Wednesday, February 10

The February Committee of the Whole meeting of the State Board of Education was dominated by a presentation by the Office of Student Achievement (OSA) on a statewide review of erasures on student answer sheets on the spring administration of elementary grades CRCTs.  The analysis pinpointed classrooms where the number of changed answers per student were substantially different from the state average.

Contrary to immediate media reports heralding a "cheating scandal," accusing "hundreds of Georgia schools ... of tampering with student answers on state standardized tests" resulting in "the state’s main achievement measure (being thrown) into turmoil," the report identified 117 schools reflecting "moderate concern" of irregularities and 74 schools reflecting "severe concern."  1666 schools were judged to be "clear" or of "minimum concern." 

OSA and the Department of Education announced several recommendations relating to this preliminary review of student answer sheets, beginning with investigations by local school districts, and leading to state monitoring of CRCT administration in schools where violations were found.  Additional information may be found on the OSA website, http://www.gaosa.org/ 

Other activities during the Wednesday work session of the Board:

• The Budget and Finance Committee, Charter Schools Committee, and the Policy and Rules Committee met to review items for consideration by the full Board at Thursday's meeting; heard staff reports, and discussed upcoming agenda items.  
• The Charter Schools Committee heard appeals from several school districts requesting that approvals of three Commission Charter Schools in their districts be overturned and from four charter petitioners whose petitions for Commission Charter status had been denied.
• A public hearing was held on proposed changes to two Rules related to state-funded subjects and courses and proposed modifications to eight Rules related to special education.  Two persons spoke on the special education rules modifications.
• A presentation on Georgia Performance Standards for Fine Arts and GPS for Health Education.
• A presentation related to pending legislation related to increasing class sizes.
• An update on the pending FY 10 Supplemental an FY 11 Education budgets.
• A presentation on a grant proposal that could fund work on the Longitudinal Data System.
• A presentation on a grant proposal for funding for School Improvement initiatives. 

Thursday, February 11

The State Board of Education met for its regular monthly meeting in Atlanta.

The inspiration was given by Board member Linda Zechmann who also led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board recognized students, teachers, and other educators for Excellence in Social Studies, Counseling and the Milken National Educator, Gregg Ott.

Action Items

The board:

Approved Georgia Performance Standards for dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts.

Approved Georgia Performance Standards for Health Education.

Authorized posting for review and public input for 60 days Georgia Performance Standards for eight revised CTAE science courses.

Authorized submission of Parts I and II of the Federal Consolidated Performance Report to USDOE.

Transferred administration of the Learn and Serve grant program to the GA Commission for Service and Volunteerism.

Approved the minutes of the January 14 meeting.

Contracts and Grants

The Board approved the following:

• School Nutrition ARRA Equipment Grants (Redistribution of Un-liquidated funds), amount and grant recipients TBA.
• Advanced Placement Teacher Training Grants, $394,800 total, to eligible districts, to train additional AP teachers.
• ExPRESS Program grants, $389,000 total, to local school districts for facilities use and transportation.
• Title I School Improvement Grants ($374,391 total) to three Fulton County Schools.
• Emergency Assistance for Homeless Youth Program grant, Douglas County, $12.000.
• Contract amendment, NCE Pearson, $64,962 total, for an additional administration fo the Science and Social Studies Georgia High School Graduation Tests for Project ExPRESS.
• Contracts with Georgia science and social studies teachers, $720,000 total, to provide instruction for the ExPRESS program.
• Contract, Construction Foundation of GA, $56,800, for industry certification for high school construction programs.
• Contract amendment, Columbus State University, $14,456.88, to develop the instructional framework for the online astronomy course and the preparation of summer workshops for teachers.
• Contract amendment, Reddy Law Firm, $20,000, for Hearing Officer services.
• Contract, Readers for Supplemental Educational Services and 21st Century Community Learning Centers applications.
• Contract, Atlanta Airport Marriott, $86,105 for the annual Title Programs Conference.
• Contract amendment, IBM/Cognos, amount TBA, to provide ARRA reports to Federal and State authorities.

Charter Schools

The Board:

• Awarded Implementation Grants ($200,000 each) to Sandy Springs Charter Middle School (Fulton), Sardis Enrichment School (Hall), and Smoke Rise Elementary (DeKalb).
• Waived letter of intent deadlines for two charter petitioners.
• Took no action to overrule Charter Commission decisions, thus confirming those decisions.

Rules

Waivers of State Board Rules were granted to requesting school districts in the following areas:

• Alternative Education Programs
• Scheduling for Instruction
• Class Size
• Direct Instruction
• Program for English Language Learners
• Guidance Counselor Requirements
• Instructional Extension Requirements
• Personnel Required

Items for Information

The Board:

Received the report from the Office of Student Achievement on erasures on CRCT answer sheets.

Upcoming charter schools planning grants and charter petitions.

Georgia Performance Standards for K-5 Modern Languages, Five-Day Model.

Upcoming contracts and grants.

Contracts approved by the Superintendent of $50,000 and under.

Proposed AYP amendments.

The next meeting of the State Board is scheduled for March 10-11.

This report is for information only and does not reflect official actions of the State Board of Education.