GEORGIA STATE BOARD ACTS TO REMOVE ALL MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD — In a unanimous decision, the Georgia State Board of Education recommended the removal of every member of the Miller County school board after it failed to reconcile its dysfunctional relationship with the local superintendent. A state law passed last June permits the state board of education to recommend removal of local board members by the governor if the district is in jeopardy of losing its accreditation. Miller County was placed on probation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in November, when members were also warned by the state board to get their house in order. If the governor approves, the county members would be suspended with pay for the remainder of their terms. Source: Coshocton Tribune (3/30/2012)
OREGON STATE BOARD APPROVES HUNDREDS OF ACHIEVEMENT AGREEMENTS — Oregon’s Education Investment Board approved achievement compacts that will measure the success of 197 school districts, 17 community colleges, seven universities, and the Oregon Health & Science University. The detailed expectations that make up the compacts were approved by the panel just weeks ago. They include yardsticks for school districts and higher education such as the number of 9th graders who pass six or more courses, the proportion of African American students who earn diplomas, and the number of postsecondary students who complete remedial classes and move on to earn a degree and find a job. Schools and colleges must develop specific target goals for each measure by July 2. Source: Oregonlive.com (3/27/12)
MARYLAND BILL WOULD ENFORCE MAINTENANCE OF EDUCATION SPENDING — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said he will sign a bill that demands maintenance of education spending by counties. The new measure would require Maryland counties and Baltimore city to adhere to a base level of education spending. If the counties fail to meet the minimums, the state would keep part of the county tax revenues and deliver the funds directly to the local school boards. The measure was drafted to deal with counties that take ever-increasing amounts of state education aid but cut back on their own contributions. Source: Baltimore Sun (3/23/12)
VIRGINIA STATE BOARD ADOPTS TOUGHER MATH TESTS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS — Despite objections from superintendents, teachers, and students, the Virginia State Board unanimously adopted new, more rigorous Standards of Learning (SOL) math assessments for grades three through eight. The new tests require students to demonstrate critical-thinking and problem-solving skills using an enhanced technology-based format that allows students to “drag and drop” items, create graphs, and plot points on a grid. Some stakeholders were concerned that the new tests would lower student achievement scores and inevitably lead to more schools being labeled as failures. Sources: Washington Post (3/28/12), Communication from Virginia State Board of Education
NASBE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE URGES CONGRESS TO PASS ESEA REAUTHORIZATION — NASBE members came together at the association’s annual legislative conference last week and urged Congress to pass comprehensive Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization legislation. The current iteration of ESEA, known commonly as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), has been awaiting reform and reauthorization since 2007. Meanwhile, the law continues to punish states, school districts, and individual schools for not meeting adequate yearly progress even when there is continued student academic growth and school improvement. In addition to discussing ESEA and state-specific education issues with their Congressional delegations, NASBE members heard from U.S. Department of Education officials on ESEA waivers and President Obama’s FY2013 education budget proposal. Attendees engaged with leaders from other national education organizations concerning ESEA waivers, their education priorities, and how state boards of education play an integral role in education policy and implementation.
NEW YORK INITIATES ANTI-CHEATING UNIT IN STATE ED. DEPT. — A new Test Security Unit (TSU) at the New York State Education Department will be tasked with ensuring the integrity of exams statewide. The TSU, which will be run by a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York and staffed by former law enforcement personnel, will have a menu of responsibilities that include prioritization and investigation of test tampering allegations, support of districts that run their own investigations, and creation of a mandatory reporting system for personnel who learn of security breaches, among others. The office and its job arose from a report compiled by a special investigator last year. “The integrity of state assessments cannot be compromised,” said Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch. “The Board of Regents took major steps last fall to protect the integrity of our assessments. [Special Investigator] Hank Greenberg has given us the roadmap to continue down that road.” The TSU is expected to cost the state about $1 million a year. Sources: Albany Times-Union (3/15/12), New York Education Department press releases (3/15, 3/20/12)
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATIONS NOW LAW IN WYOMING — A new law in Wyoming includes a mandate to develop a school administrator evaluation system that uses measures of students’ academic progress. While the law also holds schools accountable for underperformance, it includes a plan for state Education Department interventions to help schools meet their academic goals if necessary. If no improvement is shown within two years, the law allows the principal to be terminated. Source: Associated Press (3/21/12)
UTAH GOVERNOR VETOES CONTROVERSIAL SEX-ED BILL — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert vetoed a bill that would have required schools to teach an abstinence-only sex education curriculum and banned instruction about sexual intercourse and contraception. Had the governor signed the law, Utah would have become the first state to explicitly ban instruction about contraception. Standing law allows parents to choose where sex education is taught through an opt-in system in schools. The proposed bill would have eliminated this decision for parents, leaving all sex education beyond abstinence to be taught in the home. Herbert said the bill “simply goes too far by constricting parental options.” Opponents of the bill applauded the governor’s decision, noting existing law allows many students to receive instruction in sex education they might not get at home. Source: Salt Lake Tribune (3/18/12)
NEW JERSEY TO PROVIDE $1 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT ANTI-BULLYING LAW — Gov. Chris Christie asked for, received, and signed a bill that establishes a $1 million fund to help local school districts implement the state’s 2010 anti-bullying law. The little-known State Council on Local Mandates recently ruled that the 2010 law is an unfunded mandate on school districts and required the state to fully fund or reform the law. The new measure also establishes a seven-member task force to provide guidance to school districts in implementing the 2010 law. Source: Star-Ledger (3/27/12)
D.C. CITY COUNCIL MOVES TO CURB DROPOUTS, TEACHER SHORTAGE — The District of Columbia City Council took on the job of finding ways to cut the dropout rate in city schools, among other issues in a package of bills it approved. One measure calls for the creation of a system to follow the progress of students in 4th through 9th grades to better identify those at risk of dropping out. Another bill would give bonuses, housing assistance, or tax credits to teachers rated as highly effective by the district’s controversial IMPACT evaluations if they transfer to hard-to-staff or low-performing schools. The bills passed with near unanimity, but one councilman who abstained did so because he thinks the council should not act as a de facto school board. Source: Washington Post (3/20/12)
OKLAHOMA VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL — An Oklahoma district judge ruled a scholarship program for students with disabilities is unconstitutional because it sends public funds to private, sectarian organizations. The scholarship program was designed to set aside funds so students with disabilities could attend private institutions if they were not receiving needed services from their local district. School districts that sued parents of six special needs students to challenge the law noted that 38 of the 40 schools on the approved private school list are parochial institutions and said the law does not explicitly specify what the funds could be used for to support the students’ needs. Source: Tulsa World (3/28/12)
FEDERAL UPDATE
Duncan Testifies Before House Education Policy Committee on President’s FY2013 Budget Proposal — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee March 28 to explain and defend President Obama’s FY2013 nearly $70 billion education budget proposal. The proposal consolidates 38 education programs into 11 silos of programs that integrate technology and rural education as priorities throughout. The proposal, which would provide $69.8 billion in discretionary spending for the U.S. Department of Education (a $1.7 billion increase), also addresses elevating the teaching profession and increased higher education costs. To access the archived webcast and for further information about the hearing, go to http://1.usa.gov/Hmjrry.
** ANNOUNCEMENTS **
CONGRATULATIONS to Stephan Morse and Kathy Larsen on their elections as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Vermont State Board of Education.
AACTE AND NASBE ARE JOINING to present a free webinar, “Creating a Systemic Approach to Teacher Effectiveness: Essential Dialogue for Colleges of Education and State Boards of Education,” Tuesday, April 3, 2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT based on last year’s study group report Gearing Up: Creating a Systemic Approach to Teacher Effectiveness. Representatives of NASBE and AACTE will discuss the report’s implications for teacher preparation, particularly in regards to the Teacher Performance Assessment and implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Follow this link to register.
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/.
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