Board Hears Updates on ACT Aspire, Grad Rate, Interventions and More

 

Public schools in Alabama may need to continue administering the ACT Aspire assessment during the 2017-18 school year, following an unsuccessful appeal to the U.S. Department of Education for an assessment waiver. State Superintendent Michael Sentance said during Thursday’s State Board of Education work session that conversations with the USDOE were “unsatisfactory,” and no relief was granted.

With a July 1 deadline looming, officials must determine whether to continue the ACT Aspire test for the coming school year or to implement an alternate assessment. “Time is not our friend,” Sentance said.

The announcement drew mixed reactions from board members. Dr. Cynthia McCarty (District 6) and Mary Scott Hunter (District 8) said school leaders in their districts believe it is too late to change course for next year, as developing another test and preparing teachers and students will take significant time and investment. Ella Bell (District 5) and Betty Peters (District 2) said they have no faith in the current assessment and do not support extending the contract an additional year. 

The board urged Sentance to make another appeal to the USDOE, potentially with the help of the state congressional delegation, to persuade federal officials that the waiver is specifically what was intended by the latest ESEA reauthorization promoting more local and state control over education. Sentance will present his recommendation during a special-called board meeting on June 21.

Graduation Rate Update

Sentance informed board members that a report from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is expected any day regarding findings that Alabama inflated its graduation rates. The OIG findings pointed to lack of department oversight regarding local school systems reporting of graduates and could result in a fine for the ALSDE.

Meanwhile, Deputy State Superintendent and Chief of Staff Dee Fowler reported that the investigation into how the ALSDE recently released inaccurate graduation rates is ongoing. Multiple errors in the process culminated in the faulty information being posted on the ALSDE website, much to the dismay of local school systems. Corrected graduation rates are expected to be made available in time for the next state board meeting. 

Virtual Schools Committee
AASB Executive Director Sally Smith reported that the Virtual Schools Committee held its preliminary meeting and still is in the fact-collection stage. Smith said she expects the committee to make short-term recommendations to help the ALSDE address real-time concerns, as well as long-term recommendations regarding the implementation of the virtual schools law, Act 2015-89. The committee has received its charge and now needs data from the first year of the law’s implementation.

Appointed by Sentance, the committee also includes David Smith, executive director of the Alabama Association of School Business Officials, and Dr. Aaron Milner, Saraland City Schools superintendent. Dr. Tony Thacker, assistant state superintendent, and Ethan Taylor, coordinator of LEA finance and budgets, are the ALSDE staff assigned to the committee.

State Intervention Updates
Also during Thursday’s work session, board members received status updates about state intervention in Selma City Schools and Montgomery Public Schools (MPS). The Selma board had requested to be released from intervention in June 2016, but during the transition to a new state school superintendent, no board action had been taken. The status update is a precursor for board action.

ALSDE staff provided an update about the initial phases of the MPS intervention. The board also reviewed local financial data regarding MPS operations and budget recommendations to shift priorities and produce cost savings. The financial report followed a resolution passed during Thursday’s state board meeting authorizing a hiring freeze for ALSDE and MPS until previously requested budgetary information was provided.

Alabama Ascending Update

Sentance updated the board on the status of Alabama Ascending, his proposed strategic plan currently being highlighted during listening tours throughout the state. Sentance said the input gathered from the tour will help shape a final draft which will be brought before the board for approval. Stephanie Bell (District 3) asked for more direct involvement by board members in the strategic plan building process. She also urged direct board involvement in the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. That federal plan would be based on the state’s strategic plan.

“I agree with you the ESSA should reflect the board,” Sentance said, encouraging all board members to reach out to him about any concerns or ideas. “This is the time; if you have problems you want to address, tell me and I will respond,” he said. August 1 is the deadline for the ALSDE to submit the state ESSA plan to Governor Kay Ivey.

New Federal Graduation Rate Guidelines

Assistant State Superintendent Shanthia Washington delivered a presentation on graduation rate changes under ESSA. Guidelines on counting students as graduates have changed, she said. Alabama now has an opportunity to count as graduates those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, who are assessed on alternate achievement and are eligible for a state alternate diploma. Alabama currently does not have an alternate diploma but has three pathways to one diploma which include: the Alternate Achievement Standards pathway; the Essentials pathway; and the General Education pathway. The new guidance would only affect students on the Alternate Achievement Standards pathway. Washington clarified that students currently on the Essentials pathway will not qualify because their coursework is not fully aligned to the state’s core academic standards.

The board was enthusiastic about taking advantage of the new guidelines and asked Washington to present a draft resolution to reinstate an alternate diploma at a future work session.

Next State Board Meeting and Work Session

The board will hold a special-called meeting in Montgomery on June 21 at 10 a.m., and a work session will immediately follow. The board’s next regular meeting will take place in Montgomery on July 11 at 10 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. work session.

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Fair or Foul: Copyright in Schools

AASB’s first 2017-18 webinar, Fair or Foul: Copyright in Schools, is set for July 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. From information on a school website to a social media post or even a school logo, participants will learn more about how to avoid common issues related to copyright and Fair Use Doctrine in schools. 

Worth 1.5 training hours, the webinar will feature Balch & Bingham LLP attorney Will Hill Tankersley, who has 30 years of experience and regularly represents two of Alabama’s public universities on intellectual property issues.

The webinar also will feature Marcus Chatterton, a Balch & Bingham LLP attorney experienced in intellectual property and social media. Chatterton co-chairs the Copyright and Social Media Subcommittees for the Intellectual Property Committee of the American Bar Association.

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Check Your Email for Membership Renewals

Membership dues renewal notices will be arriving to your inbox soon for AASB membership and Legal Assistance Fund membership. The invoice will be emailed to board CSFOs, with superintendents and board secretaries being copied on the email. Board attorney membership and board secretary membership dues notices are sent through eMembership.  

AASB members receive a wide variety of services, including training, legislative and legal information and support, publications, risk management services, fee-based services and financial services. Thank you for your continued support of the association. If you do not receive your renewal notice soon, contact AASB at 800/562/0601.

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Spending the Summer Crafting a Strategic Plan or Setting Goals? AASB Can Help!

AASB’s Strategic Planning service includes the right mix of board training, stakeholder involvement and guidance for your planning and action teams. Receive facilitator feedback throughout the process. Not ready to launch into planning? No problem. AASB offers whole board trainings in strategic planning, facilitated goal setting and data (at the basic and advanced levels).  

For details, contact training@alabamaschoolboards.org or call 800/562/0601.

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Membership Survey Results: Your Voice Counts!

Thanks to all of the AASB members who responded to our recent Membership Survey. Conducted every two years, this survey helps us to better understand our members’ needs and to improve the services we provide.

Among the 2017 AASB Membership Survey results:

SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY - More than 70% of respondents said they were very comfortable or moderately comfortable using social media.

EMAIL - Nearly 100% of respondents said email is their preferred source of AASB news and information.

TEXT MESSAGE ALERTS - Roughly 40% of respondents said automated text messages are a preferred source of AASB information. As a result of this finding, AASB will implement new text message communications during the upcoming year!

ADVOCACY - More than 50% of respondents said they had participated in advocacy activities that included communicating with their elected representatives during the legislative session.

WEBINARS - More than 80% of respondents listed “day of the week” or “time of day” as factors preventing them from participating in AASB webinars. As a result, AASB’s staff is exploring alternative days and times for webinars during the upcoming year!

VALUE - Nearly 80% of respondents said they derive exceptional or good value from AASB’s services, resources and programming.

If you’d like to receive the complete Membership Survey results, please email PR Director Dana Vandiver at dvandiver@alabamaschoolboards.org.

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It's A Date!

JUNE 16 (3.5 hours)
Early Bird Law Clinic
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