2:50pm-2:55pm
Presentation on school funding
Rep. Ross Hunter
Rep. Hunter began by thanking the SBE for approving CORE 24. He then went on to advocate for an accountability system. Not only do we need to give every student the chance to succeed, we need to hold schools accountable for that success. Rep. Hunter added that an accountability system goes hand-in-hand with a new funding model.
Short break before the big topic of the day
3:10pm-5:10pm
Draft Policy Framework for Accountability Concepts
Dr. Pete Bylsma, consultant to SBE
Andy Calkins, Mass Insight
Meghan O’Keefe, Mass Insight
Edie Harding
Dr. Bylsma ran through the Accountability Index again, as a refresher to the SBE.
Ms. Frank asked about differentiating between alternative and traditional schools in the struggling tier. Dr. Bylsma explained that alternative schools would not be held to a different standard, but were separated out for informational purposes.
Mr. Calkins waxed poetic about the purpose of school intervention and turnaround, and then Ms. O’Keefe went into some detail about the proposed intervention strategies (namely the Innovation Zone). For more detail on this, check out my previous post and read this SBE overview.
Now for discussion…
Dr. Fox is concerned about the “hammer” language still present in the proposal. She is doubtful of the need for the Innovation Zone, because of its heavy-handed language and cost. We haven’t gotten to the point of looking past heavy-handed interventions to offering support.
Ms. Lamb focused on the “reciprocal accountability” language in the Mass Insight proposal, saying the description is vague. She asked about tracking cohorts instead, to measure year-to-year growth. Ms. Lamb also wants to clarify the goals of any recognition system.
Mr. Liu said he hears “reciprocal accountability” to go beyond just students and teachers, but also includes community members, parents, businesses and non-profit organizations.
Mr. Dal Porto asked about the timeline for finalizing the accountability system.
On to public comment…
Martha Rose Laffey, WSSDA – concerns over local control in intervention process
- Wants control to remain with local school board, training for school board members, and school board involvement in peer review
- Questions over whether State can put elected officials in binding conditions
- Supports Option A before the Board
Mick Miller, Deer Park School District – encourages SBE to take time to talk to practioners; need to inform practioners in the State about CORE 24; concerns over timeline of accountability system
Charles Hoff, former school board member and superintendent – need to get more parents involved in their children’s education
Holly Williams, school board director, Evergreen Public Schools – release the spreadsheets, formulas and data so public can get a better understanding; if SBE proceeds with the Innovation Zone, make it available to all Priority schools and districts
Kay Brader, school board member, Prosser School District – accountability system must be easy to understand with clear roles for all involved parties
Kim Howard, Washington State PTA – need to be able to communicate to parents any accountability system; change Accountability Index to 1-5 scale, instead of 0-4; allow for fractional points to be awarded in Index
Mary Lindquist, WEA – latest proposal addresses many (but not all) of WEA’s concerns; good to have partnership between stakeholders in accountability system; must secure funding for these changes
Alan Spiciatti, Highline Public Schools – encourages use of multiple years of data in accountability system; need alignment between federal and state accountability systems; encourage internal accountability
Kathleen Anderson, school board member, Coupeville School District – layer new system on top of current system; need accountability to be part of funding system, not an add on
Larry Ehl, Partnership for Learning – interventions should not be opt-in
Lisa Macfarlane, LEV – need to reform and fund our schools; need to support schools in the creation of intervention proposals
