Call to Order and Roll Call
The 3rd meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Education was held on Monday, August 11, 2014, at 1:00 PM, in Room 154 of the Capitol Annex. Representative Derrick Graham, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Representative Derrick Graham, Co-Chair; Senators Jared Carpenter, David P. Givens, Denise Harper Angel, Stan Humphries, Alice Forgy Kerr, Gerald A. Neal, and Reginald Thomas; Representatives Regina Bunch, Hubert Collins, Leslie Combs, Jeffery Donohue, C.B. Embry Jr., Kelly Flood, Richard Heath, James Kay, Brian Linder, Donna Mayfield, Reginald Meeks, Charles Miller, Ruth Ann Palumbo, Marie Rader, Jody Richards, Tom Riner, Bart Rowland, Rita Smart, and Wilson Stone.
Legislative Guest: Representative Arnold Simpson.
Guests: Wayne Young, Kentucky Association of School Administrators; and Clyde Caudill, Kentucky Association of School Administrators.
LRC Staff: Jo Carole Ellis, Ben Boggs, Janet Stevens, and Daniel Clark.
Approval of the July 14, 2014, Minutes
Upon motion from Representative Hubert Collins, seconded by Representative Wilson Stone, the July 14, 2014, minutes were approved by voice vote.
Reports from Subcommittee Meetings
Representative Reginald Meeks reported that the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education discuss student success initiatives, programs, metrics, and need-based student aid and college affordability. Senator Stan Humphries reported that the Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education heard presentations from the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) on the Summer Food Service Program and the National School Lunch Program.
Priority Schools
Kelly Foster, Associate Commissioner, Office of Next Generations and Districts, KDE, said there are three cohorts of priority schools and there are 39 priority schools in Kentucky. KDE’s annual priority schools report will not be completed until school report cards come out in late September but preliminary information indicates that 21 of the 30 priority high schools are expected to achieve their college and career ready delivery targets.
Ms. Foster explained hub schools and said the purpose of each hub school is to capture their own best or promising practices and connect with other schools within their region. Hub schools are a lab of support and center of learning activity for both students and adults. During the 2013-2014 school year, the hub schools were visited by 625 representatives of 89 schools and districts. Some of the hub schools’ professional learning topics were career and technical education, pathway/program improvement, Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PGES), communication for capacity building, response to intervention, monitoring student data for gap closure, professional learning communities, and data analysis.
Ms. Foster explained the diagnostic review and said it is a performance driven system that focuses on conditions and processes within a district that impact student performance and organizational effectiveness. The diagnostic review is carried out by a team of highly qualified evaluators who examine adherence and commitment to the research aligned with AdvancED standards and indicators. There were 19 diagnostic reviews conducted in the spring of 2014 and of the 19 reviewed schools, 13 were found to be making progress through this comprehensive process.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s question regarding schools regaining leadership capacity, Ms. Foster said most school districts that have priority schools do not have capable leadership to help lead a turnaround in those priority schools. Therefore, KDE assigns education recovery staff to the priority schools to help move the schools out of priority status and to regain their own leadership.
In response to Representative Kelly Flood’s question regarding PGES and data analysis, Ms. Foster said PGES is an effectiveness system to help evaluate teachers, and each district uses data to see how students are performing and puts strategies in place to help close gaps in different subject areas.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s questions regarding priority schools and strategies used to get out of priority school status, Ms. Foster said Kentucky has a wide variety of priority schools located in different settings all over the state, and KDE focuses on the individual needs of the students and teachers in the priority school to help develop a plan for the school. KDE completes quarterly reports with all priority schools to help track data within each school.
In response to Senator David Givens’s question regarding common factors of priority schools not making progress through the comprehensive process, Ms. Foster said leadership is the main factor for not making progress, and KDE gives the recommendation to each school regarding the principal’s capacity for leading a turnaround.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s question regarding criteria used for making progress in priority schools besides test scores, Ms. Foster said parent and student surveys are used along with observations of the schools climate, leadership, and sustainability.
Representative Jeffery Donohue said Fairdale High School, located in his district, has developed a Principal’s Cabinet that meets once a month to discuss issues going on within the school. The meetings have empowered the teachers and students of the school and gives ownership in regards to what has been accomplished and needs to be accomplished.
In response to Senator Alice Forgy Kerr’s question regarding KDE meeting with students’ parents, Ms. Foster said during the diagnostic review process, KDE does not visit homes, but every parent of a child in the school receives a survey to fill out.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s question regarding surveys, Ms. Foster said the surveys are conducted through AdvancED and are available in hard copy and electronically.
In response to Representative Reginald Meeks question regarding accessing information related to Jefferson County schools, Ms. Foster said KDE has school report cards for every school available on their website and a comprehensive report that has information available on all 39 priority schools in Kentucky.
Districts of Innovation
David Cook, Director, Division of Innovation and Partner Engagement, KDE, said House Bill 37, enacted by the General Assembly in 2012, created space for local school districts to create new approaches to education by applying to the State Board of Education to be a district of innovation. The first cohort of districts of innovation was four out of 16 applicants and the second cohort was three districts out of four applicants. The application process is one that measures each application against a rubric and is not a competition between schools.
Mr. Cook said there were 26 applications for waivers of statute and administrative regulations contained in the applications of the three selected districts in cohort two. Of the 26 applications, 13 waivers were approved, five waivers were denied, and eight waivers were partially approved. The 13 waivers that were approved were in the areas of graduation requirements, class size, calendar, new technical schools, governance, and extended employment for teachers. The five waivers that were denied were in the areas of certification, career and technical education, and assessment and accountability. The eight waivers that were partially approved were in the areas of funding and assessment and accountability.
Mr. Cook said applications for the third cohort are due on or before October 31, 2014. Cohort 1 districts will receive their first on-site visit in the spring of 2015 to document progress made.
In response to Representative Wilson Stone’s questions regarding a scoring rubric, Mr. Cook said there are eight sections to the scoring rubric that are scored and then added together.
Representative Wilson Stone said it is critical for school districts to understand the scoring rubric and how to apply to become a district of innovation.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s question regarding districts of innovation applications and rubrics, Mr. Cook said KDE does extensive work with districts that were chosen and districts that were not. KDE sends each district a document that provides information in the areas of the rubric that the district was unsuccessful in and what could be done to help make the district more successful.
In response to Representative Reginald Meeks question regarding schools of innovation data in Jefferson County, Mr. Cook said he does not have any data with him and Jefferson County’s plan includes its priority schools and a Jefferson County school of innovation competition. He said it is important to look at districts of innovation as a whole instead of just a district.
In response to Chairman Derrick Graham’s questions regarding a set of standards KDE uses when evaluating schools of innovation and what happens if a district of innovation is not showing improvement, Mr. Cook said KDE uses a section of the progress monitoring document that is universal to all districts, and KDE also designs specific rubrics for each of the schools’ needs. If the district is not showing improvement, KDE can recommend probation, and if no progress is made after the probation, the waiver request will be voided and the district of innovation status will be removed from that school.
In response to Senator Gerald Neal’s question regarding limitations on schools that can apply for districts of innovation, Mr. Cook said neither the law nor regulation sets a limit on how many schools can apply. For a school to apply, 70 percent of the schools teaching staff must approve the application before it is sent to the Kentucky Board of Education for final approval.
Senator Gerald Neal stated if used properly, the districts of innovation legislation can be a very positive and powerful tool for Kentucky.
In response to Representative Charlie Miller’s questions regarding changes in guidelines to schools in Jefferson County because of middle school students moving to high schools, Terry Holliday, Commissioner, KDE, said if middle school students are moved to a high school, the high school will receive two different report cards for the high school and the middle school. The guidelines would not change.
Representative Charlie Miller said that Dr. Holliday and KDE are doing a great job in Jefferson County.
Chairman Derrick Graham said Dr. Donna Hargens, Superintendent, Jefferson County Public Schools, is doing a great job and has made every effort to work with KDE to address the needs of students in Jefferson County.
Senator Givens said if it was not for the charter school discussion, there would not be districts of innovation. There is still a need for discussion regarding charter schools. The system now in place is not allowing struggling schools to change quickly enough to benefit students.
Chairman Derrick Graham said he does not support funding for charter schools because it would cut funding for public schools.
Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program: Improving Educational Opportunity for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
Harold Kleinert, Ed.D., Executive Director, Human Development Institute, University of Kentucky, said research has shown enhanced career outcomes for students with intellectual disabilities who attend college. In 2010, 27 colleges and universities were awarded postsecondary Transition Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities (TPSID) grants. This is funded by the US Office of Postsecondary Education to help students with intellectual disabilities achieve their individualized academic and career goals.
Dr. Kleinert said the US Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008 provided funding for TPSID and provided carve-out program for students with intellectual disabilities called Comprehensive Transition Programs (CTPs). The TPSID grant also allowed Kentucky universities to consider a statewide focus for higher education for students with intellectual disabilities. CTPs are typically for two years, including four semesters at six hours per semester. Depending upon student needs, a course can be audited or for credit.
Dr. Kleinert said House Bill 45 (2013) provided for the first time Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) funds for students who receive an alternate diploma, if the student enrolls in a Kentucky college or university with a US Department of Education approved CTP. The projected total KEES funds that will be accessed this year for students with intellectual disabilities is $7,000. KEES funding for students with intellectual disabilities is based upon attending college part-time and can be applied to eight semesters. Funding amount of $250 per semester represents a mid-range scholarship award for a part-time student.
In video testimony, Alexis Cane, a student at Murray State University, said she has enjoyed her experiences as a student at Murray State University and thanked the legislators for making KEES funds available for students with intellectual disabilities.
Claire Mineer, a graduate of West Jessamine High School, said the CTP has been a great opportunity for her. This program has given her the opportunity to take classes at a postsecondary institution, work on assignments, make friends, and follow her dreams of working with children.
In response to Representative Kelly Flood’s question regarding what Ms. Mineer is studying, Ms. Mineer said she loves to be around young kids and wants to mentor young kids once she achieves her degree.
In response to Representative Wilson Stone’s question regarding legislation to increase KEES money, Dr. Kleinert said House Bill 45 (2013) set the amount at $250 for a part-time student per semester and that amount needs to be increased to $500.
Review of Administrative Regulations
There was no action taken by the committee on 704 KAR 3:346 or 704 KAR 3:370.
Review of Executive Orders 2014-460 and 2014-559
There was no action taken by the committee on the executive orders.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.