8:15am-8:20am
Update on Process for Appointment of Current Board Vacancy – Warren Smith, SBE
Application will be posted online. Applications due August 19th. Committee will then conduct interviews of applicants. New appointee announced by September 3rd.
Applications for two seats up for reelection are also due in August.
8:20am-8:25am
Nominations to Executive Committee – Amy Bragdon
Steve Dal Porto, Jack Schuster and Bob Hughes are under consideration.
8:25am-9:15am
Federal Stimulus Package and Other Federal Grant Updates – Judy Hartmann
Washington’s application for stabilization dollars was approved. One of the allowable uses is to backfill education expenditures, which Washington used some of the funds to do. In doing this, the state freed up state dollars to support education reform programs that fit into the four priority areas. Shout out to OSPI for helping with the application and getting things moving quickly.
Race to the Top Funds: U.S. Department of Education will award 10 to 15 grants to states with proposals that address all four areas and build upon current programs/efforts (so they can serve as a model). Governor’s office is looking at two buckets, 1) things we’re already doing, and 2) foundations upon which we can build. Examples the governor’s office is looking to highlight: teacher evaluation; assisting low-performing schools/accountability; and performance pay.
Secretary Duncan is very interested in charter schools. Looking under the term charter, it’s about innovation and creativity, which we do address in other ways in the state. Governor’s office working with OSPI to highlight the things we’re doing in Washington.
>>Warren Smith asked if school boards were addressed in these charter discussions, and Ms. Hartmann said no. Phyllis Bunker Frank asked about the research around charter schools, and Ms. Hartmann said Secretary Duncan acknowledges that being a charter school doesn’t automatically make a school great. Amy Bragdon asked if there were schools already in Washington that are examples of charter-type schools without the label, Ms. Hartmann said yes [Aviation High School, TAF Academy and Delta High School come to mind].<<
Other ideas under consideration: STEM, instructional quality, leadership quality, “achievement gap issues.” Expect draft regulations by the end of the month, and final regulations by October 1st. Deadline for applications would be December 1st. The USDE is not expecting many states to be ready. Second wave of applications would be due in June 2010.
>>Kris Mayer asked about evaluating the efforts, and whether a third party would be brought into assist. Ms. Hartmann said evaluation is very important, and data will be collected on all points. Dr. Mayer also asked how bold the governor is willing to be. Ms. Hartmann said the governor is serious about this, and wants to do something that isn’t just a “flash in the pan,” and want to do things that are meaningful.
>>Jeff Vincent asked about core standards and working with other states. Ms. Hartmann said Supt. Dorn is working with the consortium on common standards. Mr. Vincent also asked about Washington’s competitive edge on getting a Race to the Top grant. Ms. Hartmann said our competitive edge is the pace at which we are moving.
>>Mr. Smith asked about areas related to teachers. Ms. Hartmann said some of the work of the Professional Educator Standards Board applies. And one thing we might do is link professional development dollars with individual needs of districts.
>>Austianna Quick asked how any grant dollars may trickle down to schools. Ms. Hartmann said that at least 50 percent of awarded resources would go to participating schools and districts. Ms. Quick asked how schools and districts would be selected. Ms. Hartmann said a lot of it relies on districts and schools wanting to participate.
>>Ms. Frank asked if Washington’s rankings in certain areas (NAEP, TIMMS, etc) will affect our application, perhaps negatively as we often fall in the middle. Ms. Hartmann said not necessarily.
>>Mr. Vincent asked if the SBE’s accountability work could be used as focal point of a proposal. Ms. Hartmann said “yes, that idea is very much out there,” and relies greatly on where the SBE is in December.
>>Mary Jean Ryan made the point that even if the SBE has an accountability framework ready to go in December, the Legislature still needs to approve it, so isn’t June 2010 more likely. Ms. Hartmann said possibly, but the governor’s office isn’t giving up on the December 1st deadline.
>>Sheila Fox asked if Washington’s limited intervention authority (and perceived weakness) will hurt our application. Ms. Hartmann didn’t really answer the question.<<
9:15am-9:30am
Implementation of ESHB 2261 Education Reform Bill – Mary Jean Ryan, Edie Harding
There isn’t much to report as most of the groups working on the next steps haven’t come together yet.
Judy Hartmann volunteered that the House has appointed its members of the Quality Education Council, the Senate has not. Nominations are coming in for the Funding Formula Work Group. Ms. Hartmann also said these things “take time,” which was countered by Jeff Vincent’s sense of urgency.
