Louisiana education officials propose to drop

national Common Core test, PARCC, for 2014-15

 

By Danielle Dreilinger, NOLA.com. Originally published in The Times-Picayune, link here.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Superintendent John White has seemingly backed down in a high-profile fight with Gov. Bobby Jindal over testing and the new Common Core academic standards. Rather than use a new test next year developed by the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, the state could combine some PARCC questions with LEAP questions, White said Thursday.

“We will continue with the LEAP test,” BESE President Chas Roemer said.

“BESE is trying to thread the needle with a compromise,” White said.

But — crucially — White left the door open to the possibility that all the mathematics and English questions would come from the PARCC process — meaning the board might essentially continue with the national test under a different name. There are no PARCC exams for science and social studies.

PARCC spokesman David Connerty-Marin said, “I don’t see any indication they are withdrawing” from the consortium or the commitment to PARCC.

And because the governor would have to lift contract restrictions for the new plan to proceed, today’s announcement might end up being another twist in the path to court.

Although three of BESE’s officers backed the proposal, there has been no vote from the board, which would presumably have to approve any changes.

Jindal has demanded “Louisiana standards and a Louisiana test,” but until Thursday, BESE had held strong to the national consortium exam.

That’s even though the governor unleashed a quiver of administrative arrows, including freezing the testing contract for the coming year, attempting to drop the state’s membership in the PARCC consortium and strictly limiting White’s ability to approve department spending.

In fact, BESE voted this month to continue to pursue PARCC next year even though unions, the Louisiana School Boards Association and three of its own members asked it to do so in order to reduce confusion for school systems that don’t know what tests they will use in the school year that starts next month. And the board voted to hire external counsel to possibly pursue legal action. In the spring, the Legislature passed on several opportunities to drop PARCC or Common Core.

Roemer said it was a one-year, stopgap measure, and that the state would move forward with issuing a request for proposals for new tests starting in 2015. He also repeated the board’s continuing support for Common Core.

Louisiana public school students have been taking the iLEAP and LEAP tests from third through eighth grade in mathematics, English, science and social studies. Last year, the exams were rejiggered to reflect the Common Core academic standards, which lay out what students should be able to accomplish at the end of the year in mathematics and English.

State law requires that next year’s tests use “nationally recognized content standards” and be scored against the results of students across the nation. Roemer said using some PARCC questions would allow for that comparability.

White said the hybrid exams would be “not nearly as seamlessly comparable” to other states as the board originally wanted. He said the PARCC questions would be free, requiring no new approval for contracts or subcontracts, and that he thought the consortium would allow it.

The superintendent also drew distinctions between buying a test and buying test questions. The former, he said, includes adopting the scoring methods, analysis and reporting, among other services. He said “LEAP” was “a term in the law, not a brand name of a test …  it will always be a Louisiana-specific test, and now it will have some PARCC questions on it.”

The plan has been OK’d by Roemer, BESE Vice President James Garvey and BESE Secretary Holly Boffy but is not a formal board action. Roemer said he had reached out to all the BESE members and had “not asked them to voice their support or opposition” yet. But every member he spoke with agreed the state needed a quick solution, he said.

Despite the possible compromise, Roemer stood fast that developing test content and standards was the constitutional responsibility of BESE, not the governor, saying, “We do have multiple branches of government here.”

He also accused the governor of acting in bad faith for scheduling a meeting with White to discuss solutions at 4:40 p.m. the day before the superintendent was supposed to report back to the board.

Louisiana education officials propose to drop

national Common Core test, PARCC, for 2014-15

 

By Danielle Dreilinger, NOLA.com. Originally published in The Times-Picayune, link here.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Superintendent John White has seemingly backed down in a high-profile fight with Gov. Bobby Jindal over testing and the new Common Core academic standards. Rather than use a new test next year developed by the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, the state could combine some PARCC questions with LEAP questions, White said Thursday.

“We will continue with the LEAP test,” BESE President Chas Roemer said.

“BESE is trying to thread the needle with a compromise,” White said.

But — crucially — White left the door open to the possibility that all the mathematics and English questions would come from the PARCC process — meaning the board might essentially continue with the national test under a different name. There are no PARCC exams for science and social studies.

PARCC spokesman David Connerty-Marin said, “I don’t see any indication they are withdrawing” from the consortium or the commitment to PARCC.

And because the governor would have to lift contract restrictions for the new plan to proceed, today’s announcement might end up being another twist in the path to court.

Although three of BESE’s officers backed the proposal, there has been no vote from the board, which would presumably have to approve any changes.

Jindal has demanded “Louisiana standards and a Louisiana test,” but until Thursday, BESE had held strong to the national consortium exam.

That’s even though the governor unleashed a quiver of administrative arrows, including freezing the testing contract for the coming year, attempting to drop the state’s membership in the PARCC consortium and strictly limiting White’s ability to approve department spending.

In fact, BESE voted this month to continue to pursue PARCC next year even though unions, the Louisiana School Boards Association and three of its own members asked it to do so in order to reduce confusion for school systems that don’t know what tests they will use in the school year that starts next month. And the board voted to hire external counsel to possibly pursue legal action. In the spring, the Legislature passed on several opportunities to drop PARCC or Common Core.

Roemer said it was a one-year, stopgap measure, and that the state would move forward with issuing a request for proposals for new tests starting in 2015. He also repeated the board’s continuing support for Common Core.

Louisiana public school students have been taking the iLEAP and LEAP tests from third through eighth grade in mathematics, English, science and social studies. Last year, the exams were rejiggered to reflect the Common Core academic standards, which lay out what students should be able to accomplish at the end of the year in mathematics and English.

State law requires that next year’s tests use “nationally recognized content standards” and be scored against the results of students across the nation. Roemer said using some PARCC questions would allow for that comparability.

White said the hybrid exams would be “not nearly as seamlessly comparable” to other states as the board originally wanted. He said the PARCC questions would be free, requiring no new approval for contracts or subcontracts, and that he thought the consortium would allow it.

The superintendent also drew distinctions between buying a test and buying test questions. The former, he said, includes adopting the scoring methods, analysis and reporting, among other services. He said “LEAP” was “a term in the law, not a brand name of a test …  it will always be a Louisiana-specific test, and now it will have some PARCC questions on it.”

The plan has been OK’d by Roemer, BESE Vice President James Garvey and BESE Secretary Holly Boffy but is not a formal board action. Roemer said he had reached out to all the BESE members and had “not asked them to voice their support or opposition” yet. But every member he spoke with agreed the state needed a quick solution, he said.

Despite the possible compromise, Roemer stood fast that developing test content and standards was the constitutional responsibility of BESE, not the governor, saying, “We do have multiple branches of government here.”

He also accused the governor of acting in bad faith for scheduling a meeting with White to discuss solutions at 4:40 p.m. the day before the superintendent was supposed to report back to the board.

Contact: Janet Bass
Until 7/10: 202-879-4554
AFT press office in L.A.: 213-743-6405
jbass@aft.org
www.aft.org

Updated Agenda for AFT Convention in Los Angeles- July 11-14 2014.

WASHINGTON—Public education, educators and parents have been taking it on the chin, with controversies and frustrations swirling around the Common Core State Standards, due process and tenure, the pervasive fixation on testing over teaching and learning, and whether policymakers will do what’s needed to achieve equity and excellence in public education.

Fighting back and fighting forward on these front-burner issues to reclaim the promise of America will be the focus of the American Federation of Teachers convention July 11-14 in Los Angeles.

The more than 3,500 delegates at the Los Angeles Convention Center will debate and vote on policymaking resolutions, including a full hour allocated to discussing the Common Core State Standards. There will be breaking news on the AFT’s organizing, political and educational efforts. Also, two press conferences are scheduled, one with AFT President Randi Weingarten after her Friday keynote address and another on Monday with teachers and community leaders discussing how due process “had their backs” when they took risks with lessons or spoke out about lack of supports or resources.

All general sessions, including speeches and business discussions, will be live streamed at www.aft.org/convention/live.cfm

Media attending the convention should first come to the AFT’s press office in West Hall A of the Los Angeles Convention Center to pick up credentials and other materials.

Agenda highlights (Times are local for Los Angeles)

Thursday, July 10 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.—Distribution of First Book books, groceries for families in need
All Peoples Community Center, 822 E. 20th St., Los Angeles

Friday, July 11 9:30 a.m.—Opening session
Speakers include the Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP and architect of the Moral Monday
Movement in North Carolina; California Gov. Jerry Brown; and AFT President Randi Weingarten, who will give
the keynote address.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m.—Press availability with President Weingarten
West Hall (on side of convention center), Room 504

Saturday, July 12 9:30 a.m.—General session
Speakers include Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti; California State School Superintendent Tom Torlakson; Mississippi
Freedom Summer activist Mark Levy; Chicago student Asean Johnson; and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
Business session.

2:30 p.m.—General session
Speakers include actor Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni, special adviser for community partnerships for New York
City public schools; and Dr. Irwin Redlener, co-founder and president of the Children’s Health Fund.
Discussion about the Reconnecting McDowell partnership in West Virginia.
Business session.

6 p.m.—Rally at Staples Center Plaza to join with California postal workers protesting Staples’ plan to use store employees to staff U.S. Postal Service counters at Staples stores.

Sunday, July 13 10 a.m.—General session
Greetings from Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.).
Discussion about Share My Lesson, the AFT’s digital collection of lesson plans, and the AFT’s partnership with First Book.
Business session: Featuring education issues.

2 p.m.—General session
Speakers include Sean McGarvey, president of the North America’s Building Trades Unions; Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.); and
Montserrat and Julieta Garibay, immigration rights activists.
Business session.

Monday, July 14 9 a.m.—General session
Election results announced for AFT officer positions.

10 a.m. —Press conference on due process with teachers and community leaders
West Hall (on side of convention center), Room 504

The House and Senate both passed HB 717, a bill that corrects a flaw in the state’s extended sick leave law during the legislative session. Red River United member Yvonne Barrier and her family were present for Jindal’s signing of the bill.

HB 717 by Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill (D-Dry Creek) removes a stipulation in the extended sick leave law requiring educators to take extended sick leave in 10-day increments.  As soon the 10 day rule was created in the now infamous 2012 Legislative Session, Red River United began seeing public educators either being economically harmed by taking less than ten days at no pay or being forced to extend their leave to ten days thus harming the school house. This was a double whammy for new mothers/educators who are required to use all current and accumulated days before using extended sick leave. Taking a day or partial day for newborn wellness checks was a day without pay. We thank Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill for sponsoring this bill.

Red River United gives a huge thanks to the following people:  Representative Dorothy Sue Hill for sponsoring the bill; Yvonne Barrier, a Caddo high school teacher and Red River United member and worksite leader who presented a compelling video testimony to the House, Senate, and the Governor; Yvonne Barrier’s family; Mary-Patricia Wray, LFT Legislative Director; Steve Monaghan, LFT president; and Mike Myers, Red River United lobbyist.

On Thursday, July 26th, Red River Parish teachers and support personnel gathered at Kayla’s Cafe to elect their Red River United Executive Board Members.

The Red River United Executive Board welcomes Evelyn Longino of Red River High School and Intha Fields of Red River Elementary School to the Red River United Executive Board.

Red River Parish’s alternates to the Red River United Executive Board are Joey Miller of Red River Elementary School and Charlotte Collins of Springville Education Center.

Originally Published in US News and World Report, July 1, 2014. 

There’s a teacher who used the hit movie “Mean Girls” to engage his students in the themes of power in “Julius Caesar.” There’s a special education teacher who advocated for her students’ inclusion in physical education and music. Another teacher went to child protective services, as she should have, when she suspected one of her students was being abused.

These teachers will tell you they need due process, which is simply the right to a legitimate reason or just cause before you can be fired. Due process gives teachers the latitude to use their professional judgment in their classrooms, to advocate for their students, and to not fear retribution for speaking the truth or teaching controversial subjects like evolution. As political winds shift in school districts, due process also wards off patronage or nepotism. For instance, a teacher in Indiana, where there isn’t tenure, was laid off, allegedly due to budget cuts, but it was an open secret that her administrator wanted to free up the position to hire a friend. Due process would have kept her in the classroom.

Due process is not intended to be a job for life, a cloak for incompetence or a reason for managers not to manage. And yes, where due process laws need to be changed, aligned with good evaluation systems or made faster and fairer, let’s do that.

[GALLERY: Cartoons on the Economy]

If the goal here is to have great teachers for all kids, especially those who are marginalized or disadvantaged, then we share that goal. Nationally, we’ve partnered with the American Association of School Administrators to lay out a due process framework with clear objectives and timelines. It shouldn’t take 10 years to dismiss someone who should be ushered out of the profession. In fact, in our framework, we say that it should take at most a year. Union leaders in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Maryland, for example, have worked with administrators and legislators to pass innovative due process laws. Many of our local leaders have negotiated peer review systems where educators share responsibility in ensuring that we are all carrying our load.

Throwing out due process entirely because of a few egregious cases – as the court did in Vergara v. California – would not only be a mistake, but would also backfire in the long run, especially when we are having such difficulties recruiting and retaining the best teachers for our toughest schools. We know that half of new teachers leave the profession within five years. Disbanding these young professionals’ support, and their protection to be innovative and take risks, will only grow this staggering statistic.

The countries that outperform us educationally and the states that do the best all have strong due process systems and strong unions. So let’s do what they do: address the big issues affecting kids.

[READ: ‘Brown’ at 60: Time to Fulfill the Promise]

One in two public school students lives in poverty. Segregation is as prevalent today as it was 60 years ago after the Brown v. Board decision. Our schools have been chronically under-resourced, with many still being funded at recession rates. Warehouses of research tell us that these out-of-classroom factors make up two-thirds of what affects student achievement.

We need an approach that focuses on improving teaching and learning conditions and equity at the same time we’re improving teacher quality. That’s the way we’ll ensure every child has a great teacher. That’s the way we’ll reclaim the promise of public education for all children.

Let’s Talk Money

First, the back story:

Last year, the LA Legislature passed an MFP formula which included a one-time supplement for all classroom teachers.  Most local districts made the decision to include all other employees in a one-time supplement allocation.  For Caddo and Bossier, both boards decided to give this at the same time they gave their yearly Christmas money.  All of this came in time for Black Friday.

Now for this year, the LA Legislature passed an MFP Formula which permanently put in place the money received in the one-time supplement, making it a permanent salary increase.  That would be $800 for Caddo teachers, $703.50 for Bossier and $200 for Red River. The BPSB has already voted to implement the permanent increase for the 2014-15 school Year.   District 12 CPSB member, Dottie Bell, has a agenda item for the July 15, 2014, meeting to allocate the permanent salary increase in Caddo for the 2014-15 year.  She has also committed to insuring all employees will receive a salary increase.   We are working on an update for Red River Parish.

What else can we anticipate?  Bossier will implement a 1.5% salary increase compliments of the Bossier voters.  The $725 B-Back check and the $600 and $350 Christmas money for certified and classified employees, respectively, is also a part of the salary schedule.

In Caddo, the CPSB budget includes a $200 supply fund for all classroom teachers, up from $100 last year.  And of course, all employees will continue to receive the $500 Christmas cash as it is a permanent part of the salary schedule.

So, if you compare the Bossier salary schedule for the 2014-15 year with the Caddo teacher salary schedule, you should see that once the Caddo board votes in the salary increase for employees, Caddo new teachers will be a hiccup above the Bossier teachers in starting salary.  The Red River Parish’s new teacher salary schedule (with supplements)  puts them ahead of both Caddo and Bossier Parishes.