UTAH STATE BOARD INCUMBENTS WILL NO LONGER GET NOMINATION PREFERENCE — The practice that gives Utah State Board of Education members seeking reelection an automatic pass for nomination is coming to an end. Instead, sitting board members must first be approved by the nominee selection committee that vets all other prospective board contestants before nominations are approved by the governor. Voters choose state board members after the committee recommends three nominees per open seat and the governor selects two of those candidates to appear on the ballot. Members of the gubernatorial committee said they ended automatic incumbent recommendations to ensure the most qualified candidates end up on the ballot. “Incumbency does not make them, in my opinion, the most qualified person for the position,” said Christina Oliver, a committee member and department manager for transit-oriented development at the Utah Transit Authority. This year, 59 people–including eight incumbents–applied to run for nine state board seats. Source: Salt Lake Tribune (4/4/12)
OKLAHOMA STATE BOARD APPROVES SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM — The Oklahoma State Board of Education adopted a set of rules for giving the state, districts, and schools letter grades on an A-to-F scale for educational performance. Scores will be set based on student test scores and improvement, school averages and improvement, and whether schools or districts offer advanced, college-prep classes. The rules, which allow for a 30-day review period for schools that contest their rating but no direct appeals procedures, will go into effect for the 2012-13 school year. Source: Associated Press (3/29/12)
WISCONSIN TARGETS READING, EDUCATOR EVALUATIONS IN NEW LAW — Gov. Scott Walker, joined by Wisconsin State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Evers, signed legislation that aims to boost reading levels across the state and establishes a statewide system for evaluating teachers and principals in public schools. The law requires kindergarteners to be screened to identify those who are behind in developing early literacy skills and beginning in 2014 will require prospective elementary and special education teachers to pass an assessment in reading instruction. The measure also creates a public-private partnership—the Read to Lead Development Council—that will support and work to scale-up successful reading programs. The evaluation component requires principals and teachers to be assessed using a rubric based 50 percent on student performance and 50 percent on practice. The law also shines a light on teacher preparation and alternative certification programs by requiring them to report the number of candidates who pass certification exams on the first try. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (4/2/12)
PENNSYLVANIA GIVES 200 DISTRICTS RIGHT TO RAISE TAXES WITHOUT PUBLIC VOTE — The Pennsylvania education department granted authority to about 200 local school districts statewide to raise taxes without public referenda. Exemptions from putting tax increases to a vote were restricted this time so districts could raise funds to pay obligations from school construction, pay for special education, or cover pension costs. In previous years, districts were able to apply for waivers for 10 reasons. Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (4/3/12)
BILL AGAINST ‘INDECENT ATTIRE’ IN TENNESSEE SCHOOLS SENT TO GOVERNOR — A Tennessee measure that would prevent students from wearing clothes that “indecently” reveal underwear or body parts awaits Gov. Bill Haslam’s signature. If it becomes law, the bill would allow school districts to set their own penalties for offences. Even before it becomes law, the legislation’s author has already said he wants to rewrite the proposal to make the penalties against students who wear, for example, pants below the waist or sports bras as tops, more severe. If Haslam signs, Tennessee would join Arkansas and Florida as the only states that ban such attire in schools. Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (4/2/12)
MISSOURI SENATE PUTS ASIDE MOVE TO END TEACHER TENURE — A move to end teacher tenure in Missouri was sidetracked when the state Senate instead approved a plan to create a task force to examine the relationship between teachers’ pay and their effectiveness. The bill, which now goes to the House, calls for the task force to report out by the end of this year. Source: stltoday.com (4/3/12)
ARKANSAS HIGH COURT SAYS TEACHER/ADULT STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS ARE LEGAL — The Arkansas State Supreme Court overturned a law prohibiting consensual sex between teachers and students younger than 21, and the state Education Department is looking at how the decision affects its personnel policies. Ruling on a case in which a high school teacher was convicted of second-degree sexual assault for having sex with an 18-year-old female student, the court overturned the law and the conviction on a 4-3 vote. The majority opinion held that while the teacher’s actions were “reprehensible,” it also stated that the law infringed on the privacy of consenting adults. The decision left department officials trying to understand how to proceed, because its ethics code bars sexual contact between teachers and students younger than 21 and allows school boards to fire offending teachers. Sources: Arkansas Online (3/29/12), Arkansas News (4/1/12)
** ANNOUNCEMENTS **
THIS YEAR’S READ FOR THE RECORD book is Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad. The annual reading challenge will also be a week long for the first time to give more people the chance to participate in the literacy promotion activity. For more information, go to www.wegivebooks.org.
FIND OUT WHAT “GREEN CLEANING” CAN MEAN FOR SCHOOLS in the latest issue of NASBE’s award-winning journal, The State Education Standard. Read “Green Cleaning Schools” to learn just exactly what “green cleaning” means, how to recognize certified green products, examples of how states have implemented green cleaning policies, and more! Go to http://goo.gl/js1hU to purchase copies or examine downloadable articles.
THE 10TH ANNUAL HEALTHY SCHOOLS DAY, focused on the promotion of healthy and green indoor learning environments in schools, is coming up April 24. To find out more about the day or to plan and register an event as part of the occasion, go to http://www.nationalhealthyschoolsday.org/.
WANT TO KEEP UP WITH NASBE on your Android phone? No problem. Just go to http://bit.ly/pEmZla or search NASBE in the Android marketplace to download and get started with the NASBE Now app!