1) 128th General Assembly: The Ohio
House and Senate will hold sessions and committee hearings this week.
*Alicia
Reece took the oath of office on March 3, 2010 and became the representative of the 33rd Ohio House District replacing Tyrone
Yates, who resigned to be appointed to the Hamilton County Municipal Court. Representative Reece is from
Cincinnati, where she held the office of councilwoman and vice mayor.
*A
list of statewide issues and candidates certified for the May 4, 2010 primary is available on the Secretary of State's
website at http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/voterInformation/
whatsontheball
ot.aspx
*The School Funding Advisory Council (SFAC), chaired by Deborah Delisle, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, met on March 1, 2010 and received a presentation on the components and rationale for the Evidence-Based Model.
The presentation was made by Carey McDonald, Coordinator for the SFAC, and is available on the ODE website at http://education.ohio.gov/GD/Templates/Pages/SFAC/SFACPrimary.
aspx?page=
678.
The SFAC also approved additional appointments to its subcommittees.
The purpose of the appointments
is to expand the expertise of the subcommittees as they address the school funding and policy topics that the SFAC is required
to review as prescribed in Am. Sub. HB1, the FY10-11 budget bill. The following individuals were appointed to the SFAC subcommittees:
Learning Environments Subcommittee:
Susan Witten (Ohio Alliance for Arts Education)
Education Linkages Subcommittee:
John Boggess, Miami Valley CTC (Ohio Assoc. of Career Technical
Superintendents)
Dave Plahuta, Polaris CTC (Ohio Assoc. of Career Technical
Superintendents)
Steward Gibboney, South-Western City Schools (Ohio Assoc.
of City Career-Technical Schools) Tim Buschur, Tri-Star Career Compact (Ohio Assoc. of City Career-Technical Schools) Judy
Hennessy, Dayton Early College Academy (KnowledgeWorks, Ohio Early College High School Association)
Special Needs Subcommittee:
Ann Sheldon (Ohio Association for Gifted Children) Jan Osborn, Putnam County ESC (Ohio Coalition for the Education
of Children with Disabilities) Thomas Babb, Constellation Schools (Ohio Coalition for Quality
Education)
Roger Saurer, Copley-Fairlawn City Schools (ESL Advisory Committee)
Regional Variation Subcommittee:
Craig Burford (Ohio Educational Service Center Association) Larry Holdren, Ohio Educational Service
Center Boards of Education (Ohio School Boards Association)
2)
National News:
*Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced
on March 4, 2010 that fifteen states and the District of Columbia would advance as finalists for phase 1 of the $4.35 billion
Race to the Top (RttT) competition. The finalists were selected from among 41 applicants, and include Colorado, Delaware,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Tennessee. State applications were rated on a 500-point scale by panels of independent reviewers.
The finalists will be invited to present their proposals in mid March to the U.S. DOE. These presentations
will be videotaped and posted on the U.S. DOE website.
The winners will be announced in April.
Applicants
that do not advance in this phase can resubmit their RttT proposal in June when the second RttT round begins.
President Obama has also included in his FY11 budget proposal $1.35 billion to support a third round of RttT grants.
*Secretary of Education Arne Duncan presented on March 3, 2010 testimony
before the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee on President Obama's proposed education budget for FY11 and the reauthorization
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
The testimony included information about the administration's proposed changes for ESEA; college
and career readiness; effective teachers and school leaders; improving stem outcomes; comprehensive solutions/community support;
college access and completion; improving outcomes for adult learners; and improving outcomes for persons with disabilities.
According to the written testimony, "As part of developing the
2011 budget request and performance plan, the Department of Education has identified a limited number of high-priority performance
goals that will be a particular focus over the next two years. These goals, which will help measure the
success of the Department's cradle-to-career education strategy, reflect the importance of teaching and learning at all
levels in the education system. The Department's goals include supporting reform of struggling schools,
improvements in the quality of teaching and learning, implementation of comprehensive statewide data systems, and simplifying
student aid."
The testimony is available at
http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/2010/03/building-a-stronger-
economy-sp
.shtml
*National Education Seminar: The National Conference of State Legislatures will
sponsor a conference entitled "What Works to Improve Education" at Teachers College, Columbia University in New
York City, on March 12-14, 2010.
Topics include Improving Student Achievement
and School Performance Through "Response to Intervention"; Preparing Effective School Leaders; Increasing Success
for Low-Income Community College Students; Sorting Out the School Choice Research; Online Learning and State College Completion
Goals; State Educational Data Systems and Student Privacy; Improving Student Success in Remedial Education; The Role of the
State Legislature in School Finance Litigation; Performance Funding in Higher Education; What Works to Close the Achievement
Gap: Healthier Students are Better Learners; Insights on Current and Future Education Reforms:
A Conversation with Deborah Meier and Diane Ravitch; and College Readiness: Next Steps for Advancing
State Policy.
For more information please visit
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?TabId=19507.
3) This Week at the Statehouse
*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative
Sykes, will meet on March 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM in hearing room 313. The committee will receive testimony on a number of bills,
and has tentatively scheduled sponsor testimony on a capital re-appropriations bill, pending introduction and referral.
*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Williams,
will meet on March 9, 2010 at 2:00 PM in hearing room 017. The committee will hear testimony on HB407 (Zehringer)
School Calamity Days.
*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by
Senator Cates, will meet on March 9, 2010 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear presentations from
Jon Ritchie, superintendent of Orrville City Schools and Rittman Exempted Village Schools, on the Orrville-Rittman administrative
compact, and Dan Ross of the Ohio High School Athletic Association on the concussion report.
The committee will also hear testimony on SB192 (Cates) School Transportation. This
bill would permit non-civil service school district boards to terminate positions of district transportation employees for
reasons of economy and efficiency and to contract with independent agents to provide transportation services.
*The House State Government Committee, chaired by Representative
Gerberry, will meet on March 10, 2010 at 1:45 PM in hearing room 017.
The committee will hear
testimony on HB250 (Blessing) Video Lottery Terminals. This bill would require the State Lottery
Commission to establish licensing procedures for video lottery sales agents that are horse-racing permit holders and authorize
them to conduct lotteries that provide immediate prize determinations.
4)
State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Debbie Cain president, will meet on March
7-9, 2010. The meeting on March 7, 2010 was held at Embassy Suites, Capital Room, 2700 Corporate Exchange
Drive, Columbus. The meetings on March 8 & 9, 2010 will be held at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500
Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio.
SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7, 2010
The Community Schools Appeal Subcommittee, chaired by Ann Womer Benjamin,
met on March 7, 2010 at 5:30 PM. The subcommittee heard the appeal of the Virtual School House regarding
an overpayment of approximately $400,000.
MEETING ON MARCH
8, 2010
The Executive Committee, chaired by President Cain, will
meet at 8:30 AM at the Ohio School for the Deaf Conference Room. The committee will discuss the 2010 retreat
and approve a motion regarding the meeting calendar for 2010-2011.
The
Achievement Committee, chaired by Mike Collins, and the Capacity Committee, chaired by Rob Hovis, will meet at 9:15 AM.
The Achievement Committee will discuss and approve a resolution of
intent to adopt amended Rules 3301-35-01 to 3301-35-06, Operating Standards; discuss and approve a resolution of intent to
remove measures of rigorous curriculum from the local report card; discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt amended
Rule 3301.13-11, limited English proficient programs; receive a presentation on the development of business standards; and
receive information on the standards revision.
The Capacity
Committee will discuss and approve a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-06, Education of Students with Special Needs;
discuss Rule 3301-24-11, alternative principal license; discuss the SBE's policy on bullying, harassment, and intimidation;
and receive an update on the diversity strategies policy.
The
Board will receive a presentation starting at 11:00 AM on the revision of academic content standards in social studies, science,
English language arts, and math, led by Stan Heffner, Associate Superintendent, Center for Curriculum and Assessment.
The Board will recognize at 11:45 AM the recipient of the Ohio Milken
National Educator Award and the finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science teaching.
Following lunch (1:15 PM) the Board will receive a presentation about
the development of the FY12-13 education budget led by Kelly Weir, Director, Office of Budget and Planning, and Kim Murnieks,
Executive Director, Center for School Options and Finance. The topic will be school choice in Ohio.
At 2:30 PM representatives from several career-technical education
schools in Ohio will present information to the Board about their programs.
A
Chapter 119 Hearing will be conducted at 4:00 PM regarding the Rule 3301-51-05, procedural safeguards.
The Community Schools Appeal Subcommittee, chaired by Ann Womer-Benjamin, will conduct a hearing
at 4:30 PM regarding the Goal Digital Academy's request to be categorized as a drop-out prevention and recovery school
so that a waiver may be obtained regarding the closure provision that would otherwise apply.
MEETING ON MARCH 9, 2010
The Board will
meet at 8:30 AM and receive a presentation regarding Pupil Transportation Services led by Pete Japikse, Associate Director,
Office of Pupil Transportation.
At 9:00 AM the Board will receive a presentation
from Patricia Frost-Brooks, President of the Ohio Education Association (OEA) and Sue Taylor, President of the Ohio Federation
of Teachers (OFT).
The 21st Century Learning Subcommittee, chaired
by Steve Millett, and the Advocacy and Outreach Subcommittee, chaired by John Bender, will meet at 11:15 AM.
The 21st Century Learning Subcommittee will review and discuss recommendations
related to 21st century learning in Ohio and begin prioritizing those recommendations.
The Advocacy and Outreach Subcommittee will receive an update on pending legislation.
Following lunch (1:15 PM) the Board will receive committee and Board
member reports. The State Board of Education's business meeting will begin at 1:45 PM, and immediately
convene into executive session.
Following the executive session the Board
will receive the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Deborah Delisle; accept public participation on agenda
items; vote on the report and recommendations of the Superintendent (please see resolutions below); consider old business
and new business; accept public participation on non-agenda items; and adjourn.
Resolutions
to be considered by the State Board of Education at their business meeting on March 9, 2010:
*Ten personnel resolutions and the following:
#5
Resolution of Intent to remove the inclusion of report-only indicators (also called measures of a rigorous curriculum) on
the local report card.
#6 Resolution of Intent to amend Rule 3301-13-11
of the Ohio Administrative Code entitled Establishing provisions for the exemption of first year Limited English proficient
students and for the allowance of accommodations for Limited English Proficient Students.
#7 Resolution of Intent to Amend Rules 3301-19-01 to 3301-19-03 of the OAC regarding school district
expenditure flow reports.
#8 Resolution of Intent to amend Rules 3301-35-01
through 3301-35-06 of the OAC regarding Operating Standards for Ohio Schools.
#9
Resolution of Indent to amend Rule 3301-51-09 of the OAC entitled delivery of services.
#10 Resolution of Intent to amend Rules 3301-102-01 to 3301-102-06 of the OAC regarding community
school sponsorship.
#17 Resolution to Amend Rules 3301-83-01,08,14
and 3301-51-10 of the OAC regarding pupil transportation.
#18
Motion regarding 2010-2011 State Board meeting dates.
#19
Resolution of appointment to the Educator Standards Board.
5)
Ohio Joins Complete College America: Governor Ted Strickland announced on March 3, 2010 that Ohio has joined
Complete College America, Stan Jones president, a national nonprofit organization founded in 2009 to "significantly increase
the number of Americans with a college degree or credential of value and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented
populations."
Complete College America assists states who
commit to making college completion a top priority. States agree to set annual state and campus completion
goals through 2020; develop and implement state and campus level plans and strategies to redesign remediation and develop
shorter and faster pathways to degrees and credentials; and use and report consistent data and progression measures.
So far seventeen states have joined Complete College America, including
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia.
Complete College America is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York,
Ford Foundation Lumina Foundation for Education, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
For more information please visit
http://www.completecollege.org/path_forward/alliance_of_states/
6) What Teachers Want: Scholastic, Inc.,
Margery Mayer executive vice president, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation released on March 3, 2010 the results of
a recent survey of teacher opinions called "Primary Sources: America's Teachers on America's
Schools."
The survey was
conducted by Harris Interactive and includes the responses of 40,000 teachers in grades K-12, making it the largest poll of
American teachers, according to Scholastic, Inc. The report also includes state-by-state data and reveals "significant
differences" in teachers' views among the states.
The
major findings are included here:
"While higher salaries are important,
teachers say they are less important than a supportive leader. Fewer than half of teachers (45%) say higher salaries are absolutely
essential for retaining good teachers. More teachers say it is absolutely essential to have supportive leadership (68%), time
to collaborate (54%), and quality curriculum (49%)."
"Teachers
aren't opposed to standardized tests as one way to measure student performance. More than 80 percent of teachers say district-required
tests are at least a somewhat important measure of student performance (84%). Overall, teachers value multiple measures, including
formative assessments, performance on class assignments and class participation along with standardized tests."
"Tenure doesn't make a good teacher. Only 10 percent of
teachers say that tenure is a very accurate measure of teacher performance while
42 percent say it is not at all accurate. Student engagement and year
over year progress of students are by far viewed as the most accurate indicators of teacher performance measures (60% and
55%, respectively, rate as very accurate) but are not frequently used to evaluate teachers."
"Textbooks aren't the answer. Only 12 percent of teachers say traditional textbooks help
improve student academic achievement and a mere 6 percent say textbooks engage students in learning. Teachers overwhelmingly
say (81%) that up-to-date information-based technology is very important or absolutely essential to improve student achievement."
"A teacher's job doesn't end at 3 p.m. Seven in ten
teachers attend their students' after school and weekend events. More than half (51%) of elementary school teachers are
willing to have parent teacher conferences at students' homes - indicating their understanding of time-strapped parents
and their belief in the importance of helping every child have a strong home-school connection."
Teachers participating in the survey also identified the following five solutions to improve student
achievement:
*Establish Clear Standards, Common Across
States *Use Multiple Measures to Evaluate Student Performance *Innovate to Reach Today's Students *Accurately Measure
Teacher Performance and Provide Non-Monetary Rewards *Bridge School & Home to Raise Student Achievement
According to the results sorted by states, teachers in Ohio believe the following:
*32 percent of Ohio teachers rate student achievement as excellent, and 48 percent rate student achievement
good.
*18 percent of Ohio teachers believe that students enter
class prepared for on-grade level work.
*69 percent of
Ohio teachers believe that students are prepared to succeed in college.
*71
percent of Ohio teachers believe "very strongly" and "strongly"
that clearer academic content standards will improve student learning.
*57 percent of Ohio teachers believe "very strongly" and
"strongly"
that common
standards across all states will improve student learning.
*60
percent of Ohio teachers believe that Ohio has too many standards; 37 percent believe that Ohio has the right amount; and
three percent believe that Ohio has "too few" standards.
*53
percent of Ohio teachers believe that Ohio's standards are not clear enough.
*78 percent of Ohio teachers believe that higher salaries are "absolutely essential" or
"very important".
*43 percent of Ohio teachers believe that
linking pay to teacher performance is "not at all important"; 40 percent believe that it is "somewhat important";
13 percent believe that it is "very important"; and 4 percent believe that it is "absolutely essential".
*89 percent of Ohio teachers believe that providing time for teachers
to collaborate is "absolutely essential" or "very important".
The report is available at
http://www.scholastic.com/primarysources/download.asp
7) Report on College and Career Readiness: Achieve, co-chaired
by Governor Phil Bredesen of Tennessee and Graig R. Barrett from Intel Corporation, released on March 1, 2010 its fifth annual
report on how states are aligning graduation requirements with college and career readiness goals. The
report is entitled "Closing the Expectations Gap", and provides information about state progress in meeting five
areas of reform: standards; graduation requirements; P-20 data systems; assessments; and accountability.
According to the report states have made significant progress since
Achieve first launched the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network at the National Education Summit in 2005.
*31 states have adopted high school academic content standards in English and math that are aligned
with college- and career-ready expectations compared to three in 2005;
*20
states and the District of Columbia require all students to complete such a curriculum to earn a high school diploma compared
to three in 2005;
*14 states administer college- and career-ready
high school assessments compared to three states in 2005.
*16
states have P-20 data systems that link states' student-level
K-12 data with similar data from postsecondary schools compared to three in 2005;
*22 states have incorporated at least one of four accountability indicators that Achieve has identified
as critical to promoting college and career readiness compared to zero states in 2005.
Ohio has aligned high school standards with the expectations of college and careers and high school
graduation requirements with college and career ready expectations, but is still developing a college-career ready assessment
system; P-20 longitudinal data system; and an accountability and reporting system that promotes college and career readiness.
Ohio is also piloting an Algebra II "end of course" exam developed by ADP. And, this month the State Board of Education
will review revised academic standards and information about course syllabi and end of course exams that demonstrate college
and career readiness.
The report notes that the Common Core State
Standards Initiative, led by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governor's Association in partnership
with Achieve, is based on the work of the American Diploma Project network to develop college and career-ready standards.
48 states, including Ohio, are currently working together to develop Core Common State Standards in English language arts
and math. These standards are expected to be released to the public for comment in April 2010.
The report is available at
http://www.achieve.org/ClosingtheExpectationsGap2010.
8) Bills Introduced the
Week of March 1, 2010:
HB458 (Dyer) Campaign Circulators:
Restricts the use of the circulators to candidates seeking statewide office.
