The Year of Education What the Administration and Congress have in store for education reform Mary Kusler American Association of School Administrators February 11, 2010
A New Vision for Federal Education Policy Four Key Areas of Education Reform: the four assurances. 1. Achieving Equity in Teacher Distribution 2. Improving the Collection and Use of Data 3. Improving the Quality of Standards and Assessments 4. Improving Struggling Schools
Reauthorizing ESEA President Obama and the State of the Union Secretary Duncan announced that the administration would like to start reauthorization and get it done quick. The administration s plan will be released sometime this spring. 1. Raise the Bar-Close the Gap 2. Tight on Goals-Loose on Means 3. Foster Equity, Opportunity and Reform 4. Recognize, reward and Replicate Success 5. Develop a Culture of Innovation and excellence 6. Optimize Investment
Obama Budget Proposal President Obama proposed his FY 2011 (2011 2012 school year) budget on February 1 st. Education to receive historic increases despite tight funding times. Budget proposal calls for a massive restructuring of ESEA reauthorization. Despite overall increases: Title I was level funded IDEA received a $250 million increase, remaining at 17% instead of the promised 40%
Obama Budget Proposal Most new education dollars would flow competitive. 65% increase in the amount of discretionary dollars to competitive grants. AASA has a position in favor of formula grants. U.S. Department of Education 2010
Reauthorization of ESEA Proposal Title I now called Accelerating Achievement and Ensuring Equity Grants to LEAs renamed College and Career Ready Students States will have to adopt more rigorous CCR standards: not sure relationship to Common Core. Broader measure of student performance towards CCR standards and closing the achievement gap. Will focus on identifying success and struggling schools.
Common Core Standards Increased Congressional support for common core (not national) standards. CCSSO and NGA have joined together with 48 states and territories to develop them. Partnership also with Achieve, ACT and the College Board. States may choose to include additional standards beyond the common core as long as the common core represents at least 85 percent of the state s standards in English language arts and mathematics. What if Congress requires adoption of common core in order to receive Title I? Still unclear what Congress sees as their role in this.
Serving Schools Most in Need $900 million for School Turnaround Grants ($354 increase) Money will be targeted to bottom 5% performing schools in each states. Schools will have to choose one of four possible interventions. Turnaround fire principal and 50% of staff, institute a new curriculum Restart close school and restart as a charter or under an educational management organization School Closure close school and send students to other schools Transformation fire principal, grant new budgeting and scheduling flexibility, new curriculum, intensive professional development, community schools model Districts will have to build capacity and put in place the expertise for school improvement
Focusing on Teachers and Leaders Cuts Title II, Part A formula by $450 million. All states would be required to develop a definition of effective teachers. Most states signed on to idea in RTTT applications. A year s growth in a year s time = effective Will require all states to link evaluations of teachers and principals to student achievement. Can be one of multiple measures.
Focusing on Teachers and Leaders Would move all federal teacher training into ESEA. Creates multiple new competitive funding grants focusing on teachers. Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund Teacher and Leader Pathways Effective Teaching and Learning: Literacy Effective Teaching and Learning: STEM Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well Rounded Education
Creating a Better School Climate Successful, Safe and Healthy Students New competitive grant program to improve School climate by reducing drug use, violence or harassment Student physical health and nutrition Mental health and well being $210 million proposed for Promise Neighborhoods Based on Harlem Children s Zone: comprehensive services to meet needs of the total child
Reauthorization of REAP Some changes need to be made to improve REAP in the coming reauthorization. Specifically, a number of districts are no longer receiving a financial benefit from the program despite qualifying. Allow districts to choose which program to apply under. Raise the sliding scale from $20,000 - $60,000 to $25,000 - $70,000. For the Rural & Low-income program, use free and reduced lunch instead of census. Update Locale codes. Need to fight changes being discussed in the Senate. Support the REAP Reauthorization Act HR 2446 & S 1052
The First Lady s Obesity Initiative First Lady announced large initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation. Schools Physical Fitness Healthy & Affordable Foods Empowering Families with the Right Information Pledge to increase number of US Healthy Schools A Department of Agriculture program http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthierus/index.html
Child Nutrition Act/ School Lunch Reauthorization is split into two topics of discussion: Nutritional Standards Increasing the nutritional content of school lunch. Conversations over the restriction of sales of types of food on school property. Needs to have school sponsored event exception. Programmatic Operation Increasing direct certification to include Medicaid. S 1737 to would convert all reduced price lunches to free lunches over four years.
Seclusion and Restraint A report from the National Disabilities Rights Network and a follow up report from the GAO have led to legislation. Bills in both the House and the Senate would: Prohibit restraint that restricts breathing, chemical and mechanical restraints. Require Secretary Duncan to issue federal regulations. Prohibit any inclusion in the IEP or behavioral plan Permit the P&A s in each state to enforce
Seclusion and Restraint 31 states currently have policies or legislation on seclusion and restraint Secretary Duncan called on all states to act in April. HR 4247 passed out of House Education and Labor Committee on February 4, 2010 Floor vote expected by last week in February CALL your Representatives and express concerns about the bill. S 2860 (Dodd, D-CT) currently has no other cosponsors or plans for Senate action
American Recovery & Reinvestment Act $4 billion Race to the Top state grants to be based on distribution of teachers, creation of longitudinal data systems, development of assessments for special education and ELL and efforts in school improvement $350 million Development of new national assessment to the Common Core Standards $650 million Innovation Grant local district and nonprofit grant for innovative practices $1.35 billion New Race to the Top Fund state and local grants based on the current process
States will have to submit plans for reform that will be comprehensive, coherent, integrating and incorporate all four assurances under the SFSF. State must have both SFSF Phase 1 and Phase 2 applications approved. State may not have any legal, statutory or regulated prohibiting the linking of student achievement data to teacher or principal evaluations. Phase One Applications were due January 19, 2010. (Awards announced April 2010.) 40 including DC applied. TX and MT have chosen not to apply. Race to the Top Phase Two Applications Due June 1, 2010. (Awards announced September 2010.
Application Priorities for RTTT 1. Absolute Priority Comprehensive Approach to Education Reform 2. Competitive Preference Priority Emphasis on Science, Technology, Education and Math (15 point potential boost). 3. Invitational Priority - Innovations for Improving Early Learning Outcomes 4. Invitational Priority Expansion and Adaptation of Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems 5. Invitational Priority P-20 Coordination, Vertical and Horizontal Alignment 6. Invitational Priority School-level Conditions for Reform, Innovation and Learning States will be judged on their application score based on a potential 485 points. Department of Education is looking for massive reforms not just tweaks.
$650 million available through competitive grants to school districts and non-profits (including higher education) through winter and spring windows Grants will be given out in three tiers: Development Grants - for new programs. Two phase application: first round, then invitational for the second round. Must have reasonable hypothesis. Innovation Fund Validation Grants - for current programs that need to build a research base or expand organizational capacity. Must have moderate research evidence. Scale Up Grants - to scale up current proven programs Must have strong research evidence.
Innovation Fund Must meet one of first four priorities: Innovations that Support Effective Teachers and School Leaders Innovations that Improve the Use of Data Innovations that Complement the Implementation of High Standards and High-Quality Assessments Innovations that Turn Around Persistently Low- Performing Schools
Innovation Fund Applicants will be given a higher rating if they also include one of the following: Innovations for Improving Early Learning Outcomes Innovations that Support College Access and Success Innovations to Address the Unique Learning Needs of Students with Disabilities and Limited English Proficient Students Innovations that Serve Schools in Rural School Districts
Applications will focus on: Innovation Fund Impact & Design: How many students will your innovation impact? Research: Looking for quality and relevant evidence for practices that will scale up. Local Match: Required 20% local match, preferably from philanthropic sources. Can be considered an in-kind contribution. Evaluation: Must set up an independent evaluation. Strategy & Capacity to Scale: If successful could the applicant expand this program? Sustainability: limited funding window, how will program continue?
NCE Sessions Not to Miss ESEA Reauthorization: A U.S. Department of Education Perspective Today, 3:30 to 4:30, Room 121B Tomorrow, 11:30 to 12:30, Room 121B Child Nutrition Reauthorization: A U.S. Department of Agriculture Perspective Saturday, 11:30 to 12:30, Room 121B
Next Steps: Time for You to Get Involved ESEA Reauthorization is on the move. Make sure your voice is heard!! Superintendents have a unique expertise when it come to the ins and outs of educating children. The timeline for action will be quick, even if they don t complete it this year. Need to weigh in early and often. ESEA Reauthorization will be high stakes impacting all education reform going forward. Take the time to educate your senators and representatives of the good work being done to improve student achievement.
Any questions? Mary Kusler Assistant Director, Advocacy & Policy American Association of School Administrators 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22203 (703) 875-0733 mkusler@aasa.org