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August 2008 State Board News 
 

Title 1, ACT Scores Show Strengths of Kansas Schools

94% of Kansas Title 1 districts and 96% of Kansas Title 1 schools met the ESEA/NCLB requirements for AYP.  Kansas had 295 USDs and 652 schools eligible for Title 1 in 2007-8.

“Kansas teachers, students, administrators, and parents have a right to be proud of their districts and schools that continue to meet or exceed increasingly higher academic achievement targets,” said Alexa Posny, commissioner of education.

The chart below shows the 2007-8 targets along with the 2006-7 targets. The percentages of students scoring proficient or above increased from a minimum of 6.1% [K-8 reading] to a maximum of 8.9% [9-12 math].

The AYP results for all Kansas districts and schools will be released at the October State Board meeting.

The ACT results show that Kansas students scored an average of 22/36 points. The national average was 21.1. That is even more meaningful because 74% of Kansas students took the test, while the national participation average was 43%.

Expected Gains Formula Announced

Diane DeBacker, deputy commissioner, provided information on the new QPA Expected Gains formula, which will be used for the first time this year. The formula operationalizes the performance criteria that each building must achieve to be accredited. Regulation 91-31-32 states that each school must meet

“the percentage prescribed by the state board of students performing at or above the proficient level on state assessments or … increase overall student achievement by a percentage prescribed by the state board.”

The formula uses the school’s proficiency rate, the state’s proficiency rate and the number of students performing below proficient to determine an expected gains percent.

By using the formula, 100 additional schools could meet the QPA performance criteria, according to KSDE staff.

To be eligible to use the Expected Gains Formula, a school must submit an integrated improvement plan, which outlines school’s commitment to redesign their delivery system to increase the likelihood of improved student achievement. It must also participate in KSDE-sponsored technical assistance peer review of the plan.

Cut Scores for Science, History/Government Assessments Approved

The State Board accepted recommendations from expert panels that worked during the summer under the direction of KU’s Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation and set the cut scores for the science and history/government state assessments.

The scores should be available soon on the KSDE website. They are not included here because of the complexity of the tables.

Virtual School Guidelines Approved

The State Board approved guidelines for Kansas Virtual Schools. Before a school or program can enroll students, it must submit a “desktop audit” to KSDE. The audit includes criteria in 4 categories: KSDE responsibilities, personnel requirements, program requirements, and student/parent responsibilities. Among the criteria are these:

• Virtual schools/programs must employ Kansas  licensed teachers, who must be endorsed in the content area they will teach.
• They must also comply with all QPA regulations and requirements.

The Guidelines also address recruitment and advertising. They state that

“Prior to publicly distributing any written materials to advertise or promote a virtual program/school, such written materials must be provided to the school district or districts located within the geographic area where the materials will be distributed. Materials such as laptops should be listed as a loaner and not free.”

The Guidelines establish a Virtual School/Program Advisory Council, which includes 25 members. The Council members must represent districts/schools that do and do not have virtual schools/programs, as well as parents, the business community, higher education, the State Board, and KSDE staff.

Materials distributed at the SBOE meeting indicated that “nominations will be accepted in the fall of each year by KSDE.” Additional information is likely to be posted on the KSDE website.

National Group Gets $.75m Contract to Assist Schools

The State Board approved a contract, not to exceed $750,000, for Cross & Joftus, LLC, a national firm, to establish the Kansas Learning Network. Ray Daniels, former superintendent of USD 500, Kansas City, will be among those providing services to Kansas schools. All of the money comes from federal funds.

The Network will begin a pilot project during 2008-2009 which will serve 3 of the 7 USDs that are targets because of their Title 1 status.

The intent of the Network is to build capacity within the districts to meet their school improvement needs. Participating USDs would be required to involve a team consisting, at a minimum, of the superintendent, administrators responsible for accountability and for professional development, local board members, and school-level staff.

They would also be required to perform an audit which will examine all the practices of the USD to ensure that they support student learning. The USDs will review each others’ audits, using a process taught by Cross & Joftus.

Once the 3 pilot USDs are selected, it is expected that other interested USDs will be able to take advantage of the Network resources, including outside experts and training in processes.

In other action, the State Board:

• Heard updates on current work of the Teaching in Kansas Commission and the Kansas Education Leadership Commission.
• Heard an update on work to integrate academics with career and technical education.
• Received a report on the Restricted License program.
• Received the special education seclusion report.
• Accepted recommendations from the License Review Committee to approve 7 and deny 3 requests for endorsements and/or licenses.
• Accepted recommendations to issue 3 Visiting Scholar licenses, all with foreign language endorsements.
• Approved a QPA waiver for Kickapoo Nation School regarding athletic practice.
• Approved contracts related to the Character Education Grant received from the US Department of Education.
• Approved bond elections for
  • USD 232, DeSoto
  • USD 233, Olathe
  • USD 348, Baldwin City
  • USD 487, Herington.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the State Board is Tuesday and Wednesday, September 9 and 10, in Topeka. Board agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website the week prior to that.

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.