STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
April 14, 2011
Public Service Building, Room 251-A/B
255 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97310
Members Present
Brenda Frank Board Chair David Rives Advisor, Com. College Faculty
Jerry Berger Board Member Colt Gill Advisor, K-12 Admin.
Samuel Henry Board Member Caryn Connolly Advisor, K-12 Teacher Rep
Nikki Squire Board Member
Duncan Wyse Board Member
Members/Advisors Excused
Art Paz Vice-Chair Leslie Shepherd 2nd Vice-Chair
Ted Wheeler Ex Officio Board Member Kate Brown Ex Officio Member
Chris Henke Advisor, K-12 Students Preston Pulliams Advisor, Community Colleges Pres.
Stacy Adriano Advisor, K-12 Students
Other Participants
Camille Preus Commissioner, CCWD Colleen Mileham Asst. Supt., ODE
Doug Kosty Asst. Supt., ODE Karen Smith OCCA
Cindy Hunt Legal Coordinator, ODE Tony Alpert Assessment & Accountability, ODE
Margaret Bates Education Specialist, ODE Susan Inman Learning Ops & Options, ODE
Julie York Interagency Spec Ed., ODE Leslie Phillips Science, SS Assessment, ODE
Sean McElhaney Molalla High School Derek Brown Assessment Manager, ODE
Cindy Dickerson Beaverton School District Jon Bridges Beaverton School District
Robin Kobrowski Beaverton School District Jan McComb Board Staff, ODE
Preliminary Business
Call to Order/Roll Call/Flag Salute/Introductions
Chair Frank called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. and called the roll. Excused were Directors Paz, Shepherd, Brown, and Wheeler; Advisors Pulliams, Henke, Adriano.
Public Comment
George Fischer, Cascade Locks Charter School, complained about the Hood River School District and its handling of the charter school sponsorship request (handout). The complaint had been provided to ODE staff. He stated that in Hood River County, they shut down the high school and the law allows for the district to continue to receive State School Fund for the next four years. It was wasteful. That money was earmarked for Cascade Locks children.
Cindy McGraw, Oregon Virtual Schools Alliance and parent of an Oregon Virtual Academy student, urged the board to support the ORVA waiver request. ORVA offers a choice for children who are not succeeding in other venues. Removing the requirement that sending districts must permit student enrollment would save time and effort and eliminate uncertainty for parents. The high school grade addition is critical for her family for they would like to continue with virtual learning.
Superintendent Report
Superintendent Castillo updated members on activities of the last month.
· She and department staff continue to work with the Governor on the budget. The Legislature passed a $5.7 billion budget. Some legislators are interested in adding funding if revenues allow that. She is involved in the Governor’s effort to change education; she, along with Chancellor Pernsteiner and Commissioner Preus participated in the Governor’s news conference on April 5. We all want to create a budget process that is more focused on the learner, wherever they are in the education system. She is also working on the pieces of initiative, like the proposed Early Learning Council.
· The ODE waiver request of the federal government from the special education Maintenance of Effort requirements was denied. She is working with legislators and how that denial affects the state school budget.
· In mid-March, she attended the International Summit on the Teaching Profession. There she met with other state school chiefs, award-winning educators, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and about fifteen Ministers of Education from other countries. They talked about what they do to make students successful. What came through clearly they have more systemic approach in how they support their teachers. Private funds were used to pay for this travel.
Consent Agenda
· March 2011 Draft Board Minutes
· Commissioner’s Travel
· Commissioner Financial Transaction Review
· Bennett Pearson Academy Charter
· Model Rules of Procedure OAR 581-001-0005; Procedures for Complaints as Required by IDEA Regulations OAR 581-015-2030
· Canby School District Revised Supplemental Plans
· Coburg Charter School Waiver Request
· Alliance Charter School Waiver Request
· Trillium Charter School Waiver Request
· Madrone Trail Charter School Waiver Request
· Growth Management: Distribution of Community College Support Fund OAR 589-002-0100
Squire requested that the board have a discussion at some point about the practice of allowing charter school waivers for employee children.
MOTION: Henry moved to adopt the remaining staff recommendations of the Consent Agenda items; Squire seconded the motion.
VOTE: The motion was adopted 5-0; excused were Paz and Shepherd.
Commissioner’s Report
Commissioner Preus, Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD)
Commissioner Preus introduced the newest member of CCWD to the Board, Dr. Elizabeth Cox, Director of Communications and Research. Dr. Cox comes to us from California Community College Collaborative Research Center at the University of California Riverside.
Commissioner Preus informed the Board that CCWD sold their Article XI-G-Bonds this morning. Fifteen bids were submitted. The premium price tag was $38.2 million worth of bonds, $39.4 million in proceeds, at an interest rate of 4.24%.
Commissioner Preus attended a Chemeketa Community College Board meeting this month. The main discussion was legislative budget issues and the Governor’s Education Investment Board.
Commissioner Preus shared a handout with the Board demonstrating the impacts of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) Workforce Development Expenditures in Oregon. The report outlines the short and long-term impacts of ARRA economic stimulus spending in Oregon. The federal government intended that state and local areas spend these funds quickly to maximize the impact on local economies and meet workforce needs. The $33.4 million Workforce Investment Act ARRA funding generated a return on investment (ROI) of $488 million. The $2 million Oregon Youth Employment Initiative generated $3.0 million ROI.
There are cuts in WIA (Workforce Investment Act) state-level funding for the next year. The cut in State Leadership resources for Oregon is dire, but it is still undecided as to the WorkSource Initiative funding, which has been left intact.
Governor Kitzhaber attended the Oregon Presidents Council (OPC), and presented his vision for the new Oregon Education Investment Board. The prevailing message that the Governor wanted recognized when SB 909 was announced, was to be able to work with everyone on how to make better investments for years 0-20.
Commissioner Preus travelled to Silver Creek Falls to visit Cohort 18 from Oregon State University’s Community College Leadership Program and to read several first draft dissertations. The first chapter was on purpose and significance. Another chapter was to define student success. Commission Preus shared with the Board that it is always interesting to see how students think. One student did an inquiry study on returning Veterans entering a community college.
Henry has invited Commissioner Preus to Portland State University to meet with Policy and Politics graduate-level class in May.
Immediately following the State Board of Education (SBE) meeting, Commission Preus will be heading down to San Diego to help facilitate in a Regional Community College Summit on developmental education.
Stakeholder Reports
Oregon Community College Association
Joe Johnson, Senior Policy Advisor, Oregon Community College Association (OCCA)
The main bills that OCCA is tracking:
HB3521: The Student Transfer Bill of Rights and Responsibilities bill passed out of the House Committee Higher Education. This bill requires a community college, when determining whether to award an associate degree, to take into consideration credits earned by the student at other institutions of higher education before and after the student enrolled at a community college.
SB909: Establishes a 13-member board led by the Governor to oversee all education spending.
SB242: Creates a Higher Education Coordinating Commission and will grant authority to coordinate higher education policy with the Oregon University System (OUS) and community colleges. This bill abolishes the Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) and transfers this authority to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
Oregon Workforce Investment Board
Greg White, Executive Staff, Oregon Workforce Investment Board (OWIB)
At the March meeting, the OWIB began the process of updating the strategic plan, Winning in the Global Market. The work will be done in two phases: an evaluation of the Plan and its impact over the last five years, and then updating the Plan as necessary. The OWIB held a facilitated session, led by the contractors who have been hired for the work, to kick off the evaluation phase and to obtain the entire OWIB’s comments on the Plan.
The OWIB has added several new members:
· Cheryl Roberts, President of Chemeketa Community College
· Alan Unger, County Commissioner for Deschutes County
· Susan King, Executive Director, Oregon Nurses Association
· Scott Nelson, Governor’s Jobs and Economy Advisor
CCWD Legislative Update
Commissioner Preus, CCWD
The Commissioner updated the board on bills that affect the Education Enterprise. The board’s guidance and suggestions help CCWD frame its responses and positions throughout the Session.
A few bills that CCWD is tracking have to do with the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), Veterans, tuition waivers and the CCWD budget.
CCWD tracks all bills that can influence the constituents and stakeholders that they serve. The Department will track bills until session ends. If there are bills that Board members would like information on, please contact Commissioner Preus.
Student Success: Strategic Fund Investment Report / Persistence and Completion Framework
Commissioner Preus, CCWD
The issue before the board is an update on the allocation of the Community College Support Fund,
a fund that supports the Student Success Persistence and Completion Framework.
Commissioner Preus and staff allocated Strategic Funds to various colleges during this biennium, including an to increase the Small School Base funding as approved by the Board in July 2009, support for the Career Pathways Initiative, and various other activities in support of the Student Success Initiative.
In addition, at the recommendation of the Student Success Oversight Committee (SSOC) and the Oregon President’s Council (OPC), Commissioner Preus will distribute the remaining 2009-11 Strategic Funds for investment in the focus area of First-Term to First-Year Persistence. The purpose of this investment is implementation of a college-identified First-Term to First-Year Persistence best practice tied to the college student success plan. The total estimated amount of this investment is $255,000.
Oregon Education Investment Board Update
Nancy Golden, Governor’s Education Policy Advisor
Golden joined the board for an update on the Oregon Education Investment Board. The new board will be looking at the education system and the broader vision. The idea for 0-20 years is for a seamless system. Outcomes would be very broad for kindergarten, middle school, high school and higher education. An area of concern is for a data system and how complicated it could become.
In the current proposed model, the State Superintendent elected position will report to the Governor.
Science Achievement Level Descriptors
Tony Alpert, Director, Assessment & Accountability, ODE
Sean McElhaney, science teacher, Molalla High School
Leslie Phillips, Science & Social Science Education Specialist, Assessment, ODE
Sue Squire Smith, retired science teacher & ODE contractor
Alpert introduced the panel and stated that the board adopted new science content standards in February 2009 (had been previously adopted in April 2001). Following the adoption of new policy definitions in March 2010, is the development and adoption of achievement level descriptors (ALDs) and then the establishment of achievement standards or “cut scores.” Today is the first read of the proposed science ALDs. In May, the new ALDs are scheduled to be adopted. In July 2011, ODE staff will convene stakeholders to verify and refine the new standards. Testing on the new achievement levels will begin in the 2011-12 school year. The work is based on that of Marianne Perie of the National Center for the Improvement of Education Assessment; prior standards; and other states’ standards and national standards. The goal for the ALDs is that they be comparable to national assessments such as NAEP and PISA. He reviewed the definitions of “proficient” and “mastery” (handout).
Smith reviewed the process and stated that they used the math ALDs as a model and ALDs from other states. The group focused on what students would need to know to “meet” standards.
McElhaney noted that the student that “does not yet meet standards” still has gained some skills. It is difficult to distinguish what the student has learned in class and what they have learned elsewhere.
Phillips stated that process used was to go standard by standard, grade by grade and compare with NAEP to identify gaps.
Alpert explained the policy definitions of “does not meet,” “nearly meets,” “meets,” and “exceeds.” Next month, staff will ask the board to adopt the proposed science policy definitions and ALDs.
Discussion:
· The definition of “mastery” and whether that includes “all” aspects of the subject—that’s pretty broad.
· Science is not identified as an Essential Skill for diploma purposes; there is no state accountability purpose. The practical effect on the student if they do not meet the science standards will depend on the school district.
· The intent is not to have a different cut score depending on student’s next steps; the plan is to develop data on what score students would need to have to be successful in different venues.
· Federal law requires a science test. More accurate cut scores inform teachers and students how well students are prepared.
· How Oregon students compare with Finnish students.
· Federal law requires students take at least three science assessments.
· Staff will be asking the board to adopt cut scores in October, retroactive to the beginning of the school year. Since the scores are not for accountability purposes, this should be less stressful to districts.
· Whether teachers were ready to teach the new standards so students would be ready for the new assessments and cut scores.
Chair Frank recessed the committee for a lunch break at 12:05 pm and reconvened at 1:03 pm. She noted that members were having difficulty participating by phone (Shepherd, Wyse). Leslie Shepherd joined the meeting but did not remain due to a poor connection; Wyse joined the meeting early during the next segment.
Oregon Connections Academy Waiver Request/Oregon Virtual School Waiver Request
Margaret Bates, Charter Schools Education Specialist, ODE
Susan Inman, Director, Student Learning Options, EII, ODE
Cindy Hunt, Government & Legal Affairs Manager, ODE