State Board of Education 1 Pennsylvania Education Policy
State Board of Education 1
Pennsylvania Education Policy Forum Western PA Breakfast Series Background on State Board authority, composition and membership n Update on current activities, policies and regulations n Research Projects and Studies n 2
State Board Membership/Structure n n n 21 voting members Nominated by Gov. /Confirmed by Senate 6 year staggered terms 4 Legislative members – chairs of Ed Com. State Board Chair selected by Governor Secretary of Education is Board CEO 3
State Board Meetings n n n Holds 2 -day meetings six times each year Jan. , March, May, July, Sept. & Nov. Meetings open to the public Public comment period Info on PDE web page 4
State Board Structure Work conducted through standing & special committees n Council of Basic Education n Council of Higher Education n State Board for Vocational Education n 5
Regulatory Agenda n n n Chapters 4, 11 & 12 - Prekindergarten Chapter 49 - Certification of Prof. Personnel Chapter 4 Academic Standards & Assessment Chapters 36, 40 & 42 Higher Education Chapters 14 & 16 Special Education & Gifted 6
Chapter 4 Academic Standards & Assessment n n Remove outdated transitional provisions Align regulations with State Unified Accountability Plan under NCLB Clarify intent of Board on selected issues Update/revise policies in select areas 7
Chapter 4 - Academic Standards & Assessment Issues Strategic Planning n State Assessment n World Language n Local Assessments & HS Graduation n HIV/AIDs Instruction n 8
Statewide Disparity 2004 H. S. Graduates 123, 473 Reading n Writing n Math n Number Percent Number Prof/Adv Not Prof Percent Gap 79, 850 91, 580 65, 910 35. 3% 25. 8% 46. 6% 64% 43, 623 73% 31, 893 53% 57, 563 9
Discrepancy Between Number of Graduates & PSSA Proficiency n # SDs with >60% n # SDs with 50 -59% n # SDs with 40 -49% n # SDs with 30 -39% n # SDs with 20 -29% n # SD with <20% n n Math 69 71 132 126 92 44 Reading 30 20 67 129 142 146 Numbers include Districts and Charter Schools with a graduating class 10
Chapter 49 Certification of Professional Personnel Proposed Revisions n Changes grade alignment of elementary, middle and special education certificates. n n n Early Childhood pre. K – 3 Elementary/middle 4– 8 Special Education dual certified 11
Chapter 49 Proposed Revisions n Focuses teacher preparation and on-going professional education activities on preparing all teachers to work with diverse learners: n Includes: Induction activities n Level I to Level II certificates n School District Professional Education activities n Act 48 credits n 12
Early Childhood Regulations n n Pre. K policies added to Chapters 4, 11, 12 & 49 Sets quality standards for prekindergarten programs n n n Teacher & teacher aide qualifications Staff : Student ratio Linkages with community programs 13
Chapters 31, 36, 40 & 42 Higher Education n Chapter 36 – Foreign Corporation Standards (out of state colleges/universities) Chapter 40 – Institutional Approval Chapter 42 – Program Approval 14
PAGE 1 n Pennsylvania Achievement Gap Initiative (PAGE 1) n n Raise visibility of PA’s Achievement Gaps Establish school models of success (Frontier Schools) 3 Year Initiative Now in year 3 15
Teacher Quality Study n n n n Follow up to 1998 Study Impact of reforms instituted in 1999/2000 Teacher preparation Teacher quality related to student achievement Teacher supply/demand Retention of teachers Impact of on-going professional education 16
Education Costing-Out Study n n n 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 Consider geographic, demographic, economic and factors Determine extra costs for students w/disabilities, English language learners & gifted students Final report due late 2007 17
Future Issues n n Chapter 14 & 16 Academic standards Gov. Commission on College & Career Success Gov. Commission on Preparing America’s Teachers 18
Questions & Discussion 19
Additional Information State Board of Education 717 -787 -3787 www. state. pa. us 00 statbd@psupen. psu. edu 20
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