May 2008 State Board News
Transitional Performance Assessment Approved
The State Board unanimously approved a transitional Performance Assessment, which will allow teachers with Conditional/Initial Licenses to upgrade to the Professional Teaching License.
The new performance assessment is completion of “a year-long district administered induction and mentoring program.”
[Materials in the pre-meeting packet included a second sentence, which was not included in the staff recommendation to the State Board on Tuesday.]
The new assessment replaces the KPA, which the board in February agreed should move to the preparation level.
Details on how the new performance assessment will be documented and on June KPA scoring should be available from the Teacher Education and Licensure team before the end of this week. Check the KSDE website and the KNEA website for the latest details.
The transitional performance assessment is expected to be in place during the 2008-2009 school year. A new performance assessment is expected to be developed during that time period, for implementation about a year from now.
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New License Fee Approved
Beginning July 1, 2008, Kansas educators will pay $39 for a teaching or school administration or school specialist license in Kansas.
The previous fee of $36 was established in 2005.
The additional money is needed to cover costs related to the Teacher Education and Licensing office at KSDE, including raises for personnel and reductions in federal money that had previously been used to cover TEAL activities.
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Licensure Regulations Hearing Held
The State Board heard testimony from 3 groups regarding proposed changes to Licensure Regulations. The Board discussed that information and will take action on the proposed changes at the June meeting.
Terry Boyd, chairperson of the Professional Standards Board, and a member of Lansing EA, Jim Lenz, president of KASA and superintendent in Augusta, and Peg Dunlap, representing KNEA, provided testimony.
In short, the package of changes was supported with 4 exceptions:
KNEA opposed and PSB had concerns with the proposal to issue a 2-year Kansas license to out-of-state license holders who graduated from non-accredited preparation programs or from programs that did not include some sort of clinical experience. Those with this license would still be required to go before the Licensure Review Committee for review.
KNEA and PSB both opposed the proposal which would allow adding a teaching endorsement by passing the content test.
PSB opposed and KNEA had concerns about the proposal that would remove the prohibition on compensation for student teachers.
KASA asked for language regarding the administrator performance assessment to be made parallel with the language for the teacher performance assessment.
In discussion, the State Board indicated they were interested in [but did not take formal action to approve]
Issuing a 1 year license, with a 1 year extension, if progress is made toward LRC action, for out-of-state license holders from non-accredited programs or with no clinical experience.
Allowing adding teaching endorsements by passing the content test.
Removing the prohibition but issuing guidelines on how it would be implemented.
Aligning the performance assessment language.
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Teaching In Kansas Commission Continues
Josh Anderson, representing the TKC, and a member of Olathe NEA, presented the State Board with a framework for implementing recommendations on teacher recruitment and retention that derived from the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Summit held in late November, 2007.
The framework would include 5 working groups, one for each of the 5 target areas:
- Working conditions
- Teacher preparation
- Salary and benefits
- Image and promotion
- Regulations, requirements and data
The working groups will develop additional details regarding implementation of the 29 specific recommendations and will also identify effective implementation strategies already underway.
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In other action, the State Board
- Heard results of the financial literacy survey
- Heard presentations on how financial literacy is taught in USDs
- Heard a presentation on the Kansas State Science Fair
- Received an update on the Kansas Career Pipeline
- Received the Licensed Personnel Report for 2008
- Received an update on the Postsecondary Technical Education Authority
- Approved 2008-2009 salary schedules for KSSB and KSSD
- Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee
- Approved recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee
- Authorized a bond election for USD 417, Morris County
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Next Meeting and Board Materials
The next meeting of the State Board will be June 10 and 11, in Topeka. The meeting agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website beginning Monday, June 2.
Materials for the May meeting can be found on the KSDE website . Due to the large size of the file, be prepared for a slow download!
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