Draft Meeting Minutes
California State Board of Education
March 7-8, 2007
Members Present
Alan Bersin
Ruth Bloom
Yvonne Chan
Andrew Estep
Don Fisher
Ruth Green
David Lopez
Ken Noonan
Members Absent
Jim Aschwanden
Johnathan Williams
VACANT
Call to Order President Noonan called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m.
Salute to the Flag:
Member Fisher led the Board and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ITEM 1 / STATE BOARD PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES.Including, but not limited to, future meeting plans; agenda items; State Board office budget; staffing, appointments, and direction to staff; declaratory and commendatory resolutions; update on litigation; bylaw review and revision; Board Liaison Reports; and other matters of interest. / INFORMATION
ACTION
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
Cheryl Hickey, California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, provided an update on CTC activities.
Member Chan gave a liaison report for the Advisory Commission on Special Education. Member Green gave an update on the status of the Health Standards.
ITEM 2 / 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
Ø NO ACTION TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
ITEM 3 / California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) and Senate Bill (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 / ACTION INFORMATIONPresident Noonan announced Deb Sigman, director of the Standards and Assessment Division, who presented the item. The Board heard data presented by the CDE staff in response to the Board’s direction at the February meeting that staff come back to the Board and present additional information to the Board. Members of the public also presented testimony to the Board on this matter. Following public testimony and CDE staff presentation, Board members asked several questions about the information received. The Board determined that it would not take action at this meeting but would instead wait until its regularly-scheduled May 2007 meeting for further consideration of this item.
Ø NO ACTION TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
ITEM 4 / California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE): Including, but not limited to, approval of intervention materials pursuant to Assembly Bill 1802 / ACTIONINFORMATION
President Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Ms. Sigman introduced this item, explaining the legislative background to this item and the process that the CDE staff underwent to develop recommended CAHSEE intervention providers and materials to the Board. Following CDE staff presentation, Board members took the following action:
Ø ACTION: Member Bloom moved to approve the CDE recommended CAHSEE intervention materials. Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 6-0. Members Fisher and Green were absent for the vote.
ITEM 5 / California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE): Proposed Amendments to Title 5 California Code of Regulations / ACTION INFORMATIONPresident Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Ms. Sigman presented the rationale for the amendments to the CAHSEE regulations and alerted the Board to the fact that a vote today would initiate the public hearing process for these regulations. Following Ms. Sigman’s presentation, the Board took the following action:
Ø ACTION: Member Estep moved to:
o Approve the proposed regulations;
o Approve the Initial Statement of Reasons;
o Approve the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; and
o Direct staff to commence the rulemaking process.
Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 6-0. Members Bloom and Fisher were absent for the vote.
Item 6 / California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE): Including, but not limited to, Program Update / ActionInformation
There was no update provided in addition to the information on the CAHSEE previously provided to the Board.
Ø NO ACTION TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
Item 7 / Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR): California Modified Assessment Blueprints / ActionInformation
President Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Following Ms. Sigman’s presentation, the Board, Board staff, and CDE staff engaged in a thorough discussion of this matter. The Board heard testimony from several members of the public on this topic. Board members expressed reservations about moving this item forward without further planning and guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. As a result of its concerns, the Board decided to continue discussion of this item on Thursday, March 8. After further discussion on this matter on Thursday, March 8, the Board took the following action:
Ø ACTION: Member Green moved to direct staff and the STAR testing coordinator to conduct focus groups with stakeholders and conduct an analysis of the California Modified Assessment (CMA) pilot results and other relevant information and make a recommendation to the Board regarding criteria and guidance to determine the student population appropriate for the CMA. This recommendation should be brought to the Board as soon as practicable, preferably by the Board’s May Board Meeting.
In addition, direct staff to work with SBE testing liaisons to conduct further review of the draft CMA Blueprints and make a final recommendation to the Board at a special meeting of the Board to be held in April. Member Bloom seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 6-0. Members Estep and Lopez were absent for the vote.
Item 8 / Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR): Including, but not limited to, Program Update / ActionInformation
President Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Following presentation of this item, Board members asked questions.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
Item 9 / California English Language Development Test (CELDT): Program update, including but not limited to the release date of scores for 2005-06 / ACTION INFORMATIONPresident Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Ms. Sigman provided a brief review of this year’s CELDT administration and an update on reporting of CELDT scores.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM 10 / Physical Fitness Test (PFT): including but not limited to PFT program update. / ACTION INFORMATIONPresident Noonan introduced the item and asked Ms. Sigman to describe this item for the Board. Ms. Sigman provided the Board with a brief update on this year’s administration of the state’s physical fitness test.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
ITEM 11 / Update on issues related to California’s implementation of No Child Left Behind and other federal programs. / ACTIONINFORMATION
President Noonan announced Camille Maben, director of the School and District Accountability Division, who presented the item. Ms. Maben provided the Board with an update on the state’s implementation of the supplemental educational service provider provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
ITEM 12 / Proposal for the Reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 / ACTION INFORMATIONThe Item was held over to a future board meeting.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.
ITEM 13 / California State Plan 1999-2007 for the Workforce Investment Act, Title II: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act: Extension and Updates / ACTIONINFORMATION
President Noonan announced Patrick Ainsworth, Director of the Secondary, Postsecondary, and Adult Leadership Division, who presented the item. Mr. Ainsworth reported that his office had conferred with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) about the performance goals for 2007-08 and, at the recommendation of ED staff, modified the goals based on former state performance.
Ø ACTION: Member Estep moved to extend the California State Plan 1999-2007 for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Title II: Adult Education and Family Literary Act (AEFLA) for one additional year and approve: (1) the proposed performance goals for 2007-08; and (2) minor edits. Member Lopez seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.
ITEM 14 / Community-Based English Tutoring Program: Approve Commencement of the Rulemaking Process for the Amendment of California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 11315 and the Addition of Section 11315.5 / ACTION INFORMATIONPresident Noonan announced Veronica Aguila, Acting Director of the Professional Development and Curriculum Support Division, who presented the item. Following Ms. Aguila’s description of the item, board members asked questions about the accountability involved with this program.
Ø ACTION: Member Bloom moved to:
o Approve the proposed regulations;
o Approve the Initial Statement of Reasons;
o Approve the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; and
o Direct staff to commence the rulemaking process.
Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.
Item 15 / Legislative update, including, but not limited to information on legislation from the 2007-08 legislative session. / ActionInformation
President Noonan announced Lupita Cortez-Alcala from the Government Affairs Branch, who presented the item. Ms. Cortez-Alcala provided the Board with a brief update. Following Ms. Cortez-Alcala’s presentation, board members discussed some of the legislation that was of interest regarding high performing schools, kindergarten starting times, second grade testing, and leadership training for administrators of low-performing schools.
Ø NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM
Item 16 / Appeal of the Findings of the Ventura County Committee on School District Organization Pursuant to Education Code Section 35711 in the Matter of the Proposed Formation of a Camarillo Unified School District / ActionInformation
President Noonan announced Larry Shirey, Consultant in the School Fiscal Services Division, who presented the item. Following Mr. Shirey’s presentation, board members asked questions about the general process involving reorganizations and unifications. Mr. Shirey explained the process and explained some of the differences with this item. Member Bloom asked clarifying questions in order to summarize the issue. As a result of Ms. Bloom’s summary, several board members asked more clarifying questions about the proposal which included questions about the appeals process. Chief Counsel Paul Member Bersin moved to approve the appeal of the findings of the Ventura Seave and Mr. Shirey answered their questions.
County Committee on School District Organization (County Committee) pursuant to Education Code (EC) Section 35711 in the matter of the proposed formation of a Camarillo Unified School District. Member Lopez seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 6-1 with Member Green voting no. Member Estep was absent for the vote.
Item 17 / Appeal by Chief Petitioner from a decision of the Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization to deny a petition to transfer territory from the Bellevue Union Elementary School District and Santa Rosa High School District to the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District in Sonoma County / ActionInformation
NOTE: Item 17 and 18 were considered simultaneously, therefore the comments in this section represent the comments for Item 18 as well. President Noonan introduced the item and asked Mr. Shirey to describe this item for the Board. Following Mr. Shirey’s presentation, board members asked clarifying questions about the new housing development and the potential impact on district attendance. Member Bloom commented that this decision should consider what is in the best interests of children affected in the future. Member Bersin expressed desire for this to be decided at a later time when the children and families were actually present in the housing development. Board members asked several questions about this item.
Ø ACTION: Member Bloom moved to grant the appeal, thereby reversing the action of the Sonoma County Committee (SCC) on School District Organization to disapprove a petition to transfer territory from the Bellevue Union Elementary School District (UESD) and the Santa Rosa High School District (HSD) to the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District (USD) in Sonoma County. Member Chan seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0. Member Estep was absent for the vote.
Item 18 / Appeal by the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District from a decision of the Sonoma County Committee on School District Organization to deny a petition to transfer territory from the Bellevue Union Elementary School District and the Santa Rosa High School District to the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District in Sonoma County / ActionInformation
For a summary of the conversation for Item 18, see notes for Item 17.
Ø ACTION: Member Chan moved to grant the appeal, thereby reversing the action of the Sonoma County Committee (SCC) on School District Organization to disapprove a petition to transfer territory from the Bellevue Union Elementary School District (UESD) and the Santa Rosa High School District (HSD) to the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District (USD) in Sonoma County. Member Green seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0. Member Estep was absent for the vote.
ITEM 19 / Environmental Effect of the Proposed Unification of the Grant Joint Union High School District with the Del Paso Heights School District, the North Sacramento School District, and the Rio Linda Union School District in Sacramento County / ACTION INFORMATIONPUBLIC HEARING
President Noonan introduced the item and asked Mr. Shirey to describe this item for the Board. Following Mr. Shirey’s presentation, Member Bloom acknowledged pleasure that this report included a consideration of aesthetics. President Noonan announced the public hearing to discuss the negative declaration. Following the public hearing, Member Chan asked a question regarding the unification process. Mr. Shirey explained the process and commented that the Department of Water Resources made a comment reminding the Board that any project that is undertaken is subject to the Reclamation Board’s involvement. Following deliberation, the Board took the following action:
Ø ACTION: Member Bloom moved to adopt a Negative Declaration (Attachment 1 to the Board agenda item), which concludes that the proposed unification would not have any significant effects on the environment. Member Green seconded the motion. The motion was approved by a vote of 8-0.