The Year of Education What the Administration and Congress have in store for education reform… Mary Kusler American Association of School Administrators April 22, 2010

A New Vision for Federal Education Policy A New Vision for Federal Education Policy Four Key Areas of Education Reform: 1.Achieving Equity in Teacher and Leader Distribution 2.Improving the Collection and Use of Data 3.Improving the Quality of Standards and Assessments 4.Improving Struggling Schools

Reauthorizing ESEA Obama administration has made it clear that this is a huge priority for this year. Released ESEA blueprint on March 13, Provided general outline and ideas but limited details. Both the House and Senate committees have been holding hearings. May even get bills this year but politics will complicate. Likely to be completed in 2011.

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The good stuff The Administration blue print eliminates five burrs under administrators saddles: 1.AYP - linear, mechanical calculation replaced by growth/progress 2.All or nothing accountability 3.The 100% proficiency mandate (so we think) 4.One snap shot test for a moment in time 5.Comparison of this years third grade with last years third grade

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The good stuff A clear, attainable, measurable goal – US will lead the world in percentage of college graduates by 2020 Mandate to improve standards – Common core or higher ed approved – internationally bench marked, clear learning progressions from K through 12 Mandate to improve assessments – aligned to standards and more accurate and individualized More accurate & differentiated accountability – not high stakes on one group of students.

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The good stuff Rewards as well as punishment – Top 10% get flexibility and recognition Focus on improving teaching and leadership- Focus on teacher and leader preparation and development - transitions from qualifications to effectiveness Greater focus on total child – Gathering and reporting school climate and other curriculum information, more than reading and math

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The bad stuff The shift to competitive grants away from formula grants- The administration’s budget proposal puts ALL of the new money in competitive grants. The federal role is enlarged, many requirements: new and old – This is very prescriptive even though the text says the intent is to be loose on means and tight on goals. The heavy hand of the feds trying to grab the progress of NGA and CCSSO on common standards – Coercion to adopt the common core will inevitably lead to federal control.

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The bad stuff Continuing to use discredited tests and accountability calculations – President Obama and Secretary Duncan have blasted the current crop of state tests but the tests will be used to evaluate teachers and schools until new assessments are available. School improvement models for bottom 5% are not based on scientific evidence or predictable success in practice – But the schools in the reward category and the next two challenge categories are to use “scientifically based” interventions.

The Administration’s Blueprint The Administration’s Blueprint The bad stuff The new data system is a huge unfunded mandate for districts - On the other hand the administration proposes new state grants and state authority to take funds meant for districts to pay for state data end of new data system. Completely unclear about how to force an equitable distribution of effective teachers and principals – Does not take into account the free will of teachers to teach where they want to.

Obama Budget Proposal President Obama proposed his FY 2011 (2011 – 2012 school year) budget on February 1 st. Education to receive historic increases despite tight funding times. Budget proposal calls for a massive restructuring of ESEA reauthorization. Despite overall increases: – Title I was level funded – IDEA received a $250 million increase, remaining at 17% instead of the promised 40%

Obama Budget Proposal Most new education dollars would flow competitive. – 65% increase in the amount of discretionary dollars to competitive grants. AASA has a position in favor of formula grants. U.S. Department of Education 2010

Reauthorization of ESEA Proposal Title I now called “Accelerating Achievement and Ensuring Equity” – Grants to LEAs renamed “College and Career Ready Students” States will have to adopt more rigorous CCR standards: not sure relationship to Common Core. Broader measure of student performance towards CCR standards and closing the achievement gap. – Will focus on identifying success and struggling schools.

Increased Congressional support for common core (not national) standards. – CCSSO and NGA have joined together with 48 states and territories to develop them. – States may choose to include additional standards beyond the common core as long as the common core represents at least 85 percent of the state’s standards in English language arts and mathematics. – Draft standards were released in March and open for comment until April 2 nd. Certain competitive grants will give priority to Common Core states. Common Core Standards

Title I Funding Equity There will be a formula fight within ESEA reauthorization. Title I allocations are made up of four formulas: – Basic Grant, Concentration Grant, Targeted Grant, Education Finance Incentive Grant Idea is to focus on concentrations of poverty – Current law uses numbers or percentages Since NCLB, all new money in Title I has been split between the Targeted Grant and the Education Finance Incentive Grant. Focus on percentages of poverty for equity

Serving Schools Most in Need School Turnaround Grants will be targeted to bottom 5% performing schools in each states. – Schools will have to choose one of four possible interventions. Turnaround – fire principal and 50% of staff, institute a new curriculum Restart – close school and restart as a charter or under an educational management organization School Closure – close school and send students to other schools Transformation – fire principal, grant new budgeting and scheduling flexibility, new curriculum, intensive professional development, community schools model – A fifth “research based” option will be available to some – Districts will have to build capacity and put in place the expertise for school improvement

Focusing on Teachers and Leaders Cuts Title II, Part A formula by $450 million. All states would be required to develop a definition of effective teachers and principals. Will require all states to link evaluations of teachers and principals to student achievement. Sets up a federal evaluation criteria: At least 3 performance levels Uses highly effective definitions Meaningful feedback to improve performance and inform Prof Dev Developed in collaboration with stakeholders

Focusing on Teachers and Leaders Would move all federal teacher training into ESEA and focus on preparation programs. Creates multiple new competitive funding grants focusing on teachers. – Teacher and Leader Innovation Fund – Teacher and Leader Pathways – Effective Teaching and Learning: Literacy – Effective Teaching and Learning: STEM – Effective Teaching and Learning for a Well Rounded Education

Creating a Better School Climate Successful, Safe and Healthy Students – Competitive grant program to improve school climate by reducing drug use, violence or harassment – Focus on student physical health and nutrition, mental health and well being – Extensive school climate survey required $210 million proposed for Promise Neighborhoods – Based on Harlem Children’s Zone: comprehensive services to meet needs of the total child

States submitted “plans for reform” that – were comprehensive, coherent, integrating – Incorporated all four assurances under the SFSF – May not have any legal, statutory or regulations prohibiting the linking of student achievement data to teacher or principal evaluations. Delaware Tennessee Delaware and Tennessee won the first round! – Phase One Applications were due January 19, – 40 including DC applied. – 15 States and the District of Columbia made it through the first round. – All elements are now supposed to be made public. Phase Two Applications Due June 1, (Awards announced September 2010.) Race to the Top: And the Winners Are…

March Madness: The Sweet 16

Next Steps: Time for You to Get Involved ESEA Reauthorization is on the move. Make sure you help educate. – Federal Program Administrators have a unique expertise when it come to the ins and outs of educating children. The timeline for action will be quick, even if they don’t complete it this year. Need to weigh in early and often. ESEA Reauthorization will be high stakes impacting all education “reform” going forward. Take the time to educate your senators and representatives of the good work being done using federal formula dollars.

Any questions? American Association of School Administrators Mary Kusler Assistant Director, Advocacy & Policy American Association of School Administrators 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 700 Arlington, VA (703)