1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not
scheduled to meet until January 9, 2008. Governor Strickland
announced last week that he would present the annual State of the
State Address on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at noon in the Ohio
House Chambers.
*Ohio lawmakers will soon be selecting new members to replace three
members who recently resigned. Resigning from the Ohio House are
Representative Robert Otterman (45th House District), who will be
taking a job in Summit County; Representative William Healy II (52nd
House District), who was elected Mayor of Canton; and Representative
Bob Latta (6th House District), who was elected last week in a
special election to the vacant 5th Congressional District seat
formerly held by Congressman Paul Gillmor, who recently died.
Members of the Ohio House will select and approve replacements to
complete the terms of office for these individuals.
*Lawmakers in the House concurred with Senate amendments to HB142
(Batchelder), which authorizes the state highway patrol to provide
emergency assistance to a school district under a threat, and
increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second
degree when a school is involved. Work was also completed on HB181
(Setzer), which requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the
records of students identified as missing children, and notify law
enforcement of requests for those records. Both of these bills now
go to Governor Strickland to sign into law.
*The Office of Budget and Management's monthly report shows that
General Revenue receipts were lower than estimates and spending was
over estimates. Governor Strickland's Council of Economic Advisors
is also forecasting lower growth in the economy than first predicted
for the first quarter of 2008 . The Ohio Department of Job and
Family Services also released on November 23, 2007 a report called
"State of Ohio Workforce Third Quarter", which includes information
on Ohio employment. According to the analysis in this report, Ohio's
unemployment rate has increased higher than the national average,
with loses especially in the housing and automotive industries.
These reports are available at http://obm.ohio.gov/ and
http://lmi.state.oh.us/wf_quarterly/archive/OhioWorkforceQuarterly.pdf.
2) Federal Education Update:
*President Bush signed HJR 69 on December 14, 2007 extending current
spending levels for federal departments and agencies until December
21, 2007. Lawmakers have been unable to agree upon FY08
appropriations levels with the President, who has threatened to veto
bills that are over his budget recommendations. An omnibus spending
bill that includes all remaining appropriations bills, is now
expected to be introduced in the House.
*U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, announced on
December 7, 2007 that the U.S. DOE would expand participation in the
growth model program to other states, with approval. Currently
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina,
Ohio, and Tennessee have been approved by the U.S. DOE to include a
measure of student academic growth in calculating Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. These
states have developed state models that allow schools to measure
individual student academic achievement over time and also meet No
Child Left Behind adequate progress requirements.
3) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education
(SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, met on December 10 & 11, 2007 at
the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.
SUBCOMMITTEES: The State Board's Education in the New Global Economy
(EDGE) and School Funding subcommittees, met on December 9, 2007 at
the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.
The EDGE subcommittee, chaired by Steve Millett and Colleen Grady, is
charged with identifying the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that
students will need to be successful in the global economy. The
subcommittee has developed a process and timeline for gathering data,
vetting the results with stakeholders, and developing
recommendations. At this meeting Dr. Millett led the subcommittee in
a review of the survey tool, the survey contact list, and the
interview protocol that will be used to gather information from the
private business sector in Ohio regarding student preparation for
work and continuing education. The members suggested changes to the
survey, and identified several individuals and categories of
businesses to interview. There was a discussion about the need to
focus on the educational and workforce needs of the different regions
in Ohio, and how to reach out to boards of education and leadership
teams for input. The survey will be sent electronically to the
contacts in early January 2008, with a follow-up survey to be mailed.
The interviews will also begin in January. The subcommittee will
share the results with stakeholders in March, and prepare a report
about the results for the SBE in May. This report will be discussed
at the June 2008 SBE retreat.
The SBE's School Funding subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, also
met, and discussed local revenue tools and rules. The subcommittee
reviewed the document "Compilation of Options" (11-2-07) prepared by
the ODE, and commented upon options that pertain to policies
involving tax base, tax rate, and tax liabilities. There is a great
variation among school districts in Ohio in their capacity to raise
local revenue through different types of taxes. This fact
complicates efforts to develop school funding solutions that address
the concerns of each school district. After identifying specific
concerns regarding the options, the subcommittee discussed how to
develop a school funding system in which there would be an increase
in state aid coupled with a cap on local revenue, and an ease on the
current restrictions in revenue growth, with incentives for regional
coordination. The next meeting of the School Funding subcommittee is
scheduled for December 18, 2007.
SBE MEETING ON DECEMBER 10, 2007: State Board of Education
President, Jennifer Sheets, began the December 2007 meeting of the
State Board of Education by outlining the work of the Board over the
next few months. The Board will be focusing on the development a
comprehensive set of legislative and budget recommendations for
FY09-10 to support a world class education system, and will present
those recommendations to Governor Strickland and the Office of Budget
and Management in October 2008. In February 2008 each SBE committee
and subcommittee will identify emerging policy, legislative, and
budget concepts; in March and April these concepts will be refined;
and in May draft recommendations will be prepared. These
recommendations will be discussed at a two day workshop that the
Board will hold in June. In July stakeholders will be asked to
provide feedback on the recommendations, and the final
recommendations will be approved by the Board in October.
To begin the work of identifying the policies, legislation, and
budget recommendations for FY09-10, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, led the SBE in a discussion about
how Ohio's current education programs can be transformed into an
aligned and coherent seamless PreK-16 system of education. She
described five essential subsystems of the education system
(instruction, human resources, student support, fiscal resources, and
accountability), and how they are inter-connected and designed to
improve instruction, which includes academic content standards,
curriculum, and assessments. This information was outlined in a
paper entitled "Transforming the System of Education". This paper
also includes, for discussion purposes, several legislative and
policy changes related to Board goals and priorities, and organized
under the subsystems.
Board members then reviewed the paper and the recommendations;
suggested changes and modifications; and identified missing
components. Several Board members suggested focusing on improved
communications, urban school districts, regionalization, and changes
in licensure. A Coordinating Committee, led by Eric Okerson and Carl
Wick, will ensure that the work of the Achievement and Capacity
committees and the subcommittees will align to the Board priorities,
and not overlap with other committee work.
After lunch (1:30 PM) the SBE's Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and
Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael
Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, met.
CAPACITY COMMITTEE: The Capacity Committee took the following actions:
-Approved an intent to adopt Rule 3301-44-09 entitled Postsecondary
Enrollment Options. HB 119 (Dolan) directs the SBE to adopt rules
governing how Post Secondary Enrollment Options funds for chartered
and non-chartered nonpublic schools are distributed. This rule
applies to students attending nonpublic schools who want to
participate in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program. It
establishes a procedure that will allow more students to participate
in the program.
-Discussed the proposed draft of the Educator Code of Conduct, which
is required to be developed by February 2008
-Discussed the proposed raise in educator licensure fees
-Approved the changes in Rules 3301-102-02 through -06 regarding
Community School Sponsorship Rules and Rules 3301-104-01 and -02
entitled E-School Expenditure Rules
-Discussed the development of legislative recommendations for
Performance Standards for Dropout Recovery Schools
-Discussed issues that were identified at the November 2007 meeting
regarding safe school environments.
ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE: The Achievement Committee took the following actions:
-Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rules 3301-35-05 and -06 -
Operating Standards, by replacing the phrase "disadvantaged pupil
impact aid" with poverty based assistance. Final adoption of this
amendment is March 2008.
-Approved a resolution to refile new Rule 3301-51-05 entitled
Procedural Safeguards to implement a federal settlement agreement
pertaining to special education hearings. This rule affects the
duties and responsibilities of the hearing officer. Final adoption
of this rule is set for February 2008.
-Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15 entitled
Gifted Services. The Ohio General Assembly requires rules to be
reviewed every five years. The revisions to this rule, as a result
of the five year review process, will facilitate continued progress
in meeting the needs of students who are gifted, and promote a
continuum of service options for students. The changes in this rule
improve the wording and language; promote differentiated instruction;
include guidance as its own section; clarify definitions; modify case
load requirements; require academic goals to be included in the
written education plans; specify that "trained individual" is a
person who is qualified to perform the prescribed activity. A copy
of the proposed rules is available at
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=962&ContentID=7642&Content=41694.
Final adoption of this rule will be in February 2008.
-Discussed proposed Chapter 3301-17 of the Ohio Administrative Code
regarding Accurate Reporting of Data. This rule allows the ODE to
implement progressive sanctions on schools and districts that fail to
accurately report data. The Board will consider an intent to adopt
this resolution in January 2008.
CHAPTER 119 HEARING: At 4:00 PM the Board held a Chapter 119 Hearing
on the following rules:
-Resolution of Intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules
3301-02-01-03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information Systems)
-Adopt OAC Rule 3301-02-13 (Contact if Unauthorized Access of
Personal Information Occurs).
-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01, (Notice of Meeting).
-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure).
-Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt new OAC Rules 3301-51-01
and 3301-51-09 and rescind and adopt new Rule 3301-51-11 (Operating
Standards for Children with Disabilities).
BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS: Before adjourning for the evening, the Board
recognized the following Ohio schools for receiving national
recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools:
-Parkside Elementary School, Solon City School District
-St. Michael School, Cuyahoga County
-Grandview Heights High School, Grandview Heights City School District
-Addaville Elementary School, Gallia County Local School District
-Elm Avenue Elementary School, Wyoming City School District
-Guardian Angels Elementary School, Hamilton County
-Hilltop Elementary School, Wyoming City School District
-Indian Hill High School, Indian Hill Exempted Village School District
-Our Lady of the Visitation School, Hamilton County
-St. James - White Oak, Hamilton County
-Burlington Elementary School, South Point Local School District
-Ellsworth Elementary School, Western Reserve Local School District
- Oakwood High School, Oakwood City School District
- Aurora High School, Aurora Local School District
-Longcoy Elementary School, Kent City School District
-Eastport Avenue Elementary School, Claymont City School District
-Dalton Local High School, Dalton Local School District
-Parkview Elementary School, Wooster City School District
SBE MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2007/LEGISLATIVE REPORTS: The SBE meeting
began its meeting on Tuesday with a review of the resolutions on the
Board's agenda. John Bender then presented reports on federal and
state legislative activities. According to the report on federal
activities, Congress continues to debate appropriations bills and
reauthorization bills for Higher Education and No Child Left Behind.
The ODE is working with contacts in Washington to develop federal
legislation regarding professional conduct.
Information was also presented about current legislation at the state
level, including HB 379 (Fessler) - Historical Documents; HB 406
(Peterson and Williams B) - Prohibit Corporal Punishment; SR 4
(Schuring) - Earmark Revenue for Primary, Secondary, and Higher
Education; SB 264 (Carey) - Teacher Strikes; HB 254 (Peterson)-Ohio
Wellness Advisory Council; and HB 347 (Setzer)-Professional Educator
License. Board members raised some concerns regarding HB 347,
especially the provision related to licensure. An advisory team for
the Center for the Teaching Profession and the Educator Standards
Board are now examining teacher induction, credentialing, and the
Praxis III. The ODE is currently working with Representative Setzer
to clarify the bill's requirements. Board members agreed to invite
Representative Setzer to discuss HB 347 at the January 2008 State
Board Meeting.
Board members were also briefed on Am. Sub. HB 141 (Padgett), a bill
the includes several legislative recommendations to improve the
accountability of charter schools. The Board agreed to endorse this
bill, and add a motion to that effect on their business agenda.
The Board also heard an update on the progress that the ODE is making
regarding three directives included in HB 190 (Hite), including
developing recommendations for Educator Code of Conduct; developing
penalties for failure to report misconduct; and setting a deadline
for current employees to obtain a BCI and FBI background check.
BUSINESS MEETING: The Board convened its business meeting around
11:00 AM and immediately went into executive session, and then
recessed for lunch. During lunch the Board presented the Pioneer in
Education Award to former State Board member Martha Wise of Avon. The
Pioneer in Education Award was initiated in 1999 by the Ohio
Department of Education and State Board of Education to recognize
Ohio educators and policymakers who have significantly advanced
education practices in the state.
After the Board reconvened (1:15 PM) Marilyn Troyer, Senior Associate
Superintendent of Educational Programs, presented the report of the
Superintendent of Public Instruction. The ODE has created a new
Office of Development and appointed Dr. Linda Nussbaum as its
director. This office will coordinate and streamline grants and
foundation monies, and ensure alignment with SBE goals and
priorities. The ODE has also received a grant of $1,750,000 from the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the next generation of
student assessments. New diagnostic tools and intervention practices
for low performing schools are also being developed. The ODE will be
partnering with the Ohio State University Foundation on this project.
The ODE is also looking at several student assessment models,
including Envision from Stanford University, the Cambridge Model, and
Project Spectrum. A small group of school districts will be selected
to implement these models and assess their effectiveness. If these
models are successful, the ODE will ask for additional funds in the
next state budget to scale-up these programs.
There was no public participation on agenda items. The Board took
action on six personnel items and the resolutions included below;
accepted public participation from one individual regarding operating
standards; and adjourned. The next State Board of Education meeting
is January 6-8, 2008.
Agenda of the State Board of Education for December 11, 2007
#4 Approved a resolution of intent to amend rules 3301-35-05 and 06,
Operating Standards for Ohio Schools
#5 Approved a resolution to refile proposed new Rule 3301-51-05,
Procedural Safeguards
#6 Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15,
Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students
#7 Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-52-01,
Screening and Assessment Information
#8 Approved a resolution of intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-11 and
12, Title IV-A, Head Start, and Title IV-A, Head Start Plus
#9 Approved a resolution of intent to amend rule 3301-44-09,
Participation by Nonpublic Schools in Post Secondary Enrollment
Options
#10 Approved a resolution to adopt new Praxis II Subject assessment
test and passing score for licensure in intervention specialist:
Mild/Moderate; Intervention specialist: Moderate/Intensive; and
Early Childhood Intervention Specialist
#14 Approved a resolution to rescind and adopt Ohio Administrative
Code (OAC) Rule 3301-7-01, Standards for Ethical Use of Tests
#15 Approved a resolution to rescind and adopt OAC Rules 3301-13-01,
02, 03, 05, 06; and 08, 10, and 11, Assessments
#16 Approved a resolution to adopt OAC Rule 3301-13-07, Fairness
Sensitivity Review Committees
#17 Approved a resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-19-01 and
3301-91-04 - National School Lunch and Breakfast Program
#18 Approved a resolution to adopt Physical Education Standards
#19 Approved a resolution to adopt recommendations regarding the
types of information that schools should submit to the eTech Ohio
Clearinghouse
#20 Approved a resolution to transfer the Northwest Local School
Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology &
Career Development Schools
#21 Approved a resolution regarding the appointment of Ward Murray to
the State Library Board
#22 Approved a resolution to deny the registration of the Ramah
Junior Academy as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice
Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 school year
#23 Approved a resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing
officer and revoke the charter of the Community of Faith Christian
School, and deny the registration of the Community of Faith Christian
School as a participant in the Ohio Education Choice Scholarship
Program for the 2007-2008 School Year
#24 Approved a resolution of appointment of Dr. Renee Middleton to
the Educator Standards Board
#25 Approved a motion to adopt the federal legislative platform
#26 Approved a motion to endorse SB 141 (Padgett) regarding charter
school accountability.
-Recognized Clay Cormany for his dedication and work at the Ohio
Department of Education.
For more information about the State Board of Education meetings,
please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE
ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=57
4) Update from the ODE:
*The Ohio Department of Education announced on December 12, 2007 the
selection of Deborah Wickerman, a science teacher from Chamberlin
Hill Elementary School in the Findlay City Schools, as the 2008 Ohio
Teacher of the Year. Ms. Wickerman has received several
recognitions, including National Board Certification, the
Presidential Award for Elementary Science Excellence, the Vernier
National Science Teacher of the Year, the Rotary Golden Apple award,
the Jaycee Teacher of the Year; and the VFW Regional Teacher of the
Year. Ms. Wickerman is also an adjunct professor in middle childhood
science at the University of Findlay, and serves on the Ohio Resource
Center Science Review Board and the McGraw-Hill National/State
Science Advisory Board. Ms. Wickerman takes over for the 2007
Teacher of the Year, George Edge, who is a music teacher from the
South-Western City Schools District.
*The Educator Standards Board, Mickie Sebenoler chair and Julia
Simmerer director, has drafted a code for professional conduct for
teachers per HB 190 (Hite). This draft code of conduct is designed
to ensure that Ohio teachers and administrators follow high standards
for professional conduct throughout their teaching careers. The most
recent draft is available at the ODE website at
http://esb.ode.state.oh.us. The public is urged to respond to the
draft by January 2, 2008, and participate in public meetings at the
end of January. The code of conduct will be presented to the State
Board of Education for action at its February 11-12, 2008 meeting.
5) NEA Releases Comprehensive Statistical Report: The National
Education Association publishes annually a comprehensive report on
local, state, and federal education statistics, which can be used to
examine public education programs, services, and support, and
economic, political, and social trends overtime. The statistics are
included in two reports, "Rankings of the States 2006" and "Estimates
of School Statistics 2007". The Rankings report provides state level
data on a variety of topics, such as population, enrollment,
classroom teachers, salaries, financial resources, and expenditures,
and shows how states compare with each other and with a national
average. The Estimates 2007 report provides projections of public
school enrollment, employment, staff salaries, and sources of school
funding and expenditures, and finances, as reported by individual
state departments of education. Some highlights from these reports
are included below:
"-Public school enrollment is expected to increase by 165,000
students from 2006 to 2007. Increases in the elementary grades are
estimated to be 51,958, whereas secondary classes are expected to
enroll about 113,079 more students. Levels of public school
enrollment anticipated during the 2006-07 school year represent the
22nd consecutive increase since 1985-86. Of course, changes in
enrollment vary across the country, with considerable differences
predicted from state to state and district to district.
-To meet the increasing and changing enrollment demands of local
school districts, state education departments expect the number of
public school classroom teachers to increase by 53,000, from 2005-07.
Implications for local school district finances are varied. But
clearly they may present serious challenges to existing school
finance relationships at the state and local levels as districts
prepare to meet needs generated by increased enrollment and
additional school personnel.
-Based on trends, the NEA estimates that the average classroom
teacher salary for 2006-07 will increase by 3.7 percent over
2005-06, from $49,026 to $50,816. The national average salary,
although useful as a benchmark statistic, hides vast differences
among states, with statewide averages likewise clouding significant
local variations.
-Expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment should increase by 5.0
percent to $9,557 in 2006-07, up from $9,100 in 1985-86. This
compares with a 5.4 percent increase in total current expenditures.
-State governments still provide the largest share of public school
financial support - 47.6 percent estimated for 2006-07, up 0.3
percent from the revised figure of 47.3 percent in 2005-06. Once
again, differences between states are considerable, reflecting
differences in state and local revenue systems, demographic
characteristics, and program priorities, to name but a few factors.
-For 2006-07, the federal government's contribution to public
elementary and secondary school revenues is expected to decrease
slightly to 8.9 percent from the revised figure of 9.0 percent in
2005-06."
6) Charter School Accountability: An editorial published on
December 9, 2007 in the Orlando Sentinel (Editorial Our Position:
The regulation of the state's charter schools is way too loose.
December 9, 2007) calls upon Florida lawmakers to tighten charter
school regulations. The editorial was in response to a report issued
by the Florida Senate Education Committee, which identified state
oversight of charter schools as weak. The report found, for example,
that many charter schools were overpaying administrators, cutting
sweetheart deals with board members, had budget deficits, and were
not being evaluated under Florida's grading system because of low
enrollment. The article is available at
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed09107dec09,0,7332053,full.story
7) ECS Provides a Variety of Quality Data Bases and Reports on
Education Policy: The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is
a nonprofit interstate compact of 49 states, three territories, and
the District of Columbia, created in 1965 to improve public education
by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences
among state policymakers and education leaders. ESC recently posted
on its website "Setting the '08 Education Agenda", which includes
three briefing memos on Aligning Early Learning, K-12, and
Postsecondary Systems; Benchmarking to International Standards While
Protecting the Public's Traditional Commitment to a Comprehensive
Education; and Education as an Engine for Regional Economic and
Workforce Development. For more information please visit
http://www.ecs.org/html/newsMedia/ECSNewsRoom.asp
The ESC website also includes data bases and reports on the following:
-High School Online Database: Includes information about state
graduation requirements, college readiness standards, advanced
placement, graduation rates, assessments, International
Baccalaureate, student accountability, and more.
http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/educationissues/HighSchool/HighSchoolDB1_intro.asp
-The Progress of Education Reform: Includes reports on Evaluating
Teacher Effectiveness, Student Engagement, Economic and Workforce
Development, Dropout Prevention, Same Sex Schooling, Mentoring,
School Facilities, Technology in Education, After School Programs,
and more.
http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/educationIssues/ProgressofReform.asp
-Research Studies Database: Includes reports and studies on dropout
prevention, high school curriculum, ninth grade transition, etc.
http://www.ecs.org/rs/
-No Child Left Behind Reauthorization Database: Includes reports on
NCLB recommendations from a variety of organizations.
http://www.ecs.org/html/educationIssues/NCLBreauthorization/NCLB_parapro_DB_intro.asp
8) Bills Introduced:
-SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes - Prohibits classroom teachers
employed by boards of education from striking and instead requires
binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining
disputes, and makes an appropriation.
-SCR21 (Kearney) Life Skills Curriculum - Encourages the State Board
of Education to adopt a comprehensive life skills curriculum.
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