No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

1. No Child Left BehindAnnual Statewide Conference February 16, 2005

2. Illinois’ Forecast for Better EducationDr. Ginger ReynoldsGail Lieberman No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

3. A Little Background on Ginger Reynolds Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Services for the Illinois State Board of Education

4. New State Board of Education • Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed Senate Bill 3000 into law in September 2004. • Law brought sweeping education reform, shifting State Board’s focus from regulating school districts to: • Improving education of students in Illinois • Being accountable to the governor, legislators, school districts, parents, and children • Focusing on constituent service No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

5. New State Board of Education • Upon signing the bill into law, the Governor appointed seven new members to the State Board of Education. The nine-member Board now includes: • Jesse Ruiz, Chicago - Chairman • Dr. Andrea Brown, Goreville • Dean Clark, Glen Ellyn • Dr. David Fields, Danville • Ed Geppert, Belleville • Dr. Vinni Hall, Chicago • Brenda Holmes, Springfield • Joyce Karon, Barrington • Dr. Chris Ward, Lockport No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

6. Dr. Randy Dunn,State Superintendent • Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with emphasis on Reading • Master’s degree in Education • Began his education career as a fourth grade teacher • Moved into administration • Principal for two schools in central Illinois • Superintendent of the Argenta-Oreana Community and Chester Community School Districts • Currently on leave as Chair of the Department of Education Administration and Higher Education at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

7. Governor Rod Blagojevich’sCommitment to Education • Faced with $8 billion in budget deficits, Gov. Blagojevich has committed almost $1 billion in additional education funding in his first two years in office • Raised the General State Aid foundation level substantially two consecutive years • Commitment to early childhood education funding, expanding pre-school access for 16,000 additional students No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

8. State of the State Message • In his 2005 State of the State Address, the Governor highlighted outcomes of the new State Board and his commitment to education: • Improved process for gathering and reporting School Report Card data • Elimination of teacher certification backlog and streamlined process for the future • Streamlined agency to redirect funds to schools • Increased funding to expand access to pre-school No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

9. State of the Union Message • The President called for strengthening high schools • He proposed $1.5 billion in funding for a new high school initiative • He called for additional high school assessments (which would require a federal law change) No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

10. Initiatives for 2005 Board will develop a Strategic Plan and is currently prioritizing from a list including: • Improving Teacher Quality and Retention • Improving Data-Driven Decision Making through Technology • Enhancing Literacy • Building School Leadership Capacity • Highlighting Exemplary Educational Practices No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

11. Initiatives for 2005, cont. • Expanding School Business and Support Practices • Supporting Career and Technical Education • Streamlining Teacher Certification • Enhancing Regional Service Delivery • Promoting High School Reform • Promoting Positive Learning Environments No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

12. Working with NCLB • Examining data • Looking at other states • Working with the USDoE TO • Make NCLB work for Illinois • Assist schools effectively • Hold the Agency accountable No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

13. A little background on Gail Lieberman Retired in February 2004 Returned to ISBE under contract in January 2005

14. A Look at NCLB and the Future • ISBE’s focus on education improvement • ISBE’s focus on accountability • ISBE’s focus on customer services • We have examined the data from the last two years of NCLB implementation and working to improve and streamline accountability measures for and with schools and districts No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

15. Latest Happenings with NCLB • Students and schools making progress • Many schools have worked diligently to close the low income and the racial/ethnic achievement gaps • Moving towards highly qualified teachers and qualified paraprofessionals • Improved Information to parents to make informed choices No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

16. Illinois Results in Aggregate2002-2004 % Meets/Exceeds 2002 2003 2004 • All Tests 60.1 61 62.4 • ISAT 62.7 63.9 65.9 • PSAE 56.1 55.2 56.4 We need to look at disaggregated data now! As Dr. Dunn says, we need to “peel the onion…” No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

17. AYP Status Across Illinois • From the 2004 assessments (data as of 1/25/05): • 402 schools in AEWS • 540 schools in AWS • 41 schools removed from status • 248 LEAs in school improvement status • 285 LEAs in AEWS • For Title I purposes, the breakdown of the [duplicated] 694 schools includes (data as of Fall 2004): • CH=Choice 216CS=Choice and SES 213CA=Corrective Action 242RS=Restructuring Year 123 No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

18. How Fast Are We Moving Towards Results? • We believe we are… • Title I monitoring visit on-site, March 28th—April 1 • Title II monitoring visit on-site, March 2-4 • Title III monitoring visit on-site in May • 21st Century CLC visit on site in mid-April WHEW!!!! No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

19. Accountability Workbook changes No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

20. Approved Changes in the Illinois Accountability Workbook • Multi-racial. In response to concerns raised by Illinois students, parents, and school personnel, Illinois has added a multi-racial/ethnic group to the State’s major racial/ethnic groups for both accountability and reporting purposes. • Identification of Schools and Districts for Improvement. Illinois will identify schools and districts for improvement on the basis of not making AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area. • Assessment and Accountability for LEP students. Illinois adopts the flexibility allowed relative to limited English proficient students for assessment and accountability purposes for no testing in Year 1. No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

21. Approved Changes in the Illinois Accountability Workbook • Alternate Assessments. Illinois will use the final regulation concerning the 1.0 percent cap, ensuring that the "number of proficient and advanced scores based on the alternate achievement standards" does not exceed 1.0 percent of all students in the grades assessed at the State level. • Participation Rate. Illinois adopts the new flexibility regarding multi-year averaging of participation rate. Illinois will also adopt the new flexibility regarding students who have significant medical emergencies during the testing window and its affect on a school's participation rate. No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

22. Changes Under Consideration • Students with Disabilities • Subgroup size • Include those who are on IEPs for monitoring or transition purposes • Revising reading levels of questions No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

23. Changes Under Consideration(cont’d) • Students with limited English proficiency • New English assessment – Access • New state assessment • Accommodations • Student subgroup size • Special attention to first year enrollees • Special attention to year 4 and 5 students No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

24. Changes Under Consideration(cont’d) • Other issues • Full year definition • Grade 2 testing • Subgroup size • Other No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

25. Something New Every Year with NCLB and AYP Issues • 2004 from 2003 tests – participation rate • 2005 from 2004 tests – district AYP • 2006 from 2005 tests – AMAOs and consequences • 2006 tests – all grades 3-8 and 11 No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

26. Information on IDEA Following are the key changes in the nation's special education law: • Expand options for parents. Parents, along with the local education agency, may agree to make changes to a student's individualized education program (IEP) without having to hold a formal IEP meeting. They may instead develop a written document for an amendment. • Prevent requiring medication for education services. Schools cannot force parents to medicate their children as a condition of attending school, receiving an evaluation or receiving services. • Extend the timeline for teacher certification. New special education teachers who teach multiple subjects exclusively to students with disabilities and who are deemed "highly qualified" in math, language arts or science will have two years after their employment date to demonstrate competency in the other core academic subjects they teach. No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

27. Information on IDEA • Reduce the paperwork burden on teachers. A 15-state pilot program will allow states and school districts to offer parents the option of a multi-year IEP, not to exceed three years, as opposed to a yearly plan. Another pilot program will allow the U.S. secretary of education to waive certain paperwork requirements for up to 15 states. • Reduce litigation. Prior to a due process hearing, the district must hold a resolution session with parents and IEP Team members within 15 days of receiving notice of a parent's complaint. In addition, a request for a hearing must be filed within two years from the date of the alleged violation. • Reduce misidentification of non-disabled children. School districts can address the problem of children being erroneously placed in special education by using a portion of their IDEA funding to provide intervention services to children who have not yet been identified as needing special education but need additional academic or behavioral support. No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

28. Information on IDEA • School nurses included as a related service • Related services exempts any medical device that is surgically implanted, or its replacement • Emphasis on “universal design” • Same emphasis on AYP and other factors • Focus on access to instructional materials No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

29. Information on IDEA • Screening to determine appropriate instructional strategies for curriculum implementation shall not be considered to be an evaluation for eligibility for special education or related services • Student may not be considered disabled due to a lack of appropriate instruction in reading No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

30. Choice/Supplemental Services • As of January 13th, total number of approved SES providers: 75 • Number of providers indicating they can serve limited English proficient students: 45 • Number of providers indicating they can serve grades 9-12: 50 • Application in the future will specify areas served in more detail • http://www.isbe.net/nclb/htmls/sesp.htm No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

31. Professional Development • RESPRO system of support services (also technical assistance) at www.isbe.net (search for system of support) • ROE services at http://www.iarss.org/development.asp No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

32. Title I: $523M Title II: $118M Title II, Tech: $28M Title III: $25M Title IV: $ 17.6M 21st CCLC: $39.4M IDEA: $447M IDEA Preschool: $17.9M Career and Tech Prep: $48.7M Homeless: $2.5M Student Testing: $12.9M Federal Funding for 2004 (2004-05) to Illinois No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

33. Changes on the Horizon • Any bills which become law in 2005 • Any Accountability Workbook changes that are approved • Other issues on appeal now • Any changes in 2005 or 2006 at the federal level in terms of NCLB changes…. No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference

34. For Further Information… • Contact Ginger Reynolds at greynold@isbe.net • Contact Gail Lieberman at glieberm@isbe.net No Child Left Behind Annual Statewide Conference