Vol. 22, No. 4
February 26, 2010
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
ALABAMA HAS 65 PERCENT
ON-TIME GRADUATION RATE FOR 2009
Using a formula that becomes the national standard for comparison in 2012, Alabama’s on-time graduation rate for the 2009 graduating class is 65 percent.
For at least the next few years, Alabama will continue to also report its graduation rate using the formula approved for accountability reporting under No Child Left Behind. That formula generated a nearly 87 percent graduation rate for 2009.
State Department of Education officials shared the new on-time graduation rate with the state Board of Education at Thursday’s K-12 work session.
Consensus through the 2005 National Governor’s Association Graduation Counts Compact means the on-time formula will be used for calculating high school graduation rates nationwide.
This formula, less complex than the one Alabama uses for NCLB, takes the number of on-time graduates, divides it by the number of first-time entering ninth graders four years earlier and adjusts for transfers in and out.
The new definition for a graduate is simply a student who receives a high school diploma within four years. While a student transferring into a cohort during the four-year period is self-explanatory, the phrase “transfers out” encompasses students who not only transfer to another school, but those who emigrate or die.
The state’s NCLB formula takes into account dropouts and the number of students who exit with documents other than a diploma. Graduates, under the new definition, do not include students who aren’t promoted to the next grade, don’t earn the required credits to graduate on time and don’t pass the graduation exam, earn a graduation certificate or complete a GED.
New NCLB regulations announced in 2008 are pushing all states to use the disaggregated four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate and to make that data public. Alabama also plans to report five-year cohort data.
Morton said the data shows 7 percent, or 4,393 of the 65,233 members of the 2005-06 ninth-grade cohort actually dropped out of school. That means, he said, programs such as graduation coaches, credit recovery and credit advancement can impact students such as those in the 28 percent who didn’t graduate in 2009 due to other reasons.
Also discussed Thursday was the Aug. 31 deadline for out-of-state graduates of instructional leadership or educational administration programs to apply for Alabama certification. Starting Sept. 1, Alabama plans not to automatically recognize certification from other states for those programs. The Southern Regional Education Board is helping the state identify other states’ instructional leader preparation programs that eventually meet Alabama’s new standards. In the meantime, a public hearing on the matter is set for April 8. Teacher leader certification was also discussed. Details are online at www.alsde.edu.
The state board’s regular K-12 meeting is set for March 11 when it will vote to fill five vacancies on the Alabama School of Fine Arts Board of Trustees.
STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR MARCH 19-20 ACADEMY COURSE
You have until March 15 to register at the discount rate for the AASB School Board Member Academy core course on Leadership for Financial Accountability set for March 19-20 at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. If you’re looking for hope during these anemic economic times, if your school system faces even more difficult financial choices, then attend this spring conference. The program is designed to emphasize the value in funding what matters most and to innovatively stretch resources.
Don’t forget to also register for the March 19 Early Bird Workshop, Governing for Higher Achievement. Hear directly from the full boards participating in Alabama’s project that goes by the same name. The project links board action to improved student learning. Find out how to become a board that helps drive high achievement. Contact AASB for details at 800/562-0601.
BEAT THE RUSH, RESERVE SUMMER CONFERENCE HOUSING
Strengthen your relationship with your full board team and build a brighter future for your students! Whether your board works well together or needs a little relationship TLC, AASB calls all board members and full board teams to the team-building, team-strengthening and team-enhancing event of the summer. Now, more than ever, it's time to come together as a team to ensure academic excellence and progress survive these rocky, economic times. We'll see you June 13-15 at the Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County for intense discussions on how to Build Winning Teams for a Brighter Future.
Plans are also under way for this year’s School Board Academy leadership orientation designed for new school board members. Leadership I will be June 12-13. Check your academy statement to be sure you’ve earned this core credit. So, go ahead. Book your housing reservations today to lock in the lowest room rate and beat the summer housing rush. Call the Perdido at 800/634-8001 (mention AASB to receive the discount). Keep checking for more details!
EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE
The Education Trust Fund receipts report for January 2010 reflected a 17.5 percent decrease over the same month last year, with the current year-to-date comparison to last year reflecting a small decrease of under 1 percent. However, there were several one-time events, including a decline in sales tax used to pay PSCA debt, reversions of sales tax from the Department of Human Resources, surplus deposits of utility tax to be credited back to utility companies and accelerated income tax refunds in September 2009 that impacted the “real” growth. After factoring in these anomalies, the “real” growth rate is approximately a negative 7 percent. This negative growth rate supports the widely held belief that the best-case scenario is essentially no growth for the current fiscal year and a possible decline, leaving the door open for additional proration in the current year. The timing of state deposits into the Education Trust Fund can impact projections greatly. AASB will continue to closely monitor receipts.
DOES YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE THE BEST STUDENT ARTISTS?
AASB’s first Student Art Competition launched Feb. 25 runs through Friday, April 16. We’re encouraging each school system to submit at least five entries. The competition is open to students in grades 3-12. There is no cost to enter. A presentation to the first-, second- and third-place winners will take place during AASB’s Annual Convention. Chosen entries will be displayed in AASB’s offices as part of a long-term student art exhibition. The top three winners will receive a framed certificate and $100 gift cards. The first place prize winner will also receive a $200 gift card for his or her classroom.
AASB hopes this competition will help promote student excellence and achievement and recognize and encourage young public school students who demonstrate talent in the visual arts. The winning students’ board presidents and superintendents will be notified only and asked to officially announce the good news to the student. Download the guidelines and entry forms.
Thank you for assisting us with this voluntary project. If you would prefer a faxed copy, please contact Donna at dnorris@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or 800/562-0601.
NSBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE APRIL 9-12
The 2010 NSBA Annual Conference will be April 9-12 in Chicago. Registration is now open at www.NSBA.org. The conference features a programming line-up designed to help boards find solutions, demonstrate accountability and work together to improve student achievement. Speakers include Emmy-winning broadcast journalist Charlie Rose, Grammy-winning jazz musician and arts education advocate Wynton Marsalis, and Apple co-founder and renowned philanthropist Steve Wozniak.
WILL YOU BE AASB’s FRIEND?
If you’re online anyway, why not stay up-to-date on the latest school board and education news? Join the Alabama Association of School Boards’ social media networks, including:
AASB also has officially launched the electronic version of Leg-Alert for the general AASB membership. AASB uses its new eMEMBERSHIP database to send Leg-Alert, so if you’re missing your copy, check your spam/junk mail and add us to your safe senders list or contact us at 800/562-0601 to be certain we have your current e-mail address in our database.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR BOARD TRAINING POLICY,
WE CAN BRING TRAINING TO YOU
Now that you’ve met the legislative mandate for a local policy on board training, AASB makes it easy for you. The association can bring training to your local meetings, work sessions or retreats with programs on a variety of topics —from governing for student achievement, school board roles and responsibilities, team building and conducting tax referenda to updating your policy manual and getting the most from a board self-evaluation. These services are offered as either a member service with no additional fee or for a nominal cost. To find out more, contact AASB Board Development Director LuAnn Bird or 800/562-0601.
FREE WEBINARS & DEMONSTRATIONS
Looking to go paperless? AASB’s strategic partner, eBoardsolutions Inc., offers free webinars and on-demand videos on Paperless Board Meetings, Strategic Planning and More! Learn more at www.eboardsolutions.com.
Is your community not engaged? AASB’s strategic partner, High Ground Solutions Inc., can help you engage your community by keeping them informed. High Ground Solutions’ SchoolCast product provides messaging via multiple communication vehicles – e-mail, text messages, cell or landline voice calls, and PDAs/Blackberries. Learn more at www.highgroundsolutions.com/schoolcast.html.
To learn more or to schedule your free webinar or demonstration, contact AASB at info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards:
Developing excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services.
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