a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
In regard to the challenge by the League of Charter Schools to the exclusive chartering authority of the Aurora (Adams-Arapahoe) School District, the district’s exclusive chartering authority was upheld. (Vote was 6:1 ; Littleton dissented, and DeHoff was absent on recusal.)
In regard to the challenge by Jefferson County Parents for School Choice to the exclusive chartering authority of the Jeffco School District, the challenge was withdrawn.
DEHOFF: Congratulated Nancy Bolt on her service as Deputy State Librarian and on her good retirement party. Said that we have a lot to thank her for. Will be going to NASBE’s study group at Princeton next week on value-added (longitudinal) analysis. What came out from the first study session is that we are a long way from being able to calculate longitudinal growth to use to rate schools or teachers. Today and tomorrow will be attending the Small Schools Conference. Next week the Education Commission of the States is holding a conference in Denver on charter school districts, which he will attend. On May 3 he and Polis will meet with the Douglas County Board; a topic they will discuss is the district’s proposal of getting out from under the burden of regulation. Has been nominated as Western Region Director for NASBE; he is the only nominee this time.
HUDAK: I commended Nancy Bolt on her service as Deputy State Librarian and on the many accomplishments she had in that job. At her retirement party, we found out how many projects, like the inter-library loan program, she has instituted that are cutting-edge in the nation. I mentioned that she had told me what an excellent retirement gift it was for her to have the SBE put library funding as one of our objectives in our Strategic Plan for the next two years. I told about the most recent CSAN Regional Accountability Conference, in Alamosa, to which we were invited to do this conference a second time, because the community had found our fall one so helpful. I shared something that Jhon Penn, the Regional Manager, had said when we were there: He had commended one of the districts on the outstanding quality of their Improvement Plan, and they said that it was attributable to their District Accountability Committee, which had rewritten it after attending our last Accountability Conference. I was very pleased to hear about the beneficial effect of the training that CSAN has been doing.
LITTLETON: Visited some schools in her district. Has been able to spend time visiting her local community, since she is not working now. Will be going to hear a speaker on literacy at McREL.
MIDDLETON: Finally finished her Board orientation. Every month she spends a lot of time at community events. Went to Cherry Creek School District’s Legislative Day at the Capitol; that reinforced for her how important it is for parents to be involved and for us to hear their concerns, as well as for legislators. Will be seeing the International Visitors, a delegation from Bagdad that is here for two weeks; noted that they have decided to write a gender equity clause into their policy for city councilors. They are at the Legislature today. It makes her think about how students can apply what they learn. She and Polis went to a community meeting at Adams 14 with their school board; it was good to have opportunity to hear from the community. Went to a breakfast with the mayors of Aurora and Denver discussing economic growth; they mentioned the importance of education for economic development. Yesterday we discussed high school reform, and that added to her belief about how important it is for civic officials to be involved and pay attention to what is going on in our schools.
MUNN: [Was absent at the beginning of the meeting.]
ORR: Spoke at NAAC (National Association for Alternative Certification) with over 250 people because he was asked to give his oration of the Gettysburg Address. The conference speaker, Joe Martin, was dynamic and spoke on the message about the important effect of schooling. His third daughter has recently become engaged. A lot of his constituents called him about the "SuperSlab" bill, so he went to the hearing at the House Transportation Committee. It was a good example of the democratic process taking place, seeing the impact of citizens giving their feedback on the bill. Many people think that their voice doesn’t count, but it clearly does.
POLIS: Went last night to Alan Berstin’s speech kicking off the Small Schools Conference. The speaker has a very good perspective on how hard school reform is. He was a superintendent in the San Diego Unified School District for 10 years. He said that he was not easy to get along with, but he attributes his longevity in the district to that. Also wishes Nancy Bolt well in her retirement; it has been difficult for her to prevail over the huge cuts to libraries over the past few years. Admires her trying to make things work with the little money we had, keeping the interlibrary loan program, and launching new initiatives such as Ask Colorado.
SUCKLA: Also echoed fellow members’ sentiments about how we will be missing Nancy Bolt. Announced that she and Polis have nominated fellow Board member Clair Orr for the NASBE Distinguished Service Award. Read the description of why they nominated him: During his tenure on the Board since 1995, Orr has presided over the implementation of standards, assessments, and various accountability systems; influenced numerous policies through his state and national roles; and presided over the Board’s response to the Columbine tragedy. [Orr said that he’s gained far more than he’s ever given.] Suckla said that we benefit greatly from his participation on the Board. She attended meeting of Indian Tribes; they are playing more of a role in the political arena. They asked that CSAP results be reported by tribes. They had questions about teacher licensure and would like us to consider helping Indians get licensed more easily. She is part of the Mineral Resources group, which gives away $18 million each year. The last CASB board meeting brought up issues about conflict of interest on the SBE and concerns about NCLB. The Board has received invitations from DPS to attend all of their graduation ceremonies, and from CEA to attend the opening session of their Delegate Assembly. Cesar Chavez Day is April 22. Was asked to serve on a Pre-Collegiate Consortium, which is looking at putting in regional offices.
COMMISSIONER MOLONEY: There have been newspaper articles recently expressing concerns about the wide variation in the reporting of school fights and assaults. Today the Board was given a memo from the Prevention Initiatives unit of CDE on this topic, clarifying the facts. The incident mentioned in the newspaper about the girl who was held down and burned with cigarettes should have been reported according to CDE’s policies. We are willing to take another look at the issue of what is reported and the differences in reporting among districts. Yesterday the Board met with Attorney General Suthers, and he pointed out that there is a strong likelihood of another school tragedy taking place; this points out the importance of constant vigilance in regard to school safety. Next Wednesday we will observe the 6th anniversary of the Columbine tragedy, and in recalling that day, he recalls that he and Orr (who was SBE Chair at that time) were talking on the phone when it happened. None of us will ever forget it. Orr’s leadership during that time was exemplary, helping the Board write a statement, which was very widely distributed around the country, and even in England after the school shooting there. The Board held a special meeting and grappled for hours over the wording of that message. We hope to never have to experience that kind of tragedy again. Thanked Orr for his leadership at that time.
Approved the establishment of an on-grounds special education school/facility for Turning Point 11th Avenue, for both residential and day treatment settings. [It 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 Special Education Services Unit. This new program expands services currently provided to service 16 males ages 10-18 who are in need of mental health treatment and/or have behavior issues that make them inappropriate for the public school setting. Children are placed through county departments of human services and Department of Youth Corrections in cooperation with their home school district.]
Appointed the following new members to the Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee to fill positions vacated due to terms ending or resignations:
Dani Lisa Arck - representing parents of children with disabilities, CD 1.
Paula Christina - representing parents of children with disabilities, CD 2.
Ray Mix - representing parents of children with disabilities, CD 3.
Jann Clevenger - representing facilities, CD 6.
Diana Kellner - representing teachers, CD 2.
Linn Oliver - representing teachers, CD 7.
[Part B of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) requires that each state establish and maintain a state advisory panel on the education of children with disabilities. In accordance with Colorado’s Exceptional Children’s Education Act, CSEAC provides for representation and statewide participation in decision-making related to the education of exceptional children by receiving input and making recommendations to the State Board of Education. Members of CSEAC are appointed by the SBE with recommendations from the Membership Subcommittee of CSEAC. Members are representative of the state population and must be individuals involved with or concerned with the education of children with disabilities. Vacancies are being filled for three parents of children with disabilities or individuals with disabilities, one representative of facilities, and two teachers. Since September 2004, when CSEAC notified the SBE of anticipated vacancies, 15 nominations were received for the 6 vacancies. In addition, there were 8 applicants from the previous year.]
(1) EMERGENCY EDUCATOR AUTHORIZATIONS
Approved emergency Type III educator authorizations for 49 initially and 5 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 proposed Teacher Induction Program for the Omar D. Blair School in Denver.
[Colorado school districts and charter schools wishing to hire provisionally licensed educators are required to have induction programs approved by the SBE. Private schools may also implement a state-approved induction program approved by the SBE. Employees who hold out-of-state licenses or emergency licenses must complete the PLACE or Praxis test or meet the requirements for a provisional license before being admitted into the induction program. Induction programs include mentors for new teachers and ongoing professional development.]
(3) ENDORSEMENT PREPARATION PROGRAMS
Approved the content of the following proposed Educator Endorsement Programs:
University of Northern Colorado at Greeley - Endorsement Preparation Program in Special Education - Vision Impairment Specialist and Orientation and Mobility.
University of Northern Colorado at Greeley - Endorsement Preparation Program in Special Education - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist.
[The university has approved teacher education programs and wants to add these programs.]
(4) 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.
Approved charter school waiver requests from April 14, 2005, to June 30, 2007, for Indian Peaks Charter School in the East Grand School District.
Approved charter school waiver requests from April 14, 2005, to May 12, 2005, for Peak to Peak Charter School in the Boulder Valley School District.
Approved charter school waiver requests from April 14, 2005, to May 12, 2005, for 21st Century Charter School in the Colorado Springs District 11 School District.
Approved the proposed Teacher Induction Programs for the New America School. [Passed 7:0; Polis was temporarily absent.]
Approved exclusive chartering authority for the following districts, based on 22-30.5-504(5)(b)(1) [districts with fewer than 3,000 students] (by a vote of 7:0; DeHoff was absent on recusal):
Centennial (in Costilla County)
Miami-Yoder (in El Paso County)
Wray (in Yuma County)
Held a hearing on the proposed rules for the Administration of the Educators Licensing Act, Principal Authorization, to add a route for alternative principal authorization. [HB 04-1104 added a provision to allow non-traditional candidates to enter a preparation program from a variety of backgrounds. The intent of the rules is to maintain the rigor and quality of "regular" principal preparation, while allowing for a wide and diverse candidate pool. At the time of licensing, with the proposed rules, all candidates will have fulfilled all requirements for a provisional (initial) principal’s license.]
GOTLIEB: The rules for principal preparation, which the SBE passed in 2003, are very rigorous. HB 04-1104 added an alternative principal preparation route, to allow non-traditional candidates to become principals. The proposed rules maintain the same rigor. The proposed rules were developed by a committee of people from the field. Despite their personal feelings, they felt that they were required to implement the intent of the law. Comments that came into CDE indicated that people in the field felt that the flexibility of alternative routes for principal licensure would be helpful.
I expressed my concern about the alternative principal licensure program allowing a person with no education background or experience with children or classrooms to serve as a principal with no direct supervision. Gotlieb said that candidates’ backgrounds are evaluated for them to be allowed into the program, and the most expedient way for them to qualify would be for their first year in the alternative principal preparation program to be in an alternative teacher preparation program, in order to acquire a teaching degree; this would involve a year of classroom experience. In addition, they would have to pass the teacher test. Otherwise, a candidate without an education background would not fulfill the requirements for principal licensure, because they must fulfill all the standards for principal preparation. Thus they would have a year in the classroom, under supervision and mentorship. This is covered in the provision of the rules in 4.17(4)(A), "the course work, practicum, and other educational requirements, identified by the person and the collaborating school district." It will probably take 3 years to achieve an alternative principal license. Districts have to work with teachers who are potential principals.
Nobody signed up for testimony. Motion passed unanimously to close the oral portion of the hearing and schedule for Board consideration at the next meeting.
Motion to instruct the department staff to issue a notice of denial and appeal rights to an applicant for a substitute authorization. Passed on a vote of 7:1 (I dissented).
Considered new procedures for reviewing applications for and challenges of a grant of exclusive chartering authority. The rules will become effective upon adoption.
TONY DYL (the SBE’s legal counsel): A couple of additional changes were made to the proposed rules today, based on a memo submitted to us yesterday by the League of Charter Schools. There is a question about whether a district is required to resubmit a resolution every year requesting exclusive chartering authority. Except for districts with no discernable history of unfair treatment of charter schools, it appears that districts do not need to resubmit yearly. The law is silent on how we would reevaluate the districts when circumstances change; we should consider adding a provision to deal with that, but not today, because we should take a few weeks to think it through.
NINA LOPEZ (from League of Charter Schools): Commends the Board in trying to implement a large statute in a short period of time and considering the comments of the League of Charter Schools. On the issue of whether districts should do an annual reconfirmation of their desire to maintain their exclusive chartering authority, the League of Charter Schools would like boards of education to consider it annually. They believe that the statute requires annual re-submission.
Middleton and Suckla said that they would like to add a provision about which party has the burden of proof in a challenge to a district’s exclusive chartering authority, the district or the challenger. Dyl said that he thinks we just need to clarify how to deal with challenges that arise when parties believe that districts are no longer complying with the law. Dyl said that it would be important for us to approve the rules today, because we are about to go into hearings on renewing exclusive chartering authority in the near future, and we can add these items in the future.
The rules passed with today’s additions on a vote of 7:0 (DeHoff was absent on recusal).
Considered approving the following as Designated Agencies for the preparation of teachers through the Alternative Licensing Program:
Friend’s School
Naropa University
Metro State College of Denver
[The SBE must approve designated agencies for alternative teacher preparation programs. Current Designated Agencies are also required to resubmit proposals to be in compliance with new rules. The proposals submitted for re-approval 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.]
DAVE HARTENBACH: Is representing Metro State College and was part of the group designing the program we are considering today. Has a great concern about new teachers being adequately prepared. The teaching license is based on proficiency in all the teacher preparation standards. Feels that Metro will be an asset in the development of teachers in the Denver metro area and not repeating some of the problems in the past. Has worked with the Alliance for Quality Teaching and have found that after 3 years of teaching, Metro’s teachers are exemplary.
Littleton expressed concern that these programs may not adequately prepare teachers to teach reading. She asserted that we are "turning out teachers who are not able to teach reading adequately." Suckla pointed out that we don’t approve the content of teacher preparation programs; we approve them only on the basis of their meeting the teacher preparation standards. DeHoff agreed with Littleton that Naropa hasn’t demonstrated that it will adequately prepare teachers in reading. Gotlieb assured us that the department scrutinized the programs and that teacher candidates must also pass a teacher test, demonstrating their content knowledge. She said that CDE staff "stand by the rigor of these programs." Middleton pointed out that there is always an opportunity to respond to a concern expressed about the teachers prepared by these programs and withdraw our approval of these programs at a future time, if that occurs. Orr said that when the Board first began considering these programs, it was just "rubber-stamping them"; he is sure that since that time, staff has done an excellent job of reviewing the programs and ensuring their quality. DeHoff said that we are still hearing from districts that teachers are coming out of preparation programs without adequate skills, and we have the responsibility to ask the hard questions. I made a strong statement disagreeing with DeHoff’s statement, saying that I have never heard complaints about teachers coming out of our preparation programs; on the contrary, I have heard compliments about the extraordinary quality of these teachers. I had expressed concerns in the past about alternative teacher preparation, just as I have concerns about alternative principal preparation, but I have been convinced by Bridgette Collins in CDE that these programs are adequately rigorous.
The Board then unanimously approved the programs.
The Board will be asked to establish the year’s evaluation fees for licenses, authorizations, certificates, and endorsements, and the fees for CBI and FBI background checks. [The proposal is for the evaluation fees to be reduced from $60 to $50 for evaluations and from $30 to $25 for one-year substitutes. The fees for CBI/FBI will remain at $39. These changes will result in a net increase in the ending reserves because of the anticipated 37,000 applications for evaluations during the year and the anticipated 19,000 background checks for initial and renewal applications.]
The Board will be asked to approve a contract between CDE, Exceptional Student Services Unit, and Peak Parent Center, Inc., for $300,637.37 to provide parent training and information centers as required by IDEA and ECEA.
The Board will be asked to approve an interagency agreement between CDE, Early Childhood Connections, and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, JFK Partners, Department of Pediatrics, for $360,000, with option for annual renewal up to 4 years, to provide early intervention training and services required by Part C of IDEA.
The Board will be asked to approve Teacher Induction Programs for the following:
Truth Christian Academy
Aspen School District
[Colorado school districts and charter schools wishing to hire provisionally licensed educators are required to have induction programs approved by the SBE. Private schools may also implement a state-approved induction program approved by the SBE. Employees who hold out-of-state licenses or emergency licenses must complete the PLACE or Praxis test or meet the requirements for a provisional license before being admitted into the induction program. Induction programs include mentors for new teachers and ongoing professional development.]
The Board will be asked to recommend someone to fill the vacancy on the Colorado Library Advisory Board created by the resignation of the citizen representative from the 4th CD. [CoLAB advises the SBE, the Commissioner of Education, the State Library, and the library community on matters pertaining to the development of all libraries, sharing of resources among libraries, and the use of state and federal funds to advance library service in Colorado. Candidates for appointment must reside in Colorado, possess interest in and/or knowledge of libraries, and be willing to serve for at least one 3-year term, which requires attending 6 all-day meetings each year.]
The Board will consider a resolution to support the compromise budget solution proposed by the Legislature and supported by the Governor, which will be Referendum C on November’s ballot.
The Board will consider a resolution supporting arts education and affirming the importance and value of arts education.
GREG WEITZEL: Wanted to know if there are members of the Board who think that ADHD is a disease with a medical, scientific basis, rather than a behavioral state. He said that he was diagnosed with it; he was put into special education, called a "retard," and teased by peers. He said that the book The Edison Gene: ADHD and the Gift of the Hunter Child explains that it is a gift, as Bill Gates would attest to. As long as teachers keep the environment stimulating and challenging, students with ADHD can succeed. People who do not receive treatment often become addicted to alcohol or cocaine. Word is not getting down to students that they don’t have to be put into special education but instead can be treated with medication. He would like to be an ADHD advocate for the department. Criticized the Special Education unit of CDE for its disregard of ADHD.
NANCY BOLT: Currently is the Deputy State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner for State Libraries at CDE. This will be her last meeting as part of CDE staff. Has received many compliments, which she had to learn to accept graciously. Has worked with 3 Commissioners and 26 SBE members. Wants to thank us for supporting the Colorado State Library, putting information literacy into the standards, putting libraries into the Strategic Plan, making speeches on behalf of libraries, and supporting restoration of library funding. Just yesterday, there was a motion to cut all library funding from the state budget, but it was defeated, fortunately. Acknowleged all the excellent CDE library staff and commended Moloney, Davidson, and Stroup in particular. Her colleagues have been a delight to work with. The CDE library staff are creative. Regrets the passing of CDE staff Bill Randall, Lynn Fontanier, and Art Ellis. Libraries are particularly threatened in these difficult fiscal times. Research shows that we are facing a huge wave of library staff retirements in the near future, to be replaced by untrained staff. Is not leaving Colorado, just leaving state bureaucracy.
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