State Board Approves Accountability Regulation

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the Kentucky Board of Education approved the state regulation that defines the first component of the state’s new accountability system for public schools.

The new regulation – 703 KAR 5:200 – outlines the Next-Generation Learners component of the overall accountability system mandated by 2009’s Senate Bill 1. The regulation provides details on how student test results, efforts to close achievement gaps, student academic progress, college/career readiness and graduation rates will be used to gauge public schools and school districts.

The board made a few minor changes to the regulation, which now moves through the standard process for approval of all state regulations.

The board heard discussion of another new state regulation (703 KAR 5:220) that outlines how schools and districts will be classified under the new accountability system. The regulation also provides guidelines related to support for struggling schools. The board will continue discussion of this regulation at its June meeting.

The board also discussed content for a regulation related to Program Reviews and heard information about the expansion of the AdvanceKentucky program.

The board took the following actions:

• voted to approve a resolution supporting the Commonwealth Commitment to College and Career Readiness Pledge


• agreed to uphold Education Commissioner Terry Holliday’s decision related to the disbanding of the Christian County High School school-based decision making council


• approved the appointment of (Ms.) Dana Guyton of Louisville as an at-large member of the Kentucky High School Athletics Board of Control


• approved a request for an alternative school-based decision making council model for Mt. Sterling Elementary in Montgomery County


• approved the selection of EdisonLearning and Mosaica Turnaround Partners as external management organizations, as enabled by KRS 160.346 for assistance to low-performing schools


• approved the Kenton County Board of Education’s request for a waiver of a section of state regulation 704 KAR 3:340, which outlines criteria for the Commonwealth Diploma


• approved the Paducah Independent Board of Education’s request for a waiver of a section of 704 KAR 3:305, which outlines the minimum requirements for high school graduation

The board heard an appeal of the commissioner’s decision related to the 2011-12 nonresident student agreement between the Harlan County and Harlan Independent school districts. After presentations from both districts, discussion and deliberation, the board agreed to uphold the commissioner’s decision on this issue.

The board heard presentations and had discussions on these items:

• recommendations from the Governor’s Transforming Education in Kentucky Task Force


• 2010-2012 biennial budget


• 2011 elementary and secondary legislation


• state regulation 702 KAR 6:110, Claim Reimbursement for School and Community Nutrition


• an audit update and review of the commissioner’s and board’s expenses


• state regulation 704 KAR 3:340, Locally Awarded Certificates of Merit (formerly Commonwealth Diploma Program)

The Kentucky Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 8 in Frankfort. The board will hold a work session on June 7 at 1 p.m. in Frankfort.

SOURCE: KDE Press release

State Board Discusses Accountability

At its regular meeting on Wednesday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations related to the proposed accountability system for the state’s public schools and districts.

The board heard details about a proposed accountability model that would be adopted through a state regulation. The model would hold schools and districts accountable for student achievement; closing achievement gaps; showing growth/progress; college and career readiness (middle and high schools); and graduation rates (high schools).

Schools and districts could receive an overall, weighted score that would combine raw scores from each of those areas. Schools and districts also could be classified as “Distinguished,” “Proficient,” “Needs Improvement” or “Persistently Low-Achieving,” depending on their overall, weighted scores and other variables.

A document describing the proposed accountability model is attached to this news release. The board will continue its discussion at its April meeting.

The board also discussed recognition, assistance and consequences for schools and districts, based on their performance and standings in the proposed accountability model.

The board heard a presentation related to career readiness from the Kentucky Association of Career and Technical Education, which provided recommendations on assessment and implementation.

The board voted to support Education Commissioner Terry Holliday’s call to continue as planned with the implementation of mandates from 2009’s Senate Bill 1.

The board took the following actions:

• approved district facility plans for the Bath County, Hazard Independent and Fulton Independent school districts
• approved 2010-2011 local district tax rates levied

• gave final approval to 702 KAR 7:065, the regulation related to high school interscholastic athletics
• approved the appointment of J. Gary Mudd of Louisville to the Kentucky School for the Blind Advisory Board
• approved the appointment of Hardin County teacher Vasco Perry to the State Textbook Commission

The Kentucky Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for April 13 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.

SOURCE: KDE Press release

Kentucky Board of Education to Meet

KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Happy Groundhog's Day

STATE BOARD ROOM
FIRST FLOOR, CAPITAL PLAZA TOWER
FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD
STATE BOARD ROOM
9:00 a.m. (EST)

I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of minutes from the December 7-8, 2010, regular meeting
IV. Introduction of New KDE Employees and KDE Team Members of the Month by the Commissioner of Education
V. Report of the Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
VI. Report of the President of the Council on Postsecondary Education
VII. Report of the Executive Director of the Education Professional Standards Board
VIII. Report of the Commissioner of Education (Questions on written report)
IX. Good News Items
X. Public Comment Segment
XI. Full Board Items
A. Next Generation Learners and Next Generation Support Systems (Strategic Priorities)
· 703 KAR 5:200, Next Generation Learners and discussion on remaining accountability issues for Kentucky’s accountability model (Regulation is under separate cover) (Review Item); Associate Commissioner Ken Draut, Division Director Rhonda Sims and Associate Commissioner Felicia Cumings-Smith; 2 ½-hour presentation/discussion

LUNCH
FIRST FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. (EST)

BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD
STATE BOARD ROOM
1:00 p.m. (EST)

XI. Full Board Items
B. Next Generation Schools/Districts (Strategic Priority)
Initial discussion regarding recognition and assistance for the Next Generation Learners component of Kentucky’s new assessment and accountability model (Review Item); Associate Commissioner Ken Draut, Division Director Rhonda Sims, Associate Commissioner Larry Stinson and Associate Commissioner Felicia Cumings-Smith;
C. General
Legislative Update – Associate Commissioner/General Counsel Kevin Brown and Tracy Herman, Legislative Liaison;
Hearing Officer’s Report – Associate Commissioner/General Counsel Kevin Brown;

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
STATE BOARD ROOM
2:30 p.m. (EST)

XII. Management Committee Meeting
A. Action/Consent Items
1. District Facility Plans: Bath County, Hazard and Fulton Independent School
Districts (KDE Support and Guiding Processes)
2. 2010-2011 Local District Tax Rates Levied

B. Action/Discussion Items
1. 702 KAR 7:065, Designation of Agent to Manage High School Interscholastic
Athletics and Revisions in Kentucky High School Athletic Association Bylaws

XIII. Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee Meeting
A. Action/Consent Items
1. Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB) Advisory Board Appointment
2. Appointment to the State Textbook Commission

BUSINESS SESSION - FULL BOARD
STATE BOARD ROOM

XIV. Approval of Action/Consent Agenda Items (approved as a block of items)
A. District Facility Plans
B. Tax Rates Levied
C. KSB Advisory Board Appointment
D. Textbook Commission Appointment
XV. Report of the Management Committee on Action/Discussion Items
XVI. Board Member Sharing
XVII. Information Items
A. KDE Employment Report XVIII. Internal Board Business
XIX. Litigation Report
XX. Adjournment