2 EDCAL September 4 , 2017
ESSA State Plan and supports focus of action
The California Department of Education plans to present a revised Every Student Succeeds Act State Plan to the State Board of Education for final approval at its September meeting , before submitting it to the U . S . Department of Education by the Sept . 18 deadline .
The new CDE draft plan was released with tracked revisions made to the May 2017 draft , and is accessible at https :// goo . gl / fJpkRr . The ESSA State Plan shows changes based on stakeholder input and direction from the SBE .
The next State Board meeting is scheduled for Sept . 13-14 , when the SBE is expected to take up various accountability items , including proposed changes to the California School Dashboard and state indicators , as well as adoption of the ESSA State Plan . Public comment can be provided directly to the SBE on the revised draft . ACSA members who would like to attend to speak on behalf of ACSA , or would like to provide feedback on the revised ESSA State Plan , should contact ACSA
Superintendent
of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has sent a letter to California school leaders denouncing racism and encouraging schools to celebrate diversity as the new school year begins .
The letter went to county and district school superintendents and charter schools administrators at more than 1,025 school districts statewide .
Torlakson spoke recently at a preview of the new Unity Center at the California Museum in Sacramento and at a State Capitol forum about teaching tolerance .
The State Board of Education is seeking applications for four appointments from currently practicing teachers or leaders with experience and expertise in special education , elementary grades , mathematics and ethnic studies to serve on the Instructional Quality Commission . The deadline for applications is noon on Oct . 11 .
The IQC consists of 18 members , 13 of whom are appointed by the SBE upon the recommendation of the state superintendent of public instruction or the members of the SBE . At any one time , at least seven of the public members must be current K-12 classroom teachers , or mentor teachers , or both .
The IQC is responsible for advising the SBE on matters related to curriculum and instruction . The IQC develops and recommends curriculum frameworks ; develops and recommends criteria for evaluating instructional materials submitted for adoption ; evaluates instructional materials that have been submitted by publishers and makes recommendations to adopt or reject each submission ; recommends policies and activities to the SBE , the California Department of Education , and local educational agencies regarding curriculum and instruction ; and advises and makes recommendations to the SBE on implementing the state ’ s academic content standards .
California Code of Regulations , Title 5 Sections 9511 and 9512 require the SBE to appoint separate committees to assist the IQC in developing curriculum frameworks , developing evaluation criteria for instructional materials , and reviewing instructional materials . Commissioners serve for four calendar
Torlakson ’ s letter , portions of which follow , encouraged educators to review a recent “ Moving Forward from Charlottesville ” blog posting from the Learning Policy Institute that includes educational resources for students and teachers .
Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators : Response to Charlottesville Hateful rhetoric and disgusting , failed ideologies should stay buried in the dustbins of history . We need to join together as Americans and denounce all who preach
Legislative Advocate Martha Alvarez at malvarez @ acsa . org .
In the meantime , an independent review of the state plan by Bellwether Education Partners questions its ability to “ effectively communicate with educators , parents , and other state stakeholders .” Bellwether has reviewed submitted state plans , and looked at California ’ s outside of that effort to strengthen the state ’ s final submission and provide information for other states still writing their plans .
A report on findings , accessible at https :// goo . gl / 8a7d51 , states the California plan is based on a positive vision of the education system , but that it lacks student growth measures , as well as details on supports and interventions .
ACSA ’ s Accountability and Continuous Improvement Task Force , chaired by Past President Ralph Porras , has been meeting to continue discussions with the State Board of Education , California Department of Education and California Collaborative for Educational Excellence staff on accountability topics .
The majority of the conversation has centered around the state ’ s system of support , and what skills , knowledge and expertise administrators need help to acquire . Alvarez reported that in August , ACSA members gave a lot of specific feedback on the types of supports administrators need , and all three state agencies expressed interest in coming back to speak with the task force and other ACSA committees and councils at future meetings .
These agencies , including county offices of education , are responsible for providing assistance to LEAs under LCFF and have been meeting since this spring to discuss coordination and alignment of assistance activities .
“ Their meetings have not delved into the ‘ what ’ of assistance , but have instead focused on the ‘ how ’ of coordination and communication across agencies ,” Alvarez said . “ A critical part of that is connecting with the key statewide partners ( ACSA , CTA , CSBA , CASBO , SSDA , etc .) so the
SBE curriculum advisory seeking applicants
years beginning Jan . 1 , 2018 , and shall not be eligible to serve more than one full term . Additional information about the IQC may be found on the IQC webpage at www . cde . ca . gov / be / cc / cd / index . asp .
The IQC holds six two-day meetings a year . Additional IQC and Subject Matter Committee meetings may also be scheduled if needed . All of these meetings require preparation time .
Commissioners may be called upon to make an additional commitment of 10-12 days to participate in the review of instructional materials submitted for adoption in California in 2018 and 2020 .
Commissioners serve without pay and are reimbursed for authorized travel costs according to established SBE procedures . Commissioners will be reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses related to IQC
SPI letter denounces racism and encourages celebrating diversity
agencies providing assistance have a regular feedback loop with end users , the ‘ experiencers ’ of assistance to refine and improve approaches over time .”
The task force has two meetings left in September and October . Staff and members are exploring whether to continue its efforts through 2018 .
“ The initial feedback indicated there is desire to do so , as the accountability system and the system of support will continue to evolve and take shape over the next 12 months ,” Alvarez said . “ ACSA also wants to get a sub-set of our members to help out with suggestions to make to CDE on consolidating the various state plans and reporting requirements .”
They also have a short-term focus on this fall , when the updated Dashboard will be used to determine whether county offices must offer assistance to districts under LCFF . ACSA is exploring whether a discussion on the system of support could be a potential input session with members at the October Leadership Assembly meeting .
meetings only , at the same rate applicable for California Department of Education employees .
The online application form can be found on the SBE Application webpage at www . cde . ca . gov / be / cc / ab / index . asp . The online application form requests that applicants upload a current résumé . In addition , all applicants must email two letters of recommendation to iqc @ cde . ca . gov . One of the letters must come from the applicant ’ s employer , and the other should come from someone not related to the applicant who knows him / her well and is able to comment on his / her qualifications for the position . Incomplete applications will not be considered .
For more information regarding the IQC , please contact Stephanie Gregson at ( 916 ) 319-0881 or SGregson @ cde . ca . gov . hate instead of the love , acceptance , and understanding that should define our 21st century .
As we start the new school year , this is an important time to remind everyone that California maintains strong legal and constitutional protections against discrimination , harassment , and bullying . All students and their families are welcome at school and will be protected regardless of race , ethnicity , sexual orientation , gender identity , citizenship status , disability , or religious affiliation . This wonderful spectrum enriches our Golden State .
The letter went on to list out multiple resources available to educators on the internet . The list can be accessed in Torlakson ’ s letter at www . cde . ca . gov / nr / el / le / yr17ltr0824 . asp .
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ACSA President Lisa Gonzales represented the association in calling for Prop . 51 to be fulfilled .
PROP . 51
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School districts statewide have still been suffering the residual effects of the recession in this area . It is estimated that more than $ 2 billion in facilities projects is backed up in the pipeline awaiting funding . Because the state has been out of money since 2012 , some school districts have been waiting on state matching funds for the past five years .
That ’ s why the public saw a need to pass Prop . 51 .
However , despite Prop . 51 authorizing the sale of $ 7 billion in facilities bonds for K-12 schools , the governor has only thus far authorized the sale of approximately $ 400 million .
“ That is why it is so important for the Legislature and the governor ’ s administration to see the fall bond sale as a critical opportunity to meet the current demand ,” Gonzales said . “ It is our sincere hope moving forward that the governor ’ s administration will start authorizing school bond sales at the size and pace of what districts need to serve students and teachers .”