February State Board News
Board Advances Integration and Redesign Agenda
Following months of presentations and discussions, the State Board authorized KSDE staff to develop an action plan with timelines to implement 9 elements of an initiative that, when fully implemented, will result in a major redesign of Kansas schools. The Board voted 9-1, with John Bacon voting no.
The Board’s initial selection of the topic several years ago arose from interest in increasing student engagement in school, particularly at the middle and high school levels, and from concern that all students be prepared to pursue a variety of post-secondary options.
The 9 elements are:
- Create/approve Gold Standard assessments (industry-recognized credentials/certifications) in each of the Career Clusters that support high expectations.
- Integrate core content standards with technical program standards utilizing the 16 career clusters as the organizing principle.
- Support the implementation of Individual Career Plans of Study for all students in 8th grade and beyond.
- Improve access to career and technical education by removing barriers and promoting partnerships.
- Recommend Kansas Board of Regents to update qualified admissions.
- Create 21st Century School Standards to help guide reform and/or redesign of public schools.
- Support professional development for teachers (e.g. mentor-mentee models) to help guide students in planning for future careers.
- Revise teacher preparation program standards to reflect the integration of content standards.
- Support the creation of dynamic funding systems that respond to the changing workforce and economic development needs.
For several years, the State Board has had a goal to redesign the delivery system for Kansas education. Study and discussion of Career and Technical Education, including career clusters, and the integration of C&TE with rigorous core content courses led the Board to the action taken this morning.
The action was further supported by a series of focus group meetings that each Board member hosted in late 2007. From those meetings, which involved business leaders, the Board concluded that schools in Kansas need to do more to integrate strong K-12 preparation with C&TE concepts.
The Board also received but did not act on a document which included 10 “guiding principles” for the initiative. They are:
- High expectations – Establish high expectations and provide students with frequent feedback.
- Program of study – Require each student to complete an integrated academic core and a CTE concentration of study.
- Academic studies – Provide the essential concepts of the college-preparatory curriculum and motivate students by encouraging them to apply academic content and skills to real world problems and projects using 21st Century skills.
- Career and technical studies – Provide students access to a structured system of work-based and high-status school-based learning resulting in an industry-recognized credential and employment in a career pathway.
- Work-based learning – Allow students and their parents to choose from programs that integrate challenging high school studies and work-based learning that are planned by educators, employers and students.
- Teachers working together – Create an organizational structure and schedule enabling academics and career/technical teachers to have the time to plan and provide integrated instruction aimed at teaching high-status academic and technical content.
- Students actively engaged – Engage students in academic and career/technical classrooms in rigorous and challenging proficient-level assignments using research-based instructional strategies and technology.
- Guidance – Involve students and their parents in a guidance and advisement system directed at completion of a program of study with an academic and career/technical concentration.
- Extra help – Provide a structure system of additional time and resources to assist students with high-level academic and technical content.
- Culture of continuous improvement – Create a culture of continuous improvement by utilizing student assessment and program evaluation data.
The action plan is expected to be presented to the Board in March, 2008.
KPA Update
The State Department has agreed that the February, 2008, Kansas Performance Assessment scoring will also be “no fault.” This means that KPAs which are submitted and scorable will be scored and that any score will qualify the candidate for the Professional License.
In addition, the State Board authorized the department to contract with ETS, Educational Testing Service, to revise and revalidate the KPA, in preparation for transitioning it to the pre-service program.
Kansas Teacher of the Year Team Honored
The eight members of the Kansas Teacher of the Year, KTOY, team were recognized at the February State Board meeting. They are:
- Jeri Powers, DeSoto TA, 2008 Teacher of the Year
- Anton Ahrens, NEA Topeka
- Karen Bristow, Augusta EA
- Erin Capettini, Paola
- Elaine Corder, Spring Hill EA
- Linda Johnson, Council Grove TA
- Stacie Valdez, Wichita
- Shelbie Witte, Junction City EA
Using their 2008 theme, “Investing in Kansas Kids,” each member of the team talked about the importance of educational, social, emotional and fiscal investments in students, teachers and schools.
Licensure Hearing Date Set
May 13, 2008, is the date set for the public hearing on proposed changes to licensure regulations. The hearing will occur at 1:30 pm at the KSDE office, 120 E. 10th Street, Topeka. Public comment can be submitted any time between now and that time in writing.
Proposed changes include:
- Changing the name Conditional License to Initial License
- Issuing the Professional License to out of state applicants with recency and 3 years of accredited experience [ recency = within the past 6 years] or any 5 years of accredited experience
- Establishing a new Interim Alternative License, for out of state applicants who completed alternative preparation programs
- Establishing a new Transitional License, allowing 1 year for out of state applicants or those with expired Kansas licenses to get recent credit or experience
- Renewing Emergency Substitute Licenses for two year periods
- Reinstating the “Masters plus experience” renewal option for all license holders with advanced degrees
- Adding endorsements by passing the content test
- Adding endorsements earned out of state by completing that state’s coursework requirements and the content test
- Removing the prohibition on paying student teachers for student teaching
A full set of the proposed changes can be found on pages 127-159 of the February, 2008, State Board materials, at the KSDE website .
The Professional Standards Board and the KNEA Instructional Advocacy Transition Task Force are each expected to review the proposed changes and take positions on them prior to the May public hearing. Check the KNEA website for up-to-date information.
In other action, the State Board
Heard an update on the Kansas Education Leadership Commission
Listened to presentations on
- Licensure actions to safeguard students from sexual predators
- Tools for assessing classroom and school environments
- Models of effective teacher preparation
- Models of effective professional development
Approved regulations for special education
Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to revoke 1 license and deny 1 license application
Established new USD 110, Phillips County, consolidating USDs 238, Kensington and 324, Kirwin, as approved by voters in those USDs
Approved requests for bond elections from
- USD 250, Pittsburg
- USD 402, Augusta
- USD 476, Copeland
- USD 487, Herington
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