Commissioner States ‘Reorganization Complete’ and No Vacancies ‘Of Consequence’ Unfilled
In his monthly report to the State Board, Commissioner Corkins announced that the department reorganization was completed on time and on budget. He provided anecdotes about how the new School Innovations division is providing information and how the Improvement Support Teams are working with USDs.
Board members raised questions, however, citing other anecdotes of which they were aware, in which USDs reported not receiving assistance that they believed to be helpful.
Responding to a question about vacancies in the agency, Corkins responded that “nothing of consequence is unfilled at this point,” and that the departments are “appropriately staffed for all the functions we need to serve.”
[Some sources claim that there are currently between 5 and 10 educational program consultant vacancies at the agency, many for specific content area specializations.]
Charter Schools Grants Generate Questions
Following last month’s relatively unnoticed approval of almost $40,000 in a technical assistance grant to ESSDACK, Hutchinson, several Board members raised pointed questions regarding those grants, which were distributed in $1,995 increments to 16-19 individuals. The number is uncertain because at least 1 grant recipient has since died and several have returned their checks.
Apparently, parties interested in providing technical assistance to charter school applicants could submit information to KSDE and receive grants, each of which came in just slightly under the $2,000 figure that requires a bid process.
When questioned by Board members Gamble, Rupe, Wagnon and Waugh, Commissioner Bob Corkins stated repeatedly that the grants were a “bargain” and that KSDE had done “precious little” in the past to assist charter school applicants.
Student Engagement Project Described
Commissioner Corkins and Assistant Commissioner Engelbrick provided information about their student engagement project, designed to help USDs “provide students with additional opportunities to increase educational achievement.”
The project will involve mini-grants for which USDs can apply that will allow students one-time access to one of the Explore/Plan/ACT assessments marketed by ACT, an Iowa City , Iowa assessment vendor.
Students who take an assessment will receive a report identifying their likelihood of doing well at various higher-level educational opportunities. ACT representatives described the assessments as “facilitating future educational planning.”
When questioned about the source of the project’s funds and their longevity, Commissioner Corkins stated that it was one-time money, derived from “savings in renegotiating the state assessment contracts” and that the department did not intend for the project to be sustained.
When questioned about a provision of ESEA/NCLB that offers grants for students to do this now, a program that USD 259, Wichita, is participating, and how this might impact Wichita, Engelbrick indicated that he was unaware of any such provision or of the Wichita program and would need to look into it.
QPA, State Assessment Update
Dr. Tom Foster, assistant commissioner for learning services, presented an update on AYP, QPA, standards of excellence, and opportunity to learn. Highlights included:
There are currently still over 2,500 data appeals from school districts regarding their state assessment data. No final AYP information will be available until all appeals are resolved. Foster hopes to have the data for the November State Board meeting.
The standard of excellence designation will remain relatively unchanged, and new calculations will be made for the grades tested for the first time last year.
Foster has in interest in de-coupling QPA status decisions from ESEA/NCLB’s AYP designation.
The US Department of Education, on September 26, reversed a long-standing policy and will now allow states that test high school students at the end of “opportunity to learn” [when the students have completed the coursework being tested] to re-test students whose scores are below proficient. The best of the two test scores will count for AYP.
Dr. Foster’s PowerPoint presentation, which includes all the information he presented to the State Board can be found at http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=466 Look for “State Board 10.06” which will be posted soon.
Board Visits District 10
The State Board went on the road in October, to Cowley County in board district 10, as part of the regular visitation schedule of the ten State Board districts. Both USD 465, Winfield, and USD 470, Arkansas City, had opportunities to discuss district programs and practices and to showcase their schools with building tours.
Board members heard presentations about a joint project in the allied health area that involves both USDs, Cowley College, and Southwestern College. They also visited several schools in each USD and ate lunch prepared by the Food Production and Services Class at Arkansas City High School.
Board members Abrams, Gamble, Martin, Rupe, Van Meter, Wagnon and Waugh attended the October meeting. Members Bacon, Morris and Willard were absent.
In other action, the State Board:
- Reviewed possible legislative issues, pp. 83-84
- Discussed issues of concern for ESEA/NCLB reauthorization, pp. 107-108
- Authorized the Licensure team to begin developing regulatory language for amendments to address barriers to licensure, pp. 109-114
- Approved recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission to revoke 3 licenses and deny 2 license applications, pp. 115-135
- Approved license waivers from 24 USDs, pp. 143-145
- Approved recommendations from the License Review Committee to approve 5 license/endorsement requests, p. 147
- Appointed Mike Mathes, USD 345, Seaman, to the License Review Committee, pp. 151-153
- Approved a request for the renewal of a Visiting Scholar License, p. 149
- Approved the Kansas Model Curricular Standards for Listening, Speaking, and Viewing, p. 155 [standards included in August, 2006, SBOE materials]
- Approved extended standards for mathematics, reading and writing [standards included in September, 2006, SBOE materials]
- Approved a bond election for USD 434, Santa Fe Trail, pp. 171-172
Next Meeting
The next meeting of the State Board is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, November 14 and 15, in Topeka. Materials should be available on the KSDE website sometime on Monday, November 6, at http://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=427
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