a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
BACA: [Absent.]
BURNETT: [Absent.]
DEHOFF: Explained that Baca had to be at work and Burnett has difficulty traveling because of his disability. Commended Munn on his election to the NASBE Board of Directors as the New Member Representative; Baca had reported that in his campaign to be elected to this position, Munn said, "I’m a politician and a lawyer, and not ashamed to admit it." The CSAP results were the big news in the last month. Once again we saw modest but continued growth. Often asked if 2% is meaningful, but when one looks at it as an average of so many students, it is. The biggest story is on the local level is where some schools made significant strides, using the data to focus their efforts on raising achievement. Colorado is really leading the nation in how to use assessments to improve schools, in every area from CDE to classrooms. Everyone deserves congratulations. Was also at the CLASS conference; the highlight was trout fishing in Montana and Yellowstone. Left there for a charter school policy conference put on by PPI, which dealt with the challenges facing us from poor charter schools and from regular schools that don’t want to face the competition.
HUDAK: First, I mentioned some of the interesting facts I got from the "Whatever Happened to Citizenship Education?" workshop at the National Education Forum sponsored by the Education Commission of the States conference on July 15: (1) A survey showed that 38% of students could name the 3 branches of government, but 58% could name the 3 Stooges. (2) Three viewpoints about what civic engagement is – personally responsible, participatory, and justice-oriented. (3) Michigan House of Representatives has a Civics Commission that holds hearings in schools around the state and takes testimony from students, and it has teachers write summaries for students on laws passed. (4) Recommendations for effective civic education include these – transmit civic knowledge with emphasis on political topics; hold classroom discussions on controversial topics, in a respectful environment; provide practice in relevant skills (e.g., student governance council, interpreting political information); provide opportunities for volunteering in the community in conjunction with discussion of community problems; and encourage discussions with parents. Second, I attended the CASE Conference and found two of the speakers particularly relevant. Jamie Vollmer – (1) you can’t run education like a business; (2) the challenges that kids face make today’s education more challenging, more than the 3 Rs, we need the 3 Ts (thinking, teamwork, and technology); (3) the system was designed to select and sort students, not to meet the needs of all kids; and (4) combine the slogans of two Presidential administrations: NCLB - Just Say No. Linda Darling-Hammond – (1) Because 70% of today’s jobs are "knowledge work," it is vital that we decrease the dropout rate; a high school dropout has a 50% chance of getting a job. (2) Influences on students learning – 49% home and family, 43% teacher qualifications, 8% class size. But schools are designed as if teacher-student relationships aren’t important. THEREFORE, the most cost-effective use of money is professional development.
MUNN: He and Christine Baca attended the NASBE New Member Institute and received excellent training. He was selected to be the New Member Representative on the NASBE Board of Directors. Also attended a conference of business leaders in Denver.
ORR: Youngest (of 3) daughters recently got engaged and graduated from CSU. Since parents are primary educators of children, has always had conversations around the dinner table, at one of which this daughter had once asked why he would run for something that doesn’t pay. Feels it is a great honor to serve. What is important is what we can give, not what’s in it for us. Thanked the Greeley school board for hosting this meeting.
POLIS: CSAP results released two weeks ago, with good progress shown. Commended Gerwitz’s effort on the School Land Trust Coalition. Also attended the CLASS conference. Commended Munn on his NASBE position.
SUCKLA: Attended the CLASS conference. Mentioned federal grants of $4 million to schools to help with capital construction. Commended Munn,.
COMMISSIONER MOLONEY: Expressed deep appreciation for the hospitality of the Greeley school board. Had an opportunity to chat with the district superintendent, who began his job at same time. The issue of school reform dominates the landscape so much. Reflected on the Inspirational Message that Orr gave, on the Canadian editorial about how good Americans are, pointing out that Americans have such a good ability to deal with change. Was inspired by CCHE member Pres Montoya’s story about his life given to us yesterday, which included the fact that although his parents didn’t have a high school education, they ensured that their son would get a college education. Got a phone call from USDOE Undersecretary Hickok, because we have been able to solve problems in Colorado that other states have not. We find a way to come together to resolve issues. It is an honor to be a small part of that effort.
Approved the establishment of an on-grounds special education schools/facility, which has met the criteria for eligible facilities as described in the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act of 1994, as well as the requirements set forth by the Exceptional Student Services Unit, as follows:
Monarch Wilderness Treatment Center, which provides residential treatment services for girls ages 13-17 who are in need of mental health treatment and/or have severe behavior issues that make them inappropriate for the public school setting.
Approved contracts or interagency agreements between the State of Colorado – for the use and benefit of the Colorado Department of Education, for the following contractors and in the following amounts:
Adopted amendments the Board’s Operating Procedures to include the procedures regarding taking an official Board position, the Advisory Committee Report, and changing the SBE Commitment to the Mission and Vision. [The Board agreed to these amendments at the Board Retreat in June. The Board’s Mission is: Charged by the Constitution of the State of Colorado with the general supervision of the public schools, the mission of the Colorado State Board of Education is to provide all of Colorado’s children equal access to quality, thorough, uniform, well-rounded educational opportunities in a safe and civil learning environment. The Board’s Vision is: By accomplishing this mission, all children in Colorado will become educated and productive citizens.]
Scheduled a hearing for the October 9, 2003, meeting to amend the rules for the Administration of the Accreditation of School Districts. [The rules need to be amended to comply with the requirement of SB 03-248 that the Accreditation Indicators include compliance with budgeting, accounting, and reporting requirements. Also, the terminology will be changed from "Academic Watch" to "Accreditation Watch," and from "Academic Probation" to "Accreditation Probation" to better reflect the new requirements.]
(1) EMERGENCY EDUCATOR AUTHORIZATIONS
Approved emergency Type III educator authorizations for 38 initially and 73 renewals .
[Local districts may request Type III Emergency Authorization to employ non-licensed teachers, principals, administrators, or special services providers if they agree to provide an induction program. The SBE’s approval is based on consideration of whether the district has demonstrated a shortage of licensed personnel and the employment of non-licensed personnel is essential to preserving the instructional program and to the well-being of the children enrolled.]
(2) TEACHER INDUCTION PROGRAM
Approved the Teacher Induction Program for the Boulder Country Day School – a combination Preschool/Elementary/Middle School.
[Colorado school districts wishing to hire provisionally licensed educators are required to have induction programs approved by the SBE. Induction programs include mentors for new teachers and ongoing professional development.]
(3) TEACHER IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Approved the Teacher in Residence Program for the following:
[Colorado school districts and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) are authorized to establish teacher in residence programs, enabling them to hire non-licensed individuals with appropriate degrees for two years, providing that they give these people individual training, support, and evaluation and that they recommend them for licensure upon completion of the program. The intent of the teacher in residence program is to enable districts to address teacher shortages and reduce the number of people employed under Type III Emergency Authorizations. It also attempts to help school districts and BOCES to recruit and employ nontraditional teacher candidates.]
Accepted and approved the terms and conditions of the settlement agreements for one licensed teacher.
(1) Approved charter school waiver requests from August 14, 2003, to September 11, 2003, for:
(2) Approved charter school waiver requests from August 14, 2003, to June 30, 2004, for Center for Discovery Learning Charter School in Jefferson County School District.
(3) Approved charter school waiver requests from August 14, 2003, to June 30, 2005, for Indian Peaks Charter School in East Grand School District.
(4) Approved charter school waiver requests from August 14, 2003, to June 30, 2006, for:
(5) Approved charter school waiver requests from August 14, 2003, to June 30, 2008, for:
Scheduled a hearing for the October 9 Board meeting to amend the rules for the Annual Inspection and Preventative Maintenance of School Transportation Vehicles.
Approved emergency amendments to the rules for the Administration of Colorado Cyberschools. [SB 03-248 closed loopholes in the prohibitions to enrollment in a Colorado cyberschool for students who were not enrolled in a Colorado public school during the October count because they were enrolled in private schools or were participating in nonpublic home-based education programs or home instruction by licensed teachers during the preceding school year. The SBE was given authority to promulgate rules that will allow Colorado school districts to receive funding for students who would otherwise be ineligible for funding, if they meet specific criteria for exemptions. The emergency amendments allow students who meet the criteria for exemptions to enroll in cyberschools during the 2003-2004 school year. The rules also establish an application procedure for such exemptions and clean up language in existing rules relative to the allocation of online student slots, since none were allocated for the coming school year.]
ERIC FEDER (CDE Director of Technology): Staff made some changes in the proposed rules that were discussed by the Board yesterday.
NATHAN BARTON: From Mancos, Colorado, here 450 miles to ask us to change these proposed rules. His son, they felt, was not ready to attend middle school in 6th grade, so they put him in a private school that year. Still were not happy with the middle school for 7th grade and wanted him to attend the Colorado Virtual Academy, but found out that state policy disallowed his attendance.
KATHERYN ROCHA: Parent from southern Colorado. Used to live in Utah. Children have learning disabilities. Oldest child’s severe disabilities make it hard for her to devote time to two younger children. Has been homeschooling her children. Branson Online School is the only one she knows of that can tailor its education to their needs. Both the disabled child and her brother have been rejected because of the law.
TRACY LEE: Parent from Coal Creek Canyon whose son was expelled in 10th grade. The district suggested that he get his GED, but would like her child to have the opportunity to attend the Branson Online School.
JUDITH STOKES: Teacher from Branson Online School. Attended the SBE Work Session yesterday and appreciated hearing our discussion. Requested that we allow parents to appeal to the SBE if rejected for attendance in an online school. Believes that we should eliminate the requirement that students pass half their classes to qualify for an exemption. Suggested that we move the date of August 21 for admission of students to later. We should allow academically at-risk students to attend because online schools are alternative schools.
JEANNE ROSS: Director of Technology Services in DPS and founder of Colorado Online Learning; was on the E-Learning Task Force. Administrator of a virtual school in DPS. There needs to be a better way to confirm eligibility of attendance in online programs. Students who were rejected by her program as ineligible were approved by other online schools – because there is no clear, uniform definition of a passing grade. It is difficult to set uniform standards and rules, but we should offer online programs for any student who wants them.
GAIL KLAPPER: Attorney for Connections Academy, a virtual program that is part of Sylvan Learning Centers. Understands the budget constraints faced by the state, but the rules create some problems. The rules take a negative approach, allowing expelled and truant students, but not students who need flexibility of the online experience. Also, it would help to allow the student to present a report card to confirm passing grades, because the current timeline doesn’t help determine whether the students are eligible in enough time. Is concerned about the requirement that the cyberschool’s calendar must align with the district’s calendar. Thinks that we need a quality screen provided in legislation.
MARIE MILBERGER: From Pueblo. Son has been a public student through 4th grade, but since then she has been homeschooling him because of his disabilities. Was in a charter school for part of 7th grade, but it didn’t meet his needs sufficiently. Feels that some students have individual needs that can’t be addressed in traditional schooling. Online schooling can be one-on-one.
DALE MCCALL: Director of Centennial BOCES in Greeley and Longmont, and on the Online Learning Task Force. It has been a difficult process coming up with these rules. The providers seem to believe that these rules are too restrictive; believes that they are necessary in view of the state’s fiscal circumstance. The Task Force has been discussing issues about the quality of cyberschools. The cyberschools are managed by school districts, which are in charge of quality.
DR. J. AUFDERHEIDE: Director of Branson Online, largest cyberschool in the state. Would encourage us to look at their curriculum; it is aligned with state standards and the school has special education staff. Cyberschools are not a fad – they meet a need. Branson is committed to excellence and to being as good as a brick-and-mortar school at the same or lower cost. Concerned about the issue of dropouts – if students drop out during the first semester, they are ineligible for re-enrollment. Urged us to allow exemptions for medical and special education purposes.
GREG AVERILL: Student from Centennial, CO. Was an exchange student in the Netherlands and was not here for the October count, so is ineligible to attend Branson.
GENE ENDERSBY: Director of VILAS Online School. Suggests having a clear definition of online schools being public schools. Is grateful for the proposed exemptions. Has been helping students without receiving funding for them, in addition to providing equipment and Internet connections for them without charge. It would be nice if the SBE would recognize that there are people who are more interested in educating kids than receiving money.
ANNETTE GROTELUESCHEN: Parent who researched types of education to provide the best for her child. Would like her child to be enrolled in COVA, but ineligible because she has homeschooled him. Wants to be able to continue providing a Christian education at home. COVA has satellite schools that kids can attend for a semester half-time to qualify, but doesn’t want to go "through the hoops" of enrolling her child in a regular public school for a semester to qualify for enrollment in the online school, or to have to drive her child so far to attend the satellite school.
JOIE ROMINES: Teen parent who had been put on strict bedrest and was unable to attend school for the last semester. Online education would enable her to have schooling without needing a babysitter or a car; she doesn’t have a job and can’t afford a babysitter.
JOE SHEA: President of SMART Schools, an online program provider that works mainly through school districts. Districts with SMART Schools programs have improved student achievement. Submitted a long list of proposed amendments.
CURTIS MARTIN: Parent seeking exemption because they have been homeschooling their children for religious reasons. COVA will allow them to continue their religious training and have their children receive an academic education.
REP. DON LEE: Employed by K12, an online curriculum provider working with COVA. In response to DeHoff’s question about the Legislature’s intent in the amendments causing the current rule revision, said that budget restraints were a big factor in making the restrictions and "threw the hot potato" into the SBE’s lap to determine the minimum requirements. Emphasized that we will lose children while this is going on. Expressed concern about violation of constitutional rights of students. The Legislature changed the requirement of attending on October 1 only to attending for an entire semester to close the loophole that existed. In response to Moloney’s question about how the Legislature would respond if the exemptions cause a large number of unexpected students being enrolled, thereby necessitating a request for supplemental funding – possibly causing a recission of school funding affecting all school districts – and the SBE being blamed, said that the state’s economist project better revenues, but it depends on how we "deliver" our argument.
Polis moved to add "preceding-year enrollment and" to the "semester-completion requirements" where exemptions apply. Passed 5:1 (I dissented.) Polis moved to change the requirement for all the exemptions during the preceding year to any preceding year. I questioned whether this is technically legal according to the statutes, but it appeared to be. (Passed 5:1 – I dissented.) Munn moved to add a definition of "passing grade" as one which entitles a student to receive academic credit toward completion of the academic requirements." Passed unanimously. I moved to strike the exemption for teen parents on the basis that it could potentially include the 4500 teen mothers currently of school age, as well as the teen fathers. (Failed 1:5 – I was the only supporter.) Polis moved to include exemptions for extraordinary athletes who have difficulty attending on a regular school schedule. In the face of obvious opposition, he withdrew the motion. Polis moved to include exemptions for students with disabilities or serious illness or injury preventing normal school attendance. Suckla pointed out that the district already has a responsibility to provide services for special needs children. He then withdrew the motion. Polis moved to add an exemption for "academically at-risk." I cautioned the Board that this category could include thousands of students and it would be substantially unwise fiscally. Moloney said that it would put local school districts in a very difficult position, without having a clear definition in the law. Failed 2:4 (Polis and Orr were the only ones who supported it). I moved to strike the exemption for students who were expelled, since districts already provide services to these students. It failed 1:5 (I was the only supporter). Polis moved to add lack of residence in the country to the exemption for students who did not reside in the state. I moved a substitute motion to strike the entire exemption. It passed 4:2 (DeHoff and Polis dissented). DeHoff pointed out that the statute says that the SBE "may promulgate rules" giving exemptions to students who reside outside the state; our vote means that we choose not to include this category. Munn moved to change the requirement for the cyberschool’s calendar so that it "reasonably aligns with the beginning of the school year." Polis moved to change the application filing date from August 21, 2003, to September 15, 2003, because we have made several changes today and there is only a week left until August 21. Feder said that they wait until they can confirm the actuality of their students’ enrollment before giving out materials, and this would delay that. Passed 4:2 (Munn and I voted no). Orr moved to change the definition of "online student" as one who has completed 4th grade. DeHoff pointed out that the charter school statute has a separate definition of an online student that would conflict with this. Motion failed 2:4 (Orr and Suckla voted yes). Suckla moved to include an exemption for a Colorado student who resided in another state during the preceding year and whose parent resides in or is a legal resident of Colorado. Passed unanimously.
The rules passed unanimously as amended.
Continued the hearing on proposed changes in the Licensing Endorsement for Rules for the Administration of the Educator Licensing Act, for the following:
[Over the course of several months from March through August 2003, the SBE is considering updates in Colorado’s Educator Licenses, Authorizations, and Endorsements, issued under the Rules for the Administration of the Educator Licensing Act of 1991. This action is timely since under No Child Left Behind, our state’s Provisional License has become equivalent to Colorado’s definition of "highly qualified teachers." The major change in the updated rules are for candidates’ licenses, authorizations, or endorsements to meet performance-based criteria. Also, the changes will bring the rules into compliance with state statutes, which have undergone several amendments since the rules were originally passed.]
CONTRACT: Between the Colorado Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services Unit, and Measured Progress. [Measured Progress will assist in the development of CSAP-Alternate in reading, writing, math, and science, as well as the refinement, distribution, scoring, data analysis, and reporting of results.]
Expenditures of $4,912,723 from the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve Fund and $5,000,000 from the School Construction and Renovation Fund. [This is the fourth funding cycle for capital construction and renovation for school districts. For FY 2003-2004, the Legislature allocated $5 million from the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve Fund and $5 million from the School Construction and Renovation Fund (as part of the resolution of the Giardino lawsuit). The SBE has until March 15 to distribute the funds from the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve Fund and until October 1 to provide a list to the Capital Development Committee for recommendations of projects to be funded from the School Construction and Renovation Fund. Funds unspent from the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve Fund are transferred to the School Construction and Renovation Fund by March 15. Some districts are considering putting bond issues on their ballot this November to raise matching grant funds and need to know the status of their applications by early September. Therefore, the SBE will be asked to approve recommendations at the September meeting. The remaining $87,277 of the School Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve Fund are for CDE administrative expenses.]
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