Joan Platz: Education Update
Joan Platz Education Update for December 12, 2005
1) 126th General Assembly: Both the Ohio House and Senate are scheduled to meet this week.
The Ohio Senate met last week and approved SB 236 (Carey), which implements the spending plan for Issue 1 (bond revenue to support local infrastructure and Third Frontier projects), which was approved by voters in November 2005.
Senate Democrats elected Eric H. Kearney to the 9th Senate District seat recently vacated by Senator Mark Mallory, who was elected mayor of Cincinnati in November 2005. The full Senate also elected Senator Kimberly Zurz to the leadership position of Assistant Minority Leader.
The House -Senate Conference Committee on HB 107 (Setzer) - Teacher Education Standards, chaired by Representative Setzer, met last week and agreed to remove a funding provision in the bill that would have provided $247,000 for the Center for Learning Excellence at the Ohio State University. The committee then approved the conference report. The bill will now be reconsidered by both chambers. HB 107 requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards for teacher preparation programs, that are align with the state academic content standards and with the value-added component, and extends the deadline for the Department and the Educator Standards Board to propose a career ladder program for teachers.
2) 109th Congress: The U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington, D.C. this past week from its Thanksgiving recess and approved four tax relief bills. The Senate returns to work on December 12th.
Congress is scheduled to recess for the holidays by mid December, but still has work to complete on appropriations measures, including appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for FY06 (HR 3010), and a budget reconciliation bill. Lawmakers failed to approved a conference committee report on HR 3010 on November 17, 2005, and now are considering the next course of action. In the meantime, the U.S. House and Senate voted to extend a continuing resolution to maintain funding of these programs at current levels until December 17, 2005.
Both the House and Senate have approved their versions of a budget reconciliation bill, (HR 4241 and S. 1932). A conference committee is expected to work out a final version of a bill. The second session of the 109th Congress is scheduled to convene on January 18, 2006.
3) This Week at the Statehouse:
*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Calvert, will meet on December 13, 2005 at 3:00 PM in Room 313. The committee will hear testimony on HB432 (Stewart) - State funds pay 100 percent of education for K-12 Education; SB236 (Carey) - implementation of Issue 1; and HB250 (Trakas), which authorizes two or more school districts to establish taxing districts to support behavioral health, autism, and related services for students. The committee will also meet on December 14, 2005 at 9:30 AM, if needed, to vote on HB250.
*The House Education Committee chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on December 13, 2005 at 3:30 PM in room 018 to hear a report from the Cleveland Municipal School District regarding EMIS reporting procedures for student attendance.
*The Committee to Study School Consolidation, chaired by Representative Seaver, will meet on December 14, 2005 at 3:30 PM, or after session, in room 113.
4) Auditor Releases Recommendations for Charter School Accountability: State Auditor Betty Montgomery issued some recommendations to improve the accountability of charter schools last week in letters to charter school sponsors, Ohio Senate President Harris, and Ohio House Speaker Husted. Recent audits of charter schools and the closure of one charter school, The International Preparatory School (TIPS), illustrate the weaknesses of the accountability system for charter schools related to financial accountability and academic performance. According to Auditor Montgomery's letters,
"The most glaring concern from our perspective is the lack of an ability in the law to hold these schools accountable."
"Specific examples include failure to maintain basic accounting records and supporting documentation for purchases, failure to utilize an effective accounting system to ensure that the school's funding and assets are properly accounted for, failure to pay teacher salaries and benefits, and in some cases even the use of teachers without any proper certification."
To improve the accountability system for charter schools, Auditor Montgomery made the following recommendations:
-Create a commission to review contracts before a community school opens and challenge a contract when it is clear that the school operators will not be up to the job.
-Establish a mechanism and provide assistance to help charter schools with financial problems.
-Provide training for community school fiscal officers, and require training in statute.
-Take stronger action against charter schools which have financial records declared unauditable.
-Hold charter schools accountable to the open government requirements to ensure the public that decisions about how public money is being spent is available to the public.
In a separate letter to charter school sponsors, Auditor Montgomery recommended that sponsors attend audit exit conferences to understand the audit findings and recommendations, and take a more active role in fulfilling their responsibilities. The State Auditor's Office will now routinely examine the minutes, correspondence, and reports prepared by sponsors to ensure that sponsors are doing their job as outlined in statute and in Ohio Administrative Code. The letters and a press release are available at http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/WhatsNew/Press/Release276.aspx
5) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Sue Westendorf president, will meet December 12-13, 2005 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.
On Monday, December 12, 2005 the Executive Committee chaired by Sue Westendorf will meet at 8:00 AM to review a proposed Ohio Graduation Test appeals process, and receive an update on the creation of the Peebles Local School District.
The Achievement Committee, chaired by Jim Craig and Mike Cochran, and the Capacity Committee, chaired by Carl Wick and Jennifer Sheets will meet at 8:45 AM. The Achievement Committee will discuss the Resolution of Intent to Adopt the Local Report Card Indicators for 2006-07. The Capacity Committee will discuss the proposed supplemental teaching license; approve revised Rule 3301-24-33, temporary licensure; discuss the drug abuse and violence prevention policy; and discuss the proposed community schools sponsor evaluation framework.
The full Board will meet at 10:00 AM for ethics training, presented by Jennifer Hardin, Chief Advisory Attorney, Ohio Ethics Commission. At 12:00 PM The Blue Ribbon Schools will be recognized by the Board.
Following lunch at 1:15 PM there will be an update on the Office of Communication presented by Steve Burigana, Chief Operating Officer, Amy Andres, Executive Director, Operations, and Jan Ocean, Director, Office of Communications.
The Board will hear an update about Community School legislative recommendations, followed by legislative reports, and committee reports from Board members.
The Board will conduct a Chapter 119 Hearing at 4:00 PM on the following resolutions:
*Intent to rescind Rules 3301-23-20, 3301-23-21, and 3301-23-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding certification requirements for teachers. *Intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-08 of the Ohio Administrative Code, regarding the Operation of the Career Enhancement Program Subsidy. *Intent to amend Rule 3301-92-04 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding a Board of Education spending plan. *Intent to amend Rule 3301-92-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding certification of adequate revenue.
At 4:30 PM the Board will convene to review questions regarding written reports and resolutions, hear an update on the work of the School Readiness Solutions Group, hear an year end review of legislative activity, and then adjourn.
The State Board will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 starting at 8:30 AM, and hear a policy discussion on the Condition of Education, presented by Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman and Mitchell Chester, Associate Superintendent, Office of Policy and Accountability. The Board will then move into its business meeting, and immediately convene into executive session. After reconvening its public meeting, the Board will hear a report from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman; public participation on agenda Items; and consider action on eight personnel items, and the following resolutions:
*Motion to amend the state board of education's previously adopted resolution of Intent to Amend Rules 3301-24-05 and 3301-23-44 of the Administrative Code adopted by the State Board of Education during the November 2005 State Board of Education business meeting. *Resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-23-44 of the Administrative Code entitled Temporary Licences. *Resolution to amend Rule 3301-92-01 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding textbook and instructional materials funds and Rule 3301-92-02 regarding capital improvement and maintenance funds. *Resolution of intent to adopt 2006-07 Local Report Card Indicators. *A motion to appoint State Board members to the NASBE Commission on Financial Education. *Resolution of appointment to the state library board. *A motion regarding Community Schools Legislative Recommendations.
The Board will then consider old business, new business, miscellaneous business, and hear public participation on non-agenda items. The Board will then adjourn.
For more information about the meeting of the State Board of Education, visit www.ode.state.oh.us and follow the links to the State Board of Education meetings.
6) AIR Rates School Reform Models: The American Institutes for Research (AIR) recently published a guide to the quality and effectiveness of 22 elementary school reform models called "Report on Elementary School CSR Models". The AIR's Comprehensive School Reform Quality Center used strict scientific criteria to rate the models based on several categories. The ratings ranged from limited to moderately strong in their positive effects on student achievement. Some of the models reviewed include Success for All, Accelerated Schools, Core Knowledge, America's Choice, Direct Instruction, School Renaissance, and the School Development Program. None of the models reviewed earned a no or negative rating, which would indicate that a model has no evidence available for review, or strong evidence demonstrating negative effects in a given category. The following are ratings for programs from the first category, which is evidence of positive effects on student achievement: Success for All (Baltimore, MD) and Direct Instruction (Eugene, OR) received a moderately strong rating. Accelerated Schools PLUS (Storrs, CT), America's Choice School Design (Washington, D.C.), Core Knowledge (Charlottesville, VA), School Renaissance (Madison, WI) and the School Development Project (New Haven, CT), received a moderate rating. ATLAS Communities and Co-nect (Cambridge, MA), Different Ways of Knowing (Santa Monica, CA), Integrated Thematic Instruction (Covington, WA), Literacy Collaborative, (Columbus, OH), National Writing Project (Berkeley, CA), Modern Red Schoolhouse (Nashville, TN) and Ventures Initiative Focus System (New York, NY), received a limited rating. Breakthrough to Literacy (Coralville, IA), Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning (Redlands, CA), Community for Learning (Philadelphia, PA), Coalition of Essential Schools (Oakland, CA), Expeditionary Learning (Garrison, NY), First Steps (Salem, MA) and Onward to Excellence II (Portland, OR) received a rating of "zero". For the complete report please visit the CSRQ Center's web site at http://www.csrq.org/reports.asp 7) Ohio Regents Transition Report: The Ohio Board of Regents released on December 5, 2005 its fourth report on the performance of incoming students in Ohio's state colleges and universities. The report, "Making the Transition from High School to College in Ohio" includes the following information:
*College participation patterns for Ohioans attending college anywhere in the United States. "The total number of first-time freshmen from Ohio attending college anywhere in the United States rose from 88,254 in fall 1996 to 105,732 in fall 2004, with older freshmen making up 28% of the freshmen class in fall 1996 and 34% in fall 2004." *Preparation and college success outcomes for students attending Ohio higher education institutions, including college entrance exam scores, high school course-taking patterns, Advance Placement course-taking, college courses taken while in high school, first-term college GPA, percent of students attending college full-time, first-to-second year retention, and remedial course-taking rates. *District and High School Reports: Outcomes by District, Outcomes by High School, College Destinations by High School, which shows the college destination and college outcomes for graduates of each Ohio high school, and High School of Origin by College, which shows the high school of origin for young first-time freshmen attending each of Ohio's state colleges and universities. The report is available at http://www.regents.state.oh.us/perfrpt/2005HSindex.html
8) More on the 65% Solution: The School Evaluation Services division of Standard and Poor's released on November 22, 2005 an analysis of a school funding proposal supported by Overstock.com president Patrick M. Byrne called the 65 Percent Solution. Several state legislatures are considering implementation of this formula, which requires 65 percent of school expenditures to be allocated to support classroom instruction as defined by the National Center for Educational Statistics. The analysis found a lack of empirical evidence linking a minimum spending level per classroom on instruction with higher student achievement in nine out of ten states that are considering the proposal. The analysis is available online at SchoolMatters.com.
1) 126th General Assembly: Both the Ohio House and Senate are scheduled to meet this week.
The Ohio Senate met last week and approved SB 236 (Carey), which implements the spending plan for Issue 1 (bond revenue to support local infrastructure and Third Frontier projects), which was approved by voters in November 2005.
Senate Democrats elected Eric H. Kearney to the 9th Senate District seat recently vacated by Senator Mark Mallory, who was elected mayor of Cincinnati in November 2005. The full Senate also elected Senator Kimberly Zurz to the leadership position of Assistant Minority Leader.
The House -Senate Conference Committee on HB 107 (Setzer) - Teacher Education Standards, chaired by Representative Setzer, met last week and agreed to remove a funding provision in the bill that would have provided $247,000 for the Center for Learning Excellence at the Ohio State University. The committee then approved the conference report. The bill will now be reconsidered by both chambers. HB 107 requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards for teacher preparation programs, that are align with the state academic content standards and with the value-added component, and extends the deadline for the Department and the Educator Standards Board to propose a career ladder program for teachers.
2) 109th Congress: The U.S. House of Representatives returned to Washington, D.C. this past week from its Thanksgiving recess and approved four tax relief bills. The Senate returns to work on December 12th.
Congress is scheduled to recess for the holidays by mid December, but still has work to complete on appropriations measures, including appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for FY06 (HR 3010), and a budget reconciliation bill. Lawmakers failed to approved a conference committee report on HR 3010 on November 17, 2005, and now are considering the next course of action. In the meantime, the U.S. House and Senate voted to extend a continuing resolution to maintain funding of these programs at current levels until December 17, 2005.
Both the House and Senate have approved their versions of a budget reconciliation bill, (HR 4241 and S. 1932). A conference committee is expected to work out a final version of a bill. The second session of the 109th Congress is scheduled to convene on January 18, 2006.
3) This Week at the Statehouse:
*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Calvert, will meet on December 13, 2005 at 3:00 PM in Room 313. The committee will hear testimony on HB432 (Stewart) - State funds pay 100 percent of education for K-12 Education; SB236 (Carey) - implementation of Issue 1; and HB250 (Trakas), which authorizes two or more school districts to establish taxing districts to support behavioral health, autism, and related services for students. The committee will also meet on December 14, 2005 at 9:30 AM, if needed, to vote on HB250.
*The House Education Committee chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on December 13, 2005 at 3:30 PM in room 018 to hear a report from the Cleveland Municipal School District regarding EMIS reporting procedures for student attendance.
*The Committee to Study School Consolidation, chaired by Representative Seaver, will meet on December 14, 2005 at 3:30 PM, or after session, in room 113.
4) Auditor Releases Recommendations for Charter School Accountability: State Auditor Betty Montgomery issued some recommendations to improve the accountability of charter schools last week in letters to charter school sponsors, Ohio Senate President Harris, and Ohio House Speaker Husted. Recent audits of charter schools and the closure of one charter school, The International Preparatory School (TIPS), illustrate the weaknesses of the accountability system for charter schools related to financial accountability and academic performance. According to Auditor Montgomery's letters,
"The most glaring concern from our perspective is the lack of an ability in the law to hold these schools accountable."
"Specific examples include failure to maintain basic accounting records and supporting documentation for purchases, failure to utilize an effective accounting system to ensure that the school's funding and assets are properly accounted for, failure to pay teacher salaries and benefits, and in some cases even the use of teachers without any proper certification."
To improve the accountability system for charter schools, Auditor Montgomery made the following recommendations:
-Create a commission to review contracts before a community school opens and challenge a contract when it is clear that the school operators will not be up to the job.
-Establish a mechanism and provide assistance to help charter schools with financial problems.
-Provide training for community school fiscal officers, and require training in statute.
-Take stronger action against charter schools which have financial records declared unauditable.
-Hold charter schools accountable to the open government requirements to ensure the public that decisions about how public money is being spent is available to the public.
In a separate letter to charter school sponsors, Auditor Montgomery recommended that sponsors attend audit exit conferences to understand the audit findings and recommendations, and take a more active role in fulfilling their responsibilities. The State Auditor's Office will now routinely examine the minutes, correspondence, and reports prepared by sponsors to ensure that sponsors are doing their job as outlined in statute and in Ohio Administrative Code. The letters and a press release are available at http://www.auditor.state.oh.us/WhatsNew/Press/Release276.aspx
5) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Sue Westendorf president, will meet December 12-13, 2005 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.
On Monday, December 12, 2005 the Executive Committee chaired by Sue Westendorf will meet at 8:00 AM to review a proposed Ohio Graduation Test appeals process, and receive an update on the creation of the Peebles Local School District.
The Achievement Committee, chaired by Jim Craig and Mike Cochran, and the Capacity Committee, chaired by Carl Wick and Jennifer Sheets will meet at 8:45 AM. The Achievement Committee will discuss the Resolution of Intent to Adopt the Local Report Card Indicators for 2006-07. The Capacity Committee will discuss the proposed supplemental teaching license; approve revised Rule 3301-24-33, temporary licensure; discuss the drug abuse and violence prevention policy; and discuss the proposed community schools sponsor evaluation framework.
The full Board will meet at 10:00 AM for ethics training, presented by Jennifer Hardin, Chief Advisory Attorney, Ohio Ethics Commission. At 12:00 PM The Blue Ribbon Schools will be recognized by the Board.
Following lunch at 1:15 PM there will be an update on the Office of Communication presented by Steve Burigana, Chief Operating Officer, Amy Andres, Executive Director, Operations, and Jan Ocean, Director, Office of Communications.
The Board will hear an update about Community School legislative recommendations, followed by legislative reports, and committee reports from Board members.
The Board will conduct a Chapter 119 Hearing at 4:00 PM on the following resolutions:
*Intent to rescind Rules 3301-23-20, 3301-23-21, and 3301-23-22 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding certification requirements for teachers. *Intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-08 of the Ohio Administrative Code, regarding the Operation of the Career Enhancement Program Subsidy. *Intent to amend Rule 3301-92-04 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding a Board of Education spending plan. *Intent to amend Rule 3301-92-05 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding certification of adequate revenue.
At 4:30 PM the Board will convene to review questions regarding written reports and resolutions, hear an update on the work of the School Readiness Solutions Group, hear an year end review of legislative activity, and then adjourn.
The State Board will meet on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 starting at 8:30 AM, and hear a policy discussion on the Condition of Education, presented by Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman and Mitchell Chester, Associate Superintendent, Office of Policy and Accountability. The Board will then move into its business meeting, and immediately convene into executive session. After reconvening its public meeting, the Board will hear a report from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman; public participation on agenda Items; and consider action on eight personnel items, and the following resolutions:
*Motion to amend the state board of education's previously adopted resolution of Intent to Amend Rules 3301-24-05 and 3301-23-44 of the Administrative Code adopted by the State Board of Education during the November 2005 State Board of Education business meeting. *Resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-23-44 of the Administrative Code entitled Temporary Licences. *Resolution to amend Rule 3301-92-01 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding textbook and instructional materials funds and Rule 3301-92-02 regarding capital improvement and maintenance funds. *Resolution of intent to adopt 2006-07 Local Report Card Indicators. *A motion to appoint State Board members to the NASBE Commission on Financial Education. *Resolution of appointment to the state library board. *A motion regarding Community Schools Legislative Recommendations.
The Board will then consider old business, new business, miscellaneous business, and hear public participation on non-agenda items. The Board will then adjourn.
For more information about the meeting of the State Board of Education, visit www.ode.state.oh.us and follow the links to the State Board of Education meetings.
6) AIR Rates School Reform Models: The American Institutes for Research (AIR) recently published a guide to the quality and effectiveness of 22 elementary school reform models called "Report on Elementary School CSR Models". The AIR's Comprehensive School Reform Quality Center used strict scientific criteria to rate the models based on several categories. The ratings ranged from limited to moderately strong in their positive effects on student achievement. Some of the models reviewed include Success for All, Accelerated Schools, Core Knowledge, America's Choice, Direct Instruction, School Renaissance, and the School Development Program. None of the models reviewed earned a no or negative rating, which would indicate that a model has no evidence available for review, or strong evidence demonstrating negative effects in a given category. The following are ratings for programs from the first category, which is evidence of positive effects on student achievement: Success for All (Baltimore, MD) and Direct Instruction (Eugene, OR) received a moderately strong rating. Accelerated Schools PLUS (Storrs, CT), America's Choice School Design (Washington, D.C.), Core Knowledge (Charlottesville, VA), School Renaissance (Madison, WI) and the School Development Project (New Haven, CT), received a moderate rating. ATLAS Communities and Co-nect (Cambridge, MA), Different Ways of Knowing (Santa Monica, CA), Integrated Thematic Instruction (Covington, WA), Literacy Collaborative, (Columbus, OH), National Writing Project (Berkeley, CA), Modern Red Schoolhouse (Nashville, TN) and Ventures Initiative Focus System (New York, NY), received a limited rating. Breakthrough to Literacy (Coralville, IA), Comprehensive Early Literacy Learning (Redlands, CA), Community for Learning (Philadelphia, PA), Coalition of Essential Schools (Oakland, CA), Expeditionary Learning (Garrison, NY), First Steps (Salem, MA) and Onward to Excellence II (Portland, OR) received a rating of "zero". For the complete report please visit the CSRQ Center's web site at http://www.csrq.org/reports.asp 7) Ohio Regents Transition Report: The Ohio Board of Regents released on December 5, 2005 its fourth report on the performance of incoming students in Ohio's state colleges and universities. The report, "Making the Transition from High School to College in Ohio" includes the following information:
*College participation patterns for Ohioans attending college anywhere in the United States. "The total number of first-time freshmen from Ohio attending college anywhere in the United States rose from 88,254 in fall 1996 to 105,732 in fall 2004, with older freshmen making up 28% of the freshmen class in fall 1996 and 34% in fall 2004." *Preparation and college success outcomes for students attending Ohio higher education institutions, including college entrance exam scores, high school course-taking patterns, Advance Placement course-taking, college courses taken while in high school, first-term college GPA, percent of students attending college full-time, first-to-second year retention, and remedial course-taking rates. *District and High School Reports: Outcomes by District, Outcomes by High School, College Destinations by High School, which shows the college destination and college outcomes for graduates of each Ohio high school, and High School of Origin by College, which shows the high school of origin for young first-time freshmen attending each of Ohio's state colleges and universities. The report is available at http://www.regents.state.oh.us/perfrpt/2005HSindex.html
8) More on the 65% Solution: The School Evaluation Services division of Standard and Poor's released on November 22, 2005 an analysis of a school funding proposal supported by Overstock.com president Patrick M. Byrne called the 65 Percent Solution. Several state legislatures are considering implementation of this formula, which requires 65 percent of school expenditures to be allocated to support classroom instruction as defined by the National Center for Educational Statistics. The analysis found a lack of empirical evidence linking a minimum spending level per classroom on instruction with higher student achievement in nine out of ten states that are considering the proposal. The analysis is available online at SchoolMatters.com.
posted by Kathie Bracy at 11:09 AM
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