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July State Board News

State Board Sets KPA Passing Score – Deadline Looms!

This morning the State Board accepted the recommendation from the Professional Standards Board and set the passing score for the Kansas Performance Assessment (KPA) at 88/113.  This score will be required beginning September 1, 2006.

The KPA is the primary requirement for upgrading a Conditional License to the Professional License, which is renewable and valid for 5 years.

Each person who submitted a KPA during the no-fault period MUST apply for the Professional License prior to September 1, 2006 or they will have to meet the passing score, even if they submitted during the no-fault period.

KSDE staff indicated today that all those who submitted KPAs during the no-fault period have received, or will receive by early August, letters notifying them of their eligibility for the Professional License.  They will also receive a letter informing them of the September 1, 2006 effective date of the passing score and emphasizing the consequences of submitting the Professional License application on or after that date.

Even though most Conditional License holders have time remaining on their Conditional Licenses (they are valid for two years), they should apply for the Professional License prior to September 1, 2006.  The Professional License costs $36.00.

[The report used to guide the Professional Standards Board in making their recommendation can be found in the State Board materials beginning on p. 45.]

July Meeting – Lots of Reports

State Board materials can be found at http://www.ksde.org/commiss/July_06_Bd_mtg_materials.pdf

Most of the agenda items for the July State Board of Education meeting were reports, presentations, and “receive” items.  The Board:

• Received recommendations from the Professional Standards Board on removing barriers in licensure regulations (p. 71)
• Received recommendations from the Professional Standards Board on possible sanctions for USDs hiring unlicensed personnel (p. 77)
• Heard a presentation on the process being used to set achievement levels on the Kansas assessments (p. 31)
• Received proposed regulations on seclusion and restraint of students with disabilities (p. 21)
• Received the Governor’s budget allocations for FY 2008 and began preliminary budget discussions (p. 89)
• Heard a presentation on Communities in Schools (p. 29)
• Heard a presentation on the McKinley-Vento Homeless program (p. 87)
• Heard a presentation on the Wallace Foundation Leadership grant (underway in Dodge City, Parsons, KCK, and Wichita ) (p. 205)
• Heard a presentation on Eagle Academies Charter Schools, a Texas company (p. 207)
• Heard a progress report on the student engagement project (p. 203)

And There Was Some Action

The State Board did take some action during the July meeting.  They:

• Passed amendments to the licensure regulations (most were technical, to accommodate the new early childhood birth – K license) (p. 33)
• Appointed Jeannette Nobo to Director of Professional Learning Communities, School Innovations Division.  Nobo was assistant director of school improvement and accreditation.
• Appointed Sarah Thomas to Director of Improvement and Support, School Innovations Division.  Thomas was NAEP education program consultant.
• Affirmed recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to deny two license requests (p. 79)
• Affirmed recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee to approve 13 requests and deny 4 requests (p. 119)
• Approved three Visiting Scholar requests (p. 123)
• Approved Kansas Model Curricular Standards for Health Science Occupations (p. 139)
• Approved a bond election for USD 232, DeSoto (p. 197)

Elections and Next State Board Meeting

Primary elections for State Board positions will be held on Tuesday, August 1.  The next meeting of the State Board is Tuesday and Wednesday, August 8 and 9.

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.