative Agenda
• Legislative Issues
• Legislative Week in Review
• School Funding Central
• State Board News
• Take Action Now (LAC)
• Under the Dome Today

June State Board News

Sex Ed Policy, KSDE Reorg, Testing Contracts Prove Contentious

A series of 6-4 votes at the June State Board meeting highlighted the continuing philosophical differences that exist among members of the State Board.  Three specific topics provided the platforms for debate: a policy on sexuality education, the reorganization of KSDE, and contracts for state assessments.

Sex Ed

At the request of Kathy Martin, district 6, Clay Center, the Board considered adding a statement to the previously-approved K-12 Health Education Standards.  That statement says:  “Each board of education shall provide a complete program of abstinence until marriage in human sexuality that is developmentally appropriate, including information about sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS.  It is imperative that medically accurate and research-based information be provided, including factual information regarding contraception and disease prevention.”

Most of the debate centered on whether or not the program should be “complete” or “comprehensive.”  John Bacon, district 3, Olathe, called “comprehensive” programs “dangerous” to students, explaining that comprehensive is a “code word with connotations focusing on engaging in risky behaviors without suffering consequences.”

Janet Waugh  , district 1, KCK, objected to including any statement, explaining that local boards are responsible for determining local curriculum and that the standards were sufficient to guide them.

Ken Willard, district 7, Hutchinson, suggested alternate wording, which wasn’t acceptable to Martin or Connie Morris, district 5, St. Francis.

In the end, the Board voted 6-4 for the statement, with Abrams, Bacon, Martin, Morris, Van Meter, and Willard supporting the motion and Gamble, Rupe, Wagnon and Waugh opposing it.

KSDE Reorganization

On another 6-4 vote (same members voting in the same pattern), the Board confirmed the appointments of Tom Foster as Assistant Commissioner of the Learning Services Division and Larry Englebrick as Assistant Commissioner of the School Innovations Division, effective June 5, 2006.  Each man will receive an annual salary of $110,000.

Clarifying that their opposition was not intended to reflect on the individuals appointed, Waugh, Wagnon, Gamble and Rupe expressed concern that Board policy had not been followed in the appointments and that splitting the Learning Services division would not improve service or integrate the work of compliance and best practice.  They also expressed concern about the fiscal note [the School Innovations position is new].

Chairman Steve Abrams called the appointments a huge step forward and said he had been assured that the new position could be funded within existing resources.

Testing Contracts

The final contentious item involved two contract continuations, one with CETE (Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation at KU) and another with WestEd, a California-based company.

Gamble, Rupe, Waugh and Wagnon questioned why the CETE contract was less than last year’s [$3.3 million, down from $4.8 million], why WestEd’s was higher [$2.7 million, up from about $2 million], and expressed the desire to use Kansas contractors to do the work whenever possible.

Commissioner Bob Corkins stated that both contractors had bid specific lists of work, that the contract amounts were maximums, and that agency staff would continue to press WestEd for economies and savings in the final contract.

Again, the vote on the contracts was 6-4.

Materials from the Board meeting are available at http://www.ksde.org/commiss/June_06_Bd_mtg_materials.pdf

Licensure Issues Engage Board

Three items relating to educator licensure received united interest and support from all 10 State Board members.

First, Dr. Rick Ginsberg, University of Kansas, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Teaching and School Administrators Professional Standards Advisory Board, and Randy Mousley, UTW, was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Professional Practices Commission.  Both were appointed with 10-0 votes.

Second, the Board received a report on alternate route to licensure programs in Kansas.  Dr. Judy Hayes, Wichita State, Dr. Howard Smith, Pittsburg State University, and Dr. Jerry Bailey, University of Kansas, explained the programs currently operating at their institutions.

All three speakers emphasized the importance of screening and selecting candidates, providing a standards-based program for them, and ensuring ongoing support during the entire alternate route process.

Those graduating from alternate route programs have the Restricted License during the program, then are recommended for the Conditional License.

Third, the Board received a report on unlicensed personnel in Kansas schools.  Citing safety issues (unlicensed personnel have not completed the mandatory KBI/FBI background checks required for state licenses) as well as violation of state law (it is unlawful to pay anyone without a license), the Board asked the Professional Standards Board to review the issue and return to the July SBOE meeting with recommendations for action.

In the 2005-2006 school year, 202 people in 66 USDs or service centers did not hold Kansas licenses.  Every one of those persons would have been eligible for at least an emergency substitute license, which would have required the background check.

In other action, the State Board:

Appointed 6 members to the Special Education Advisory Council

Received a report on a secondary student engagement project

Received model standards for Health Science Occupations

Awarded 2006-2007

• Four-year-old at risk grants
• Parents as teachers grants
• 21st Century Community learning Center grants
• Learn and Serve America grants
• Americorps*Kansas grants

Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee

• Benedictine  College  , accredited, through 12-31-12
• MidAmerica  Nazarene  University, accredited, through 12-31-10
• Ottawa  University  , accredited, through 12-31-12
• Tabor  College  , provisionally accredited, through 12-31-07
• Bethany  College  , program approved, through 12-31-08
• Fort  Hays  State University, new programs approved with stipulations, through 12-31-07

Approved the 2007 licensure fee at $36 (no change)

The next meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, July 11 and 12.  Board materials should be available on the KSDE website after July 3.

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.