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The Council would like to thank our corporate partners for their support of Chiefline and CCSSO.
Chief State School Officers Invited to White House
Over 40 chief state school officers will meet with Vice President Joseph Biden and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan at the White House on Wednesday, February 25, to discuss the current state-federal partnership with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and ways CCSSO and ED can partner in the future. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will invest more than $130 billion in the nation’s public education system, and the chiefs will engage in conversations with ED to assure the committed funds are implemented effectively and efficiently. For questions or comments about the chiefs' White House visit, please contact Abigail Rogers at abigailr@ccsso.org.
Headlines
Advocacy in Action
FY09 Appropriations Process Drawing to a Close
Advocacy Resources
Education Newsbriefs
"Sycamore Schools Get Money for Technical Upgrades" (IL)
"Parents, Advocates Seek Pre-K Expansion" (MD)
"3Qs With Hank Bounds" (MS)
"State Modifies High School Graduation Requirements" (NJ)
"Diploma Requirements Change" (OR)
"Education Secretary Defends Core-Subject Proficiency Tests" (PA)
"Virginia Adds Graduation Benchmark to Standards" (VA)
Advocacy in Action
FY09 Appropriations Process Drawing to a Close Yesterday, the House Committee on Appropriations released a $410 billion omnibus appropriations measure encompassing the nine unfinished FY09 spending bills, including the Labor, Health, & Education Appropriations budget. The package proposes to provide $56 billion for discretionary education programs, including $65 million for state longitudinal data systems, $11.5 billion for IDEA state grants; $15 billion for Title I, $7.1 billion for Head Start; $2.1 billion for child care; and $1.1 billion for after-school programs. The Committee does not propose to restore funding for the Reading First program. We expect the House to consider and approve the bill on Wednesday, February 25, followed by action in the Senate beginning later this week. Concurrent with the effort to complete the FY09 appropriations process, President Obama is expected to present his first budget outline for FY10 on Thursday, February 26. CCSSO's advocacy team will provide a summary of the President's initial FY10 budget request, as soon as the document becomes publicly available.
Advocacy Resources
To gain additional information about legislation discussed in this issue, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter the name or bill number of the legislation.
For more advocacy information and support, please contact advocacy@ccsso.org.
Education Newsbriefs
Sycamore Schools Get Money for Technical Upgrades
WREX-TV 13 News (02/18/09)
In Illinois, 17 school districts are receiving money to integrate technology into the curriculum. Statewide, over 11,000 high school students will benefit from low-interest loans to buy new equipment and expand professional development opportunities. According to State Superintendent of Education Christopher Koch, "Providing these low interest loans is one way to help districts that want to improve their use of technology. We know such integration supports improved teaching and learning and increased mastery of the Illinois Learning Standards."
Parents, Advocates Seek Pre-K Expansion
Annapolis Capital (MD) (02/18/09) Woodward, Erika
Maryland Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick applauds efforts to revise the Bridge to Excellence in Education Act to expand publicly funded pre-kindergarten and make it universal. According to recent studies, students in pre-kindergarten programs are more likely to graduate high school than those students not enrolled in these programs. Currently, the act provides pre-kindergarten for those at or below 185 percent of the poverty level. She notes, "If we want to spend less money in remediation costs then we need to support this bill." Since the bill does not require additional funding in 2009, Grasmick calls it "fiscally responsible."
3Qs With Hank Bounds
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (02/15/09)
Mississippi Superintendent of Education Hank Bounds recently talked about the Children's First Act with Bobby Harrison of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Bounds said the goal of the legislation is to make all schools successful and provide a quality education for every student by targeting low-performing schools and focusing on academic growth and achievement. According to Bounds, "Regardless of the significant obstacles that many of our children are facing, I believe that they are all eager to learn and more than capable of excelling in our schools. If we have leaders in our schools that believe that too, our boys and girls will not only get the education they deserve, but they will also leave high school with a diploma, ready to compete with any other young adult in the nation." Bounds said the only schools to be impacted right away by the act "are those that either already have reached--or are heading toward--an absolutely unacceptable level of student achievement and are not growing their students academically." He noted that only 10 percent of districts are in these categories and that the bill would make state takeover "a last resort option." Bounds said the legislation will cost $1.5 million, with the money used for technical assistance, establishing a turnaround team for under-performing districts, and instituting other preventive measures.
State Modifies High School Graduation Requirements
Press of Atlantic City (NJ) (02/19/09) D'Amico, Diane
The New Jersey Board of Education is considering a proposal that would require 120 credits for graduation, an increase from the current requirement of 110 credits. It also would allow school districts to impose their own requirements. The proposal calls for four years of language arts literacy; three years of math, including algebra I, geometry, and another advanced course; three years of science; three years of social studies, including world history; a half-year of financial, economic, and entrepreneurial literacy; one year of visual, performing, or practical arts; one year of a world language; one year of career education and consumer, family, and life skills; and 3.75 credits each year in health, safety, and physical education. The proposal also calls for technology to be integrated in all courses and the implementation of Personalized Student Learning Plans, which will be rolled out in a pilot program beginning in the 2009-10 school year. While new end-of-course tests are being created, the state will continue using the current math and language arts tests. State Education Commissioner Lucille Davy says officials are working to address parents' concerns, mainly with regard to the proper training of teachers and school resources.
Diploma Requirements Change
Curry County Reporter (Ore.) (02/18/09) Miller, Kimberly
The Oregon Class of 2009 will see new diploma requirements including the need to take two math courses, two science classes, three English courses, and three social sciences, among others. In 2010, the high school class will take three math courses, two science classes, four English courses, and three social sciences, among others. The gradual shift in diploma requirements was devised by the Oregon State Board of Education. Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo says, "The [new] Oregon Diploma will ensure that our students have the knowledge and skills to compete in a rapidly changing economy." By 2012, high school students will take one more English, language arts, and math courses to graduate than previous high school classes.
Education Secretary Defends Core-Subject Proficiency Tests
Patriot-News (PA) (02/20/09) P. B3; Murphy, Jan
In recent testimony before the state Senate Education Committee, Pennsylvania Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak reported an almost 30 percent jump in the number of students testing at their grade levels in reading and math. He noted that these proficiency tests are intended to make sure students are prepared for college or the workforce, not to prevent them from graduating. Zahorchak added that no districts reported a majority of students scoring less than basic on state tests, with approximately 12 districts reporting such numbers 10 years ago. "We cannot afford to lose that momentum," he said. The hearing centered on a proposed rule that would require students to pass a test to obtain a diploma, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about cost. Zahorchak said new subject-specific tests, a model curriculum, and diagnostic tools would cost about $80 million. In addition to these tests, he said students could achieve passing scores on state assessments or other tests in order to show proficiency in core subjects. Later this month, a study of local exams used by districts to demonstrate proficiency in cores subjects will be issued.
Virginia Adds Graduation Benchmark to Standards
Kingsport Times-News (02/20/09) Igo, Steve
Beginning in the 2011-12 school year, changes to the Virginia Standards of Accreditation will be phased in, requiring high schools to meet an annual graduation benchmark. The revised graduation and completion index assigns points to high schools based upon such graduation figures as how many students graduate with a diploma and how many were in school for four or more years. The index points are then divided by the total number of students earning a degree or staying in school, plus the students who dropped out or left school without a degree. High schools must earn 85 points or more and reach a pass rate on state tests for English, history/social science, math, and science before achieving full accreditation. Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright says, "The graduation and completion index holds schools accountable for all students and recognizes successful efforts to prevent students from dropping out. In today's economy, it is critical that young people complete high school with the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and the workplace."
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