Thursday, January 31, 2008

National School Counseling Week Resolution Passed

On Jan. 23, the House of Representatives passed a National School Counseling Week Resolution sponsored by Reps. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.). And, on Jan. 29, the Senate passed a National School Counseling Week Resolution, sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). This marks the first time both houses of Congress have passed the resolutions in advance of National School Counseling Week.

We consider this a most auspicious start to National School Counseling Week. Thanks for all the work you do for students and the profession.

 

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Rep. Gordon Calls for Candidates to Debate Science and Technology

Rep. Gordon Calls for Candidates to Debate Science and Technology: On Jan. 16, House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) joined congressional, educational and business leaders in their call for a presidential candidate debate on the future of science and technology. Such a debate would focus on the environment, health issues, and science and technology policy, specifically as it pertains to U.S. competitiveness internationally. Having strongly supported the America COMPETES Act, Gordon has called for these issues of competitiveness in science and technology to become a major focal point for public debate. "We have to compete at a higher level with a better-equipped and skilled workforce than that of our global counterparts, and we do that by focusing on science, education and innovation," Gordon said. For more information on the debate of science and technology, visit: http://www.sciencedebate2008.com/www/index.php.

ED Awards School Improvement Grants to 20 Additional States

ED Awards School Improvement Grants to 20 Additional States: Last week, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced 20 new recipients of the States in School Improvement Grants. These grants help turn around low-performing schools, and to date, the department has awarded more than $90 million in 41 states. The grants will help states take a greater role in developing and delivering comprehensive leadership and technical assistance to help reform schools and districts that are not making adequate yearly progress. The Department of Education will award a total of $125 million in School Improvement Grants this year. The allocation of funds is based on the Title I allocation for each state. The 20 states to receive awards include: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Additional information can be found at http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/stateletters/schimpfundappl.pdf.

Budget and Appropriations

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Capitol Hill is slowly coming back to life after the extended holiday recess. Members of the House of Representative returned to town on Tuesday, and the Senate returns this week. Two topics dominated conversation this week: the upcoming primary races in Nevada and South Carolina and the economy.

In a rare show of bi-partisan unity, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), joined by other members of the House leadership, met repeatedly last week and held a joint press conference to announce plans to develop an economic stimulus package that could be supported by the president and the majority of Democratic and Republican legislators.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sounded a bit less conciliatory about bi-partisan economics at first, but by week's end it appeared that a consensus bill that spends between $75 and $120 billion could move smooth as butter through Congress in the next two weeks. In the words of several Democratic spokespersons, the bill would be "timely, targeted and temporary." President Bush substituted "simple" for "targeted," perhaps because his plan builds around sending checks to all taxpayers rather than saving benefits for those who are low-income or unemployed. There is agreement that whatever action Congress takes must get immediate results (a quick cash benefit that will be spent and not saved) and will not require permanent changes to the tax code or entitlement programs. Talk of an economic stimulus bill is the first of many conversations about fiscal policy that are sure to dominate the legislative landscape for the next nine months. On Jan. 28, the president will give his State of the Union Address, followed quickly by his budget proposal for FY 2009, which will be unveiled on Feb. 4.

Though specific details are not yet available, education advocates anticipate an austere spending plan for the Department of Education with many familiar program freezes, cuts and eliminations in place. What does seem clear is that the Democratic leadership is chastened by last year's tumultuous debate on the budget and will likely set less ambitious spending goals, focusing instead on the need for a stronger Democratic majority in Congress and leadership in the White House if the domestic budget is to grow.

 

House Introduces National School Counseling Week Resolution

The House of Representatives has introduced H Res 932, expressing support for National School Counseling Week, Feb. 4-8, 2008. With a record number of representatives signing on as co-sponsors, this year marks the first time the House has introduced a National School Counseling Week Resolution. Read the bill:

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/HRes932.pdf

 

Friday, January 11, 2008

National Certification: Legislative update for FSCA members

Legislative update for FSCA members

January 11, 2007

 

Thank you to all FSCA members and colleagues who took the time to contact the Senators on the Education Appropriations committee this week.  As a result of your efforts and FSCA’s collaboration with other advocacy groups like FEA and ASCA, the funding of NBCT incentives seems safe for the time-being. 

 

News reports after the meeting are favorable and our advocates in Tallahassee were present at the meeting to monitor and report the outcome.  It appears the lobbying efforts were successful and the committee is well aware of the good things NBCTs are doing in Florida schools.


The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --
A program that pays teachers bonuses for obtaining national board certification is safe from the budget ax even though the state is facing a tight fiscal year, the chairman of a Senate appropriations committee said Thursday.

Questions had been raised about the program's value after a Florida State University study found no correlation between board certification and student achievement.

Senate Prekindergarten-12th Grade Education Appropriations Chairman Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, said there are no plans to cut the program after the panel heard a presentation on it.

Wise said he put the issue on the agenda simply to provide committee members with information because they had been unfamiliar with the program.

Board certified teachers receive a bonus of 1 0 percent of average statewide teacher pay and can earn another 10 percent by mentoring other teachers on their own time.

As of December, 10,908 Florida teachers were board certified. The program is expected to cost the state $110 million in the next budget year, which begins July 1.

Certification comes from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a nonprofit agency that reviews teacher-submitted portfolios of instruction methods and then tests them on their subject-area knowledge. The process can take up to three years and certification is good for 10 years.

 

If you would like to become more involved in advocacy & public policy issues as they impact school counseling in Florida, please contact LeAnn Pollard leannjax@yahoo.com

 

 

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Florida and National Certified Counselors

Florida School Counselor Association acknowledges ASCA Intern Andrew Woodward for his work in compiling this data for the FSCA legislative committee.

 

Florida Stats

·       Florida ranked first nationwide in the number of new National Board Certified Teachers® (NBCTs) and ranks second in the total number of educators who achieved certification over time (10,875)

·       FL shows 11% increase in number of educators who achieved certification in 07

·       NBCTs make up 7% of FL teaching force (this includes School Counselors and Media Specialists)

·  32% teach in Title I Schools

·       Broward County is the largest school district in the nation in the cumulative total of NBCTs (1,283).

·        Eleven Florida school districts ranked among the nation’s top 20 in terms of the number of educators who achieved National Board Certification in 2007 – Broward County-1st (302); Miami-Dade County-3rd (192); Hillsborough County-6th (131); Orange County-7th (95); Brevard County-8th (91); Duval County-9th (88); Palm Beach County-12th (72); Pinellas County-13th (65); Polk County-17th (45); Volusia County-17th (tie) (45); Seminole County-19th (43).

 

Research

 

The effects of NBPTS-Certified Teachers on Student Achievement -  Harris, D.N. and Sass, T.R.,  Florida State University (January, 2007)

 

This study considers the effectiveness of certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS). Researchers first studied its effects on student achievement and then analyzed the potential spillover of National Board Certified Teacher® (NBCT) mentoring. Using a large data set of Florida teachers and students over a four-year span, researchers investigated the relationship between National Board Certification® and the impact of teachers on student test scores from both low-stakes and high-stakes exams.

 

Results from this study suggest that the answer depends largely on the achievement test used to measure student performance. In some cases National Board Certification "provides a positive signal of teacher productivity;" however, these effects were not consistent across subjects and grades. The study also found that teachers who achieve National Board Certification at some point during their careers boost student achievement in reading significantly more than their non-NBCT counterparts. Positive spillover of NBCT mentoring was found in student achievement scores in both reading and math, using the norm-referenced student performance measure but not found using the criterion-based performance measure.

 

More math NBCTs helped their students achieve greater testing gains in 9th and 10th grades than their non-certified colleagues- demonstrating particular benefits among special needs students and African-American and Hispanic students., L. Cavalluzzo, CNA Corporation. (November, 2004)

 

A new study, conducted by The CNA Corporation (CNAC), a non-profit research and analysis institution, found that National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT's) did a better job than other teachers of raising ninth and 10th graders' year-end math test scores in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The research, which systematically accounted for other factors that could have led to higher scores, found that all else being equal — student characteristics, school environment and teacher preparation — National Board Certified math teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools helped their students achieve larger testing gains than did colleagues who had not earned the certification. The study of more than 100,000 student records found that NBCTs were particularly effective with students who have special needs, and also provides some evidence that underserved minority students may receive extra benefits.

 

In this study, NBC proved to be an effective signal of teacher quality. Indeed, seven of nine indicators of teacher quality that were included in the analyses resulted in appropriately signed and statistically significant evidence of their influence on student outcomes. Among those indicators, having an in-subject-area teacher, NBC and regular state certification in high school mathematics had the greatest effects. These findings suggest that school systems that wish to target pay increases to teachers of the highest quality can use NBC for this purpose. Such a strategy will benefit students in the long term if NBC has the desired effect of attracting better candidates into teaching through incentives that are targeted to top performers or by and raising the professionalism and prestige associated with teaching. To increase student outcomes in the nearer term, the challenge for school systems will be to implement professional development programs or strategies that change practices so more teachers will adopt methods used by those who have already earned a NBC

 

The effect of National Board Certified Teachers on average student achievement in North Carolina schools - Bundy, University of North Carolina (Spring, 2006)

 

North Carolina is home to the largest concentration of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in the country. This is in part due to the generous incentive program offered to those successful in gaining National Board Certification. In 2005, the state invested over $40 million in salary supplements for North Carolina NBCTs. This study seeks to determine if NBCTs presence in schools has a direct effect on student performance and/or an indirect effect on student performance mediated by working conditions of teacher empowerment, leadership and professional development. The statistical analysis reveals when student demographic variables are controlled, schools with a larger proportion of NBCTs demonstrate moderately higher test scores. Additionally, a larger proportion of NBCTs coincides with a small increase in teacher empowerment, but these gains are unrelated to the improvement in student test scores. The results indicate North Carolina is receiving benefits from investing in National Board Certification.

Student Achievement and Performance - O’Sullivan, R., Hudson, M., Orsini, M., Arter, J., Stiggins, R., Iovacchini, L., University of North Carolina - (June, 2005).

Results of this study showed that National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) were more proficient at classroom assessment than their non-NBCT counterparts. This result was supported by all measures used in the study, including evaluation of actual classroom assessments and responses by teachers on the survey and interview. Results did not always show statistically significant differences, but when differences did occur, they always favored the NBCTs.

 

Saturday, January 05, 2008

FSCA Legislative Alert - Urgent



 

Legislative Alert

Contact Your Representatives Today!

 

School counselors and teachers are in danger of losing funding for counseling and teaching excellence in the state of Florida .  The committee that controls the incentive funding for educators who have NBCT certification meets on Thursday, January 10th and is looking to cut the funding for the incentives.  Florida could lose its excellent counselors and teachers; at the very least, promises made to those who have invested in this certification may lose the significant financial incentive that they were promised (between $35,000 and $60,000 over a ten year period). 

 

The question on the table for Florida legislators is, ?How does having an NBCT teacher or counselor improve student achievement in Florida?s schools??  Florida educators are the only ones who can provide the data and the student success stories these senators need to hear to answer this important question.

 

Florida School Counselor Association is working behind the scenes with the NBPTS, the American School Counselor Association, and other potential organizations.

 

How can you help?

 

Take a stand against going backwards for teachers and counselors. Take a stand for rewarding and recognizing excellence among educators. Take a stand for improving recognition for ourselves and our colleagues. 

 

Email, fax, or write to each of the legislators on the committee (and your own legislator) to ensure that incentive and recognition programs are not cut from the budget.  If you are an NBCT school counselor, tell your story of student success and school improvement. Enlist others to make contacts by forwarding this email to all of your colleagues. The time to act is NOW, before the January 10th meeting takes place without our voices being heard. A general template letter you can use is included below.

 

NOTE: Please use your personal/home email or personal telephone to contact these senators who serve on the Education Appropriations committee of the Florida Senate:

 

Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 10th

 

AGENDA

 

Education Pre-K - 12 Appropriations [FPCC]:

9:00 a.m.?12:00 noon, Pat Thomas Committee Room, 412 Knott

Building:

(MEMBERS: Senator Wise, Chair; Senator Siplin , Vice Chair;

Senators Bullard, Constantine, Dockery, and Garcia)

OPPAGA Gifted Education Study

Overview of Clarke School for the Deaf

National Teacher Certification and the Excellent Teaching Program

 

 


Legislative Links

State


 

Chair: Senator Stephen R. Wise (R), wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov 

1460 Cassat Avenue
Suite B

Jacksonville, FL, 32205, (904) 381-6000

 

Tallahassee Office:
Room 220
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1100
(850) 487-5027

 

-----------------

 

Vice Chair: Senator Gary Siplin (D) , siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov

1436 North Pine Hills Road
Orlando, FL 32808

(407) 297-2071,

 

OR Room 205, Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street 

Tallahassee, FL, 32399-1100

 

-----------------

 

Senator Larcenia J. Bullard (D) , bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov

8603 S. Dixie Highway
Suite 304

Miami, FL 33143, (305) 668-7344

 

OR Tallahassee Office: Room 218, Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL  32399-1100

 

-----------------

 

Senator Lee Constantine (R) constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov  

District Office: 378 Centerpointe Circle, Suite 1268

Altamonte Springs, FL 32701-3442

(407) 331-9675  

 

OR Tallahassee Office:
Room 413 Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL, 32399-1100

(850) 487-5050

 

-----------------

 

Senator Paula Dockery (R) dockery.paula.web@flsenate.gov

District Office: P.O. Drawer 2395
Lakeland , FL 33806-2395

(863) 413-2900

 

OR Tallahassee Office: Room 314, Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee , FL , 32399-1100

(850) 487-5040

 

-----------------

 

Senator Rudy Garcia (R) ,   garcia.rudy.web@flsenate.gov

District Office: 7475 West Fourth Ave.
Hialeah, FL, 33014-4327

(305) 364-3191

 

OR Tallahassee Office: Room 416, Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL, 32399-1100

(850) 487-5106

 


Sample email letter for Legislators
(feel free to edit or add your own comments)

 

 

To the Honorable Senator Stephen Wise:

 

On January 10 you are going to be meeting to discuss the National Teacher Certification and the Excellent Teaching Program that recognizes and rewards teaching and school counseling excellence in Florida. I urge that you vote to continue this program and its funding to ensure continued excellence among Florida's educators, to support incentives for educators to engage in professional development and practice to the highest professional standards, and to continue the benefits to Florida's students that having one of the largest cadre of excellent teachers and counselors provide. 

 

Cutting or reducing this program is a step backwards for students, educators and the state of Florida. The presence of NBCT teachers and school counselors in Florida?s schools guarantees on-site mentoring for out-of-field and first-year teachers; a practice that improves teacher retention and quality of instruction.  NBCT teachers and school counselors have invested hundreds of hours building their pedagogical skills and knowledge of student needs and demonstrating excellent teaching practices to obtain the certification.  These excellent educators who provide mentoring, professional development, and leadership in their schools deserve to be rewarded.

 

Please consider this on January 10th and vote to retain the Excellent Teaching Program which compensates the NBCT educators of Florida's schools. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Name

Address

City

 

 


FSCA's Vision
The Florida School Counselor Association (FSCA) expands the image and influence of professional school counselors through advocacy, leadership, collaboration and systemic change at the state level. FSCA empowers professional school counselors with the knowledge, skills, linkages, and resources to promote student success in the school, the home, the community, and the world.


 

To sponsor a FSCA bulletin, visit http://www.fla-schoolcounselor.org/advertise/index.htm


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