1 State Board of Education

2 Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum Western PA Breakfast Series Background on State Board authority, composition and membership Background on State Board authority, composition and membership Update on current activities, policies and regulations Update on current activities, policies and regulations Research Projects and Studies Research Projects and Studies

3 State Board Membership/Structure 21 voting members 21 voting members Nominated by Gov./Confirmed by Senate Nominated by Gov./Confirmed by Senate 6 year staggered terms 6 year staggered terms 4 Legislative members – chairs of Ed Com. 4 Legislative members – chairs of Ed Com. State Board Chair selected by Governor State Board Chair selected by Governor Secretary of Education is Board CEO Secretary of Education is Board CEO

4 State Board Meetings Holds 2-day meetings six times each year Holds 2-day meetings six times each year Jan., March, May, July, Sept. & Nov. Jan., March, May, July, Sept. & Nov. Meetings open to the public Meetings open to the public Public comment period Public comment period Info on PDE web page Info on PDE web page

5 State Board Structure Work conducted through standing & Work conducted through standing & special committees Council of Basic Education Council of Basic Education Council of Higher Education Council of Higher Education State Board for Vocational Education State Board for Vocational Education

6 Regulatory Agenda Chapters 4, 11 & 12 - Prekindergarten Chapters 4, 11 & 12 - Prekindergarten Chapter 49 - Certification of Prof. Personnel Chapter 49 - Certification of Prof. Personnel Chapter 4 Academic Standards & Assessment Chapter 4 Academic Standards & Assessment Chapters 36, 40 & 42 Higher Education Chapters 36, 40 & 42 Higher Education Chapters 14 & 16 Special Education & Gifted Chapters 14 & 16 Special Education & Gifted

7 Chapter 4 Academic Standards & Assessment Remove outdated transitional provisions Remove outdated transitional provisions Align regulations with State Unified Accountability Plan under NCLB Align regulations with State Unified Accountability Plan under NCLB Clarify intent of Board on selected issues Clarify intent of Board on selected issues Update/revise policies in select areas Update/revise policies in select areas

8 Chapter 4 - Academic Standards & Assessment Issues Strategic Planning Strategic Planning State Assessment State Assessment World Language World Language Local Assessments & HS Graduation Local Assessments & HS Graduation HIV/AIDs Instruction HIV/AIDs Instruction

9 Statewide Disparity 2004 H.S. Graduates 123,473 Number Percent NumberPercent Prof/Adv Prof/Adv Not ProfGap Reading 79,850 64% 43, % Reading 79,850 64% 43, % Writing 91,580 73% 31, % Writing 91,580 73% 31, % Math65,910 53% 57, % Math65,910 53% 57, %

10 Discrepancy Between Number of Graduates & PSSA Proficiency Math Reading Math Reading # SDs with >60%6930 # SDs with >60%6930 # SDs with 50-59%7120 # SDs with 50-59%7120 # SDs with 40-49%13267 # SDs with 40-49%13267 # SDs with 30-39% # SDs with 30-39% # SDs with 20-29%92142 # SDs with 20-29%92142 # SD with <20%44146 # SD with <20%44146 Numbers include Districts and Charter Schools with a graduating class Numbers include Districts and Charter Schools with a graduating class

11 Chapter 49 Certification of Professional Personnel Proposed Revisions Changes grade alignment of elementary, middle and special education certificates. Changes grade alignment of elementary, middle and special education certificates. Early Childhood preK – 3 Early Childhood preK – 3 Elementary/middle4 – 8 Elementary/middle4 – 8 Special Education dual certified Special Education dual certified

12 Chapter 49 Proposed Revisions Focuses teacher preparation and on-going professional education activities on preparing all teachers to work with diverse learners: Focuses teacher preparation and on-going professional education activities on preparing all teachers to work with diverse learners: Includes: Includes: Induction activities Induction activities Level I to Level II certificates Level I to Level II certificates School District Professional Education activities School District Professional Education activities Act 48 credits Act 48 credits

13 Early Childhood Regulations PreK policies added to Chapters 4, 11, 12 & 49 PreK policies added to Chapters 4, 11, 12 & 49 Sets quality standards for prekindergarten programs Sets quality standards for prekindergarten programs Teacher & teacher aide qualifications Teacher & teacher aide qualifications Staff : Student ratio Staff : Student ratio Linkages with community programs Linkages with community programs

14 Chapters 31, 36, 40 & 42 Higher Education Chapter 36 – Foreign Corporation Standards (out of state colleges/universities) Chapter 36 – Foreign Corporation Standards (out of state colleges/universities) Chapter 40 – Institutional Approval Chapter 40 – Institutional Approval Chapter 42 – Program Approval Chapter 42 – Program Approval

15 PAGE 1 Pennsylvania Achievement Gap Initiative (PAGE1) Pennsylvania Achievement Gap Initiative (PAGE1) Raise visibility of PA’s Achievement Gaps Raise visibility of PA’s Achievement Gaps Establish school models of success (Frontier Schools) Establish school models of success (Frontier Schools) 3 Year Initiative 3 Year Initiative Now in year 3 Now in year 3

16 Teacher Quality Study Follow up to 1998 Study Follow up to 1998 Study Impact of reforms instituted in 1999/2000 Impact of reforms instituted in 1999/2000 Teacher preparation Teacher preparation Teacher quality related to student achievement Teacher quality related to student achievement Teacher supply/demand Teacher supply/demand Retention of teachers Retention of teachers Impact of on-going professional education Impact of on-going professional education

17 Education Costing-Out Study Act 114 of 2006 directed State Board to conduct study and report findings to General Assembly Act 114 of 2006 directed State Board to conduct study and report findings to General Assembly Determine the basic costs of educating a student to meet/exceed state academic standards Determine the basic costs of educating a student to meet/exceed state academic standards Consider geographic, demographic, economic and factors Consider geographic, demographic, economic and factors Determine extra costs for students w/disabilities, English language learners & gifted students Determine extra costs for students w/disabilities, English language learners & gifted students Final report due late 2007 Final report due late 2007

18 Future Issues Chapter 14 & 16 Chapter 14 & 16 Academic standards Academic standards Gov. Commission on College & Career Success Gov. Commission on College & Career Success Gov. Commission on Preparing America’s Teachers Gov. Commission on Preparing America’s Teachers

19 Questions & Discussion

20 Additional Information State Board of Education