a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
BACA: [Absent]
DEHOFF: Attended three main events. First was the Library Awards at the Governor’s Mansion, which presented awards to students who wrote letters to authors – they showed amazing insights. Second was the Charter School Graduation Luncheon for Colorado put on by the League of Charter Schools. There were a couple of hundred students there. Third, went to the National Physics Society meeting in Denver; it had a day for Physics teachers, and many from around the state attended. There was much excitement among the attendees. One speaker was the Nobel Prize winner from CU Boulder, who was a wonderful speaker; he described his experiment on Boze-Einstein condensation. Didn’t have to use expensive parts to do the experiment. Today was supposed to be the Physics Day at Elitch’s, but doubtful that it will occur because of the weather. Regarding the anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, his wife lived in the south when a black high school was closed. The irony of the post-Brown era is that there might in fact be more segregation now. Many of the groups who fought segregation are now fighting attempts to provide better education to minorities (such as a charter school in the east serving 98% black students). As we heard yesterday, many Anglo parents are trying to get their children into schools like Cesar Chavez Charter School in Pueblo because of the successes they are having. Presented me with a book Eats Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, in honor of my attention to punctuation.
HUDAK: In April I attended the USDOE’s Regional Leadership Summit: Preparing America’s Future. Our state’s team consisted of Gary Sibigtroth from CDE; Cameron Lynch from the Governor’s Office; Terri Rayburn from Fund for Colorado’s Future; Jerry Wartgow and Elaine Berman from DPS; Jim Jacobs from CCHE; and me. Pat Chlouber, USDOE Regional Representative, was also there. The problems to be addressed were as follows: too many high school graduates are not proficient in reading or math, only a third are ready for college, affluent children are 11 times more likely to get a college degree, and only half of black and Latino students graduate. I shared some of the key insights I got from the summit, such as the key to success in today’s high schools is a focus on Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. Key state policies proposed for improving high schools included these: compulsory attendance to age 17 or 18; giving high schools a high percentage of state funding; high-quality teachers; and a rigorous curriculum, with access and availability of advanced placement courses. Our state team determined that Colorado’s priorities need to be English Language Acquisition, leadership development (principals), data-driven instruction, alignment of K-12 with higher education, identification of skills to be college-ready, and job-embedded professional development.
LITTLETON: Introduced her parents, who are attending the meeting today. Had a busy month. Participated in many meetings. Made a presentation to the Commission to Close the Achievement Gap on strategies to improve reading. Went to the Pikes Peak Student Achievement Consortium, which includes Reading First. Went to the Accountability Task Force, Math on the Plains Conference, Hub Committee meeting, Children’s Library Awards, Denver Teacher Awards, and planning meeting for a Reading Summit in October. Attended the International Reading Association conference in Nevada. Announced candidacy to run for SBE.
MUNN: [Reviewed the history of Brown vs. the Board of Education and the decisions following it in the 1970s, such as the Keys decision that caused Denver Public Schools to do busing for desegregation.] Colorado Boulevard was the separating line between where the majority of African-American students lived (east of Colorado Boulevard). There was much tension surrounding the decision to do busing. In 1992 the Supreme Court issued a decision that parts of the Keys decision were no longer necessary because the issues of slavery and second-class citizenship had been overcome. In 1995 Denver ceased busing. The vast majority of students in Denver are segregated again. Only an average of 15% of DPS students are really integrated at this time. To address the fact that separation is harmful, we must still address these issues, as when we deal with closing the achievement gap. While this is a month to celebrate the decision of Brown, we must realize that we still have a long way to go.
ORR: As reported last month, is working on a video about CSAP with District 6, as well as with Jo O’Brien from CDE. It will be televised on a cable channel in Greeley and can be distributed to anyone who is interested. Met with some teachers concerned about all the testing. They are required by their district to give 5 other tests, one taken every 6 weeks. What these tests do is get diagnostic information more promptly than CSAP, which comes out once a year in July. Some of the tests are pre and post. Wonders if the district is “going overboard on the body of evidence.” The Governor, Legislature, and SBE are getting the blame for all of these tests. We need tests to be viewed as tools, not hammers. One teacher had boxes and boxes of tests that she is giving her students. Found yesterday’s presentation from Cesar Chavez Charter school “phenomenal.” Wish all mothers a belated happy Mother’s Day.
POLIS: Legislative session was reasonably successful for us in many ways, because there were a number of issues about which we on the SBE were unanimous and advocated to the Legislature. We didn’t get everything that we wanted, but did get many things that we wanted. Is very concerned about adult literacy; it doesn’t mean what many people think – it is people over age 21, many of whom do not speak English. Many adults learn English in adult literacy programs. CDE oversees adult literacy, not the community colleges, through federal funding. The funding is about $300 per student. That is virtually the only funding that goes to this effort. We have no state funding, unlike other states. It is hard to run a quality program on such a small budget. May recall that our former colleague Gully Stanford was a strong proponent of this cause, and our retirement celebration for him raised money for the adult literacy fund. There was a training put on by CDE that was attended by many teachers and directors of adult literacy programs around the state.
SUCKLA: Had hoped to attend the West Slope School Superintendents’ meeting, but had a heifer go into labor in the middle of the night before. Was out in the dark in the middle of the night with a mean, angry cow in labor chasing her. When she got on the Board, didn’t know much about libraries, so will be attending the opening of a new library in Delores on Saturday. CASB has decided to sent its board members to all of our meetings. Mike Frieman, president-elect, from Ault, is in attendance.
COMMISSIONER MOLONEY: There were stories in today’s paper about our efforts to close the achievement gap, with references to our meeting yesterday with Bill de la Cruz, from the Coalition and Commission for Closing the Achievement Gap. A wise, old teacher once said that all of education can be summarized in 2 words: “Induce work.” Many teachers find that they can induce work best by giving a test. Last night Hudak, Suckla, and DeHoff joined him to meet with NAGB for dinner. Very likely, NAGB will propose an expansion of NAEP to 12th grade; this is a great challenge, like we face with our CSAP tests in high schools – that students will not perform well on the test if they have no incentive. It reminded him of Albert Shanker’s comment about the lack of a work ethic among students. But there are schools – like Cesar Chavez Academy – where students are induced to work.
Approved an interagency agreement by and between the State of Colorado for the use and benefit of the Department of Education, Exceptional Student Services Unit, and the University of Colorado at Denver, School of Education, for the LEAP (Learning Experiences: An Alternative Program for Preschooler and Parents) project. [LEAP is designed to train and assist local school districts in developing and implementing a highly effective, developmentally appropriate and less costly means of service delivery with positive child outcomes for children with disabilities. Three districts are chosen each year to participate for a period of 2years in intense training and monthly onsite mentoring.
Scheduled a hearing for the July 8, 2004, meeting to repeal the rules for the Administration of the Pilot Programs Concerned with an Alternative School Year. [These rules were adopted to provide guidance for school districts approving an alternative school year for one, two, or three years. The pilot program was based on an attendance entitlement and state equalization support for the four-week period for counting pupil enrollment. The pilot program is outdated and the issue is covered by state statute in 22-32-109 (n) (I) and 22-54-103 (10) (a) (I).]
Reappointed 8 members for CoLAB (Colorado Library Advisory Board), who have completed one term and are eligible for a second term, and appointed 2 new members.
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF FEES FOR LICENSING PROGRAM
Established evaluation fees and CBI/FBI charges for FY 04/05 as follows: raised the fee for evaluations from $44 to $60, raised the fee for one-year substitutes from $22 to $30, and lowered the CBI/FBI from $39.50 to $39. [The Educator Licensing Act authorizes the SBE to annually establish the evaluation fees for licenses, authorizations, and endorsements. The Department is also required to conduct CBI and FBI background checks and to collect the actual costs of those from applicants. The Licensure Fund, as a cash-funded entity, is required to maintain a positive fund balance at all times. The proposed fee increases should stabilize the Fund’s future fee structure by raising the ending reserves and ensuring a positive fund balance throughout the fiscal year.]
(2) EMERGENCY EDUCATOR AUTHORIZATIONS
Approved emergency Type III educator authorizations for 30 initially and 11 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) DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
(These remain confidential until action is taken by the Board.)
Instructed the department staff and the attorney general’s office to prepare the documents requesting a formal hearing to revoke the license of one teacher.
Issued a notice of denial and appeal rights and instructed the department staff to prepare the documents requesting a formal hearing to revoke the license of an applicant for an alternative teacher license.Accepted and approved the terms and conditions of the settlement agreements for one teacher and one applicant for a teacher and principal license.
Dismissed the charges against one applicant for a substitute authorization.(3) DESIGNATED AGENCIES FOR ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE
Approved the submitted list of Colorado school districts, boards of cooperative services, independent schools, and institutions of higher education as Designated Agencies for the preparation of teachers through Alternative Teacher Programs. [Newly adopted SBE rules provide that the SBE approve designated agencies for alternative teacher preparation programs. Current Designated Agencies are also required to resubmit proposals to be in compliance with the new rules. The 18 proposals submitted for reapproval were reviewed by a committee that included representatives of higher education and educators who are experts in the field of Alternative Licensure. The agencies received constructive comments on their proposals, and the proposals were resubmitted to the committee for a final review. It was a rigorous review process, and only the proposals that have met the new requirements are being submitted for approval.]
(4) TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS
(A) Approved proposed licensure/endorsement preparation program content of the following programs at Colorado State University - Pueblo:
Post-Baccalaureate Licensure/Endorsement Programs in Elementary and Secondary Education (English/Language Arts, Foreign Language - Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) and K-12 Education (Physical Education, Art, and Music).
Undergraduate Licensure/Endorsement Programs in Elementary and Secondary Education (English/Language Arts, Foreign Language - Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies) and K-12 Education (Physical Education, Art, and Music).
(B) Approved the proposed licensure/endorsement preparation program content of the following programs at the University of Colorado at Boulder:
Post-Baccalaureate Licensure/Endorsement Programs in Elementary and Secondary Education (English/Language Arts, Foreign Language, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), Linguistically Diverse Education, K-12 Music, and Special Education.
Undergraduate Licensure/Endorsement Programs in Elementary and Secondary Education (English/Language Arts, Foreign Language - Spanish, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies), Linguistically Diverse Education, and K-12 Music.
[Prior to approval of teacher preparation program implementation by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the SBE is required to approve program content.]
(1) Approved charter school waiver requests from May 13, 2004, to June 30, 2007, for the following:
Highline Academy Charter School in Denver Public Schools.
Southwest Early College Charter School in Denver Public Schools.
North Routt Community Charter School in Steamboat Springs School District.
(2) Approved charter school waiver requests from May 13, 2004, to July 8, 2007, for Life Skills Center of Colorado Springs Charter School in Colorado Springs School District #11.
(3) Approved charter school waiver requests from May 13, 2004, to June 30, 2007, for Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning Charter School in Falcon School District, but denied waivers for the following: 22-9-107, 22-11-303(1), 22-32-117, 22-63-103
(1) PAYMENTS UNDER PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE ACT
Approved payments of $226,531,420.91 under the Public School Finance Act. [Local districts are entitled to receive monthly payments from the state by the 25th of each month, under provisions of the Public School Finance Act of 1994, as amended.]
(2) EXCESS COST RATES FOR ELIGIBLE FACILITIES FOR EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR
Approved the list of special education excess cost rates for eligible facilities that operate with an extended school year in 2004. [These are the excess cost rates for disabled students in residential child care facilities and day treatment centers.]
(3) PAYMENTS UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL ACT
Approved the list of payments to administrative units for Special Education Programs under the Exceptional Children’s Educational Act, for 2003-2004, in the total amount of $500,000. [These payments are reimbursements to administrative units for excess costs for eligible facilities within the boundaries of the administrative units for children with disabilities for whom (a) parental rights had been relinquished by the parents, (b) parental rights had been terminated by the court, (c) parents were incarcerated, (d) parents could not be located, (e) parents resided out of the state but the Department of Human Services placed the child within the administrative unit, or (f) the children were legally emancipated. A total of half a million dollars was appropriated for this reimbursement. The total cost of these placements was $976,578. No administrative unit will be reimbursed more than they actually paid for a child.]
By a vote of 4:3 (Littleton, Orr, and Suckla dissented), approved the interagency agreement between CDE, Prevention Initiatives Unit, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) in the amount of $100,000, for the period of May 1, 2004, to February 28, 2005, to meet grant requirements for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Coordinated School Health Program Grant, to coordinate grant activities. [The grant is for the purpose of coordinating nutrition, physical activity, tobacco prevention, HIV/STD/teen pregnancy prevention, and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. A requirement of the grant is to establish a lead senior person at each agency to manage Coordinated School Health Programs.]
Ms. Littleton asked to pull this item off the consent agenda because she has concerns about the grant. She said that the purpose of the grant is “to implement and coordinate school health programs,” but although one of the purposes is to “increase abstinence-based sexual risk prevention,” the interagency agreement says that the grant will be used for “HIV/STD/teen pregnancy prevention.” Littleton said that “abstinence and monogamy are the best forms of pregnancy and disease prevention, not the distribution of condoms.” DeHoff said that it would be best for us to make our concerns known to the grant implementation committee, but the program is ongoing and is worthwhile continuing. We can see next year when the grant comes up again if our concerns have been addressed. I said that I’m sure the grant money is not being used to purchase or distribute condoms; I am familiar with the health curriculum in the Boulder Valley School District which operates with some of this grant money, and it does focus on abstinence as the best form of prevention. Munn said that Littleton should be careful not to mislead people as she gets involved in discussions on implementation of the program to believe that the SBE members unanimously share her concerns. Moloney said that this issue for many years has been a serious one, since it is a life-and-death one [AIDS]. A reasonable outcome is for the interagency agreement to be approved – it is the second year of the process – but to have a broader involvement of the public. Orr said that he will vote against the motion because many of the issues being dealt with here are social issues that the government cannot solve, and there is $100,000 of tax money that will do nothing except setting up infrastructure. He said that parents, children, and the local community need to take responsibility.
Approved unanimously a resolution “Urging the United States Congress to Compensate Western States for the Impact of Federal Land Ownership on State Education Funding” which resolves: “that the Colorado State Board of Education endorses an initiative seeking just compensation from the federal government for the impact its ownership of lands within western states has on the ability of the state to fund public education; that the Colorado State Board of Education endorses an initiative urging the federal government to provide an expedited land exchange process for land not intended for wilderness designation; and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Colorado Congressional Delegation, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the President of the United States.”
Orr explained that the federal government owns an average of 52% of the land in the Western states, compared with 4% in the other states, and the resulting lack of property tax income to Western states creates a significant reduction on the amount of funding available for education.Adopted by unanimous vote the amendments to the rules for the Colorado Basic Literacy Act. [Amendments to the Colorado Basic Literacy Act were drafted by Colorado literacy leaders and CDE staff to assure that the rules are consistent with scientifically based research on reading and knowledge about viable assessments presently available to Colorado educators. During the Board-only discussion last month, additional amendments were made based on suggestions by Board members.]
Conducted a hearing on the proposed rules for the Administration of the School District Capital Construction Assistance Program. [The SBE is authorized to promulgate rules to implement grant and loan programs. This segment of the grant and loan program has completed awarding of two cycles of funding. The proposed rules are for the awarding and administration of grants designed to assist school districts or charter schools with capital construction projects; the awarding and administration of loans designed to assist school districts with capital construction projects; developing the form of the grant and loan application; developing the evaluation process for the grant and loan applications; and developing the oversight process for the grants and loans.]
VODY HERRMANN from the School Finance Unit gave an overview of the program. We received 260 applications during the second cycle, so it was a lengthy process to review them and determine which grants should be awarded. HB 1465 repealed the Capital Development Committee and transferred all those duties to the Joint Budget Committee. Suckla suggested that we consider distributing grants equally among the different regions of the state. DeHoff said that his concern with that idea is that the grants are given based on need.
DAVID VAN SANT (Director of East Central BOCES): Most of the schools in his region are closed today because the rain prohibits access to the schools. These grants would be particularly helpful to those schools.
Motion passed unanimously to close the oral portion of the hearing and schedule for Board-only discussion at the next meeting.
Conducted a hearing on the proposed rules for the Administration of the Capital Construction Expenditures Reserve. [The SBE is authorized to make rules to administer grant programs. This segment of the grant program has completed awarding of four cycles of funding. The proposed rules are for the awarding and administration of grants designed to assist school districts or charter schools with capital construction projects; developing the form of the grant application and grant; developing the evaluation process for the grant applications; and developing the oversight process for the grants.]
VODY HERRMANN said that there is much more flexibility in the use of these funds than the School District Capital Construction Assistance Program. We have an advisory committee within CDE to review the grants and make recommendations.
KATHY GEBHARDT: In January 1998, she filed the Giardino lawsuit on behalf of parents in several rural school districts because of the poor conditions of schools, which are “decrepit and violate health and safety standards.” Many of those conditions still exist today. The lawsuit was settled at $190 million over 11 years, with two funds set up, one requiring a local match and one not. So far there have been 242 projects funded, and about $49 million given out so far. Since 2001, approximately 576 projects have been proposed and 242 projects funded. The State Auditor’s report showed that there is still $4.7 billion of needs that still exist. The advisory committee, headed by Cal Frazier and made up entirely of volunteers, has done excellent work, and she would like to see the committee included in the rules to ensure that it continues; the proposed rules only mention “department review.” CDE has never had sufficient staff to provide the technical assistance needed, and it is not proper to bounce it back on the school districts. Would like the rule requiring matching funds removed from these rules, because it is not required in law.
Motion passed unanimously to close the oral portion of hearing and schedule for Board-only discussion at next meeting. The Board asked for Kathy Gebhardt’s suggestions in writing.
Conducted a hearing on the rules for the Administration of Colorado Cyberschools. [Emergency rules were adopted on August 15, 2003, and have since expired. No rules are currently in effect. The proposed permanent rules re-institute the rules adopted as emergency rules.]
STEVAN KALMON (from CDE): Should the rules referring to students slots remain in the rules, when they are no longer funded? It is not urgent to do so. However, we should change the date for the completed applications to be submitted from September 15, 2003, to August 16, 2004.
KEITH KING (State Representative): Proposed four changes to the rules, which he submitted. Thinks that the rules have been too restrictive. One proposal has to do with the exemption for students who come from out of state – last year this amounted to 50 students, which was less than half of the number expected. Wants to allow students from out of state, not just those who have a parent residing in the state. Thinks that the application deadline should be September 1. Wants to allow exemptions for students with a medical condition that resulted in the parent deciding not to enroll them in a qualifying public school, and wants to allow exemptions for siblings of students with exemptions. The Legislative intent was to allow about 125 students in under exemptions. Thinks our rules are too restrictive.
JUDITH STOKES (Branson School District): Is a parent of online students and a cyberschool teacher. Has a concern about the rules that she would like to discuss with us in the future. She knows that our Board members are solution-searchers, based on all the time she spends observing our meetings. She answers to parents who want their children to learn online.
RAY KILMER (Colorado BOCES Association): Jane Toothaker, a BOCES director, had sent us some remarks reflecting BOCES concern about a lack of understanding and consistency of how special education students are served in cyberschools. There should be a plan between the school district of residence and the cyberschool about the education of special education students.
TIM SNYDER (Colorado Online Learning Consortium): Recommends a minor change of moving the “demonstration of the success of the cyberschool, including but not limited to its student completion rate” from the information provided to the department to the information that cyberschools must post on their website.
CAROL WALKER (Branson School District): Is a teacher with Branson School Online. Wants to emphasize that we need to get as much involvement as possible from cyberschools for input on future amendments to the rules.
TAMMY LEVALLEY (Karval School District): People from the Colorado Cybershool Association should be included in input on future amendments to the rules.
Polis surveyed the people who testified after Representative King if they agreed with his proposals. I brought up the question of whether it was our intention to simply pass the emergency rules as permanent rules at this time so that there would be rules in place for the next school year, or whether we intend to reopen the rules for substantive discussion and possible changes. Polis said that he feels that state laws treat online education differently from regular schools, especially in regard to how they are funded. He supports Representative King’s proposals. Suckla wants to add a requirement for cyberschools posting on their website something about excess costs for special needs students – to conform with provisions in HB 1141. Munn repeated the concern that I had expressed about the timing of our consideration of substantive changes. He has not had a chance to read HB 1141 and is not prepared to vote on anything from it at this time. Is uncertain whether Representative King’s assertion that our rules are too restrictive is true. Supports the date change for applications, but to keep good faith with the public, feels that we should allow for an invitation for all to attend who wish to give input on substantive amendments. Moloney said that any changes in law would take effect without our putting them into our rules, and he agrees that we should hold off on making any changes other than the date change for applications.
I moved, and it eventually passed unanimously, to close the oral portion of the hearing, change the date for applications to be filed with CDE to August 16, 2004, and schedule for adoption at the next meeting. But before the motion passed, Orr moved an amendment to the motion to adopt Rep. King’s first proposal with a cap of 50 as well as his proposal for a student that has “developed” a medical condition. Munn said that this is a serious change to the rules. He pointed out a recollection that it was Orr who had recommended the restrictive language about the out-of-state students. Suckla said that it sounds like the Board wants to open this up; everyone who testified would have wanted more time to speak. I called the question; Orr’s amendment failed on a 5:2 vote (Orr and Polis dissented). DeHoff said that as long as there are fiscal restrictions, there will always be controversy about which students should be allowed to attend cyberschools. Munn said that it would be “crazy” to adopt any substantive changes at this time. He made a friendly amendment to remove the year in the application date and say “filed BY August 16.” Suckla asked if we should defeat the motion and instead schedule a hearing for September. I withdrew my previous motion and instead moved that we change the date for applications to be filed with CDE “by August 16" (no year, so it would apply every year) and adopt the rules. Passed 6:1 (Polis dissented.)
Suckla’s subsequent motion to schedule a hearing for September to consider amendments to these permanent rules passed unanimously.Adopted the amended permanent rules for the Administration of the School Improvement Plan. [At the October 9, 2003, meeting of the SBE, the rules for the Administration of the School Improvement Plan and Grant Program were repealed in their entirety, whereas only the portion relating to the school improvement grant bonuses needed to be repealed. Staff has suggested readopting the rules and repealing only the obsolete paragraph and the reference to the grant program. The SBE adopted emergency rules as such on December 11, 2003, and it now needs to adopt permanent rules. The Independent Charter Schools Implementation Procedures and Guidelines, 22-30.5-301 through 308, require that the State Board of Education promulgate rules which include but are not limited to: definitions; independent charter schools request for proposals; review committee membership and recommendations; independent charter school selection; independent charter school term; independent charter school expiration, renewal, and conversion; and independent charter school employee options, finance options, and guidelines. The Board had discussed some revisions at the hearing last month and continued the hearing to this month.]
Munn referred to the discussion at the Work Session yesterday about concerns with the significant changes to the rules made in the last month. I reiterated my concerns also expressed yesterday about the “severe” nature of the changes made, but agreed that they are all right. The approval of the rules was then unanimous.
The SBE will be asked to approve a plan for the merger of the 7 Regional Library Service Systems into one new statewide cooperative, the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC). A final plan will be submitted for action at the July meeting. [For 25 years there have been 7 regional library service systems, each independently established with its own governing board. One year ago the budget for the systems was $2,400,000. In FY 2004, the budget was reduced to $600,000. Some systems continued to provide services using part of the budget plus reserve funds they had established for emergencies. Beginning in April 2003, a System Infrastructure Study group, with representatives from all types of libraries across the state, met to study the system configuration in other states, discuss services that continue to be needed, and make recommendations about how services could still be delivered. They recommended the formation of the CLiC, which would be governed by CoLAB (Colorado Library Advisory Board), appointed by the SBE. CoLAB would establish a CLiC Committee that would direct the operation and services.]
The SBE will be asked to approve the next list of Colorado school districts, boards of cooperative services, independent schools, and institutions of higher education as Designated Agencies for the preparation of teachers through Alternative Teacher Programs. [Newly adopted SBE rules provide that the SBE approve designated agencies for alternative teacher preparation programs. Current Designated Agencies are also required to resubmit proposals to be in compliance with the new rules. These proposals submitted for reapproval were reviewed by a committee that included representatives of higher education and educators who are experts in the field of Alternative Licensure. The agencies received constructive comments on their proposals, and the proposals were resubmitted to the committee for a final review. It was a rigorous review process, and only the proposals that have met the new requirements are being submitted for approval.]
The SBE will consider a resolution “Concerning Proclaiming a Year of World Languages” resolving that: “the Colorado State Board of Education hereby proclaim 2005 as the Year of World Languages in Colorado and urges all citizens to become familiar with the services and benefits offered by language education programs in our state and community and to support and participate in these programs to gain proficiency not only in English, but in other languages as well.”
NADINE PACHECO (Principal of Rose Hill Elementary School): Implemented the Positive Behavior Support program at Rose Hill Elementary School. Described the program, which they have incorporated as “ROSE – Respect Others, Self, Environment.” Thanked the Board and CDE for helping them “shine.”
JANINE ERICKSON: Representative of the 8 states of the southwest on the ACTFL (American Congress of Teachers of Foreign Languages). The U.S. lags behind other industrialized nations in the knowledge of world languages. Next year has been proclaimed nationally as the Year of Languages by Congress. Many other organizations, as well as NASBE and CCSSO are supporting a national council and state councils to design events and education for the Year of Languages. Has given us a copy of the national resolution. Grover from Sesame Street will be the mascot for the effort.
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