Friday, February 26, 2010

Legislative Update

 

RACE TO THE TOP BUDGET REQUESTS HIGHLY PREDICTABLE?

Rick Hess (an AEI fellow, advocate for charter schools, purveyor of alternative teacher certification, and ubiquitous online presence) has analyzed the dollar amount each state requested in Race to the Top funds, and he's making a striking point with his analysis. The general conceit in grantsmanship, of course, is that the budgets we request are exactly what we need to get the work done—no more, no less. For example, if a proposal includes something breathtakingly innovative, that might well be more costly than simply continuing some well-understand program, and the budget proposal should reflect that. Many of proposal writers pride themselves on their steely objectivity and clear-headedness when working up those budgets.

Hess's calculations, however, do not consider the actual content of the proposals at all. Instead, he simply compares the dollar amount requested with two other easily-obtainable numbers: (1) the state's student enrollment and (2) the state's reported 2010 budget shortfall.

From these numbers, he ran a simple analysis from which he determined that 77% of the variance in the amount of funding requested by all of the participating states could be accounted for merely by looking at their size of their student enrollment and the immensity of their financial desperation. The remaining 23% is all that's left to account for all the different kinds of programs, interventions, and strategies that were ostensibly the key factor in the budget proposals.

Hess's previous work shows sustained concern for waste and what he regards as inefficiency in K-12 spending. I do not recall him criticizing grant budget proposals directly before, even in passing, so this is apparently a new area of study for him. Given the historic immensity of the Race to the Top allocations, however, it seems like work that was begging to be done. This simple analysis is surely just a device to open a debate, but the debate should be interesting. Might be worth listening in.

Education Week (Web page)

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ESEA REAUTHORIZATION EFFORT CONTINUES

Last week's announcements about Congressional earnestness in seeking the long-delayed ESEA reauthorization were followed up yesterday by an unusually specific announcement from Republican members of the House Committee on Education and Labor. They outline specific values and objectives for the reauthorization, and provided a means for public input. It seems like this game may actually be on, at long last.

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor (Web page)

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ONLINE TOOL FOR CLEANING UP MESSY TEXT

Grant developers tend to be great re-users of text from all kinds of sources: Word documents of various vintage, PDF files of varying sophistication, ASCII files from mainframe dumps, HTML-laden text from Web pages, and so on. When we import text from some crude format into our nice proportionally-dynamic documents or our own Web pages, we sometimes end up with a mess. This simply, easy, and fast online tool converts all that junk into nice blocks of useable text. For example, it converts double hyphens into lovely em dashes and makes unitary quotation marks into printer's smart quotes. You won't need it every time, of course, but it can be quite a handy thing for cleaning up real gobbledygook. Free, simple, and well worth a bookmark.

http://cleantext.org/ (Web page)

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RUNNING THE NUMBERS

(1) Number of Florida mortgage loans in foreclosure at the end of last year: 320,315
(2) Number in foreclosure now: 461,472
(3) Percentage by which Florida foreclosures have increased in the last year: 44
(4) Number of U.S. states with higher rates of foreclosure: 0
(5) Percentage of U.S. teachers in district-run schools who left during the 2004-05 school year: 14
(6) Percentage of teachers in charter schools who left during the same year: 25

Sources

(1-4) South Florida Sun Sentinel (Web page)
(5-6) National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education (PDF)

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NEW AND NOTABLE

FDOE FY2011 NCLB Technical Assistance Forum Agenda (PDF)

Pew Study of State Funded Pension Plans (PDF)

 

Friday, February 19, 2010

Florida Board of Governors : Interior

Florida Board of Governors : Interior: "New Florida Information"

EDUCATION POLICY & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

EDUCATION POLICY & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

 

CLASS SIZE REVISION MOVES AHEAD IN SENATE COMMITTEE

 

S002 and H7039 are identical bills that would allow schools to meet the constitutional class size requirement through an average class size calculation. The average class size in grades PK-3 would be 18, but would allow individual classrooms to have as many as 21 students. The average in grades 4-8 would be 22, with a maximum number of 27 students in any given classroom. For grades 9-12, the average would be 25, with up to 30 students allowed in any single classroom. The Senate version was approved by the Education PK-12 Committee by a vote of 6-1 earlier this week, and now moves to the Senate Policy & Steering Committee on Ways and Means. If approved by both houses, the measure would be put to Florida voters in the November 2010 general election.

 

Florida Senate

http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&ElementID=JumpToBox&SubMenu=1&Year=2010&billnum=2

 

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APPOINTED SCHOOL BOARD PROPOSED FOR DUVAL COUNTY

 

The Duval County Charter Revision Commission has determined that its first education priority will be propose a major change in school board governance. The proposed changed would have school board members appointed by the mayor rather than elected by citizens. Under the new proposal, school board members would receive no salary. Direct mayoral control of of schools has not been practiced in Florida in the modern era, and whether or not such a governance plan is permitted under the Florida Constitution is still under debate.

 

Jacksonville Times-Union

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/schools/2010-02-18/story/appoint_duval_school_board_charter_review_panel_says

 

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ESEA REAUTHORIZATION HEARINGS REBOOTED (AGAIN)

 

In yet another attempt to kick-start the long-delayed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (currently referred to as No Child Left Behind), Democratic and Republican leaders of the House Education and Labor Committee announced new plans for a bipartisan revision of the massive federal education law. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the committee, Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the senior Republican of the committee, Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI), the chairman of the subcommittee on elementary and secondary education, and Rep. Michael Castle (R-DE), the senior Republican of that subcommittee announced the new hearings would begin soon. The first hearing, scheduled for February 24, will concern charter schools.

 

U.S. House of Representatives

http://edlabor.house.gov/newsroom/2010/02/lawmakers-announce-plan-for-a.shtml

 

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ANOTHER EFFORT TO REVISE NATIONAL SCIENCE STANDARDS BEGINS

 

As the headlong rush toward developing "common core standards" by a 48-state public-private consortium continues, a parallel effort by the National Research Council has begun. (The NRC provides Congress with science, technology and health policy advice under a congressional charter originally signed by President Lincoln.) The NRC is developing a framework for "next generation" standards for K-12 science education, and the panel is apparently working with the intent of reducing the scale and scope of the standards in favor of deeper understanding of the actual nature of science. Although this effort is technically separate from the effort of the Common Core Standards Initiative, there is considerable overlap in the influence of Achieve, Inc., which is heavily involved in both efforts. Achieve is a non-profit organization funded largely by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a consortium of other major technology, manufacturing, and insurance companies.

 

Education Week

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/02/10/21science.h29.html?tkn=VXTFdP9avjgy6a4bzwO7BbZgv%2BwxdFWeStGd

 

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2009 BUNKUM AWARDS FOR WORST EDUCATIONAL "RESEARCH" ANNOUNCED

 

The Education and the Public Interest Center (EPIC) is a collaborative effort by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Arizona State University. They regularly review major education studies, especially those generated by policy think tanks. This service provides a much-needed peer review to studies that otherwise usually escape this essential step in scholarship.

 

Each year, they issue "Bunkum Awards" to the worst studies released in the preceding year, and cite their many shortcomings. This effort seems important, given the many threats to the integrity of educational research. The awards are well worth a look by those concerned with good research and good public policy.

 

Education and the Public Interest Center

http://epicpolicy.org/think-tank/bunkum-awards

 

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RUNNING THE NUMBERS

 

(1) Number of K-12 positions in Florida currently funded from federal stimulus funds: 25,921

(2) Number of Florida State Board of Education Rules that will be considered for revision at the Board's March 16th meeting: 20

(3) Percentage of U.S. school districts currently connected to the Internet: 100

(4) Percentage of U.S. school districts with written policies on student use of social networking sites: 76

(5) Percentage of U.S. school districts that require teachers to be trained in the use of Internet resources for instruction: 15

 

SOURCES

 

(1) U.S. Department of Education http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/spending/arra-program-summary2.pdf

(2) Florida State Board of Education https://app1.fldoe.org/rules/default.aspx

(3, 4, 5) NCES http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2010/2010003.pdf

 

 

Friday, February 12, 2010

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PREPARES FOR HISTORIC SESSION

Both houses of the Florida Legislature are busily preparing for a historic session that will either see rare tax hikes (aka "revenue enhancements") or further cuts to state and local services. Hundreds of bills pertaining to education have been filed. Here are few worth noting:

 

H 0061

 

This bill, filed by Rep. Fresen, would require Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, and Chemistry or Physics for high school graduation. The bill would also require a grade level score on the 10th grade FCAT for high school graduation.

 

H 0209

 

This bill, filed by Rep. Bullard, would eliminate administration of the FCAT in high school. Students would instead be required to take the PSAT/NMSQT and achieve a certain passing score as a requirement for high school graduation.

 

H 0473

 

This bill, filed by Rep. Bullard, would Algebra I, Algebra II, Biology, and Chemistry or Physics for high school graduation. The bill would eliminate FCAT administration and replace it with subject area or end-of-course examinations, and modify the school grading system accordingly.

 

H 1009

 

This bill, filed by Rep. Weatherford and endorsed by Commissioner Smith, would expand the current tax credit voucher program and require an annual study of the academic performance of students using the vouchers to attend private schools compared with similar students in public schools.

 

S 0002

 

This bill, filed by 17 key senators, would offer voters a chance to modify the class size amendment so that class limits are based on a school average.

 

S 0120

 

This bill, filed by Sen. Bullard, would eliminate a passing score on the 10th grade FCAT as requirement for high school graduation.

 

S 0738

 

This bill, filled by Sen. Bennett, would propose a repeal of the Constitutional class size limits.

 

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ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN TEACHER EVALUATION, COMPENSATION, REAPPOINTMENT, AND DISMISSAL

 

The Race to the Top grant program has accelerated the standards movement progress in changing systems of teacher evaluation, compensation, reappointment, and dismissal. A recent speech by Randi Weingarten, the President of the American Federation of Teachers, supported a new effort in streamlining the processes by which administrators dismiss teachers found to be ineffective. These efforts (along with the added pressure of Race to the Top) seem likely to lead to historic changes in how schools and school districts operate. National Journal invited a number of leading thinkers and stakeholders (including Deb Meier, Richard Rothstein, Monty Neill, and Diane Ravitch) to analyze these changes. Their comments are insightful.

 

National Journal http://education.nationaljournal.com/2010/01/will-aft-teacher-evaluation-ef.php#1408525

 

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RACE TO THE TOP GRANT REVIEWERS SELECTED

 

A high-caliber slate of reviewers—apparently most of whom are K-12 professionals—has been selected to review the 41 Race to the Top proposals submitted in the first round of this historic grant program. Their comments (and their for-now-secret identities) will be revealed when the results are announced in April. This competition is unusual in nearly every way and not only for the enormous amount of funding to be awarded. In this competition, the Secretary will consider the scores of the expert reviewers, he will be authorized to make awards as he chooses.

 

Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/07/AR2010020702399.html

 

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RUNNING THE NUMBERS

 

Florida's Race to the Top grant proposal was published at the U.S. Department of Education Web site (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase1-applications/florida.pdf), but the PDF document there is strangely enormous—a poor scanning process has produced page dimensions of 35 inches by 45 inches! The scan is grainy and, sadly, not searchable. A much better, searchable PDF file is available at the Florida Department of Education Web site at http://www.fldoe.org/ARRA/RacetotheTop.asp. The proposal includes ambitious learning goals and a very large budget.

 

1. Percent of Florida 8th grade students with disabilities who currently score at the NAEP basic level in mathematics: 34

2. Percent Florida predicts will score this level after three years of RTTT implementation: 54

3. Percent of Florida students with disabilities who currently graduate from high school: 37.3

4. Percent Florida predicts will graduate after three years of RTTT implementation: 85

5. Number of new staff members FDOE will hire to administer RTTT: 6

6. Number of consultants FDOE will hire to advise districts on how to develop RTTT teacher and principal evaluations: 60

7. Estimated cost for these consultants, in millions of dollars: 14.98

8. Number of consultants FDOE will hire to advise districts on how to develop RTTT compensation systems: 63

9. Estimated cost for these consultants, in millions of dollars: 20.73

 

Source: Florida's Race to the Top grant proposal

 

1. Page 24

2. Page 24

3. Page 28

4. Page 28

5. Page 39

6. Page 264

7. Page 264

8. Page 267

9. Page 267

 

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

"Right Size" Class Size Amendment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                       

February 2, 2010                      

                                                 

CONTACT:  Chris Clark 850-487-5009

Ralph Lair 850-488-5744

 

Sen. Don Gaetz and Rep. Will Weatherford Unveil Proposal to “Right Size” Class Size Amendment

Proposal Would Place Update to Class Size Amendment Before Florida Voters

 

Tallahassee – Aiming to “right size the class size amendment,” Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and Rep. Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel), today announced their proposed amendment to the Florida Constitution to update the 2002 class size amendment. 

 

Instead of the hard, inflexible class size caps instituted by the 2002 amendment, the Constitutional amendment proposed by Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford would implement class size caps as a school average and provide flexibility for schools to add 3 seats in pre-K to 3rd grade classrooms and 5 seats in grades 4 through 12, if necessary, to meet unforeseen enrollment changes.

 

“Our proposal does not change the class size targets voters approved in 2002,” said Sen. Gaetz who previously served as a school superintendent in Okaloosa County. “This proposed amendment charts a course forward that is fiscally sound and sustainable; respects the role of local educators to make staffing, operations and other decisions; and keeps class sizes at a level where teachers can teach and children can learn.”

 

It would require a 3/5 vote of the Legislature to put the Gaetz/Weatherford Constitutional amendment to “right size class size” on the ballot in November. It would require approval of 60% of voters to become law.

 

In 2002, 52% of Florida voters approved the Class Size Amendment. Since then, the state has invested $16 billion to meet the amendment’s requirements. As a result, the average class size in Florida’s schools has fallen significantly.

 

Grade

2003  Per Class Average

2009 Per Class Average

PreK through 3

23 students

16 students

4 through 8

24 students

19 students

9 through 12

24 students

22 students

 

“Since the 2002 amendment passed, Florida has diligently worked to meet the spirit and intent of the law. The days where teachers had to practice crowd control as a rule are a thing of the past in schools across Florida,” said Rep. Weatherford. “This class size referendum will allow voters to review the historic progress that has been made and weigh the challenges we face with the flawed 2002 approach of hard caps, inflexible rules and top-down micromanagement of local schools.”

 

Under the 2002 Class Size Amendment, hard classroom caps of 18 students for grades PreK-3; 22 students for grades 4-8; and 25 students for grades 9-12 are scheduled to take effect at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

 

There currently are 825,000 student stations sitting empty in Florida. Those stations are in every district and at every grade level. Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford noted the problem with the implementation of the 2002 amendment are the expensive and chaotic logistical problems the hard class size caps would create across the state.

 

Some of the most daunting problems being forecast with the full implementation of the 2002 amendment include:  

 

  • Rezoning
  • Massive busing
  • Disruption in student learning
  • Double sessions
  • Inability to hire enough qualified teachers
  • Elimination of local flexibility

 

Sen. Gaetz and Rep. Weatherford say their proposal would reduce the number of problems with the final implementation of the 2002 Class Size Amendment while respecting the intent of those who voted for the amendment. 

 

 

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