What just happened and what’s next? Presenters: Steve Dibb, MDE Debra Landvik, MDE AYP 2011

The Delayed Release of AYP AYP was always slated to be released late because of the standard-setting process for the new math test for Grades 3-8. The state shutdown further delayed the release of AYP. Minnesota’s pending waiver made it uncertain what would be released and when.

It was our hope to avoid releasing AYP determinations and forcing schools and districts from advancing in the AYP stages of improvement. In mid-September it became clear that we would have to release AYP and submit a new waiver request through the process outlined by the President and the Secretary of Education. Why we released AYP?

What was released? The same AYP information we release every year. Schools and districts were measured against the statewide AYP targets and given the status “Making AYP” or “Not Making AYP.” Schools were assigned an “In Need of Improvement” Status based on this, and previous year’s AYP determinations.

What now for the School Year? MDE, districts and schools must continue to operate under the federal NCLB law. Title I schools identified for improvement must offer school choice and those in Stage 2 or later must offer SES. Title I schools and districts that didn’t make AYP must notify parents of their status and the actions the school and district are taking.

School Choice Schools identified for improvement need to send parent notification letters offering them school choice as soon as possible. Schools must then give parents a minimum 14 days to decide whether to take advantage of school choice. Districts can choose to move students immediately or at a natural break in the school year. Schools identified for improvement will have to set aside the equivalent up to of 20% of their Title I funds for transportation costs related to choice.

Supplemental Educational Services Schools in Stage 2 or later must offer SES to qualified students (low-income students). This funding is part of the mandated 20% set-aside. Schools offering choice and SES must set aside at least 5% for choice and SES the remaining can be used according to need.

SES Waiver Minnesota received a waiver related to SES that provide flexibility in two areas: 1. Schools in Stage 1 can now offer SES in addition to choice and count it toward their 20% set-aside. 2. Approved districts that have been identified for improvement can provide SES to schools in their district.

DINIs as SES Providers Over the summer, MDE accepted applications from Districts In Need of Improvement that wanted to be their own SES providers. A review of these applications was recently completed and determinations have been sent to districts. A second application window will be made available later in the year.

Parent Notification Any Title I school that did not make AYP must send a letter to every parent in the school explaining the school’s status. Any Title I district that did not make AYP must notify parents. This notification can be a notice in a district publication that goes to with every student’s home such as a district newsletter.

What would a waiver mean for this year’s school improvement activities? MDE hopes to submit an application for a waiver by November 14. Waivers will be granted early in It is possible that we could get the waiver in time to suspend AYP school improvement activities for this year and immediately transition to a new system. This is the best case scenario, so we must continue following federal laws pertaining to school accountability and plan on doing so for the rest of the year.

What’s next for AYP???

ESEA Flexibility Waiver On September 23, President Obama announced the process and criteria for receiving relief from NCLB mandates. This announcement did not directly address Minnesota’s waiver request from this past summer. MDE is now moving forward with a new waiver request that would give Minnesota greater flexibility to implement a new accountability system and either change or eliminate AYP.

The Waiver Request Process States must submit a waiver request to USDOE for review by November 14 for approval by early 2012, mid-February for approval by summer 2012 or on a rolling basis starting this spring. States must give a detailed explanation of how they will replace the NCLB accountability system by meeting four principles.

The Four Principles Demonstrate that the state has adopted college- and career- ready standards. Propose a state-developed differentiated recognition, accountability and support system. Support effective instruction and leadership through teacher and principal evaluation systems. Reduce duplication and unnecessary burdens for LEAs.

PRINCIPLE 1: College and Career Ready Standards Minnesota is already well-positioned because we have high standards. Our reading standards will be approved based on our participation in the Common Core. We are in the process of having our math standards certified by the U of M and MNSCU, which will fulfill this principle.

PRINCIPLE 2: Differentiated Recognition, Accountability and Support This requires us to set new Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) to replace the current AYP targets. It also requires us to identify schools in three groups: Priority, Focus and Reward. Interventions for Priority and Focus Schools must be aligned with the turnaround principles currently in place at SIG schools.

New AMOs States have three options for setting AMOs: 1. Stretch out the AYP timeline from 2014 to Reduce by half the non-proficiency of the all students group and all subgroups. 3. Create a new state-developed measurement.

Priority Schools Priority Schools are defined as the lowest- achieving 5% of Title I schools. The application requires us to propose a formula for finding this 5% and provide a list of Priority Schools based on data. Priority Schools must use intervention models aligned with the turnaround principles to improve student achievement.

Focus Schools Focus schools are the 10% of schools not identified as Priority Schools that have the biggest achievement gaps, the lowest performing subgroups or graduation rates below 60%. MDE will work with districts to determine appropriate interventions to close the achievement gap and improve graduation rates in these schools.

Reward Schools Reward Schools are schools that exhibit the highest rates of achievement or the highest rates of improvement over the course of the year. There is no set percentage of schools that must be identified as Reward Schools. States can offer Reward Schools greater flexibility or other benefits to be determined.

Other Title I Schools The waiver request must also describe how states will hold accountable and support Title I schools not identified as Priority, Focus or Reward. States must create a system that provides incentives and supports for these schools to show continuous improvement.

PRINCIPLE 3: Principal and Teacher Evaluations Minnesota is well-positioned to meet this requirement because of the legislation passed during the Special Session. The waiver request application requires states to implement the Evaluation systems by the school year.

PRINCIPLE 4: Reducing Duplication and Unnecessary Burdens This principle must be interwoven into all the proposals in the waiver request. States must show how the new accountability system will create fewer administrative headaches for districts than the current system.

Stakeholder Involvement To receive a waiver, states must show that they have engaged stakeholders and included their input in the request. These stakeholders must include but are not limited to: teachers, students, parents, community-based organization, civil rights organization, organizations representing students with disabilities and English learners, business organizations and Indian tribes.

What’s next? MDE is working to create a stakeholders committee to review proposals for the new accountability system. We are hoping to have several meetings this month and then complete the application by November 14, the first application deadline. We then hope to be granted the waiver in January 2012 so we can begin to implement the new system.

How you can be involved? MDE is developing a web page on its website to provide helpful information and update about the waiver request. The meeting dates and times for the Stakeholders Committee will be posted. The meetings will be open to the public. Commissioner Cassellius will be meeting with community groups over the next six weeks to solicit their input.

Questions Contact: Sam Kramer, Steve Dibb, Debra Landvik,