Parent Leadership Summit April 28, 2014

1. Parent Leadership Summit April 28, 2014

2. Parents United A Minnesota born, parent-led organization that exists to unite those who value public education, and help them be strong advocates for excellence in our public schools.

3. Parents United’s agenda Our agenda is simple: • Parents United is a translator of complex terms and policy implications • and a navigator fora legislative process often oblique to the public. 

4. Education is a constitutional mandate Minnesota Constitution, Article 13, Section 1 …it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools. The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state.

5. From the Capitol to the Classroom

6. Minnesota’s Political Evolution

7. The Evolution of Federal Involvement in education • 50’s Integration • 60’s ESEA • 70’s Special education • 90’s School Improvement

8. 1983 A Nation at Risk The Report recommended • Stronger high school graduation requirements • Higher standards for academic and student conduct • More time devoted to instruction and homework • Higher standards for entry into the teaching profession • Better salaries for teachers

9. There is no mention of… Accountability • More testing • Educator evaluations based on test scores Competition • Grading schools A-F • Vouchers, tax credits and scholarship programs to deal with challenged students Changing Governance • Parent trigger laws • Expansions of education management organizations

10. The Decade of NCLB • Mandated each state develop • Academic Standards • Assessments • Mandated state accountability systems • Required supplemental service providers • Defined remedies for students in schools not meeting AYP Adequate Yearly Progress

11. Greater focus on State Academic Standards

12. Minnesota Academic standardsPre- and Post- NCLB • Standards • Profile of Learning • Process-based standards • Begun in 80’s • Hands-on assessments • Graduation Requirements • Seat time • Basic Skills Test • Standards • New Academic Standards • Content-based • MDE developed and legislated • Pen and paper assessments • Graduation Requirements • State standards testing • GRAD

13. Current Minnesota Standards and Assessments • Process and content • Review and Revise cycle • Common Core Language Arts • Graduation Requirement • Standardized testing grades 3 and up • Completion of standards imbedded in coursework • Completion of Suite of Assessments (ACT/SAT/Accuplacer/Military exam)

14. Greater focus on school choice • Open enrollment • Home school • PSEO • State-approved alternative programs • Charter schools • Online learning

15. Legislation on choice • Selection of Charter Authorizers • Oversight of authorizers, home school providers and charter board training • Perennial discussion on expansion of funding • Vouchers • Tax credits

16. Greater focus on “state accountability systems”

17. Purpose of testing • Diagnostic? • Provide a summative evaluation of student or school performance? • Measure student proficiency or growth?

18. A moment on “value add”

19. So what do you value more proficiency or growth? And what do you incent?

20. Purpose of MN NCLB waiver NCLB No child Left Behind MMR Multiple Measurement Rating

21. Greater focus on Teachers • Compensation • Training • Licensing • Evaluation

23. On teacher compensation QCompto ATTPS bonus vs. professional learning opportunities Current: QComp districts in better position to implement comprehensive teacher evaluation; state trying to play funding catch up

24. On teacher training • Jurisdiction over higher education • Role of Board of Teaching • Bush Foundation’s influence

25. On teacher licensure • Minnesota Teacher Licensure Task force • Praxis conversion to Minnesota Teacher Licensure Examinations (MTLE) Current: in Limbo

26. On teacher evaluation Staffing flexibility Mentorship

27. Current: Teacher evaluation • First time in statute every continuing contract teacher formally evaluated once in 3 years • State developed well-crafted default evaluation system to be used unless a local has its own • 35% of evals need to be dependent on “student performance” • Piloting

29. Greater Focus on Early Learning • Universality to targeted • Philosophy meets resource • Reality hits home • Meanwhile……”3 to grade 3” takes hold

30. Greater focus on school funding The purpose of school funding and who should pay

31. Minnesota Supreme Court, Skeen v. State of Minnesota, August 20, 1993 …education is a fundamental right in Minnesota. …our decision …requires the state to provide enough funds to ensure that each student receives an adequate education and that funds are distributed in a uniform manner… …the determination of education finance policy, in the absence of glaring disparities, must be a legislative decision Legal Requirements

32. Education Funding PrinciplesWhat is the State’s Role? Ensure that the education funding system: • Provides stable, predictable and sustainable revenues over time; • Allocates resources through understandable statewide formulas that are rationally related to educational need • Provides incentives and flexibility for local districts to increase achievement for all and close achievement gaps

33. Education Funding PrinciplesWhat is the State’s Role? Adequacy and Equity for Students: • Ensure that all local districts have the resources needed to provide an adequate basic education for all students, regardless of geographic location: • Basic formula covers the cost of providing an adequate basic education for students without special needs. • Additional funding for excess costs: • high-need students • unique district characteristics

34. Tax Reform in the 90’s State policies reforming property tax • Lowered taxes on commercial property • Agricultural and recreational land removed from the equation for school taxes The 2001 General Education Buy Down • The state picked up school costs once paid by local property taxes • Passed half of the legislation—the liability was accepted, without a stated revenue stream to support it.

36. Minnesota school districts respond • 1990 47% of school districts in the state of Minnesota had levies in place • By 2012 that number rose to 90%

37. Structural change still needed Instead of reinstating a general education levy a higher income tax on top earners was passed

40. Change in Pupil Weightingor How $5,382 + $80 becomes $5,806 Until 2015 Pupil units: Kindergartners = .612 Grades 1-3 = 1.115 Grades 4-6 = 1.06 Grades 7-12 = 1.3 Per pupil formula $5,382 2015 and beyond Pupil units: K -6 = 1.00 Grades 7-12 = 1.2 Per pupil formula $5,806

42. Focus on school climate • Safe and Supportive Schools Act • LEAP English Language Learners as assets

43. Focus on State Structure • Worlds Best Workforce • Regional Centers of Excellence: • Rochester • St. Cloud • Mt. Iron • Fergus Falls • Marshall • Thief River Fall

44. What’s changed?

45. From initiatives to systems work • World’s Best Workforce Statute • Centers of Excellence to network great ideas • Diagnostic State accountability system • Funding • School climate • Meaningful tests • Bilingualism as valued • Instructional improvement

46. Will learning be different?

47. State provides • Broad Expectations • A lion’s share of resources • Suite of Assessments • MMR • High standards for teachers/principals • Data analysis of growth and trajectory • Facilitation of “what works” in like districts

48. State sets expectations • All students ready for K • All third graders reading at grade-level • Close all academic achievement gaps • Graduate all students from high school • Have all high school graduates career and college ready

49. District provides • An E-12 approach • A plan developed in consultation with public • Review of results • Review of funds used for plan

50. What hasn’t been done • Class size • Arts in education • Greater equity in policy and funding • More instructional time • Opportunities for each students along the spectrum—transitional work • Universal early learning