Closing the Achievement Gap in Americas Public Schools U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Closing the Achievement Gap in America’s Public Schools

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

Signed into law by President Bush on January 8, 2002

PURPOSE: “ … to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on the challenging State academic standards…”

Four Guiding Principles of No Child Left Behind

Accountability for Student Performance

Focus on What Works

Increase Flexibility

Empower Parents

Key Requirements of NCLBAll States must have:

•Challenging academic standards and effective instructional practices

•Standards-based assessment system

•State accountability system for all schools

•Highly qualified teachers, paraprofessionals, and school administrators

•Safe schools

Challenging Academic Standards and Effective Instruction

Each State must:• Have challenging content and

performance standards (Hawaii Content & Performance Standards II)

• Have same expectations for all children• Use instructional approaches with a

proven track record (e.g. scientifically-based research practices and materials)

• Focus on improving performance, particularly in reading, mathematics, and science

Hawaii’s Assessment System (1)

• Measures the achievement of all children

• Measures attainment of State standards with proficiency levels

• Has adequate technical quality

• Involves higher-order thinking skills and understanding

Hawaii’s Assessment System (2)

• By 2001-02

• By 2005-06

• By 2006-07

Reading, writing, and math in grades 3, 5, 8 & 10

Reading, writing, and math in each of grades 4, 6 & 7

Science in grades 5, 7 & 11

Accountability System (1)

Requirements:

• Single statewide school accountability system for all public schools

• Every student reaches proficiency in 12 years (2014)

• Every student counts; no averaging

Accountability System (2)

• Based on State academic standards and assessments (HCPS II)

• Based on the achievement in reading and math immediately, and science by 2006-07, of all students

• Includes sanctions, assistance, and recognition for schools

Accountability System (3)

The accountability model under NCLB:

• Is a standards-based model

Hawaii’s Accountability Measures

• HCPS II Reading

• HCPS II Mathematics

• HCPS II Science (by 2006-07)

• Graduation rate (high schools)

• Retention rate (elementary, middle, & intermediate schools)

Hawaii’s Adequate Yearly Progress (1)

• Establish the “starting point” or baseline using the 2001-02 HCPS II reading and math results

• Establish a 12-year timeline • Set intermediate goals of 3 years or

less in equal increments• Define annual measurable objectives

Annual Objectives (1)

• Set separately for reading and math

• Must be the same for all schools

• Must be the same for all required disaggregation groups

• Identify a single minimum percent of students required to meet or exceed the proficient level

AYP Status for Schools 2004-05

• Based on the 37 disaggregated points• Benchmark for SY 2003-04 Spring Test

was 30% in Reading and 10% in Math• New benchmark for SY 2004-05 Spring

Test is 44% in Reading and 28% in Math.

• Safe Harbor is another way for schools to make their AYP

Annual Objectives (2)

• Objectives apply to:- All students

- Major racial/ethnic groups- Economically disadvantaged students- Students with disabilities- Students with limited English

proficiency

• Apply per school and to the state overall

Meeting AYP

• Each required group meets or exceeds the annual objectives (reading, math, & other required indicator)

• At least 95% of students in each group are included in assessments

Framework for School Improvement

Years of Not Making AYP

SchoolImprovement

Status

Accountability Actions

Year 1 AYP Not Met

No Status

Critical Ally Team Intervention

Year 2 AYP Not Met

No Status

Critical Ally Team Intervention

Year 3 AYP Not MetNeeds

Improvement Yr 1

Notify parents of school status

Public School Choice offered

Critical Ally Team Intervention

Educational Consultant (External Evaluator) need determined by CAS

Revised SIAP done within 3 Months after AYP status determination

Year 4

AYP Not MetNeeds

Improvement Yr 2

Notify parents of school status

Public School Choice Supplemental

Educational Services offered

Triage done with school Educational Consultant

need determined by CAS Critical Ally Team or SIT

1 to develop Intervention Plan (IP)

Revised SIAP or IP done

Year 5 AYP Not MetCorrective

Action

Public School Choice Supplemental

Educational Services SIT 2 if AYP is not met

on spring HSA Critical Ally Team Implement identified

Corrective Action(s) addressed in IP

Notify public and parents of Corrective Action(s) taken

Year 6 AYP Not MetPlanning for Restructuring

Notify public and parents of Planning for Restructuring Status

Public School Choice Supplemental Educational

Services SIT 2 continues IP

implementation & monthly progress reporting

Develop Restructuring Plan for implementation the following school year if AYP is not met.

Year 7

AYP Not MetRestructuring

Notify public and parents of Restructuring Status and Actions

Public School Choice Supplemental

Educational Services Implement alternative

governance option addressed in Restructuring Plan

Implement Restructuring Option

Quarterly Progress Reports to monitor implementation of Restructuring Plan

What is it?• The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 states that

any school that fails to attain Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for five years must begin planning for restructuring and in year six, must enter restructuring.

• Section 1116(d) of NCLB requires that restructuring action be consistent with Federal, State, or local laws, court orders and agreements. It reads, "Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights, remedies, and procedures afforded school or school district employees under Federal, State, or local laws (including applicable regulations or court orders) or under the terms of collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other agreements between such employees and their employers.”

• The restructuring process can only be delayed by Hawaii State laws, court orders, or agreements prohibiting such action.

Working Definition(What is it?)

Restructuring of a school means there will be fundamental changes in school governance, reforms in standards-based curriculum and additional services at the school level to increase student achievement.

These activities will be directed and supervised by the Complex Area Superintendent (CAS) for each school.

• Restructuring The SEA/LEA is required to prepare a plan to carry out one of the following options:1. Reopen school as a charter school;2. Replace the principal and staff;3. Contract for private management company that has demonstrated

effectiveness;4. State takeover;5. Any other major restructuring of school governance. The SEA/LEA continues to offer public school choice and supplemental educational services.

Hawaii Restructuring GovernanceState Take-Over means:• The CAS, as the agent of the State, makes all

leadership decisions for the school, including personnel decisions.

• The CAS manages ALL curriculum and instruction for the school.

• The CAS on behalf of the state, has budgetary authority for ALL school funds (State and Federal) and resources.

Self-Governance means:• Conversion Charter School (Act 2)

Restructuring Options

Option 1The Complex Area Superintendent decides that comprehensive services to the school are to be managed by a restructuring provider.

Option 2The Complex Area Superintendent will directly manage the restructuring process and will hire, contract and supervise restructuring providers and/or others as needed.

Option 3The Complex Area Superintendent will guide the school through the Charter Approval Process. The CAS will directly manage the restructuring process until the school officially becomes a Conversion Charter School approved by state Board of Education.

Restructuring Determination

• The State Superintendent has determined which schools will be restructured.

• The Complex Area Superintendent will determine the restructuring option.

What does restructuring mean for our school?

• NCLB supports a state’s collective bargaining agreements, existing contracts, or local laws.

• Hawaii principals and teachers are protected by union contracts. If there are any staff reductions, it will follow “due process” in accordance with those contracts and procedures.

• A restructuring plan for the school will be developed for implementation in school year 2005-06 with the CAS providing the oversight of the plan.

Directed and Focused Effort

• Complex Area Superintendent will direct and manage the school’s restructuring efforts.

• Under the supervision of the CAS, Restructuring Providers and/or others will be working with the school and its staff to implement the restructuring plan.

In Conclusion

• Restructuring is viewed as an opportunity to provide a more focused learning environment for ALL students.

• Restructuring provides a mechanism to deliver comprehensive services to raise student achievement.

• A quality education for ALL Hawaii’s children is our goal.

Highly Qualified Personnel (1)

•By 2005-06, all teachers who teach a core academic subject must be:

–licensed by the state–hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and–demonstrate competence in subject area

•All instructional paraprofessionals hired after January 8, 2002, must have:

–completed 48 credit hours at a higher education institution–obtained an associate’s (or higher) degree, or–passed a formal State assessment

Highly Qualified Personnel (2)

•All instructional paraprofessionals hired before January 8, 2002, must meet these requirements in 4 years from this date

•States must ensure that programs are available to prepare, train, and recruit high-quality teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals

Creating Safer Schools

NCLB believes that no child can learn in a climate of fear, therefore:

• States must define and identify a “persistently dangerous school”

• Implement a statewide policy to allow students to transfer to another public school, including a public charter school, that is not identified as “persistently dangerous”

• Certify in writing to the USDOE that the State is in compliance with this provision as a condition of receiving funds under NCLB

NCLB is not just making AYP.

It is…

Taking professional responsibility…

For best practices for effective teaching and learning…

So that no child is left behind.

Grants may address any of the NCLB Principles

• Examples– Developing highly qualified personnel– Creating safer schools– Increasing academic achievement of

students– Increasing parental involvement– Developing standards-based educational

system

What is the Impact on Schools, Teachers and Students in the

Classroom?

Kinds of support that will be needed

High-Level Learning and Success for All Students

“The relationships between a school and its external partners (such as parents, community agencies, other educational institutions, or businesses) should focus primarily on advancing student learning.”

Danielson, Charlotte. “Enhancing Student Achievement: A Framework for School Improvement”

Successful Schools

Successful schools recognize that they exist within larger communities and actively cultivate outside relationships to promote school goals.

Linkages for the schools

• Communication with families, other educators, and the business community

• Collaboration with Public and Private Agencies

• Collaboration with the Business Community

• Collaboration with Universities

Communication

• With Families and Caregivers

• With Other Educators

• With the Business Community

Collaboration with Public and Private Agencies

• Partnerships to Improve the School’s Program

• Partnerships with Community Agencies

Collaboration with the Business Community

• Learning Opportunities for Students

• Learning and Working Opportunities for Teachers

Collaboration with Universities

• Meeting the Needs of Individual Students

• Granting Credit for Professional Activities

• Partnerships for Joint Projects

Closing Thoughts

• Educational Accountability is not only about …– measures– annual objectives/standards– consequences

• Rather, it is more about …