Current Education Legislation Update RTTT and Michigan

RTTT and Michigan Legislation What the heck happened? Why the rush? Recession - Major economic downturn in 2008 – present Standardized test scores comparing our students with the rest of the world have fallen significantly Yikes!

NCES International Comparisons Mean Scores in Mathematics – we placed in the 400s 15 year olds in the United States tested Reading – middle third Mathematics – bottom quarter Science – bottom third National Center for Education Statistics – reported in 2009 from 2006. Mistake from the Reading so they report scores from 2000-2003 – but we know from more current research that Reading scores are down across the United States in all demographics.

How do we turn this around? Education Among other things. . .

Role of Government Local Values Hiring/Firing Purchases Community Responsiveness The Daily Details Fewer dollars – fiscal manager State Content Standards Standardize Professional Development Data Collection (SLDS) Support for Struggling Schools BIG MONEY Federal Ensuring Equal Access to a free and appropriate education Innovation and Influence NCLB Competition – RTTT Fewer dollars 5

So here’s what happened: States hold the legal responsibility to educate our country’s citizens Therefore, in order for the federal government to have some influence and spur education innovation – they came up with Race to the Top State’s would compete for money by instituting change and reform through legislation

RTTT: What were the goals of the Federal Government? Adopting internationally benchmarked standards and assessments that prepare students for success in college and the workplace; Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals; Building data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices; and Turning around our lowest- performing schools

Michigan’s Response: Accelerate Michigan Stunning in its ambitions! Legislation signed into law on January 4th, 2010.

Standards and Assessments Common Core College and Career Readiness Standards and Common Core K-12 Standards in ELA and Math – a.k.a Common Core Standards (CCS) – adopted June 15, 2010 Common Summative Assessments in ELA and Math Support for Implementation Professional Development

Data Systems Implement two Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems – SLDS Track students Access for all

Effective Teachers and Leaders Alternative Certification (currently being challenged) Teacher and Administrator Evaluation Based on data of student growth Classroom observations Portfolio assessments Student work samples Other determined by district

Effective Teachers and Leaders Continued: Three-tier Certification and Licensure System Equitable Distribution of Teachers and Leaders Evaluation of Teacher Prep Programs Teacher evaluation system (state law MCL 380.1249) requires that the school board must adopt rigorous, transparent, and fair performance evaluation systems. They will be working with unions on this count.

LEAs can use data to inform decision-making: Professional Development Compensation, promotion and retention Tenure and full certification Removal – only after opportunities to improve

Support for Struggling Schools and Districts Identification –lowest achieving 5% Intervention State Reform/Redesign Officer Intervention includes one of the four RTTT models: turnaround, restart, closure or transformation.

But, we didn’t win…

Nonetheless… "It would have been helpful to get a Race to the Top grant, but we have a lot of work to do here to implement our new reform laws and we are moving forward." Superintendent Flanagan July 27, 2010

What does this mean for us? BIG CHANGES

But, nothing we can’t handle...we must Stay engaged and informed so that we can remain part of the discussion – knowledge is power Be patient and have fortitude Trust that we are capable and competent professional educators Not forget why we are here in the first place

We have a vision of a brighter future for all We can keep our flame burning bright.

Sources www.2ed.gov www.michigan.gov/mde www.corestandards.org www.nces.ed.gov