January 2015 State Board of Education Review

NCAE SBE Review: Instructional Policy Updates J A N U A R Y

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SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

Eric Davis of Charlotte was sworn in as an Atlarge State Board of Education member.

Approved Waivers from NC Final Exams

Evelyn Bulluck of Nash/ Rocky Mount is the NC School Boards Association Dingman Award winner and will be the newest SBE advisor for this school year.

The State Board has approved waivers from participating in the NC Final Exam process for

The following 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools were recognized:

Schools, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, Cherokee County Schools, Cornerstone Charter

Briarcliff Elementary in Wake, Caldwell Early College in Caldwell, Raleigh Charter High School in Wake, Shoals Elementary School in Surry, and West Elementary School in Cleveland.

the 2014-15 school year for the following LEAs and charter schools: Alexander County Schools, Alleghany County Schools, Ashe County Schools, Avery County Schools, Casa Esperanza Montessori, Caswell County Schools, Catawba County, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Academy, Currituck County Schools, Elkin City Schools, Graham County Schools, Guil-

ford Preparatory Academy, Henderson County Schools, Hickory City Schools, Hickory City and Piedmont Community Charter, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Jackson County Schools, Johnston County Schools, Macon County Schools, McDowell County Schools, Montgomery County Schools, Mooresville Graded School District, Mount Airy City Schools, Newton-Conover Schools, Pinnacle Classical Academy, Polk County Schools, Un-

ion County Schools, Randolph County Schools, Rutherford County Schools, Stanly Recognized Angie Sigmon of NewtonConover as the 2015 Milken Award winner.

County Schools, Stokes County Schools, Surry County Schools, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, Union Academy Charter, Vance Charter School, Watauga County Schools, Wilkes County Schools, and Yadkin County Schools.

AT&T President, Vanessa Harrison presented to the Board the 2015 Heritage Calendar.

Exemplary Alternative Education Programs Turning Point Day Treatment Center provided an overview of its program for students with very special issues.

The 10-Point Grading Scale will go into effect for all high school students beginning in the 2015-16 school year. The SBE decided, due to grassroots efforts, that a phase-in of the new grading system would create issues for students and teachers. The weighting of grades based on courses taken will be phased in over time. DPI noted that Power School will be able to create formulas to ensure success for this change.

NCAE SBE Review January 2015

NCAE SBE Review January 2015 PAGE

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Founding Principles Course The SBE approved the renaming of the Civics and Economics required course, to American History: The Founding Principles, Civics and Economics to reflect alignment to legislation requiring a semester course be taught covering he Founding Principles.

Currently in the NC Essential Standards, the founding principles are taught in grades 4, 5, 8, and high school US History. These principles are not taught in isolation.

NCDPI also recommends that Local Education Agencies use the many resources available on the NC DPI Social Studies Wiki as instructional resources to teach the Founding Principles, including the Bill of Rights Institute, Center for Civic Education, Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE), Kids Voting, Library of Congress, LEARN NC, National Humanities Center (NHC), NC Bar Association (NCBA) – Law-Related Education, NC Civic Education Consortium, Primary Source Documents Pertaining to Early American History, and We The People – National Endowment for the Humanities.

Other SBE Action 1.

2.

Approved the following reports: Implementa-

tion of the ABCs and Statewide Consolidated

County Schools, Cabarrus County

Assistance Program, Education of Children in

Schools, Jackson County Schools,

Private Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facil-

Charlotte Community Services Associa-

ities (PRTFs), Process for Assumption of Inad-

tion, and Citizen Schools; Mecklen-

equately Performing Charter Schools.

burg, Winston Salem/Forsyth County,

Approved the following policy changes regarding: Academic Achievement Standards (cut scores), Textbook policies, Driver Education policy revisions , NC Public School Personnel State Salary Manual revisions, Career and Technical Education credential allotment.

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NCAE SBE Review:

Northampton County Schools, McCloud's Computer & Skills Training Center, Inc., Communities In Schools of Wake County, Stokes County Schools, Mount Airy City Schools; Surry, Montgomery County Schools, Public Schools of Robeson, Youth Devel-

Approved the following 14 applications out of

opment Initiatives; Mecklenburg, Beau-

41 that applied for an After-school Program

fort County Schools, and McDowell

Quality Improvement Grant: Above and

County Schools. The total amount of

Beyond Students, Mecklenburg; Greene

the grant for these 17 programs is $4.8

Instructional Policy Updates

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Global Initiatives Impacting School Communities cludes the Global Language Endorsement, indi-

 Pathways for teachers, leaders and admin-

cating a high school graduate has attained literacy

istrators to achieve SBE-recognized badg-

North Carolina continues to move

in other languages and cultural knowledge of

ing;

forward in supporting students,

other countries for the workplace and post-

 Career-ready employer requirements;

teachers and schools to be globally

secondary studies in our interconnected economy and communities.

 Global school partnerships; and

aware. The following initiatives were approved by the SBE:

2. The process for designating a Global Ready

1. Revising the High School Diplo-

School. For a school or district to be designat-

ma Endorsement policy, where the

ed a Global-Ready school, the districts provide

student’s diploma provides recogni-

a process and incentives and addresses, at the

tion and indicates job-ready skills

least, the following:

and expanded college opportunities.

The additional endorsement in-

 K-12 world language opportunities for all students;

 Local school board resolutions and plans on global education.

3.

NC DPI has informative webinars coming up to assist educators in understanding the Global Education Digital Badge for Teachers. This page http://goo.gl/jYiH4x will direct interested educators to the webinars as well as the Implementation Guide.

Charter School News 1. Approved the charter schools

3.

Discussed necessary changes

that will open in 2015-16 : Char-

regarding the legislative virtual

lotte Lab School, Excelsior Classi-

charter pilot program and pro-

cal Academy, Ignite Innovation

posed charter changes.

Academy, KIPP Durham College

4.

For the first time, the SBE as a

Preparatory, Winterville Charter

whole interviewed charter

Academy PAVE: Southeast

school applicants. The normal

Raleigh Charter School, Piedmont

process is the Charter School

Classical High School, Queen City

Advisory Commission inter-

STEM School, Shining Rock Clas-

views applicants and brings rec-

sical Academy: CFA, VERITAS

ommendations forward. The

Community School, and

CSAC did interview the two

Youngsville Academy.

virtual charter applicants, but

2.

Discussed charter school grade

there were still issues and con-

and enrollment expansion, as

cerns. The SBE conducted

well as charter schools that are

interviews on Wednesday ask-

up for renewal next year.

ing questions of each applicant.

Some of the questions were not

NCAE SBE Review January 2015

really answered and the SBE still has concerns on the impact a virtual charter will have on North Carolina students. A SBE sub-committee will continue working on proposals and parameters to reflect on issues and concerns such as, how not to have “privileged student” virtual charters, learning coaches when the parents work away from home, socialization skills of K-3 students, and accountability issues. A pilot should help NC learn how to implement best practices without students suffering.

The SBE will discuss and vote in February on the virtual charter pilot.

The Teacher Evaluation policy/process needs revising to clarify teacher observation requirements and policy language to ensure alignment to statutory requirements. With the elimination of teachers being able to earn career status, and based on language in the current statute, proposed changes include adding experience along with career status (as there are teachers who have careers status).

The proposed policy revisions will help administrators discern what type of cycle a new teacher, veteran teacher and career status teacher might be placed. Teachers with fewer than three years of experience will continue to receive three formal observations, and a peer observation as outlined in the current statute. Teachers with more than three years of experience must be evaluated annually in accordance with one of the existing evaluation cycles, at the discretion of the local district. This proposed policy changed will be voted on in February.