By: Deborah White
The State Board of Education met on Wednesday, May 13th for the Committee of the Whole Meeting. As usual, committee meetings were held during the morning and the Committee of the Whole meeting began at 1:00 p.m.. During the Committee of the Whole meeting, the chairmen of the budget, charter, and rules committees recommended items to the board to be placed on the agenda for approval. All items placed on the consent agenda were approved at the regular State Board Meeting on Thursday, May 14th.
The Budget Committee reviewed and discussed seven contracts and/or grants proposed for action and numerous items for information to be considered for action in June. Budget items moved to the consent agenda included $1,500,000.00 in State funds to contracts with science and social studies teachers and to establish a Memoranda of Understanding with school districts for facilities, student transportation, and to purchase instructional materials/supplies to implement the ExPreSS Program. The ExPreSS Program will serve students from across Georgia. Teachers will be assigned to an ExPreSS host site to work with groups of 20 to 25 students. Teachers will provide instruction four hours per day for 10 days and three days will be scheduled for planning. Each teacher working in the ExPreSS program will receive a base salary of $4,000.00 for the 13 days of work plus a goal-based award $500.00 if 80% or more of their students are successful in passing the appropriate section (science or social studies) of the GHSGT. (Last night was the deadline to register and over 4,000 students have registered to participate in ExPreSS.)
Some of the other budget items moved to the consent agenda were:
- To contract with the University System of Georgia to evaluate the SES providers for the 2008-2009 school year
- To provide grants to Georgia educators who have fulfilled requirements for National Board Certification and are employed during the 2008-2009 school year by Georgia Public Schools in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 20-2-212.2
- To contract with Valdosta State University to host the Governor’s Honors Program
The Charter Schools Committee heard reports from staff, discussed charter renewals, potential charter petitions, and the performance audit. While the Charter Committee did not recommend any items to be moved to the consent agenda for action at the May meeting, Chairman Linda Zechmann stated that 138 charter petitions are pending. There are currently 113 approved charter schools.
The Rules Committee recommended seven items for the consent agenda. The Revised 2008-2009 Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education was approved. Three of the five AYP amendments submitted in January by GADOE to US ED were approved. The first approved amendment capitalizes on the federal flexibility regarding the proxy calculation for those schools that fail to make AYP solely on the basis of AMO performance for the Students with Disabilities (SWD) subgroup. Georgia received this same flexibility in the 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008. The second approved amendment will allow Georgia to include former SWD students as part of the SWD subgroup for up to two years after exiting formal services when determining AYP at schools that failed solely due to the SWD subgroup. The third approved amendment will allow Georgia to include summer retest scores on the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) in its annual AYP determinations. The two amendments not approved would have allowed students receiving special education diplomas to be counted in the graduation rate and SWD would not be placed in a subgroup unless they had received services for a specified period of time. The department plans to continue to request these two amendments and hopefully they will be included in the reauthorization of NCLB.
A Title 20 Waiver was approved to allow a school consisting of only fifth and sixth graders to receive middle school program funding. There was general discussion that it may be time to consider revisions to the middle school Rule 160-4-2-.05.
Waivers were granted to requesting systems impacted by the recent floods to excuse additional instructional days beyond the four emergency days specified in Rule 160-5-1-.01.
A long list of class size waivers was approved; however, the committee discussed at length the need for additional information concerning the impact on student achievement.
Three systems received waivers to allow students to take two Georgia Virtual School courses for credit units in one semester.
At the public hearing on Rule 160-4-2-.31 Hospital/Homebound Instruction, no one requested to address the board. Chairman Barrs stated that additional meetings were being scheduled to review the rule and solicit input. Several groups and individual submitted written comments on the new rule.
On Wednesday afternoon, Andrew Broy shared the Charter School Performance Audit and reviewed the actions to address findings listed in the audit. Superintendent Cox presented the 2009 Georgia High School Graduation Tests Results. The percentage of students passing increased in all subject areas: ELA 90%; Math 94%; Science 88%; and Social Studies 87%. The number of students scoring at the "honors" level increased and the number of students scoring in the "below proficiency" category declined.
On Thursday, following a lengthy executive session, the State Board Meeting began with Dr. Mary Sue Polleys, Representative for the Third Congressional District, giving the inspiration. She shared how serving on the State Board has been an inspiration for her and praised the other Board Members and Superintendent Cox for their work. She announced that she was resigning from the State Board to return to her first love, teaching part-time at Columbus State University. State law prohibits her serving in both positions. Dr. Polleys is a strong supporter of public education and has been an outstanding member of the State Board.
On Thursday, Charter Schools Rule 160-4-9-.04 was adopted. This rule has been carefully reviewed and reflects the laws passed during the 2007-2008 legislative session establishing the Georgia Charter Schools Commission (HB 881), HB 1277 to provide coverage for charter school employees in the State Health Benefit Plan, and HB 831 the Charter Capital Finance Act. Language was included in 160-4-9-.04(3)(e) to allow GaDOE to appoint one ex officio, nonvoting member to serve in an advisory capacity on the Charter Schools Commission.
Clara Keith, Deputy Superintendent Policy & External Affairs, reviewed legislation impacting education that passed during the 2009 General Assembly and the current status, signed by or vetoed by the Governor. Bills vetoed by the Governor are HB 100-Expands Student Scholarship Organization Program and SB 178-Omnibus Education Bill with four sections—Dual enrollment funding; Waiver of expenditure controls; Extends sunset date of capital outlay program, BRIDGE Bill.
Before adjourning, the board members recognized and thanked Phil Hulst, Director of Student Services for 22 years of service with the department and congratulated Phil on his upcoming retirement. We also congratulate Phil and wish him the very best in the future.
To view all agenda items click here.
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