Draft Minutes

CaliforniaState Board of Education

February 14-15, 2007

Members Present
Jim Aschwanden
Alan Bersin
Yvonne Chan
Andrew Estep
Ruth Green
David Lopez
Ken Noonan
Johnathan Williams
Members Absent
Ruth Bloom
Don Fisher
Vacancy
Call to Order: President Noonan called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
Salute to the Flag: Member Lopez led the Board members and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connellprovided a brief report to the Board.
ITEM 1 / PUBLIC COMMENT.
Public Comment is invited on any matter not included on the printed agenda. Depending on the number of individuals wishing to address the State Board, the presiding officer may establish specific time limits on presentations. / INFORMATION
  • NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.

ITEM 5 / California High School Exit Examination and SB 267: Consideration of a course of action to adopt regarding pupils with disabilities who have met all other state and local graduation requirements, but who are unable to satisfy the CAHSEE requirement or obtain a waiver of the requirement under Section 60851(c) of the Education Code / INFORMATION

President Noonan introduced Deb Sigman, Director, Standards and Assessment Division, who described the history of activities undertaken by the California Department of Education and the State Board of Education to identify possible courses of action.

Paul Seave, Chief Counsel for the SBE, provided comments to introduce the item and stated that eight invited speakers, representing a variety of perspectives on the CAHSEE and special education students, would present their views. Following the presentations, the public would be invited to address the Board on the subject.

Invited Speakers:

  • Loni Allen, Education Resource Specialist, Parents Helping Parents
  • Dr. Judy Elliott, Assistant Superintendent of School Support Services, Long BeachUnifiedSchool District, who presented her comments via telephone.
  • Roger Heller, Senior Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates
  • Dale Mentink, Senior Attorney, Protection & Advocacy, Inc.
  • JoAnn Murphy, Executive Director, Special Education Program at Poway Unified School District
  • Linda Nimer, President-Elect, CARS+ (California Association of Resource Specialists and Special Education Teachers)
  • Dr. Alice D. Parker, Former Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Director of Special Education, CDE
  • Don Shalvey, Chair, Advisory Commission on Special Education

Members of the public were invited to provide testimony to the Board.

  • NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.

Proposed Consent Calendar

Items 2, 3, and 4 were provided as a proposed consent calendar.

ITEM 2 / Application to the United States Department of Education local assistance funds available through the federal Public Charter School Grant Program / ACTION INFORMATION

ACTION: Member Williams, as part of the consent calendar, moved CDE staff recommendation to direct the CDE to apply for $100 million in federal funds under the Public Charter School Grant Program (PCSGP) to award sub-grants to assist in the development and initial operation of approximately 250 new charter schools between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2010. Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.

ITEM 3 / Update to the Public Charter Schools Grant Program: Request to Expand the List of Schools Approved to Receive Grant Awards, Pending the Availability of Funding / ACTION INFORMATION

ACTION: Member Williams, as part of the consent calendar, moved CDE staff recommendation to expand the list of schools approved to receive grant awards under the federal Public Charter Schools Grant Program (PCSGP), pending the availability of funding. Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.

ITEM 4 / Appointment of a Student Member to the Child Nutrition Advisory Council / ACTION INFORMATION

ACTION:Member Williams, as part of the consent calendar, moved CDE staff recommendation to appoint Alexandria Icenhower for a one year term as the student member on the Child Nutrition Advisory Council. Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.

***ADJOURNMENT OF DAY’S SESSION***

President Noonan adjourned the day’s session at 4:25 p.m.

Thursday, February 15, 2007 – 9:00 a.m.±

Members Present

Jim Aschwanden

Alan Bersin

Yvonne Chan

Andrew Estep

Don Fisher

Ruth Green

David Lopez

Ken Noonan

Members Absent

Ruth Bloom

Johnathan Williams

Vacancy

Call to Order: President Noonan called the meet to order at 9:15 a.m.

Salute to the Flag: Member Fisher led the Board and members of the public in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Executive Director Roger Magyar opened the retreat by introducing guest speakers and walking through an agenda for the day’s retreat session. Mr. Magyar stated that the purpose of the retreatwas to allow board members to gain greater understanding of the duties and processes of the California State Board of Education. It was also an opportunity to explore, question, challenge, or modify elements of Board practice that the regular agendas of bimonthly meetings leave no time to attempt.

Invited Speakers:

Suzanne Tacheny – former member of the State Board of Education

Glen Thomas – former staff director for the Curriculum Commission and Director of the Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Division

John Mockler,former Executive Director of the State Board of Education:

Greg Geeting, former Executive Director of the State Board of Education:

Bill Lucia, former Executive Director of the State Board of Education:

The invited speakers discussed the adoption of standards, implementation of standards-based curriculum, development of standards-aligned assessment, and initiation of an accountability system. They were also able to illuminate the recent history of the board, reflect on its operations, recount interesting events in board life, and express opinions about the activities and structure of the board. The speakers were informed, thoughtful, and engaging. They shared a perspective that helps present members and staff to understand where we have been and ponder where we are going.

Members considered varying topics of Board practice and operations. Members provided President Noonan and Board staff with ideas to consider to improve Board activities for the future. Staff committed to considering these suggestions for incorporation in future Board practice and upcoming Board meetings.

No formal Board action was taken on Thursday, February 15, 2007.

***ADJOURNMENT OF DAY’S SESSION***

***ADJOURNMENT OF THE MEETING***

President Noonan adjourned the meeting at 3:37 p.m.

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