Education Update 5-21-07

ORTA established 1947	<<<<home page <<<<education page
Education Update for May 21, 2007
1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet this week to hold sessions and committee hearings. -The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, continued to hold hearings last week on the FY08-09 budget, Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan). Invited testimony was presented from a variety of state 5-21-07 agencies, commissions, and departments. Education organizations have been invited to testify on the bill on May 29, 2007, and public testimony is scheduled for June 6th-8th. The Senate has set the week of June 12th to vote on the bill, leaving the week of June 18th for conference committee work. The budget must be signed into law by June 30th. -On May 22, 2007 members from several education organizations will be in Columbus to advocate for adequate resources to support public schools in the state's FY08-09 budget Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan). There will also be rallies for public schools in Cleveland on May 24, 2007 at 4:30 PM at the Cleveland Board of Education (1360 E 6th Street) and in Columbus on May 25, 2007 at 4:15 PM at the Alladin Shrine Temple, 3850 Stelzer Rd. in Columbus. 2) Governor Strickland signed into law Am. HB2 (Webster) on May 15, 2007. The bill makes changes in the responsibilities of the Board of Regents, and allows the governor to appoint the chancellor. Eric Fingerhut, the current chancellor, is expected to be confirmed as the governor's appointee as chancellor this week by the Senate Finance Committee. The bill does the following: -Allows the governor to appoint the chancellor of the board of regents for a term of five years with the approval of the Senate. The Senate must approve the chancellor before the chancellor can take office. The chancellor can be reappointed by the governor. The governor can remove the chancellor from office for demonstrated incompetence, malfeasance, and misfeasance. -Makes the board of regents an advisory board to the chancellor. -Transfers the current powers and duties of the board of regents to the chancellor. -Assigns the following new duties to the chancellor: (1) adopt rules prescribing procedures for the chancellor to follow when taking actions associated with the chancellor's duties and responsibilities, (2) adopt rules prescribing the advisory duties of the board of regents, (3) request the board to hold a public hearing on whether to recommend the elimination of a graduate program at a public institution of higher education prior to the chancellor issuing a final recommendation, and (4) respond to requests for information about higher education from the General Assembly. -Shortens the terms of members of the board of regents from nine to six years. -Requires the board of regents to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the condition of higher education in Ohio and the performance of the chancellor. -Requires the chancellor by September 28, 2007 to report to the General Assembly how to make college more affordable and increase access to higher education; keep students in Ohio after graduation; how higher education can be used to grow the economy; and how to use the talents of the Ohio Board of Regents. -Requires the board of regents to meet quarterly, report annually on the state of higher education and on the chancellor, and conduct hearings on appropriate topics. -Declares an emergency. 3) Federal Update: -Federal Budget: The U.S. Senate and House agreed to a conference report on S. Con. Resolution 21 on May 17, 2007, finalizing the federal budget parameters for FY 2008 and budgetary levels for FY 2007-2012. The $2.9 trillion federal budget resolution takes effect without the signature of the President, but provides only guidelines for the thirteen appropriations bills that Congress needs to approve to provide funding to operate federal programs and services. The U.S. House and Senate are currently holding hearings in committees on the thirteen appropriations bills for FY08, which begins October 1st. The proposed budget guidelines include increases of five percent for education and health care. According to a press release issued by Representative John Spratt, chair of the House Budget Committee, the FY08 federal budget does the following: Reaches balance in five years, and runs a surplus of $41 billion in 2012. Allocates $954 billion in discretionary spending, and $450 billion for non-defense discretionary spending, or about $23 billion more than this year. (This amount is over the $930 billion limit set by President Bush.) Accommodates an increase of $50 billion to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Provides $4.6 billion over current services for education, job training, and employment services, which includes funding for No Child Left Behind programs, special education, and student loans. -Head Start Program: The U.S. House of Representatives approved on May 2, 2007 the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, H.R. 1429. The legislation reauthorizes the Head Start program, which serves a million children. Attempts to reauthorize Head Start had stalled due to concerns raised regarding certain controversial faith based practices, but these practices have been removed from the legislation. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved in March 2007, S. 556, Head Start for School Readiness Act. -Senator Ted Kennedy recently introduced the Keeping Parents and Communities Engaged Act (Keeping PACE) S. 1302. This act provides funding for "full service schools" to provide services in local school buildings to support students, parents, and families, and coordinate services for students with mayors, community-based organizations, and for-profit organizations. The bill provides $130 million for outreach coordinators in Title I schools to facilitate parental participation and community involvement; $78 million for community-based organizations partnering with schools to reduce dropout rates and close the achievement gap by offering integrated health, tutoring, and counseling services to students; and $52 million for incentive grants to encourage schools to deliver, expand, and coordinate services for children and their communities. -GAO Asked to Investigate: Senators Chistopher Dodd and Lamar Alexander have requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study student access to music and arts education in public schools since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. The request also asks the GAO to investigate the link between participation in music and arts education and increased student engagement, positive behavior, high school graduation rates, and academic achievement for all students, including minority and low-income students and students with disabilities. The results of this research would be used as Congress considers the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. 4) Invitation to Attend Conference: C.J. Prentiss, former Senator and currently the Governor's Special Representative for Closing the Achievement Gap, will serve as moderator for the Governor's Conference on Increasing the High School Graduation Rate for African American Male Students. The conference will be held on May 30, 2007 at the Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and include a panel discussion, workshops, and a luncheon address by Governor Ted Strickland. Topics that will be included in the workshops are: The responsibility of teachers, parents and the community for cultural competency; The responsibility of the family -Tough love, no more excuses Education starts at home; The responsibility of the religious community; The responsibility of mentors -Beyond the role model; The responsibility of policy makers; The responsibility of students -Raising expectations and changing attitudes; The responsibility of the community -Overcoming the seduction of gang life; Investing in the front side of life -Putting our pre-schoolers on the right path; The responsibility of colleges -A call to teach: African-American men needed; The responsibility of elected officials -What can city, county and state governments do; The responsibility of business leaders -Connecting teenagers to future jobs; and The responsibility of the juvenile justice system -Preparing incarcerated youth for academic success. There will also be an opportunity to network with other participants by state regions to develop strategies and next steps. Information about speakers, workshops, and how to register for the conference is available at http://www.ohioclosethegap.org/conference.html 5) This Week at the Statehouse: TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007 The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 10:00 AM in the Senate Finance Hearing room to hear invited testimony on HB119 Biennial Budget (Dolan). The committee will consider the appointment of Eric Fingerhut as Board of Regents Chancellor. The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan, will meet at 1:00 PM in room 313. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills related to education: -HB14 Tangible Personal Property Reimbursement (Hughes) Extends full reimbursement to school districts for phase-out of taxes on business tangible personal property. -HB34 Graduate Student Loan (Wolpert) Establishes the Third Frontier Pilot Forgivable Loan Program for graduate students. -HB36 Rapid Growing School Districts (Wolpert) Creates the Rapid Enrollment Growth School Facilities Assistance Program. -HB48 Auctions (Gibbs) Exempts certain tax exempt organizations and schools that sell at auction items donated to them from license and contract requirements for such an auction. -HB136 High Wealth Districts (Raussen) Permits certain high-wealth schools to receive payments for classroom facilities project in lieu of participating in other state programs. -HB162 Big Eight District Teachers (Luckie) Allows a refundable credit against the income tax for taxpayers who teach in and reside in a big eight school district. The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer (614-644-8051) will meet at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills: -HB94 Undergraduate Education (Koziura) Requires universities to guarantee undergraduate students can complete study in a specified time. -HB143 Boards of Education (Wagner) Eliminates certain requirements/prohibitions applying to school district boards of education. -SB 143 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Padgett) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns and declares an emergency. -HB190 Elementary Achievement Tests (Koziura) Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests. -HB181 School records - missing children (Setzer) Requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and notify law enforcement of requests for those records. -HB180 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Setzer) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns, and declares an emergency. WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007 The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) from state agencies and departments. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007 The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget from state agencies and departments. 6) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, met on May 14-15, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH. The Capacity Committee, Sue Westendorf and Carl Wick co-chairs, discussed a resolution regarding school bus transportation, Rule 3301-83-06; the definition and criteria of a Master Teacher; the family and community engagement policy; and Rule 3301-25-09, Speech-Language Pathology Internship Permit. During the discussion about the transportation rules, a board member asked about any provisions in law that ensure the safety of students when taxi cabs are used to transport students. Pete Japikse, ODE Director of Pupil Transportation, told members that this is an issue, but the laws are very complicated, and will require continued discussions before any rules are developed covering taxi cab drivers. Todd Hanes, Executive Director of the Office of Community Schools, reviewed with the Capacity Committee the process and next steps regarding the new tool being piloted by the ODE to evaluate sponsors of community schools. The SBE has oversight of only 18 out of 69 sponsors according to state law. These sponsors and Lucas County Educational Service Center are participating in this first year of the sponsor evaluation, which consists of data collection, site visits, and a self evaluation conducted by the sponsors. A composite score is prepared for each sponsor based on all of the data available for the community schools it sponsors, including academic, financial, and operational data. At this time the sponsors are anonymous, because this is a pilot and the tools are still being tested, but in the fall the sponsors' names will be included in the reports. The SBE must decide the threshold composite rating for sponsors that will require sponsors to develop and implement corrective action plans. During the discussion there was a question about how many teachers in community schools meet the requirements for highly qualified teachers per the No Child Left Behind Act. According to state and federal law, teachers in community schools must be highly qualified, but are able to meet that designation through different and lower standards than regular public schools. Currently 90 percent of teachers in community schools are considered highly qualified using the different standard. Teachers in community schools must be licensed, but, unlike regular public school teachers, are not required to be licensed in the subject areas that they are teaching in. Also, 46 percent of teachers in community schools have long term substitute licenses. Cindy Yoder from the ODE Center for the Teaching Profession shared a draft of information about the work of the Educator Standards Board regarding the development of a definition of "master teacher" per SB 2. This includes the criteria, application process, and procedures for districts to determine and report the number of master teachers to EMIS. The Standards Board was directed to develop multiple, equal-weighted criteria to identify master teachers, which could be uniformly used by all districts. Districts are required to report the number of master teachers employed through EMIS, and the number of master teachers will eventually be included on the Local Report Card. The Educator Standards Board has developed criteria for teachers through the "Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession." The designation of master teacher will be applied to teachers who achieve an exemplary score in four of five areas on the scoring guide based on the criteria. The criteria includes the areas of constituent leadership, focused collaboration, distinguished teaching focus on students and environment, distinguished teaching focus on content, instruction, and assessment, and continued professional growth. *The Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Steve Millett co-chairs, approved the resolution of intent to adopt "A Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines". These guidelines are based on an underlying philosophy that, "....every student has a basic right to academic programs and services to meet his or her unique needs to achieve his or her fullest potential. And, early detection and early intervention with students experiencing learning and other problems prevent costly and intensive interventions later on." The purpose of the guidelines is to help school districts design educational services to provide students with "whatever it takes" to be successful, but also provide districts with flexibility. Special education, limited English proficient, and gifted services are embedded within the guidelines. The committee also heard a presentation on the purpose of assessments in order to begin the process to review and update rules 3301-07-01 ethical use of tests; rules 3301-13-01 to 3301-13-18 to 3301-13-11 state testing; and rule 3301-13-07 testing fairness and sensitivity. The State Board of Education is required by administrative code to review its rules every five years in order to align rules with any changes in law and ensure technical accuracy. Over the past five years there have been tremendous changes that affect the rules for assessment, and the new draft rules will reflect technical changes and changes in law, including changes in assessment for students in special education and English as a Second Language programs. The revised rules cover the following topics: definitions and types of tests; development and administration of assessments; validation of scores; types of accommodations for students with disabilities; exemptions from the assessments; waivers for funding purposes; oral administration of assessments; scoring; ethical use of tests and how to prepare students for testing; reporting scores; and more. The full SBE heard also heard presentations on May 14, 2007 about a comprehensive system of learning support guidelines, the family and community engagement policy per SB 311, the model anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy (which was revised by the Board), Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-25-09, Speech-Language Pathology Interns, an update on state and federal legislative initiatives, and reports from SBE members. During the discussion about current legislation before the Ohio General Assembly, the Board agreed to add SB 118 (Gardner), physical education standards, to the July agenda of the Achievement Committee. The Board also conducted a Chapter 119 hearing on Rules 3301-83-06 -07 and -20, School Bus Drivers. On Tuesday, May 15, 2000 the State Board of Education heard a presentation from Dr. Julie Schaid, Executive Director of the Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL) on recommendations that have been proposed for Dual Enrollment programs. A subcommittee of the PCL has worked for over a year to develop these recommendations, which are being presented to the SBE and the Board of Regents for feedback. The charge of the subcommittee was to develop recommendations that would increase opportunities for students to take college courses, including those on high school campuses; define good standing as it applies to eligibility of high school students who participate in dual enrollment programs; and revise the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program. The subcommittee developed recommendations in six policy areas: Access and Eligibility; Awareness and Student Support; Consistency and Rigor; Awarding and Transferring Credits; Quality Control, Evaluation, and Oversight; and Funding. In the area of funding the committee recommended that a council be created to further study some of the funding options for Post Secondary Enrollment, including using a weighted funding formula. $6.5 million for FY09 has been included in the proposed FY08-09 budget bill, Am.Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) for Post Secondary Enrollment Options. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman and Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability, Dr. Mitch Chester, then led the Board in a policy discussion about Quality and Middle High Schools focused on the question: What is the state's role in ensuring that every student graduates from high school prepared for college and/or the 21st Century workforce? Board members were asked to consider three subquestions: -How can we certify that students are ready to succeed in college and/or the 21st Century workplace? -How can we incentivize participation in a rigorous curriculum for all students? -How can we ensure that all students arrive in high school ready to succeed. Before Board members discussed each subquestion, ODE staff provided a review of the data on the topic and current ODE initiatives regarding the topic. Dr. Zelman explained how the ODE is part of a nine state Achieve project to develop an Algebra II end of course exam, which will be field tested in the fall of 2007 and administered in the spring of 2008. The Board of Regents, College Articulation Advisory Committee has also supported the development of two tests, Mathematical Expectations for College Readiness and English Expectations for College Readiness, by a panel of high school and college faculty. Other strategies to identify college readiness are also being developed in other states and nations. The California University system is looking how to use student portfolios to demonstrate certain skills that students must possess in order to be admitted to a state university in California. The Cambridge Exam in England includes a standardized part and a teacher component to determine student readiness for college. Program models, which are being piloted in 21 sites in Ohio, were designed by the ODE to provide a more challenging and engaging curriculum for high school students. Ohio has also received a grant to implement Gateway to Technology, a pre-engineering program to engage more middle school students in math, science, and engineering courses. The ODE is also providing professional development for educators to increase the use of research-based best practices in literacy and mathematics instruction. The SBE's business meeting was held in the afternoon of May 15, 2007. A resolution in support of the election of three individuals as officers of the National Association of State Boards of Education was removed from the SBE's agenda. Several board members had raised concern over one of the candidates, who is alleged to support "intelligent design". The Board did take action on fourteen personnel items, one territory transfer, and the following resolutions: #3 Approved a resolution suspending public participation at the June 2007 SBE board business meeting held during the annual retreat. #4 Approved an intent to adopt Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-25-09, Two year school speech-language pathology internship permit. #5 Approved an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-40-03-05-06-07 regarding nonpublic schools administrative cost reimbursement. #6 Approved a motion to direct the ODE to withdraw Rule 3301-102-08, expected gains in student achievement from the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. #7 Approved an intent to adopt the Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines. #8 Approved an intent to adopt the Anti-Harassment, anti-intimidation, or anti-bullying policy. #9 Approved an intent to adopt the Family Involvement Policy. #23 Approved a resolution to allow the Lakota Local School District Board of Education to sever ties with the Sandusky County Educational Service Center and annex to the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center. #24 Amended Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-11-01,-03,-04,-05,-07 and -11 regarding the establishment of the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program. #25 Rescinded Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-13-07 and adopted rule 3301-16-02 to establish criteria for awarding the diploma with honors. #26 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-16-01 regarding GPA Calculation for the Alternative Pathway to Graduation. #27 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rule 3301-38-01, Transfer of Region within Education Regional Service System. #28 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-58-01, -02 and 03, Value Added Progress Dimension. #29 Adopted a resolution authorizing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to refile Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-83-06, School Bus Driver Personnel Qualifications. #30 Denied the request of the Creekside Academy to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school. #31 Declared that the Reformed Home School Academy shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school. #32 Declared that the Peaceful Sojourners School shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school. #33 Declared that the Golden Sparrow Academy shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school. #34 Declared that the Hearts for Jesus Christ Christian Education Institute shall not continue to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school. The State Board of Education will hold its annual retreat on June 10-12, 2007 at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio, when it will also conduct the evaluation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. A brief business meeting will be held on Tuesday morning, June 12, 2007 regarding the evaluation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. For more information about the State Board of Education, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574 7) News from the ODE: -NAEP News for 2007-2008 School Year: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be administering the Long Term Trend assessment and field tests at grades 4,8, and 12 in reading, mathematics, and science during the 2007-2008 school year. The Long Term Trend assessment, which is NAEP's original assessment, provides information about student achievement based on age, not grade level, and is administered three different times a year. NAEP will also be assessing this year student achievement in music and visual arts at grade 8. The arts were last assessed by NAEP in 1997. Information regarding this assessment can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/arts/. -OGT Alternative Pathway: Students who are graduating this year must score at proficient or above on the OGT as one graduation requirement. Under ORC Sec. 3313.615 students can also graduate through an alternative method, by passing four of the five OGT and meeting other criteria. The Ohio Department of Education has developed worksheets and guidelines to determine the eligibility of a student to graduate under the alternative pathway to graduation. More information is available on the ODE assessment web site at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx? page=3&TopicRelationID=216&ContentID=23705&Content=27530. 8) Bills Introduced the Week of May 14, 2007: SCR 9 Community Theatre (Stivers) Proclaims April as Community Theatre Month to recognize the importance of community theatre in our society. HB 221 Campaign Finance (Stewart, D.) Re-establishes the Campaign Finance Law and Public Contract Law as it existed prior to the enactment of Am. Sub. H.B. 694 of the 126th General Assembly.
Copyright © 2007 Ohio Retired Teachers Association. All rights reserved.