KPA Changes Coming!
Commissioner Alexa Posny announced an important change to the procedures for the KPA, the Kansas Performance Assessment. Beginning with the June, 2008, scoring, the KPA will return to no-fault status. All Conditional License holders must still complete a KPA and submit it for scoring.
For current Conditional License holders, that is the only thing that will change. The timelines and deadlines and scoring prompts and rubrics remain the same.
Conditional License holders must complete the KPA to upgrade to the Professional License.
Commissioner Posny told the State Board that she wants to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in determining what additional changes need to be made to the KPA, which will take time. It is anticipated, based on recommendations from the KPA Task Force, that changes to placement of the KPA [probably, moving it to the teacher preparation institutions] and changes to the process for upgrading from the Initial License [the name suggested to replace Conditional License – still in the regulatory review process] to the Professional License will also be suggested.
Teaching in Kansas Commission Named
Dr. Alexa Posny, commissioner of education, announced the membership of the Teaching in Kansas Commission, formed following the Recruitment and Retention Summit held in Topeka in late November, 2007.
The Commission will be co-chaired by Dr. Tes Mehring, Emporia State University, and Dr. Brad King, Midamerica Nazarene University. Other members are Susan Scherling, superintendent, USD 452, Stanton County; Alan Cunningham, superintendent, USD 443, Dodge City; Tom Petz, USD 500, Kansas City; Jeri Powers, USD 232, DeSoto and 2008 Kansas Teacher of the Year; Josh Anderson, USD 233, Olathe and 2007 Kansas Teacher of the Year; and Margo Quirconi, Kauffman Foundation.
The Commission, which is to report to the State Board in April, 2008, is to focus on the teacher shortage in Kansas, including the preparation, recruitment, retention and regulatory aspects of the system. They will analyze data and information from the 2007 Summit as the basis for their work.
MTSS Explained and Discussed
MTSS, Multi-tiered systems of support, is the term now used to describe the process that will be used in Kansas schools to focus on improving the academic performance of all learners, especially struggling learners.
Colleen Reilly, director of special education services at KSDE, Deb Haltom and Gillian Chapman, USD 512, Shawnee Mission, and Erin Dugan, USD 233, Olathe, explained how the system is being implemented statewide and how the system works in two specific districts.
In short, MTSS is a three tiered system which looks at the supports that all students need, the supports that some students need, and then at the supports that a few students need. The idea is that specific interventions are identified at each level that make it more likely that students will receive the learning support they need.
In a memo to Kansas educators, dated December 14, 2007, Dr. Alexa Posny, commissioner of education, explained that the goal of MTSS is to provide the appropriate learning support to students. MTSS is
- Prevention oriented, by knowing who needs support early and putting those supports in place
- Implementation of evidence-based interventions for all students and tailoring interventions based on a student’s needs, and
- Process monitoring, using data to know when to make a change.
For additional information on MTSS, see the KNEA website and look at the materials for the January, 2008, State Board meeting.
Board Endorses NSDC Professional Development Standards
The 12 standards for quality professional development, developed by the National Staff Development Council, were formally endorsed by the State Board at the January meeting. The standards have been used in many Kansas schools for a number of years to guide decisions around professional development.
With the formal endorsement, KSDE will be able to suggest that schools having difficulties meeting student learning goals use the NSDC standards to determine if they are providing professional development to their teachers and other staff in ways that make it more likely that teacher learning is occurring.
The NSDC standards say that staff development that improves the learning of all students
- Organizes adults into learning communities
- Requires skillful leadership
- Requires resources
- Is data driven
- Is evaluated
- Is research-based
- Uses adult learning strategies
- Applies knowledge about human learning and change
- Provides the knowledge and skills to collaborate
- Ensures equity for all students
- Focuses on quality teaching, including instruction and assessment
- Involves families and other stakeholders.
The NSDC standards have always formed the basis of the PDC training offered by the Greenbush-KNEA consortium.
In other action, the State Board
- Adopted a meeting schedule for 2008, retaining their pattern of meeting on the second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month
- Received a draft of the 2006-7 Accountability Report
- Recognized the 2007 NCLB Blue Ribbon Schools
- Recognized the 2007 Milken National Educators, including Jamelle Brown, NEA-KCK
- Endorsed the revised PTA Standards for Family Involvement
- Heard a presentation on alternative teacher compensation
- Held a public hearing on proposed special education regulations
- Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee, the Waiver Review Committee, the License Review Committee and the Professional Practices Commission
- Approved requests for USD 281, Graham County , and USD 495, Ft. Larned, to hold bond elections
The February, 2008 meeting of the State Board will be February 12 and 13, in Topeka. The agenda and meeting materials should be available on the KSDE website on February 4.
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