For Your Information
Vol. 21, No. 8
April 24, 2009
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Board Discusses Proposed Changes to Student Assessment
The number of student assessments and time spent testing in Alabama could be reduced if a plan proposed at Thursday’s K-12 state Board of Education work session is approved.
A long-range plan calls for the state’s patchwork of the Alabama Reading and Math Test and the 10th edition Stanford Achievement Test to eventually be replaced by the state’s very own criterion-referenced test.
The test booklet for the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test and the Alabama Science Assessment would be combined.
And, the 10th edition Stanford Achievement Test would be replaced by the National Assessment of Educational Progress to compare the state with the nation in reading and mathematics progress.
These are the proposal’s long-range goals.
For 2009-2010, the plan is to require use of SAT-10 reading and math as part of Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test to comply with the No Child Left Behind federal law, said state Deputy Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice. Other testing normally used for state accountability – language, science, social science and the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) – would be optional for local school systems but still provided at no cost.
Not only does the proposal lower the number of standardized tests students must take, Bice said, it would shrink the two-week testing window for students in grades 3-8 to one week.
Another bonus, he said, is statewide testing results would be available sooner. As it stands, NCLB requires that parents of children in schools that didn’t make adequate yearly progress be notified 14 days before school starts. This gives parents time to exercise school choice. This year, for example, that notification period begins Aug. 3 when the state Board of Education officially receives NCLB data.
Members of the board raised questions about developing stand-alone forms of the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test that would be independent of a norm-referenced test. Bice said Alabama is the only state still using the SAT-10 as its norm-referenced test. Another issue raised by District 6 member David Byers was losing many years of comparable Stanford Achievement Test data that could be used to measure school-to-school progress over time.
State Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton suggested further discussion of the long-range plan but requested that the board consider bringing the short-term plan up for a vote.
Dr. Bice also presented details about EDUCATEAlabama, the state’s proposed teacher evaluation system. If approved by the board next month, it would replace the Professional Education Personnel Evaluation Program. Bice said many attributes of PEPE are still included in the proposed system that is streamlined and aligned with new state teacher performance standards. Auburn city school officials, including Superintendent Dr. Terry Jenkins, endorsed the plan Thursday.
At the work session, Betty Peters of board District 2 asked the Mathematics Course of Study Committee about adding multiplication table memorization to its recommendations for the board. The state board is expected to vote on the suggested math course of study at its regular K-12 meeting May 14 in Montgomery. Bice said he would do additional legwork to address Peters’ concern.
Dr. Morton’s update to the board on the 2010 education budget pending in the Legislature (see this week’s issue of Leg-Alert) pointed to the budgetary sacrifices that resulted in continued operation of key academic programs and preservation of most teacher and support personnel jobs.
In an update on the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, the ACCESS distance learning program and the Alabama Reading Initiative, Morton explained that expansion of those programs would be put on hold. Summer training for AMSTI will also cease.
The good news, he said, is there will still be 626 AMSTI schools, ACCESS will be present in every high school by August and the nationally recognized Alabama Reading Initiative can maintain its success in elementary schools.
More discussion is expected on an issue that the Alabama Association of School Boards has served as a resource on and has worked hard to shape behind the scenes. There is a pending suggestion before the board to require school systems to post all receipts and disbursements online. Board Vice President Randy McKinney originally called for the measure for K-12.
State Department of Education Attorney Larry Craven said there is no legal barrier to requiring this action. He also noted a financial burden for some systems to upgrade technology to comply, and he pointed to policies and procedures in place to monitor local finances. Those fiscal reports are already public record.
Dr. Morton stated local boards support fiscal accountability and transparency and that the issue is a matter of logistics and not placing an unfunded mandate on systems. AASB will continue to work with state officials on this issue to ensure no undue administrative burden on local boards.
New Board Member? Try AASB’s Leadership Orientation
School board members and education leaders who have been on the job for two years or less are urged to take advantage of AASB’s leadership orientation program July 25-26 at the Perdido Hotel in Orange Beach. This two-day training session precedes AASB’s summer conference and will provide a wealth of information on the fundamentals of school board leadership. Topics will include boardmanship, school finance, personnel, law and ethics. Learn what boards do in high-achieving systems.
The Leadership I course is open to all AASB members, including veterans in need of a refresher, but is specifically designed for those who are relatively new members of a board. Participants earn AASB School Board Member Academy credit for attending. To find out more, call Debora Hendricks at 800/562-0601.
Ready for the July 26-28 Conference?
“Keep your eye on the prize” is a worn cliche’ that bears great meaning in highly volatile economic times like these. Ultimately, if students are to achieve at higher levels, school boards have to keep moving ahead, continue the progress they’ve begun and shield students as much as possible from the economic downturn. Learn how to do just that at AASB’s July 26-28 Academy Conference, “Navigating Rough Waters, Seeking Student Success.”
This year’s AASB Summer Conference comes in the middle of summer vacations, so you’ll want to beat the housing rush and make your reservations early. If you’re a new board member or a veteran in need of a refresher, you’ll also want to attend the leadership orientation course (Leadership I) set for July 25-26.
All events will be at the Perdido Hotel. For conference details, call Mandy Fernandez at 800/562-0601.
Tax Referenda Chart Updated
The Alabama Association of School Boards maintains a history of tax referenda outcomes. That chart has been updated. To request your copy, contact Donna Norris at 800/562-0601.
Register for Southern Region Conference
Alabama is known for its Southern hospitality. If any of y’all want to share some of that down-home graciousness with the folks in Arkansas, attend the 2009 NSBA Southern Region Conference. The Arkansas School Boards Association is hosting the July 8-10 event at the Peabody Hotel and Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. Keynote speakers include: Wes Moore, Walter C. Coleman III and Arkansas Senate Education Committee member Joyce Elliott. Visit www.arsba.org for conference registration information and refer questions to ASBA by calling 501/372-1415.
Present at NSBA’S Conference
If you are interested in having a program or presentation from your school system at the National School Boards Association Annual Conference in April, submit your proposal online by 4 p.m. June 1, 2009. Call 703/838-6722.
Have What it Takes to Lead AASB?
If you are interested in serving as AASB vice president or president-elect, notify Nominating Committee Chairman Jim Methvin in writing by June 15. His address is 448 Crest Drive, Homewood, AL 35209. A copy of your letter of interest also should be sent to AASB Executive Director Sally Howell, J.D. (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488). President-elect Florence Bellamy will become president at the close of AASB’s convention in December, and Vice President Steve Foster has served the one term allowed under AASB bylaws in his current position.
Magna Nominations Now Open
Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 31 for the American School Board Journal’s annual Magna Awards, a salute to programs developed and supported by school boards to advance student learning. The awards recognize boards for innovative efforts to improve educational programs and help students. Winners will receive their awards at NSBA’s annual conference April 10-13, 2010, in Chicago. For information, call 703/838-6739.
AASB Brings Training to You
School board/superintendent teams are using AASB’s new full-board training service to improve governance practices. Sessions include analyzing your student achievement data, setting and aligning goals and creating shared leadership throughout the system. Learn more about how the board can take actions to create conditions in the school system that improve student achievement. Review the roles and responsibilities of the board. Contact LuAnn Bird at 800/562-0601.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards: Celebrating 60 years
of helping local education leaders improve student achievement.
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