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here to go back to the LWVO Education Update Main Page To: LWVO From: Joan Platz Education Update for April 16, 2007 PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE FOR THE ACHIEVE MEETING IN #7. 1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold committee meetings and sessions this week. Last week hearings continued on HB 119 (Dolan) Executive Budget request for FY08-09 in the subcommittees of the Finance and Appropriations Committee. This week the full Finance and Appropriations Committee will hear testimony on the bill. *The Office of Budget and Management released on April 11, 2007 a revised version of the Executive Budget Proposal: School District-by-District Projections for the Foundation Program. This updated version is available at http://www.obm.ohio.gov/. *May 8, 2007 Election. According to the Secretary of State's office, there will be a total of 419 issues on the May 8, 2007 ballot: 182 are school issues, including 26 bond issues; 126 property tax issues; and 30 income tax proposals for school districts. For more details, please visit http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/ElectionsVoter/Results2007.aspx?Section=2531 2) Education Advocates Testify on HB119 (Dolan): Several advocates for public education provided testimony last week before the House Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education, chaired by Representative Schlichter, regarding HB119 (Dolan) the Executive Budget request for FY08-09. The following summaries were prepared from their written testimony: *Barb Shaner (OASBO), Melissa Clark (OEA), and Fred Pausch (OSBA) presented testimony on behalf of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO), the Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), Alliance for Adequate School Funding, the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools (CORAS), and the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding (E&A Coalition). According to the written testimony, these education organizations appreciate the progress that the General Assembly has made to provide state assistance for school facilities and increase the state's share of operating funds. "Nevertheless, this progress is threatened by a significantly flawed school funding system." They request that the General Assembly use this budget as a transition to a better system, and include at least the level of funding provided in the Executive Budget request. Over the past five years the increase in funding for education has diminished; the number of guarantees has increased, which means that the formula is not working; and there are a large number of districts that will not see any growth in state funding. Many districts are on the brink of financial ruin triggered by increases in gasoline, electricity, insurance, or the loss in tax revenue, such as the Tangible Personal Property Tax, and too many districts depend on local property taxes to fund their programs. Studies also show that Ohio must also do more to meet the needs of those students who are hardest to teach. These education organizations support several provisions in the Executive Budget regarding professional development for teachers and administrators, going back to one ADM count, flexibility for Poverty Based Assistance, and support for early childhood education, but urge the General Assembly to consider an alternative proposed by the Education Tax Policy Institute to replace the Cost of Doing Business Factor. They also "...strongly support the provisions in HB 119 that address performance and accountability in charter schools. Too often we see issues involving finances, record-keeping and even illegal activities in community schools. In the 2005-2006 school year, nearly half of charter schools remained in either academic watch or academic emergency and three-quarters of charter schools operated by for-profit education management organizations were designated as under performing. Twenty of the 30 charter schools rated as academically excellent received their designation based on a single Report Card standard (i.e., attendance)." "Because of the lack of accountability, our organizations also support of the elimination of the Ed Choice Voucher program as included in HB 119. There is no evidence that the schools where these vouchers are used provide a better education than public schools. Since chartered non-public schools are not required to report the academic achievement of their students, we are unable to track their results." "By placing a premium on choice and competition at the expense of academic excellence, these programs are contrary to the interest of the state, parents and students." *Debbie Phillips, Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign (OFSC), also acknowledged in written testimony the progress that the Ohio General Assembly has made in funding schools, but stated that "...the overall system is not working." The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign believes that "...public education is a public good, which benefits everyone," but Ohio's charter schools and voucher programs lack financial and academic accountability. The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign supports several provisions in the Executive Budget request including the increased funding for Early Childhood Education and all day Kindergarten, the increase in Poverty Based Assistance, increased funding for special education, and property tax relief for seniors and the disabled. The OFSC also supports the elimination of the Educational Choice Scholarship Program and the moratorium on the creation of new charter schools. These programs take limited public funds away from the very schools that need it the most, and serve a select few. *Dr. Steve Steel, Vice President of the Toledo City Schools Board of Education, summarized information about the success of the Toledo Public Schools through innovative and visionary programs. The Toledo Public Schools have been ranked in Continuous Improvement for the past three years and have also met No Child Left Behind Annual Yearly Progress measures. According to the written testimony, the Executive Budget request supports the progress of the Toledo Public Schools through its support for expanded public preschool programs and all day Kindergarten, increases in the per pupil allocation to keep up with inflation, efforts to hold community schools to the same standards as traditional public schools, elimination of the Educational Choice Scholarship program, and property tax relief. The charter school experiment is "out of control" and the dramatic failures of charter schools in the Toledo area illustrate the situation. For example, the "Toledo Blade" has documented the financial mismanagement and lack of academic success of the Performing Arts School of Metropolitan Toledo and the problems with for-profit management companies such as the Leona Group, which operates six charter schools in the Toledo area and was paid $1.4 million in public funds. Three of the Leona run charter schools met just one standard -- attendance; one school did not meet any standards; one met one standard for 11th grade reading; and one school met two standards. 3) This Week at the Statehouse TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 *The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan (614-644-5088), will meet at 1:00 PM in room 313. The committee will continue hearings on HB119 (Dolan) Budget for FY08-09, with preference given to testimony regarding education issues. *The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on HB....... (Setzer) regarding the STEM initiative pending referral of the bill, and HB 27 (Wolpert) - academic performance ratings. *The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett (614-466-8076), will meet at 4:00 PM in the North hearing room, and hear testimony on SB130 (Spada) calamity days for 2006-2007 (a vote is possible); HB2 (Webster) appointment of the Chancellor of the Board of Regents; and SB 118 (Gardner), physical education instruction in grades K-6. WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2007 *The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan (614-644-5088), will meet at 8:30 AM in room 313. The committee will continue hearings on HB119 (Dolan) Budget for FY08-09, with preference given to testimony regarding local government issues. *The House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Gibbs (614-466-2994), will meet at 2:30 PM in room 121. The committee will continue to hear testimony on HB117 (Raussen), school district income taxes). THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2007 *The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan (614-644-5088), will meet at 8:30 AM in room 313. The committee will continue hearings on HB119 (Dolan) Budget for FY08-09, with preference given to testimony regarding human service issues. *The House State Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Daniels (614-466-3506), will meet at 11:00 AM in room 122 to hear testimony HB26 (Wolpert) Urban homestead zones. FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2007 *The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan (614-644-5088), will meet at 9:30 AM in room 313 IF NEEDED. The committee will continue hearings on HB119 (Dolan) Budget for FY08-09. 4) Press Conference to Support Public Education: The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, Debbie Phillips executive director, will hold a press conference on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in the Rotunda at the Statehouse at 11:00 AM to show support for public education and increased funding in Executive Budget request, HB119 (Dolan), for the base cost per pupil, public preschool and all-day Kindergarten programs, Poverty Based Assistance, special education, and more accountability for charter schools, the elimination of the Ed Choice voucher program, and property tax relief for seniors and disabled persons. Speaking at the press conference will be Debbie Phillips, Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, students representing several public high schools, and other invited speakers. For more information please contact the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign at 740-592-2866, or their web site at http://ohiofairschools.org/ 5) Actions of the State Board of Education: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, met on April 9-10, 2007 in Columbus. The Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Steve Millett, co-chairs, approved a resolution to adopt Ohio's proposed transitional plan for the administration of Career-Technical Education (Perkins Plan) from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The committee also heard a presentation on proposed intervention guidelines for students who either fail state assessments or who are at risk of failing them. The Capacity Committee, Sue Westendorf and Carl Wick co-chairs, discussed Rule 3301-38-01 - regional service delivery; Rule 3301-102-08 - community schools, expected gains in student achievement; the community school sponsor evaluation; Rules 3301-40-03,05,06,07 nonpublic schools administrative cost reimbursements; the definition and criteria of a "master teacher"; SB311 - family and community engagement policy; and a model bullying and anti-harassment policy. In the afternoon the Board held a Chapter 119 hearing on the following: *Amend OAC Rules 3301-11-01, 03, 04, 05, 07, and 11, Ohio Education Choice Scholarship Program. *Rescind OAC Rule 3301-13-07 and adopt Rule 3301-16-02, criteria for awarding the Diploma with Honors. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-16-01, GPA calculation for alternative pathway to graduation. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-38-01, transfer of region within the educational regional service system. *Adopt OAC Rule 3301-58-01, 02 & 03, Value Added Progress Dimension. The State Board of Education also met on April 10, 2007. The State Board of Education's policy discussion for April focused on educator quality and capacity. There are approximately 120,000 classroom teachers working in Ohio's schools, along with administrators. According to the April 2007 written report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Zelman, "...educator quality is a critical State Board priority that directly impacts student achievement throughout the state. Research shows that the quality of the teacher in the classroom is the single most important factor in determining how well a student learns." The State Board of Education adopted the standards for the teaching profession in 2006, and Ohio is now in the process of implementing them. In addition, work to improve educator quality and capacity is progressing through efforts to recruit qualified candidates for educator preparation programs, including candidates through alternative routes; pilot alternative teacher compensation models, including differentiated career roles; and provide professional development based on student, teacher, and administrator needs. But, teachers must also be prepared to teach the new skills identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (see http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/) in order for Ohio's students to be competitive in the global economy. These skills include critical thinking and problem solving, communication, creativity and innovation, collaboration, and information and technology literacy. To prepare students for success in the global knowledge-based economy teachers will need a different knowledge base and skill set than their 20th century colleagues. Research shows that Ohio's teachers are being supported in many ways, but there are still too many low-performing schools where teachers with the least experience and skills are teaching. That is why the ODE is recommending the creation of a new Office of Educator Equity and Ohio's Teacher Equity Plan to ensure that every classroom has a highly qualified teacher prepared to teach the 21st century skills. Ohio has also initiated efforts to empower principals as instructional leaders in their schools through standards for principals developed by the Educator Standards Board; alternative licensure; induction program; Principals Leadership Academies for urban districts; and the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council. At its business meeting, the State Board took action on five personnel items, one territory transfer, and the following resolutions: *Approved an intent to rescind Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-21-01, definitions. *Approved an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-24-01, glossary/definitions. *Approved an intent to rescind Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-27-02, qualifications for athletic trainers. *Adopted standard scores indicative of advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the fifth grade science and social studies achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities; advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the seventh grade writing achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities; advanced, accelerated, proficient, basic, and limited skill levels on the eighth grade science and social studies achievement alternative assessment for students with disabilities. *Adopted the Ohio One-Year Transitional Plan for the Administration of Career-Technical Education, July 11, 2007 through June 30, 2008. *Rescinded Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-54-01, determining the amount of payment for contracted special education units, and amend Rule 3301-51-11, funding for preschool special education. *Approved a refiling of proposed Rule 3301-38-01, Transfer of Region within the Educational Regional Service System. The next State Board of Education meeting will be held on May 14-15, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf. For more information about the State Board of Education, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574 6) The Council of Great City Schools, Michael Casserly executive director, announced on April 11, 2007 in a new report that the nation's big city school districts "... continue to improve in reading and mathematics on state-mandated tests, with evidence of racial achievement gaps narrowing and low-performing students making gains". The report is called "Beating the Odds: A City-by-City Analysis of Student performance and Achievement Gaps on State Assessments." According to the report fourth and eighth grade students in 67 major city school districts in 37 states improved test scores on state assessments in math and reading in 2006 over 2002 levels. Students also showed improvement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The report includes data for Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and is available at http://www.cgcs.org/publications/achievement.aspx 7) News from the ODE: *Meetings about the Achieve report, "Creating a World-Class Education system in Ohio" will be held from 4:00 -6:00 PM on April 16, 2007 in New Albany-Plain Local Schools; April 17, 2007 at the Mid-Ohio ESC in Mansfield; and April 18, 2007 in Centerville City Schools. PLEASE NOTE: The far east regional Achieve meeting will be held at the Mahoning County ESC instead of Western Reserve High School on April 19, 2007. The Mahoning ESC is located at 100 DeBartolo Place in Youngstown. For more information about the Achieve report and a full schedule of Achieve Regional meetings please visit the ODE web site at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1 *Governor Strickland has called for educators and community advocates to attend a conference in Columbus on May 30, 2007 to focus on the graduation rate of African American males. The goals of the conference include-Create an awareness of the crisis in African American male graduation rates and mobilize stakeholders to act on that awareness; -Promote successful activities and programs that have evidence to increase this graduation rate; -Focus attention on specific policy programs that increase the graduation rate; -Communicate the need for shared responsibility; -Define roles and responsibilities for the stakeholders in attendance for follow through after the event; and -Explore professional development focused on cultural competency for teachers attending the conference. Information about this conference is still in the planning stages. Contact the ODE at 877-644-6338. *Academic content standards for Family and Consumer Sciences are now available. The FCS standards are 1) advocate a healthy lifestyle; 2) build relationships; 3) demonstrate personal financial literacy; 4) design a career blueprint; 5) become consumer savvy; 6) ensure food safety; 7) manage a life plan; 8) manage personal transitions; and 9) nurture and care for the child. To view the standards visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1226&ContentID=27030&Content=27126 *On April 12, 2007 The Ohio Department of Education's (ODE) Office of Early Learning and School Readiness announced the recipients of the 2007 Irene Bandy-Hedden Leadership Awards at the Ohio Early Care and Education Conference. These awards were established in 1994 in recognition of Irene Bandy-Hedden, who served as assistant superintendent of public instruction in the ODE. The awards are presented to those who exhibit leadership qualities in work that supports the well-being of children ages 3 to 8. The recipients of the awards this year include the following: -Conceptual Leadership - David Andrews, College of Education and Human Ecology, The Ohio State University (OSU), and Betty Schoenbaum, president, The Schoenbaum Family Foundation, Sarasota, Fla. -Community Leadership - Jean Gordon, Columbus, planner/programmer and principal architect for Moody-Nolan Inc. -Community Leadership - Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld, 50 years as a teacher, speaker and author, and instrumental in creating the Ohio Artists in Schools program. -Pedagogical Leadership - Brad Mitchell, Columbus, chief executive officer, The Education Council, and a former OSU professor. -Administrative Leadership - Edwina McIntyre, director, LEADS Community Action Agency Head Start in Newark -Special Recognition - Carl Kohrt, president and chief executive officer of Battelle, and State Board of Education member Eric Okerson, an attorney from Cincinnati, for their leadership of the School Readiness Solutions Group. *Achieve, Inc., Michael Cohen, president, announced on April 10, 2007 that nine states would be participating in the American Diploma Project to develop common standards and an assessment for students in Algebra II. The nine states include Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. For more information visit http://www.achieve.org. 8) New Report on State Policies Available: The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has issued a new report on key education policies for primary and secondary education across the 50 states. This report includes information about policies regarding teacher preparation and certification, high school graduation requirements, student assessment programs, school time, and student attendance, content standards and curriculum, teacher assessment, and school leader/administrator licensure. The report is available at http://www.ccsso.org/publications/details.cfm?PublicationID=348 9) Book Explores Why People Choose to Get Involved: David Campbell is the author of a book published in 2006 called "Why We Vote, How Schools and Communities Shape of Civic Life", which shows how communities shape our civic and political engagement, and how schools can play an important role in fostering strong civic norms. According to the author, a sense of "...civic duty springs not only from one's current social environment, but also from one's early influences." The civic norms that are emphasized in middle school and high school and by the community can affect student participation in civic activities later life, and so efforts in high school to increase a sense of civic responsibility among young adults will have an impact. To read a segment about the book please visit http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/s8326.html. 10) Barriers to Success Focus of New Report on Ohio High Schools: The Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) at the University of Washington, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, released in March 2007 a report called "Not for the Timid, Breaking Down Barriers, Creating Breakthrough High Schools in Ohio." The 97 page report was written by Don Van Meter, an education consultant in Ohio, and Mitch Price, an attorney for the CRPE, based on interviews conducted with educators, advocates for high school reform, policy makers, and state officials in Ohio. According to the Executive Summary, Ohio's efforts to reform high schools are broad and diffuse, putting less emphasis on models of best practice and more on the creation of successful learning environments. A number of legal, regulatory, and policy barriers that impede high school reform in Ohio were identified, and the following recommendations were made: -Give new "break-the-mold" schools and other innovative programs greater operational flexibility, while improving accountability measures for these innovative organizations and instructional programs. -Raise academic aspirations and expectations for all students, ensuring that students have an opportunity to take a challenging curriculum aligned to post-secondary institutions, including students in career-technical and College Tech Prep programs. -Improve the quality of teaching and expand support services that are essential to student success, including certification requirements for career-tech teachers, e-learning, and counseling programs. Also, collaborate with teachers unions to facilitate practices that promote student success. -Ensure that public schools have the resource they need to succeed, by increasing the state's share of funding, targeting resources toward programs that have a chance to succeed, and tying resources to results. Other barriers identified include differing philosophies for school reform; opposition to change, lack of funding or inability to reallocate existing resources; local control; and low expectations and aspirations. To see the full report please visit http://www.crpe.org/pubs/introNotforthetimid_mprice.shtml 11) Bills Introduced: SB141 (Padgett) Community School Sponsors - Makes changes in the law regarding the approval of community school sponsors. |
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Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, 94 Columbus Road Athens, Ohio 45701 Tel. (740)592-2866 Fax (740)593-5451 |
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