UMASD CURRICULUM/TECHNOLOGY/STUDENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

1. UMASDCURRICULUM/TECHNOLOGY/STUDENT SERVICES COMMITTEE December 17, 2012

2. Proposed Rulemaking for Chapter 4 Regulations Proposed changes to Chpt 4 (relating to academic standards and assessment were published in the Oct 6, 2012 Pennsylvania Bulletin. Revisions are currently in the hands of Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) Key provisions • Full implementation of Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics by July 1, 2013 • Elimination of state prescribed strategic planning every six years. When the district’s current plan expires, districts will have to submit plans to PDE for approval as currently required under other regulations in the following areas (1) Teacher Induction – Ch 49 (2) Student Services – Ch 12 (3) Gifted Education - Ch 16 (4) Professional development - Ch 49 and Special education - Ch 14

3. Proposed Rulemaking for Chapter 4 Regulations Key provisions • Starting this school year, results of Keystone Exams will be used to determine AYP as required under the NCLB Act to measure AYP at the secondary level. In an effort to achieve this result, PDE has developed a plan that is currently awaiting approval from the US Department of Education (USDOE). Under PDE’s plan, only 11th grade students’ results will be used to calculate AYP. Non-11th grade secondary students’ results will be banked until they are in 11th grade. Pursuant to PDE’s plan, the Keystone Exams would serve as the single accountability measure under NCLB. • Students who do not receive a proficient score on the Keystone Exam must participate in supplemental instruction until they demonstrate proficiency on the exam or complete a projects-based assessment.

4. Proposed Rulemaking for Chapter 4 Regulations Key provisions • A new “emergency waiver” option is created for 12th grade students who were not successful in completing the Keystone Exams or the project-based assessment. A chief school administrator who requests waivers for more than 10 percent of students who participated in a project-based assessment must submit to PDE an action plan to identify improvements that schools will implement to each course associated with the Keystone Exam content for which the waivers were requested. • The proposal extends the current graduation requirements to the Class of 2016. New graduation requirements will begin with the class of 2017, with students required to score proficient or above on Algebra I, Literature and Biology Keystone Exams in order to graduate. The exams will be stand alone assessment and the requirement for a test score to count as one-third of the student’s grade is removed. Also the requirement for students to complete a culminating project in order to graduate is eliminated beginning with the class of 2017. (This is next year’s 9th grade class)

5. Unanswered Questions • Are the proposed revisions creating a high-stakes testing system? Specifically, the Keystone Exams will single handedly determine whether or not a student receives a diploma. • Will USDOE approve the proposed revisions? Schools were informed in July, 2012, to implement the change to Keystone Exams. To date, PDE’s plan has not received approval from USDOE. What will happen if USDOE does not approve PDE’s request? Will schools be forced at the last minute to administer the PSSA to 11th grade students this spring? • What will be the expense to the schools? • Adapting curriculum and instruction • Updating textbooks and materials • Professional development and training • Providing remediation for students who do not receive proficient scores • Monitoring students doing project-based assessments

6. AYP and Charter Schools • The U.S. Department of Education last month denied Pennsylvania’s request to evaluate charter school achievement using more lenient criteria, saying that charter schools must be assessed by the same standard as traditional schools. An analysis by the Morning Call found that rules changed by PDE without advance notice allowed a higher percentage of charter schools to make AYP in 2011-2012 than they did in 2010-2011. Those results are no longer valid.

7. AYP and Charter Schools • According to an audit conducted by Auditor General Jack Wagner, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, the state’s largest, held a $13million budget surplus at the end of the 2009-10 school year. He also noted that the school spent almost $2million a year in public advertising. Wagner stated that the audit highlights the commonwealth’s flawed funding formula that permit charter and cyber charter school to receive far more in taxpayer money that the true cost of educating children. • Wagner has again called on the Department of Education and General Assembly to reform the state’s charter and cyber charter school funding formula to make it fairer to taxpayers • Link to more information: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Press/WagnerSaysPACyberCharterReserveFundsHighlight.html

8. PDE Changes in Reporting • AYP • Measures student results for 3 indicators: Attendance or graduation; Academic Performance; Test Participation • Requires that all groups of children reach proficiency in Reading/LA and Mathematics • Groups include all racial and ethnic backgrounds; students who are English Language Learners, economically disadvantaged students, and special education students

9. School Performance Profile • Formally called the “School Report Card” the SSPP will be pubic for every LEA –currently anticipated for April, 2013 • Sections • Indicators of Academic Achievement • Indicators of Closing the Achievement Gap – All students • Indicators of closing the achievement gap – historically low performing students • Special education students • Economically disadvantaged students • English language learners • Indicators of academic growth • Other academic indicators • Credit for Advanced Placement

10. School Performance Profile • Districts will receive a grade of A, B, C, D, or F

11. UMASD Transition Plan to Common Core Standards • Committee Structure • LA Committee • Math Committee • Materials

12. Strategic Planning • Required Plans • District Approach – Comprehensive Planning – Community Involvement