NCAE SBE Review J A N U A R Y
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
Overview of how schools are funded was provided by Philip Price ADM has increased over the last 10 years Key facts on student dollars based on 2008-09:
State $5,739/ranking 22nd in nation
Local $2,208/ranking 47th in nation
Federal $960/ranking 40th in nation
Total $9,101/ranking 45th in nation NEA estimates for 2012-13 NC will be 49th in spending Allotment costs for the past school year:
Teachers 43%
Support Staff 13%
Administration 8%
Categorical 34%
Total 98%
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POLICY CHANGES B A S E D O N T H E G E N E R A L A S S E M B LY MA NDATES The 2013 General Assembly mandates more than 26 changes that will impact the classroom and/or school community. Digital-learning plan covering the transition to digital textbooks and providing professional development for educators Revising the NC Virtual School cost calculation and to study the implementation of Virtual Charter schools Study how students earn their GPA Public and private partnerships for the Legislated Read to Achieve Program Revising the annual school report card to include AP and IP performance as well as creating a new report card on how schools will be graded using a performance scale based on A-F with only 20% being a growth component and not inclusive of multiple measures beyond testing CTE industry certificates and credentialing programs Task force to study educator effectiveness and compensation Pilot program for extending the high school drop out age from 16 to 18 Study the educator dismissal process in low performing schools Development of model teacher contract language to be used by local school boards: 115C-325.3 & .4—Teacher multiple year contracts depend on a teacher showing “effectiveness” as demonstrated by proficiency on the evaluation instrument. Dismissal of teachers for inadequate performance—the failure to perform at proficient level on any standard on the evaluation instrument OR otherwise performing in a manner that is below standard 115C-325.13 Section 9.6(g) states that superintendents shall review the performance and evaluation of all teachers who have been employed for at least three consecutive years. Based on these reviews, the superintendent shall identify and recommend to the local school board 25% of those teachers who are eligible for four-year contracts. No teacher shall be recommended unless the teacher has proven to be proficient. Master’s Degree Pay in Session Law 2013-36 SB 402 states that no teacher or instructional support personnel shall be paid on the M salary scale unless they receive pay for the degree prior to 2014-15 school year. Approval was granted by the SBE to change existing policy regarding master’s degrees. The proposed policy change will be voted on in September, regarding those who will complete a master’s degree by the end of the 2014 school year. Health curriculum changes include the items relating to avoidance of pre-term birth
NCAE Center for Instructional Advocacy, Membership Organizing & Communication
August 2013
RT3 & ESEA ISSUES Options being considered for change based on MSLs The SBE continued its discussion around the issues of testing and educators’ impact on student growth. 1. The state is submitting a wavier to the USDE asking that data collected during the 2012-13 school year on impact of student growth be considered the final pilot year. The school year 2013-14 would be year one of three years for a teacher effectiveness score. 2. There was further discussion on testing and the amount of assessment as well as the quality of assessments. There will be a committee of educators accompanying Superintendent Atkinson and Eric Guckian to meet with Secretary Duncan to discuss issues around lessons learned using the MSLs, the amount of time testing takes away from instruction, and other issues regarding the use of assessments beyond the assessments that are connected to EVAAS. Possible solutions include, but are not limited to: The “default” option: DPI continues to support the MSLs but allows LEAs to opt out using the state made MSLs and create their own
assessments, or The DPI stops supporting MSLs, and LEAs create their own assessments for all subject areas, or Continue with current process, making adjustments based on lessons learned and 2012-13 as a pilot year. Using school-wide growth data from state assessments to measure student growth for all teachers in non-tested subjects and
courses. If positive results, as in the school meets or exceeds goals, all teachers receive credit; if negative results for the school, only teachers responsible for assessment are impacted on Standard VI. Allow LEAs to combine options that might work for their community.
3. If the State Board of Education decides to stop the current process outlined in the RT3 application and makes adjustments, the consequences could be one or all of the following: NC will go back to using the AYP model to hold schools and staff accountable The Senate Bill calling for Pay for Performance based on Educator Effectiveness score will be in jeopardy EVAAS data will not be available for all teachers and school data will be based on the few assessments now mandated by the USDE;
which will not be fair to all teachers
NCAE Center for Instructional Advocacy, Membership Organizing & Communication
August 2013
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Items of interest under discussion
Education Cabinet’s Five Pathways of Education for North Carolina
Theory of Action Globally-Competitive North Carolina Standards
1. Prosperity & Job Creation for Graduates
Community: Teachers Parents Students Businesses Job Creators
Supports, Incentives & Measurement
2. Rewarding Career for Educators Student Achievement
The Five Pathways for NC Education
3. Joy of Reading & Math for Every Child 4. Excellent Innovative Learning Opportunities for Families 5. Cost Effectiveness for Taxpayers
The discussion centers on what is working in North Carolina and what is needed to continue our state on a path of progress. This pathway is part of the Governor’s Education Platform outlined August 5 at the NC Chamber of Commerce Forum. Rewarding career educators was a topic of discussion when Eric Guckian met with NCAE Board members and other association leaders August 9. Here is an overview of items shared by NCAE members beyond the issues surrounding the budget signed by Governor McCory: Compensation for all educators prior to creating a pay for performance model for just a few select teachers. Administrators shared their frustration with the budget on how it impacts their efforts to recruit quality teachers,
provide a well-rounded educational program, and that due process is needed. Merit pay and the impact on teachers who work with exceptional children; what if one of the 1,000 teachers
under McCroy’s plan is an outstanding EC educator, but due to test scores would not be selected? Poverty rates need to be taken into account as schools are identified. The lack of respect from policymakers is very heart breaking and very sad. How about reallocating the $10 million for the 1,000 “master teachers” to strategically create a better salary
system? Eric stated that he would work with NCAE and share possible solutions to the needed revised salary structure in NC. Several best practices were shared regarding how LEAs have “master” teacher or lead teacher programs in
place, as well as peer review programs similar to the former NC Mentoring Programs. How are IHEs going to change? He thought this an interesting question. It was requested that he share with the Governor that there should be 360 degrees of support for children in
school communities and not the dismantling of support with private voucher programs. NCAE will follow up on the issues and concerns shared. The conversation was productive.
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NCAE Center for Instructional Advocacy, Membership Organizing & Communication
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NC General Assembly’s Read to Achieve Program guidebook can be found at http:// goo.gl/lKDZGL
Comprehensive Reading Plan • Elimination of Social Promotion • Successful Reading Development for Retained Students • Notification to Parents/Guardians and LEA Accountability Facilitating Early Grades Reading Proficiency http://goo.gl/QsGt38 is a link to a video on the program.
Actions by the State Board 1. Approved the current waiver for the Future-Ready Occupational Course of Study graduation requirement connected to paid employment. Until the economy improves to where OCS students can find paying internships, the waiver allows for unpaid work to meet the requirement. 2. Approved the online vendor approval process for Virtual Courses via the NC VPS. 3. Discussed Charter School Applications being recommended and other requests connected to various charter schools. Denied the extension requested by the Howard and Lillian Lee Scholars Charter School to delay opening another year. This school will have to reapply in the next round of applications. 4. Received news that the 2012-13 graduation cohort rate increased over last year’s data. 5. Approved changes to the components of the READY accountability model regarding AMOs. 6. Approved curriculum for the Back to Basics Bill on cursive writing within the NC Standard Course of Study. 7. Approved funding code of lead teachers who are not 100% in the classroom to be paid correctly.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION: McREL was the research lab that helped to create and host the online NC Educator Evaluation System. The NCEES has not changed! Home Base is the “cloud” with True North Logic being the new portal for the online support of the evaluation process. http://www.truenorthlogic.com/educator-effectiveness/
For questions on items found in the NCAE SBE Review, please contact Angela Farthing at Angela.Farthing@ncae.org
NCAE
SBE
REVIEW
NCAE Center for Instructional Advocacy, Membership Organizing & Communication
August 2013