Call to Order and Roll Call
The fifth meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education was held on Monday, November 4, 2013, at 1:00 PM, in the Feix Room at the Augensteen Alumni Hall at Western Kentucky University. Senator Mike Wilson, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Mike Wilson, Co-Chair; Representative Derrick Graham, Co-Chair; Senators Joe Bowen, Denise Harper Angel, Jimmy Higdon, and Stan Humphries; Representatives John Carney, Leslie Combs, Jim DeCesare, Jeffery Donohue, C.B. Embry Jr., Richard Heath, Joni L. Jenkins, James Kay, Mary Lou Marzian, Charles Miller, Jody Richards, Tom Riner, Bart Rowland, Wilson Stone, Addia Wuchner, and Jill York.
Guests: Clyde Caudill, Kentucky Association of School Administrators and Jefferson County Public Schools; Tracy Herman, Kentucky Department of Education; Karen Timmel, Office of Education Accountability; Don Butler, Council for Community Education, and Erik Jarboe, LearNet.
LRC Staff: Kenneth Warlick, Daniel Clark, and Lisa Moore.
Chairman Wilson thanked the staff and students of Moss Middle School for the informative and enlightening tour of the school.
Approval of October 14, 2013, Minutes
Representative DeCesare moved to approve the minutes, which was seconded by Senator Higdon. The minutes were approved by voice vote.
Welcome and Western Kentucky University Update
Gary Ransdell, President, Western Kentucky University (WKU), welcomed members and said raising the academic performance of the student body, providing a unique learning environment for students, and preparing students to compete for national and international scholarship and research awards are keys to achieving the academic transformation that was envisioned in 1997. He said that The Center for Gifted Studies, The Gatton Academy, and The Honors College are three programs unique to WKU that are transforming the academic reputation of the college.
President Ransdell said the WKU Center for Gifted Studies has provided educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom for gifted and talented students, support for their families, and rigorous training and professional development for educators for more than 30 years. The Center has become one of the preeminent advocates for gifted education in the United States, and Center Director Julia Roberts is highly regarded as a national and international expert on gifted education.
President Ransdell said, in 2006, the Kentucky General Assembly approved funding to establish the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky on the WKU campus. The Gatton Academy is an independent residential high school for Kentucky’s exceptional high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The first class of Gatton students arrived at WKU in 2007. Gatton students take classes with WKU Honors students and participate in research, public service, and study abroad programs.
President Ransdell said that, in 2007, the WKU Board of Regents expanded the honors program to a fully independent Honors College. The goal to increase the Honors College enrollment to 1,200 students by 2012 has been achieved. Students in the WKU Honors College experience an intimate, highly selective learning environment similar to that of a small private college, but with the resources and benefits of a state university. Honors College students gain experience through service, applied research, and study abroad and they live and learn together in housing dedicated for Honors students.
President Ransdell said that, in 2008, WKU established the Office of Scholar Development (OSD) to help students develop the vision, experience, and skills to be independent, engaged scholars. OSD encourages research and creative activities while assisting students seeking the top national and international scholarships.
President Ransdell said college students encounter a number of changes when they begin their college career. He said students may be living away from home for the first time, meeting new people from many different cultures, and looking for ways to get involved in their new surroundings. WKU focuses on enhancing the student experience by promoting a pleasant campus life, health and wellness, leadership and volunteerism, diversity, student support services, and campus safety and communication.
President Ransdell said WKU is at the cutting edge of sustainability efforts among college campuses across the nation. WKU has not increased its budget for utilities operations for five years. A key difference in WKU today is the increased level of philanthropic support among alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and corporate partners. Prior to 1997 only about $3 million was raised annually. Today annual giving is at $17.9 million, and the University’s endowment increased from $19.3 million in 1997 to $111.8 million in 2012. As WKU’s enrollment has increased, state funds per student have decreased. He will work with the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) to address the issue in the 2014 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
President Ransdell said The Division of Extended Learning & Outreach (DELO) was created in 2003 to provide customized learning opportunities to meet specific needs. DELO is the outreach arm of the University, offering both credit and non-credit classes to students of all ages. DELO also works with businesses and organizations to provide customized training, plan special events, and develop degree programs that meet specific needs. Distance learning is an exciting and rapidly growing method of connecting students to higher education. The benefits to students are numerous, including flexible locations and flexible schedules. Distance Learning encompasses online student support Independent Learning classes, faculty support services, and the campus testing centers, and serves a large population of adult learners.
Responding to a question from Senator Wilson regarding how the SKyTeach program is impacting the College of Education at WKU, President Ransdell said it has strengthened collaboration between the College of Education and the College of Science and Engineering.
Responding to a question from Representative Miller, President Ransdell said WKU changed its requirement from a master’s degree to a Doctor of Nurse Practice (DNP) degree to comply with licensure requirements of the Nursing Standards Board. The DNP is a terminal professional degree that focuses on the clinical aspects of nursing rather than the academic research and prepares registered nurses to become nurse practitioners. There are 90 students enrolled in the DNP program.
Representative Graham commended Representative Richards for the vision behind the Gatton Academy. He said the Gatton Academy’s awards and recognitions include: being ranked the top high school in America by Newsweek in 2012; being named to the Washington Post’s “Public Elite” high schools list in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012; and being named an Intel School of Distinction Finalist in 2012 for excellence in science.
Representative Richards asked the committee for support to expand the Gatton Academy enrollment. President Ransdell said $2.8 was appropriated in the base budget that funds the operating costs of the program for 120 students who are admitted through a highly competitive enrollment process. There is a plan to expand the program to 200 students, but this will require additional beds. He is working with Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Commissioner Terry Holliday and Governor Steve Beshear to obtain funding through KDE.
Responding to Representative Combs, President Ransdell said Northern Kentucky University (NKU) is the other university that is losing funding per student as it increases in size.
Gatton Academy Update
Chairman Wilson thanked Julia Roberts, Executive Director, Gatton Academy, for hosting the committee members to lunch with the Gatton Academy students.
Dr. Tim Gott, Director, said students from 107 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have attended the Academy in its first five years, and 267 students have graduated from the Academy. The average ACT score of incoming high school juniors selected for the Academy’s Class of 2014 was 30.02 compared to the statewide average of 19.6. In 2012, graduating seniors of the Gatton Academy outperformed their high school peers for the fifth consecutive year on the ACT, posting an average score of 32 out of 36.
Dr. Gott said over 90 percent of the students complete an applied research project, although it is not a requirement. For the 2011 and 2012 classes, 75 percent of the students participated in travel experiences to various parts of the globe during their two years at the Gatton Academy. Students typically pay for two-thirds of the study abroad trip.
Dr. Roberts noted that 100 percent of Gatton Academy students matriculate to a four-year college or university. She said 62 percent of graduates enter into a STEM field of study and over 10 students are in medical school at the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville. About 31 percent of graduates enroll into postsecondary education at WKU. Gatton students account for enrollment in over 70 universities across the United States.
Responding to Senator Wilson’s question regarding admission to the Gatton Academy, Dr. Roberts said the process is very similar to applying to a college. Gatton Academy applicants are high school sophomores who will have completed Geometry, Algebra I, and Algebra II by the end of their sophomore year. Students are selected based on: SAT or ACT scores; academic grades from ninth and tenth grades; interest in advanced careers in STEM; student responses to application essay questions; interviews by Academy staff members; and recommendations from teachers and other individuals who can attest to a student’s need and preparedness for the program. The application process is competitive, with about 20 percent of applicants being accepted.
Responding to a question from Senator Bowen regarding how many students complete the program, Dr. Roberts said most finish, but not all. Dr. Gott said the Gatton Academy has experienced a 20 percent student dropout rate over the last several years. The program loses three to four students each semester largely due to academic stress and lack of work ethic. The school does not lose students for financial reasons. The General Assembly makes it possible to provide room, board, and tuition for the students.
Responding to Senator Bowen regarding transportation issues, Dr. Gott said many students who live in the same area of the state carpool for home visits. Donors help families who cannot afford textbooks. Money has never been an issue that kept a student from attending the program if selected.
Responding to questions from Representative Graham regarding why some counties have not contributed students to the Gatton Academy and covering the cost of students traveling abroad, Dr. Gott said a few counties, such as Casey, are not strong enough academically to have a student accepted into the program. He also said that staff traveled to Morgan County, Floyd County, and Wolfe County high schools to speak with students to raise awareness about the program in those areas.
Dr. Gott said $1,350 of the $2,100 in expenses for the Costa Rica trip abroad are covered, and students pay the remainder. The trip planned for Italy will be $3,750, which that leaves a $2,400 balance. If financially unable to pay, students apply for scholarships.
Responding to a question from Representative Stone regarding the number of Gatton Academy students receiving free and reduced lunch, Dr. Gott said about fifteen percent would qualify.
Responding to Representative Stone regarding the number of college credit hours earned per student, Dr. Roberts said the minimum is 60 college credit hours, but many students typically get two-thirds of a college degree while attending the Gatton Academy.
The Leader In Me Program
Joe Tinius, Superintendent, Bowling Green Independent Schools, said The Leader In Me initiative is applying the concepts of the book The 7 Habits of Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, to students. Children learn best at early ages and the program teaches children a strong work ethic as early as five or six years of age. All children can choose to be a leader or a follower, and this program teaches children to be responsible and lead themselves. The skills children learn in the Leader In Me Program will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
Rob Clayton, Superintendent, Warren County Schools, said his school district is in the third year of implementation of The Leader In Me program. He would like to see the program replicated in all schools. The program contains values that the community wants to see taught to students. Bowling Green business and industry have supported the program by donating $1.3 million to the school districts to help cover costs.
Tonya Matthews, Vice President Partnership Services, Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, shared a story with the committee about how The Leader In Me program changed the life of a student. Over 11,000 businesses have indicated they need people who will work in a team, show up on time, and have the necessary skills to be productive workers.
Ms. Matthews said by 2017, Bowling Green, Kentucky, may be the first city in the nation to have the K-12 Leader In Me program in place. She said $1.6 million will build “light house” teams within each school to sustain the program. The city is $370,000 short of meeting that amount. She asked legislators for help in spreading the story of what is happening in Bowling Green. She has received calls from Pennsylvania and New York wanting to know about the program.
Responding to a question from Senator Wilson, Mr. Tinius said there are fewer disciplinary actions and referrals of discipline actions since the implementation of The Leader In Me program. Mr. Clayton agreed.
Responding to Senator Wilson, Ms. Matthews said the program can be easily replicated in other communities. FranklinCovey will feature Bowling Green in a case study on its website. The chamber of commerce is working on a manual on how to replicate the program. She noted $618,000 has been invested in The Leader In Me program to date.
Responding to Representative DeCesare regarding long-term plans of implementing the program in high schools, Mr. Nolan Marx, Senior Client Partner, FranklinCovey, said FranklinCovey is developing the content for high school teachers to incorporate in their instruction. Mr. Tinius said buy-in from the staff and students is critical for the program to be successful, and if teenagers have been exposed to the program at earlier ages, it is easier for them to grasp the concepts. One high school in Bowling Green Independent has completed the vision portion of the training.
Representative Wuchner said she is impressed with the program and would like to see it implemented in Boone County.
Mr. Tinius gave an update on the Bowling Green Independent school district. The district is comprised of approximately 4,000 students. He said 56 percent of the students qualify for free and reduced lunch, 40 percent are minorities, and 14 percent speak English as a Second Language. Among these students, 26 different languages are spoken. Schools with the highest percentages of students in poverty also have the highest percentages of children speaking English as a Second Language. The school district places a huge emphasis on the arts, as well as academic success.
Mr. Tinius said The School Report Card and the District Report Card indicate that the schools and the district performed very well on achievement growth scores. The growth score is determined by the number of students who show typical or higher rates of growth in relation to peers. This means that interventions are having a positive impact on student achievement. The district will continue to assess students quarterly with assessments aligned to standards and to provide immediate small group intense intervention for those students who are not performing at benchmark.
Bowling Green Junior High and Bowling Green High School students performed above the state average on College and Career Readiness on the Education Performance Analysis System (EPAS) assessment system. More students are taking Advanced Placement classes. This means that efforts to engage students and to provide students with more rigorous learning tasks are significantly impacting student achievement.
Mr. Tinius said new buildings constructed in the district are energy efficient. The elementary school constructed in 2009 was the first to have solar tubes, which brings in direct sunlight and reduces the amount of electricity used in the building.
Mr. Tinius said that the Bowling Green Independent school district places priority on building strong relationships with students, preparing students for the 21st century, helping students take more responsibility with their learning, and helping staff to continue growing as professionals each year.
Mr. Clayton said Warren County Schools focuses on what is best for the students by ensuring learning for all students and providing multiple opportunities for students. Warren County focuses on the instructional capacity of its teachers and the leadership capacity of the leadership group.
Mr. Clayton said Warren County is the most diverse school district in Kentucky serving over 14,000 children from pre-school to 12th grade and providing services to children who speak more than 40 languages from across the world. The school district serves nearly 1.5 million lunches each year, and has 182 buses that travel 13,210 miles per day.
Warren County serves 20 percent of Kentucky’s refugee students and serves a 47.9 percent student population whom qualify for free and reduced lunch. The district provides state-of-the-art technology available to all students, including ActiveBoard technology in every classroom.
Warren County is home to the nation’s first Net Zero School, Richardson Elementary, which is capable of operating virtually without cost producing more clean energy with solar panels than it consumes in purchased energy. The district has managed to offset nearly $6 million in energy costs through its energy conservation policy since 2003, which is equal to saving more than 123 teaching positions.
Mr. Clayton said the General Assembly should be creative in providing the funding that school districts need. Cuts to elementary education hurt the students, and districts are being asked to do more with less.
Representative Richards commended both school districts and the Gatton Academy.
With no further business before the committee, the meeting adjourned at 3:15 PM CT.