Reading  and math standards reviews begin

Committees have begun working on the required reviews of the Kansas curriculum standards for reading and mathematics.  In addition to updating the standards, committee members are to integrate both core content areas with career and technical education standards that focus on the 16 career clusters.

New standards lead to new assessments.  The State Board voted to maintain the current state assessment system until the reauthorization of ESEA is completed.  This will allow districts and schools to maintain their current instructional efforts and the state to have trend data over a longer period of time.

21st Century Learner and Environment profiles presented

To help Kansas schools shape teaching and learning to meet the needs of the 21st Century, drafts of two profiles have been created.  One looks at the learner, the other at the learning environment.  Each is organized around unifying themes.  In the full document, available in the November State Board materials, each theme is explained fully.

21st Century Learner

1. Creativity and innovation
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
3. Communication and collaboration
4. Information, communication, technology and media literacy
5. Flexibility and adaptability
6. Initiative and self-direction
7. Social and cross-cultural skills
8. Productivity and accountability
9. Leadership and responsibility
10. Employment and career development

21st Century Learning Environment

1. Relationships
2. Relevance
3. Rigor
4. Results
5. Responsive culture

In other action, the State Board:

• Received the annual report from the Kansas State High School Activities Association
• Heard an update on dyslexia
• Received updates from the Teaching in Kansas Commission and the Kansas Educational Leadership Commission
• Heard an update on MTSS from USD 475, Geary  County
• Accepted recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee
• Approved QPA waivers
• Approved bond elections for USD 248, Girard, and USD 443, Dodge City

December SBOE meeting

The December meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9 and 10.  The meeting will include recognition of outgoing Board members Steve Abrams, Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe and Bill Wagnon.

Board agenda and materials will be available on the KSDE website on or after Monday, December 1.

State Assessment Results Show Strong Performance

Results of the 2008 Kansas Statewide Assessments show strong performance in reading, mathematics, science and history/government for all students. The participation rate in the state assessments by Kansas students was over 99 percent.   When compared to the 2000-2007 results, reading and mathematics scores reflect a continuing upward trend.

“I attribute these outstanding results to the sustained focus of educators, administrators, and boards of education across Kansas,” said Alexa Posny, commissioner of education. “They have met and exceeded increasing higher targets under NCLB legislation and their students are the beneficiaries”.

The achievement gaps among various groups of Kansas students in both reading and mathematics are gradually closing.

More information regarding the 2008 Kansas Report Card is available at www.ksde.org on the left side of the homepage under “Data/Report Card." State, district and individual information is available.

Board Continues Discussions of Possible Legislative Recommendations       

Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner, provided information regarding two possible legislative recommendations requested by Board President Wagnon. If approved these would be the State Board of Education recommendations to the 2009 Legislature .

The first legislative proposal would permit the candidates for State Board of Education to appear closer to the top of the ballot rather than at the bottom of the ballot as they appear currently.

The second legislative proposal would raise the amount that could be contributed to a candidate for the State Board from $500 to $1,000 per election cycle by any political committee or person. The proposed change in the contribution amount would then equal the amount that may be contributed to a candidate for the State Senate by a political committee or any person which is $1,000 per election cycle. Each State Board district is composed of four State Senate districts.

The board will act on these proposed recommendations at the November board meeting.

Teacher Vacancies

As of August 1, 2008, there were 85 unified school districts with approximately 228. 9 teacher vacancies compared with 315. 5 at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year. There were 210 districts with no vacancies.   Special Education and math openings continue to be the largest need areas followed by the need for Foreign Language teachers and elementary counselors.

  In other action, the State Board:

• Received a report on future school funding from the 2008 Interim Legislative Study Committees.
• Heard a presentation from the Kansas Board of Regents regarding Teacher Preparation.
• Postponed hearing an overview of a Dyslexia Resolution.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the State Board is Tuesday and Wednesday, November 11 & 12, in Topeka .  Board agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website the week prior to that.

90% of Kansas Schools and Districts Make AYP

For the 2007-08 testing cycle, 90% of the state’s public schools and districts made adequate yearly progress. This compares with 89% of the public schools and districts making AYP last year. The targets for math and reading have increased steadily since 2002 which makes the increase in schools/districts making AYP even more significant.

“By a persistent focus on academic standards, Kansas educators are clearly meeting the challenge of educating all students to high academic standards,” said Alexa Posny, commissioner of education.

The list of public schools and districts not making AYP was presented to the Kansas State Board of Education as required by federal legislation today. Of the 1365 public schools in Kansas, 1226 made adequate yearly progress for 2007-08. Of the 296 districts in Kansas, 264 made AYP for the 2007-08 testing cycle. 

Board Discusses Possible Legislative Recommendations       

Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner, provided information regarding two possible legislative recommendations by the Board to the 2009 Legislature.

The first legislative proposal would permit the candidates for State Board of Education to appear closer to the top of the ballot rather than at the bottom of the ballot as they appear currently.

The second legislative proposal would raise the amount that could be contributed to a candidate for the State Board from $500 to $1,000 per election cycle by any political committee or person. The proposed change in the contribution amount would then equal the amount that may be contributed to a candidate for the State Senate by a political committee or any person which is $1,000 per election cycle. Each State Board district is composed of four State Senate districts.

This proposal was made by the State Board during the last legislative session, but “did not receive much respect," according to Board Member and Legislative Contact Sue Gamble.

Board Member Kathy Martin Proposes that the Board Support Tax Credits.

Board Member Kathy Martin suggested four additional legislative proposals that the State Board would make to the 2009 legislature.

A tax credit for parents of children not attending public school was suggested by Kathy Martin. Under the Martin proposal a tax credit would go to parents who do not educate their children in the public schools. Board member Carol Rupe spoke against the proposal saying that this would open the door to vouchers and other opportunities to take money away from the public schools. The Board voted 3-6-1 against the proposal. Those Board members who supported the proposal were Ken Willard, John Bacon and Kathy Martin. Steve Abrams abstained from voting. Abrams is running as a candidate in Senate District 32 against Greta Goodwin (D) who is the incumbent.

Martin’s other proposed legislation addressed the need for more scholarships for those who are studying to be teachers, to have the legislature address school funding in advance of next budget cycle and to encourage school districts to join the health insurance system for state employees. These suggestions were supported by the Board on 10-0 votes.

The Board will consider the written forms of the last three legislative proposals at the October board meeting.

Board Reviews Graduation Rate Formulas

The Board reviewed graduation rate formulas and the manner is which each formula would impact the reported Kansas graduation rate. In Education Week the graduation rate for Kansas in this report is(74.3%) and does not match the rate that is reported by Kansas for NCLB purposes (90.2%).

To assist the Board in understanding why the differences in reported graduation rates exist, multiple graduation rate formulas were presented. The following formulas are currently used across the country:

Cohort Rate : Percent of students from an entering 9th grade cohort who graduate with a standard diploma in four years.

Leaver Rate: Percent of students leaving high school with a standard diploma, expressed as a proportion of all those documented leaving with a diploma or other completion credential.

Persistence Rate : Percent of students who remain in school from grade 9 through grade 12 calculated using the percent of students not dropping out or the percent of students estimated to be promoted from grade to grade.

National Governor's Rate : Measures the number of on-time graduates in a given year divided by the number of first-time entering 9th graders fours years earlier adjusted for transfers.

Composite Rate : Proportion of students estimated to remain in high school until grade 12 and receive a diploma; calculated by multiplying the rate of persistence between grades 9 and 12 and the percent of completers who receive a diploma.

Cumulative Promotion Index : Diploma Counts uses this index which computes the percent of public high school students who graduate on time with a diploma; four steps are used including each of the three grade-to-grade promotions (9 to 10; 10 to 11; and 11 to 12) and those who earn a diploma. It then multiplies grade specific promotion ratios together.

NCLB Rate : Percent of students, measured from the beginning of high school, who graduate from high school with a regular diploma (not a GED or other alternative) in the standard number of years.

In other action, the State Board:

• Heard updates on current work of the Teaching in Kansas Commission and the Kansas    Education Leadership Commission.
• Recognized the 2007 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program Finalists including KNEA member Steven Obenhaus from Olathe
• Received an update on the MTSS Seminar held in Wichita
• Received a report from two schools, one from Geary County and the other from Garden City, no longer on improvement.

Next Meeting

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

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.

The State Board of Education will ask Governor Sebelius and the Legislature to fully fund current law [which requires using the Consumer Price Index – Urban to determine general state aid, along with a $69 increase to base state aid per pupil [instead of the $59 currently approved], resulting in a total request of $131,869,344 for FY 2010.

The Board’s request includes

·        Full funding of statutory amounts for mentoring

·        Full funding of statutory amounts for professional development

·        92% of excess cost of special education

·        $69 increase to base state aid per pupil.

The Board also heard updates on current work of

·        The Teaching in Kansas Commission

·        The Kansas Educational Leadership Commission

·        A survey of professional development practices

·        Increasing the number of Highly Qualified teachers in high poverty schools.

In other action, the State Board:

·        Discussed guidelines for Virtual Schools in Kansas

·        Approved recommendations of the Professional Practices Commission to deny 1 application and revoke 3 licenses

·        Approve recommendations of the Evaluation Review Committee to approve new programs at:
          o       University of Kansas  
          o       Pittsburg State University  
          o       MidAmerica Nazarene University

·        Approve recommendations of the Licensure Review Committee to deny 4 license/endorsement requests and approve 13

·        Approved model curriculum standards for world languages

·        Approve bond elections for
          o       USD 383, Manhattan  
          o       USD 453, Leavenworth  
          o       USD 498, Valley Heights

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The August meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, August 12 and 13.  Board agenda and materials will be available on the KSDE website  on or after Monday, August 4.  All meetings of the State Board are audio-streamed and can be accessed on the KSDE website.

Results of the 2008 Kansas Teaching, Learning and Leadership survey were released at Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting.  All the results can be found at the KANTeLL website, www.kantell.org

Eric Hirsch, from the New Teacher Center at University of California, Santa Cruz, announced that the results were very positive, with 89% of respondents indicating that they want to continue teaching in their schools and 78% agreeing that their schools are good places to work and learn.

With one exception, the 2008 survey results indicated improvement in all working conditions, when compared to the 2006 survey results.  This time, only 63% of respondents, compared to 71% in ’06, said that the number of work days during the year is sufficient for teachers to meet expected professional responsibilities.

Results of the survey are available for statewide data, for USDs with 40% or greater response rate, and for individual buildings with 40% or greater response rate.

Also on the KANTeLL website are the 2006 results, copies of the survey questions, a facilitator’s guide [to help districts and schools use their data], and a copy of a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the statewide findings.

KNEA is working with survey coalition partner United School Administrators of Kansas to develop additional resources that districts and schools can use to facilitate discussions based on KANTeLL data.

Members Selected for SBOE Committees

New members for three statewide committees were selected by the State Board.  They are:

• Professional Standards Board – Sharon Klose, NEA SM and Lory Mills  , Derby  NEA
• Professional Practices Commission – Suzanne Bangert, NEA SM
• Licensure Review Committee – Ruth Goff, NEA SM

Each woman will serve a 3-year term, beginning July 1, 2008.  Their appointments were necessary because their predecessors had each served two full terms and were not eligible for reappointment.

Thanks to the following KNEA members for exemplary service to their profession:

• Professional Standards Board – Terry Boyd, Lansing NEA, and Cindy Garwick, NEA Manhattan/Ogden
• Professional Practices Commission – Eileen Hackley, Junction City  Education Association
• Licensure Review Committee – John Hope, UTW.

Members Recognized for Change Award

Augusta Education Association members Kelli Malm, Barb McCalla, Deb Kroeker, Jennifer Cody, Lori Hurst, and Cathy Shaffer [co-president of the local], accompanied by their principal, Kim Christner, and other Augusta district officials, made a presentation to the State Board about their work, which resulted in the school being named a 2008 Panasonic National School of Change award recipient.  Garfield is 1 of 6 schools in the US receiving the award.

In 10 years, they have seen changes in student learning, with state assessment scores moving from about half the students at or above proficiency to over 90%.

They attribute the improvement to a change in the mindset of the faculty – to deciding that they could and would educate every student.  Their work received ongoing leadership from their building principal and support from district administrators and the local board of education.

Interventions that supported their work included PLCs with data-driven dialogue, all day kindergarten and professional development long-term with research-based strategies.

Licensure  Regulations  Pass

The State Board unanimously passed changes to the teacher licensing regulations in Kansas.  A list of the changes can be found in the February, 2008, State Board News http://ks.nea.org/stateboardnews/archive.html

Most of the changes impact applicants who already hold licenses from other states.  The two changes that will have the greatest impact on current Kansas educators are:

Adding endorsements – a Kansas  license holder can add another endorsement by passing the Praxis II content test for that endorsement.   This option is not available for any special education endorsement, for the elementary endorsement, and for the early childhood endorsements.

“Masters plus experience” renewal option – any license holder with an advanced degree may renew twice during his/her career by submitting verification of 3 years of recent accredited experience during the life of the license being renewed.   This option was removed in 2003.   It is being reinstated and will be available to any eligible license holder, regardless of when he/she received the advanced degree.

Remember, also, on July 1, 2008, the license fee increases to $39!

KELC Recommendations Received

State Board members received 12 recommendations in 5 leverage areas from the Kansas Educational Leadership Commission.  The public/private partnership, funded by The Wallace Foundation and the Kansas Health Foundation, was formed to develop policy recommendations for the design, implementation and improvement of a system of leadership for Kansas schools.

The commission was chaired by Mary Devin, KSU, and Ed O’Malley, Kansas Leadership Center.  Blake West, president of KNEA, represented teachers on the commission.

In reviewing the recommendations, the State Board directed agency staff to bring an implementation work plan to a future SBOE meeting for discussion.

The recommendations, the final report, and supporting materials from the commission’s year of work can be found on the KSDE website.

The recommendations, in summary, include:

• Teacher leadership – incorporate into professional education standards; include as a domain for license renewal; add a license endorsement
• Preparation programs – fund a comprehensive review process to direct the overhaul of programs that prepare school leaders
• Evaluation – implement a statewide framework for evaluation of school administrators
• Professional development – fund professional development for school leaders, including induction and mentoring during the first 2 years on the job
• Conditions of work – fund 12 pilot initiatives to help school leaders devote more time to instructional-based leadership work.

In other action, the State Board

• Received an update on integration of career and academics
• Heard a report on shifting from seat-based to learning-based approaches to granting credit
• Began discussion of the FY10 budget request
• Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee
• Approved the contract with CETE, KU for the state assessment program
• Approved grants for FY09
• Four-year-old at risk programs
• Parents as Teachers programs
• Pre-K pilot programs
• 21st Century  Community Learning Center grants
• AmeriCorps-Kansas grants and projects
• Approved bond elections for USD 364, Marysville; USD 377, Effingham

The July meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, the 8th and 9th.  The agenda and board materials should be available on the KSDE website beginning on June 30.

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!

C&TE – What Does It Look Like?

Three school districts in Kansas that have begun initiatives to integrate career and technical education into their day-to-day operations discussed what they do and how they do it with the State Board this week.

This presentation provided the State Board with specific examples of how the 9 initiatives passed at the February meeting might look when implemented.  [See February State Board News for a list of the 9 initiatives.]

The Board also received an aggressive timeline outlining action steps that KSDE staff and schools must take to implement the 9 initiatives.

Board members are enthusiastic about the potential impact of the initiatives and discussed what it might take to get schools to understand that they [the Board] are serious about implementation.

Garden  City  High School participates in a national program called “High Schools That Work,” an initiative of the Southern Regional Education Board.  In Garden City, one of the important elements is a required senior project, which is reviewed by a panel of community and school leaders.

Field  Kindley  High School, Coffeyville, used the career clusters, the career pipeline and Skills USA to involve students, their families and the school faculty in decisions to help students with their high school and post-high school plans.

Erie-Galesburg  High School  is implementing Project Based Learning, which involves students in teacher-selected, then student-selected projects.  These projects are aligned with the Kansas curricular standards.  Standards that don’t fit neatly into projects are taught in small-group intensive settings.

Representatives of the three schools, including teachers, students and administrators, discussed how their programs address issues of high school credit, qualified admissions, and sustained resources.  They stressed that the strengths of their programs are based on their focus on rigor, relevance and relationships.

Administrators Recognized

The 2008 Kansas administrators of the year were recognized by the State Board.  They are:

• Jim Lentz, Augusta, superintendent
• Jim McNiece, Wichita Northwest HS, high school principal
• Bruce Krase, Remington Middle School, middle school principal
• Sandra Almos, Edith Scheuerman Elementary School, Garden City, elementary principal

Charter Schools Proposed

Ten new schools are recommended for Charter Status, beginning in the 2008-2009 school year.  They are:

• Jefferson West charter school
• Abilene Community Preparatory Junior/Senior charter
• Ulysses  Career  Learning Academy
• Burrton Technical Trades charter
• Oswego  Service  Valley Charter Academy
• El Dorado  Project Extend
• Little River – Kansas  Career and Technical  Charter School
• Humboldt  Learning  Center
• Spring Hill – Insight Schools of Kansas  at the Hilltop  Education Center
• Rural Vista – White  City  Middle Charter School

Following approval at the April State Board meeting, each of the schools will be eligible for a $60,000 planning grant, to be followed by implementation grants of up to $170,000 for each of the next two years.  These are in addition to the base state aid per pupil that each school will receive.

April State Board Meeting

The April 8 and 9 meeting of the State Board will be in District 1.  Janet Waugh, who represents that district, has chosen USD 500, Kansas City, Kansas, as the site of the meeting.  The agenda and board materials should be available on the KSDE website on Monday, March 31.

In other action, the State Board:

• Heard an update on legislative actions
• Denied a request for reconsideration of a previous decision regarding the revocation of a teaching license
• Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee
• Approved recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee to approve 19 and deny 5 requests for licensure/endorsements
• Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee
• Approve an innovative program at Emporia  State  University
• Approve a new ESOL program at MidAmerica  Nazarene  University
• Approve a new speech/theatre program at Southwestern  College
• Approve a contract with NSDC, the National Staff Development Council, to conduct surveys regarding implementation of professional development standards, the Standards Assessment Inventory
• Approved bond elections for:
  USD 259, Wichita
  USD 338, Valley Falls

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:

1. Create/approve Gold Standard assessments (industry-recognized credentials/certifications) in each of the Career Clusters that support high expectations.
2. Integrate core content standards with technical program standards utilizing the 16 career clusters as the organizing principle.
3. Support the implementation of Individual Career Plans of Study for all students in 8th grade and beyond.
4. Improve access to career and technical education by removing barriers and promoting partnerships.
5. Recommend Kansas Board of Regents to update qualified admissions.
6. Create 21st Century School Standards to help guide reform and/or redesign of public schools.
7. Support professional development for teachers (e.g. mentor-mentee models) to help guide students in planning for future careers.
8. Revise teacher preparation program standards to reflect the integration of content standards.
9. 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:

1. High expectations – Establish high expectations and provide students with frequent feedback.
2. Program of study – Require each student to complete an integrated academic core and a CTE concentration of study.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6.    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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Extra help – Provide a structure system of additional time and resources to assist students with high-level academic and technical content.
10. 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

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.

In a 9-0 vote, the State Board voted to begin the regulatory review process to remove some of the barriers to licensure in Kansas.  The recommendations will be sent to the State Attorney General and to the Department of Administration for review, then returned to the State Board, which must still set a date for and conduct a public hearing on the changes.

• Changing the name of the “conditional” license to “initial”
• Reduced the renewal requirements for standard substitute license to 50% of the professional development
• Reinstated the Masters plus experience renewal option
• Adding endorsements for out of state – must verify coursework and take the appropriate content assessment; Kansas endorsements must take the content assessment.  (does not apply to Early Education, Elementary, Early Childhood Unified, etc)
• Transitional license has been added – 1 year, Temporary, non-renewable – for out of state teachers who want to practice while meeting the state requirements and have no recent credit or experience or if retired, must complete 50% of the renewal requirements
• Transitional License is also available for Technical Certificates
• Interim Alternative – 2 year, non-renewable – for those who complete an alternative preparation program – must complete the Kansas Teaching Performance assessment and verify at least three (3) years experience or complete the content assessment and pedagogy assessment
• For out of state applicants – must verify 3 years of recent experience or a total of 5 years or more experience
• Emergency substitute can be renewed for 2 years
• Prohibition for compensation for student teachers has been removed

Future amendments may include changes in KPA, Direct Entry School Counselor, Special Education Director and others as identified.

State Board holds a joint meeting with the Board of Regents

The Kansas State Board of Education and the Board of Regents met jointly to discuss some common interests and goals.   Specifically, the two boards discussed the need for a P-20 council to improve student achievement by creating “a system of education that links and coordinates each education level into a seamless system guided by the principle that success in college begins in prekindergarten.” (ECS, StateNotes, P-16 Collaboration in the States, August 2000, p 1.) 

The P-20 Council membership would include representatives from both boards, legislature, early childhood education representative, business community and parent/local school boards.   Some of the highlights of the focus of this council would include standards based improvement, coherence among state department of education, school districts, institutions of higher education, business and foundations, and alignment in the use of federal, state, district and private funds.   The council would also undertake some work that is already ongoing and would include the Research Consortium focusing on P-16 longitudinal data system, the Leadership Commission, 21st Century Skills, Teaching in KS Commission, and the Early Learning Commission.  

The board voted 9-0 to send this recommendation to the Governor.

Board Hears the Supply-Demand Analysis Study and Post Secondary Technical Education Authority

The supply-demand analysis study (Positioning Kansas for Competitive Advantage) completed this year was commissioned by the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Kansas Board of Regents and contracted with Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW).   The study looked at four industry clusters – advanced manufacturing with an emphasis on aviation, bioscience, health care and energy.   Secondary education statistics data was included in the report.  The presentation by Mr. Gary Yakimov, Director of Business and Industry Strategies included information about aligning supply with demand in order to be competitive nationally and globally.  Acknowledgement was given that the jobs for which we are preparing students today do not exist. 

Recommendations include

• Aligning post secondary education with K-12 and workforce development 
• Convening key stakeholders and policy makers to align resources and strategies
• Implementing cost adjustments for high cost technical programs
• Repeating the supply-demand study at the regional level
• Provide “seed capital” for regional sector/cluster initiatives and require research into root causes
• Restrict the use of federal program training monies to certain targeted occupations
• Set qualified goals for closing specific gaps
• Put the common core course project back on track and mandate common course numbering and transfer of credits for a core set of courses
• Develop a message campaign that highlights the importance of postsecondary education and specific skills

The board listened and discussed the report, but took no official action.

Joseph Glassman, Chairman of the Kansas Post Secondary Technical Education Authority, discussed the need for baseline standardization of curriculum and developing minimum standards by using the recommendations of business and industry.   He believes that the conversation with business and industry will lead to major changes in our classrooms and in what we are teaching to provide our students the ability to succeed in the global economy.   At this point there are no recommendations, but the need to continue the conversation and to be open to inviting business and industry to the table. 

The State Board approved a legislative package that has the potential to significantly increase teacher salaries in Kansas.  They voted to ask the Legislature to fund a 4-year school finance plan with an emphasis on base state aid per pupil and to add $200 to the base, a 4.5% increase.

The intent of both elements is to fund teacher salary increases that allow Kansas to reach the median state average teacher salary in 5 years.  To accomplish this, Kansas must increase average teacher salaries 2% above the national median increase.

Kathy Martin asked if the Legislature could earmark money, to ensure it went to teacher salaries.  Dennis commented that such earmarks would not be consistent with “local control.”

Each element passed on a separate vote.  The 4-year plan passed 8-0 [John Bacon and Ken Willard were absent] and the $200 on the base passed 6-1-1, with Sally Cauble, Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Jana Shaver, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh voting yes, Steve Abrams voting no, and Kathy Martin abstaining.

According to Dale Dennis, deputy commissioner, Kansas is currently 10% behind the median national average salary and it would take $270 million to reach the median immediately.  $100 on the base, a figure that had been discussed previously, would put us behind, because nationally salaries are increasing 3% per year.

Board Continues Licensure Review

In an ongoing effort to identify barriers to Kansas licensure, the State Board asked staff to forward several proposals to the Professional Standards Board for discussion and review.

Most of the proposals, which were conceptual, address concerns regarding out-of-state applicants, reactivating expired licenses, use of substitute licenses, and the KPA.

The PSB will discuss the concepts and develop specific proposals that could be put in regulatory language.  It is expected that such language would begin the formal review process in early 2008, with adoption and implementation in time for the 2008-2009 school year.

Some key concepts presented included:

• Rename the Conditional License to the Initial License
• Expand the availability of the 1-year non-renewable license, to allow those with out of state licenses access to practice while fulfilling missing Kansas  requirements
• Consider additional ways to add endorsements to existing licenses
• Grant the Professional License to out of state candidates who can document a minimum number of years teaching experience in that state
• Renew emergency substitute licenses for more than 1 year
• Require the KPA at the preparation level
• Allow the KPA as another option to renew a Professional License
• Involve school administrators in the requirements to upgrade from Conditional/initial to Professional License

The Professional Standards Board and the Regulations Committee each meet in November, 2007.

Board to Hold ‘Focus Forums’

Each State Board member will host a ‘Focus Forum’ in his/her district between now and January 1, 2008.  The purpose is to discuss how schools can be more responsive to the needs of society and the needs of students.

Each forum will have about a dozen invited guests, chosen by the State Board member.  Each board member will also choose the location for his/her forum.

Dates for the forums are:

October 31, district 2, Sue Gamble
November 19, district 7, Ken Willard
November 26, [either district 3, John Bacon or district 1, Janet Waugh]
November 20, district 4, Bill Wagnon
December 3, district 9, Jana Shaver
December 5, district 8, Carol Rupe
December 13, district 6, Kathy Martin
December 17 [district 3 or district 1]
December 18, district 10, Steve Abrams
December 19, district 5, Sally Cauble

KSDE Reorganization

Commissioner Alexa Posny announced a reorganization/realignment of two former KSDE divisions.  The new division will be called Learning and Innovative Services.  It will have 6 departments.  Several staff changes were announced as part of the reorganization.

• Deputy Commissioner – Accountability – [Tom Foster, interim]
• Research and Evaluation – Phyllis Clay, director
• Teacher Education and Licensure – [vacant], director
         Susan Helbert, assistant director
• Innovation and Improvement – Bill Hagerman, director
          Robin Harris and Sarah Thomas, assistant directors
• Standards and Assessment Services – Tom Foster, director
          Scott Smith and Jeannette Nobo, assistant directors
• Special Education Services – Colleen Riley, director
           Kerry Ottlinger Haag and Patty Gray, assistant directors
• Consolidated and Support Services – [vacant], director
           Judi Miller and Norma Cregan, assistant directors

In other action, the State Board:

• Held a study session on career and technical education issues
• Received an update from the Kansas Board of Regents on technical colleges, area technical schools and community colleges
• Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to revoke 2 licenses and deny 1 license application
• Approve a bond election for USD 335, North Jackson

September State Board News

More Kansas Schools Hit AYP Target

“89% of Kansas schools made adequate yearly progress (AYP), even though the targets for mathematics and reading have been steadily increasing since 2002,” according to information released by the State Board on Tuesday, September, 11.  This compares to 84% of schools making AYP last year.

1,229 schools and 263 USDs made AYP this year.  154 schools and 33 USDs did not.

Kansas, as a state, did not make AYP in reading.  This is because 3 subgroups did not make AYP.

Board members and KSDE staff agreed that the increase in the number of schools making AYP was due to the hard work of teachers, students, and administrators.

Specific information on each school will be available when the Building Report Cards are released in October.

You can see Tom Foster’s PowerPoint presentation to the Board at http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=rT1kWBOUc6c=&tabid=466  Foster is deputy commissioner of learning services.

Board Receives Ambitious Plan of Action

Alexa Posny, commissioner of education, outlined an ambitious plan of action for the department to follow in addressing the goal, objectives and strategies identified by the State Board at their August, 2007, retreat.

While the activities are too numerous to list here, they include collection of information and research, study sessions for the State Board, summits and forums on specific topics, and development of policy recommendations.

Objectives 2 and 3, listed below, could have great impact on KNEA members.  We will be following the department’s activities and advocating for significant teacher involvement in the discussions and decisions.

Watch State Board News and Under the Dome for possible action alerts.

The goal, objectives and strategies are:

Goal: Ensure that all students meet or exceed high academic standards and are prepared for their next steps (e.g. the world of work and/or post-secondary education)

1.  Redesign the delivery system to meet our students’ changing needs.
     a.  Develop and implement policy on academic/vocational integration
     b.  Identify, replicate, and promote best practices that can be targeted to specific populations (e.g., high schools; middle school reading; early childhood)
     c.  Study and clarify regulations and identify challenges
     d.  Examine the definition of a classroom in a redesigned system

2.  Provide an effective educator in every classroom.
     a.  Develop a policy on alternative compensation
     b.  Identify obstacles
     c.  Assess the effectiveness of current professional development practices
     d.  Identify, replicate, and promote best practice in teacher preparation and professional development
     e.  Improve the support system for teachers
     f.  Develop recruitment strategies for future teachers
     g.  Assess and improve the alternate licensure program
     h.  Promote loving, safe, supportive and nurturing environments

3.  Ensure a visionary and effective leader in every school
     a.  Identify, replicate, and promote best practices in preparation and performance
     b.  Identify and grow visionary leaders focused on learning
     c.  Study the impact of current leadership programs

4.  Improve communication with all constituent groups and policy partners
     a.  Align pre-K through 16 systems of support in collaboration with identified partners (e.g. Kansas Board of Regents, SRS, etc.)
     b.  Develop a structure for regularly communicating about education with the legislative leadership of both parties with a focus on areas of common interest
     c.  Keep the public informed on key policy areas
     d.  Resume focus group meetings in each board member district and periodic meetings with the media
     e.  Improve communication of relevant information with school faculty.

October & November SBOE Meeting Changes

Due to scheduling conflicts, the October 9 and 10 State Board meeting will occur in Topeka and the November 13 and 14 meeting will occur in Olathe.  The October board agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website after Monday, October 1.

In other action, the State Board:

• Heard an update on curriculum standards, qualified admissions and graduation requirements
• Heard a panel presentation on high school mathematics courses
• Met the Special Education Advisory Council, SEAC, and received their annual report
• Set Tuesday, December 11, 2007, as the public hearing on proposed changes to special education regulations, pp. 61-125
• Approved recommendations from the License Review Committee to approve 16 and deny 3 license/endorsement requests, p. 127
• Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee, p. 131
• Approve 2 Visiting Scholar license requests, p. 133
• Approve contract for $225,000 each to KU and ESU to provide professional development for MTSS (multi tiered systems of support), p. 139
• Approve 4 grants of $33,000 for charter school dissemination projects, p. 157
• Received 2007-8 district allocations for NCLB programs, pp. 163-172
• Approve bond elections for
  • USD 202, Turner
  • USD 203, Piper
  • USD 265, Goddard
  • USD 313, Buhler
  • USD 373, Newton
  • USD 437, Auburn-Washburn
  • USD 442, Nemaha Valley
  • USD 470, Arkansas City

Staff Changes

Dr. Martha Gage, director of teacher education and licensure, has left KSDE.  Susan Helbert is interim director of TEAL.

Dr. Larry Englebrick, deputy commissioner of school innovations, has also left KSDE.

Board Sets Goals & Objectives

The State Board unanimously endorsed the work they did at their retreat Monday to update and clarify their goals and objectives.  The hiring of Alexa Posny as commissioner prompted the review.  At the September meeting, Posny will bring a work plan and timeline for addressing the board priorities.

The goal and objectives are:

Ensure that all students meet or exceed high academic standards and are prepared for their next steps (e.g. the work of work and/or post-secondary education) by:

• Redesign the delivery system to meet our students’ changing needs.
• Provide an effective educator in every classroom.
• Ensure a visionary and effective leader in every school.
• Improve communication with all constituent groups and policy partners.

Professional Standards Board, Licensure Review Committee Appointments

The State Board made the following appointments to committees that advise them on licensure issues:

• Linda Stecher, Easton NEA, PSB, classroom teacher
• Bill Meek, Spring Hill, PSB, local boards of education
• Ed Raines, Auburn Washburn, LRC, administrator

Board Approves FY09 Budget Recommendation

The State Board has decided to forward a package containing almost $35m in programs and enhancements to the Governor, for possible inclusion in her FY09 budget.  The Board adopted some of the package unanimously and one part on a 6-3-1 vote.

Unanimous approval went to:

• $1.5 m for full funding of the mentor teacher program
• $6.25 m for full funding of the “inservice” education program
• $300,000 for leadership academy activities
• $1.9m for linear transition in allocation of high-density at-risk funds
• $5,000 each to enhance Communities in Schools, KACEE, and Ag in the Classroom

The board voted 6-3-1 [for: Cauble, Gamble, Rupe, Shaver, Wagnon, Waugh; against: Abrams, Bacon, Willard; abstain: Martin] to ask the legislature for an additional $41 on the base state aid per pupil.  The school finance formula already allocates $59 for FY09.  This amount would bring the new money to $100 per student.  This increase would cost the state just over $25m.

The majority of the board selected this option to give districts the greatest flexibility in how the new money could be used.  Traditionally, 70-75% of new money goes to increasing salaries, a stated interest of the board.

The Board’s recommendation will be submitted to the Governor, who will use it as she develops her FY09 budget request to the Legislature.

In other action, the State Board

• Heard a presentation from Mike Mathes, USD 345, Seaman, on back to school preparations
• Heard a presentation from Kay Haas, Olathe NEA, on how USD 233 uses instructional coaches
• Heard a presentation from Diana Weiland, USD 315, Colby, on PDCs
• Heard a presentation on how teacher and administrator preparation programs receive approval
• Received the list of Title 1 schools and districts on improvement for 2007-2008
• Received an update on the State Library’s Homework Kansas program
• Adopted recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee to approve 9 and deny 6 license/endorsement requests
• Approved 5 requests from the Waiver Review Committee, 2 special education, 1 pe, 1 FACS, 1 math
• Approved recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee
• Tabor  College  , continuing accreditation, through 12/31/10
• Central  Christian  College, limited accreditation, through 12/31/10
• Approved revisions to internship standards for advanced preparation programs
• Approved new standards for Reading Specialist preparation programs
• Approved requests for bond elections from

1. USD 267, Renwick
2. USD 377, Atchison  County
3. USD 458, Basehor-Linwood
4. USD 491, Eudora

The September meeting of the State Board of Education will be the 11th and 12th, in Topeka.  Board materials should be available on the KSDE website immediately after Labor Day.

The October meeting of the State Board will be the 9th and 10th.  It will occur in John Bacon’s district 3.  Bacon has selected Olathe as the site of the meeting.

Board Begins Budget Discussions

The 2007-2008 school year has barely begun, but it’s already time to discuss the FY09 state budget!  With a mid-September due date to the Governor looming, the State Board began deliberating their recommendations.

Some parts were easy: on an 8-0 vote [board members Bacon and Wagnon were absent from the meeting], the board agreed to ask the Legislature to fully fund the teacher mentoring statute and the inservice education/professional development statute.  Both programs have been in law for years and neither has been fully funded for quite a while, leaving USDs in the position of transferring money from their general fund to cover the mandated expenses.

In addition, the board voted 8-0 to support a linear progression model for applying the high-density at-risk weighting money.  Currently, if a district drops below 50%, they lose half their money and if they drop below 40% they lose all their money.

When it came to determining additional money to be added to the $59 per pupil increase already built  into the school finance formula [the last year of the 3 year plan that resulted from the school finance litigation], progress slowed.

All board members indicated that they understood the need to address teacher shortages by increasing teacher salaries.  They indicated interest in putting money onto the base so that USDs would have the greatest flexibility in how to spend that money.  They were not in agreement on how much to recommend.

Dale Dennis indicated that a $100 increase on the base would result in average teacher salary increases in the 4.5% range, similar to the range seen during the first year of the funding formula.  He predicted that the $59 increase would result in 3 – 3.25% increases.

A motion to add $41 additional dollars, bringing the increase to $100 on the base, failed 5-3, with Cauble, Gamble, Rupe, Shaver and Waugh voting yes and Abrams, Martin and Willard voting no.

The issue will be revisited at the August meeting.

Educators Appointed to Advisory Committees

Susan Reusser, Andover EA, was appointed to a 3-year term on the Professional Practices Commission.  This is the body that makes recommendations to the State Board regarding disciplinary actions relating to educator licenses.

Susan Myers, superintendent, USD 409, Atchison, was appointed for two years to complete a term on the PPC.

Pam Amott, United Teachers of Wichita, and Angela Bowman, Gardner-Edgerton NEA, were each appointed to 3-year terms on the Licensure Review Committee.  This body makes recommendations to the State Board regarding licenses of applicants who do not exactly meet the Kansas regulations.

Board Schedules Retreat

The State Board and new Commissioner Dr. Alexa Posny have scheduled a planning retreat for Thursday and Friday, July 26 and 27.  Beginning at 1:30 pm on the 26th and finishing early afternoon on the 27th, the Board will consider Dr. Posny’s stated priorities along with previously set Board goals.  In several speeches this month, Dr. Posny has identified one goal and five priorities:  Ensure success by 

1. intervening early

2. preparing students for life after school 

3. partnering with parents, businesses and communities 

4. recruiting and retaining educators 

5. advocating to improve results

The retreat will be at the Topeka Shawnee County Public Library.  Dr. Brenda Welburn, executive director of the National Association of State Boards of Education, will facilitate.

In other action, the State Board:

• recognized Norm Conard, Uniontown TA, a 2007 inductee into the National Teachers’ Hall of Fame
• recognized Teri Dow, USD 320, Wamego, 2006 finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching
• heard a presentation on the Visiting International Teachers program
• received revised content standards for reading specialists
• received revised internship standards for all advanced preparation programs
• received a report on requirements for virtual schools
• adopted recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to deny 3 applications and to revoke 4 licenses
• adopted recommendations from the Evaluation Review Committee:
    *Washburn  University, accredited through 12-31-2011
    *Ottawa  University, 1 program approved with stipulation through 12-31-2011
    *Newman  University, 5 programs approved through 12-31-2011
    *McPherson  College, 13 programs approved through 12-31-2013; 3 programs approved with
         stipulation through 12-31-2008
    *Tabor  College, 1 program approved through 12-31-2009
    *Baker  University, 1 program approved through 12-31-2008
• adopted recommendations from the Licensure Review Committee
    *25 requests for license/endorsement approved
    *4 requests denied
• approved requests for bond elections from
    *USD 101, Erie
    *USD 232, DeSoto
    *USD 233, Olathe
• endorsed the formation of the Kansas Education Leadership Commission

The next formal meeting of the State Board of Education will be Tuesday and Wednesday, August 14 and 15, in Topeka.  Board agenda and materials should be available on the KSDE website on Monday, August 6.  The new materials, and all previous agendas and materials, can be found at http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=427

License  Regulation  Changes Pass

Beginning in early August, 2007, currently licensed Kansas educators will have additional ways to add endorsements to their existing teaching licenses.

On a 9-1 vote, the State Board passed a package of amendments to the licensing regulations.  These were developed by the Professional Standards Board in response to the State Board’s challenge to identify and remove existing barriers to licensure in Kansas.

Steve Abrams, district 10, voted against the package.  Abrams stated that he was not opposed to removing barriers but felt that provisions in the package lowered standards.

The changes, which become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register , include:

• Teachers with a secondary license with one or more science endorsements can add additional science endorsements by passing the Praxis content assessment for that endorsement.
• Any licensed teacher can add a middle level endorsement by documenting 15 credit hours in the content area (math, science, English language arts or history/government) plus a middle level pedagogy course or recent experience in grades 6-8 and passing the appropriate Praxis content assessment.
• Middle level or secondary level endorsed teachers can add secondary endorsements by completing 50% of the approved content area program, including the content methods course, and completing the appropriate Praxis content assessment.  Endorsements for adaptive, functional, gifted, deaf or hard-of-hearing, and visually impaired are not available using this option.
• The 2.5 GPA requirement for an initial teaching license is no longer in effect.  [This was removed because other assessment requirements are in place.]
• Early childhood is now available for a provisional endorsement.
• A Restricted License is now available for School Specialist endorsements.
• The Provisional License can now be issued at a level different from levels on a current license.
• A One-year Non-renewable License can be issued without evidence of an existing offer of employment.
• The Foreign Exchange Teaching License now requires a credential evaluation, limits the license to a maximum of 3 years and clarifies that the assignment must be in the content preparation area or for the native language of the license holder.
• Experienced school counselors from out of state who do not have classroom experience now have a way to obtain the KS school counselor endorsement.
• Colleges and universities have a way to get “innovative or experimental programs” approved.

The Professional Standards Board will continue to look at the licensing system to make sure that it maintains high standards and reduces any additional barriers that might be identified.

In other action, the State Board:

• Began discussions of the FY09 budget
• Heard about a project with NSDC, the National Staff Development Council, to train teachers in coaching skills
• Reviewed the 21st Century Learning Skills project
• Appointed 8 new members to the Special Education Advisory Council
• Tabled an agreement to allow voters in USD 324, Eastern  Heights  , and USD 238, West Smith County, to consider consolidating their districts
• Approved a land transfer from USD 337, Royal  Valley  , to USD 336, Holton, to allow the new superintendent to live within the district, with the stipulation that the land reverts to USD 337 after his employment ends

The July meeting of the State Board will be Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10 and 11, in Topeka.  This will be the first meeting with Commissioner Alexa Posny.   Meeting materials should be available on the KSDE website July 2.

Recruitment and Retention

Dr. Martha Gage reported that the shortage of teachers in Kansas is not going away soon.  She asked the board to look at data in several areas including teacher qualifications, preparation, and areas of greatest need.  Is it possible to have high quality and sufficient quantity at the same time?  Some suggestions included:

• Lowering standards and test scores (however, this was certainly not a recommendation)
• Limit, expand, eliminate, or add requirements
• Limit programs with excessive content hours
• Add more preparation in special education, ELL, technology
• If we add – what do we take away?
• Begin anew

Dr. Gage noted that the number of content hours needed for some endorsements were prohibitive for teachers.   Data on retention of teachers shows that those with induction and mentoring for at least three years were much more likely to stay in the field.   She cited the Teacher Working Conditions survey noting the need for mentoring in leadership positions as well; strong, effective leaders build strong schools. 

Beth Fultz presented the Licensed Personnel Report State Profile for 2006-2007 which showed an increase in licensed personnel of 3.3%.  Other statistics include:

• 92% of the state mentored teachers returned vs 87% without state mentoring support (some may have received mentoring from the district without state support)
• 93% are fully qualified; 3.4% are provisionally qualified
• 88.2% are highly qualified; 91.9% are fully licensed

Small districts with one elementary and one high school present the most difficulty in trying to staff.  For instance, they may have only one science teacher who must teach biology, chemistry, physical science, and physics, but cannot be highly qualified in all of these areas.  The state is giving more waivers, but the retention of those teachers in the same position is decreasing.-

Assessment Targets Reviewed

Dr. Tom Foster reviewed the procedure for assessing the targets for 2007-2014.  Because of the formula specified by NCLB, when a new test is given, a new starting point must be used and the targets are adjusted.  The new targets for 2007 would have resulted in a 15% increase for 9-12 Reading.  The discussion about each of the targets led Carol Rupe to make a motion that would set the targets at the level established in 2002; the motion passed 8-0.  According to Dr. Foster, Kansas must show “significant” progress in assessments each year.  If the federal government does not approve the targets, next fall, additional schools may be placed on the list of schools not meeting AYP.

Model Library-Media and Technology Standards Received

The Library-Media and Technology Standards were received by the board in a presentation by the co-chairs of the committee, Dr. Mirah Dow and Carol Fax, both from Emporia State University.  In determining the standards recommendations for Kansas, the committee looked at standards from other states as well as national standards.  They will follow up with a five year qualitative and quantitative study.  Currently, the state requires a technology assessment at the eighth grade, however, a state test has not been developed.  Under the guidelines, each district may determine their own assessment in this area and report the results to the state.  The 500 page report can be accessed through the state board website – www.ksde.org– state board, May materials. 

Reading First Program

A report on the Reading First Program being used in both Wichita  and Arkansas  City shows significant gains in reading assessments at all levels.  Both districts believed that the program, although very prescriptive, was the reason for the higher test scores in reading.  Arkansas City superintendent was able to eliminate other programs being used, such as Accelerated Reader, and put that money into the budget for Reading First. 

ESOL Presentation from Southwest  Plains  Regional Service Center

The Southwest  Plains  Regional Service Center has several programs in this region of the state because of the minority-majority population.  They look at second language acquisition as an opportunity rather than a challenge.  The programs address four areas:  reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  Addressing these issues for second language learners is challenging.  More training for teachers is required and more time for teachers to address the problems is needed.  The two most effective programs include Sheltered Instruction where the teacher is taught to address all content objectives with reading, writing, listening and speaking objectives as well.  The most effective program is Bilingual/Dual Language programs K-12.  This is also the most costly and requires bilingual teachers.  Many of the bilingual, well-educated professionals in the community would like to be utilized by the school system, but find it to be cost/time prohibitive to become certified teachers. 

Other Action

• Model Standards for Health Education have been revised to provide opt out and a sex education curriculum – passed 6-3; Bacon, Martin, Willard voted against
• Model Standards for Visual Arts – Sally Cauble presented an amendment to the introduction stating that the standards are written for students rather than teachers.   Motion failed for a lack of 6 votes
• Charter school for Oberle/Kinsley was moved to 2007-2008
• Waiver for minimum school year for Greensburg  was passed
• Ms. Madeleine Burkindine was appointed Superintendent/Principal for the Kansas  State  School for the Blind

Approved

• Licensure Review Committee Recommendations
• Waiver Review Committee Recommendations
• Reappointments to the Standards Board
• Reappointments to the Licensure Review Committee
• Reappointments to the Professional Practices Commission
• Licensure Fee for FY 2008 (stays the same)
• Continuing contract with KU and Emporia State for Title I professional development
• Accreditation waiver for Cimarron Jr/Sr High School, USD 102
• Kansas Inservice plan

The April State Board meeting was held in Junction City, at the offices of USD 475, Geary County.  Twice each year, the State Board meets away from Topeka in board member districts.  Kathy Martin, board member for district 6, chose to highlight activities in Junction City.

As part of their meeting, board members visited Fort Riley, several USD 475 schools, and also met with the board and administrators from USD 379, Clay Center, Mrs. Martin’s home district.

USD 475, Geary County, presented information during the meeting about how the growth in and around Fort Riley is impacting their district.  They also highlighted the long-standing school improvement efforts that have been the district’s focus for over 20 years.

All board members attended the meeting except John Bacon, who typically misses the April board meeting due to work-related obligations.

Board Schedules Commissioner Candidate Interviews

The State Board will interview finalists for Commissioner of Education on Thursday, April 26, in the Board Room at KSDE.

While no specific information is available about those being interviewed, only one day is set aside for the interviews.

Watch local media outlets on the 26th and 27th to see if candidates are identified as they enter the interview room.

Charter Schools Approved

Ten schools received charter status at the April meeting.  This means that they will receive planning grants of $60,000 each and first year implementation grants of $155,000.  These funds come from a federal charter school grant that Kansas received last year.

The board voted 9-0 to approve all except USD 500 and USD 101.  Those charters were approved 8-1, with Sue Gamble voting no on each.  She explained that her concern with USD 500’s charter was a process concern and her concern that the USD 101 charter converts the district’s only high school to a charter.

The new charter schools and sponsoring districts are:

• USD 500, Maurice R. Holman Academy of Excellence (requested planning grant only)
• USD 503, Parsons  Health  Career Academy
• USD 308, Salthawk  Charter  School
• USD 218, Point  Rock  Family Academy
• USD 373, Walton 21st Century Rural Life  Learning Center
• USD 382, Walden  Center
• USD 267, St. Mark’s Charter  School
• USD 101, Project Based Learning  Charter  School
• USD 261, Haysville  Charter  School
• USD 418, McPherson  County  Charter School

In addition, 3 charter schools received implementation funding.  These schools were approved as charters last year, prior to the availability of federal funds.  They are:

• USD 349, Stafford  High  Charter School
• USD 202, Turner Virtual Learning  Center
• USD 376, Sterling  Academy

Board materials on this topic are on pp. 115-117.

In other action, the State Board:

• Approved land transfers

From USD 101 to USD 447, pp. 47-50
From USD 102 to USD 371, pp. 51-56

• Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to

Deny 2 applications
Accept 1 voluntary surrender

• Received model curriculum standards for the visual arts, pp. 119-255
  
• Received model standards for health education, pp. 257-384
  
• Approved recommendations from the Waiver Review Committee, p. 395
  
• Approved requests for bond elections from

USD 410, Durham-Lehigh-Hillsboro, pp. 403-404
USD 505, Chetopa-St. Paul, pp. 405-406
USD 508, Baxter Springs, pp. 407-408

• Heard a presentation about the Kansas Learning First Alliance, p. 417
  
• Heard a presentation about early childhood activities, p. 419
  
• Received an update on KERC, Kansas  Education  Resource Center, p. 421
  
• Heard an update on NAEP, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, p. 25.
  

May State Board Meeting

The May meeting of the State Board is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8 and 9 in Topeka.  Meeting materials should be available on the KSDE website  on Monday, April 30.

Guidelines for seclusion rooms and use of restraint with students with disabilities were approved by the State Board, 7-2-1.  Voting for the guidelines were Steve Abrams, Sally Cauble, Sue Gamble, Carol Rupe, Bill Wagnon and Janet Waugh.  Voting against were John Bacon and Ken Willard.  Kathy Martin abstained.

The guidelines, which can be read in the State Board materials, http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=TAtfvVQz3aQ%3d&tabid=427&mid=1073 beginning on page 49, will be monitored closely by the Student Support Services division at KSDE.

The guidelines cover use of and restrictions on seclusion rooms, size and characteristics of seclusion rooms, use of and restrictions on physical and mechanical restraints, and reporting and notification requirements for both seclusion rooms and use of restraints.

Members who work with students with disabilities should review these guidelines carefully to ensure that they are working within them.  The guidelines specify the kinds of training that staff members should receive before using either seclusion rooms or restraint techniques.  Guideline 5 is especially important, as it describes who must be notified, and by when, when either a seclusion room or restraints are used with students with disabilities.

Public Hearing for Licensure Regulations Changes Set

The State Board has set Tuesday, June 12, at 1:30 pm as the official public hearing for proposed changes to the educator licensure regulations.  These changes, which were forwarded from the Professional Standards Board, address areas identified as barriers to achiev