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Acting Commissioner Schundler Attends January State Board Meeting

Process of Adoption of Common Core Standards in Language Arts & Math Discussed, Charter School Expedited Approval Process Adopted

January 20, 2010

Acting Commissioner Bret Schundler attended the January 20 meeting of the New Jersey State Board of Education. Schundler reinforced his belief about New Jerse’s educational excellence and his intent to work together with stakeholders. Deputy Commissioner Willa Spicer also announced that she will be remaining onboard for the time being and provided some background on the Department’s Race to the Top Application. Regulations associated with an expedited charter school application process were approved by the Board. The process by which the State Board would review and potentially adopt the Language Arts and Math common core standards was also discussed.

Commissioner’s Report

New Jersey submitted its Race to the Top (RTTT) application January 19 with the help of Wireless Generation. Over 378 districts agreed to sign on to the application, in addition to twenty-six (26) charter schools and several vocational schools Large and small districts were represented within the 378. Many non-Title 1 districts chose to also be involved although under the grant, fifty (50) percent of the funds the State receives will go to Title 1 districts who “opt in” to the program by formula. The formula combines the funds a Title 1 district normally receives with those supplemental funds received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to determine the share a district would receive under the competitive application.

The Deputy Commissioner outlined the four areas that were included in New Jersey’s application:

1. A Focus on Assessment & Curriculum through the common core standards
2. Establishing Comprehensive Data Systems which drive instruction based upon formative assessment
3. Development of a Performance Evaluation Tool which focuses on student growth and would include an evaluation of teachers and principals based upon student performance. The Deputy Commissioner stressed that the development of the tool would include organizational stakeholders. The application also permits an award to schools as a whole who exceed standards. Deputy Commissioner Spicer explained that the State Board would the entity responsible for establishing such standards.
4. School Intervention for New Jersey’s thirty (30) lowest performing schools which wsould require schools decide upon one of four models as follows:
   • Turnaround Model: This would include among other actions, replacing the principal and at least 50 percent of the school’s staff, adopting a new governance structure and implementing a new or revised instructional program.
   • School Closure: The district would shut down a failing school and enroll its students in high-achieving schools in the district.
   • Restart Model: School districts would close failing schools and reopen them under the management of a charter school operator, a charter management organization or an educational management organization selected through a rigorous review process.
   • Transformational Model: Districts would address four specific areas:
     1. developing teacher and school leader effectiveness, which includes replacing the principal and requiring student achievement growth to be used to reward and dismiss teachers,
     2. implementing comprehensive instructional reform strategies,
     3. extending learning and teacher planning time and creating community-oriented schools, and
     4. providing operating flexibility and sustained support.

In addition, the Department is committed to providing additional resources to districts in school intervention to move them out of status. Specifically, schools will be assembled into “clusters” of three (3) to five (5) schools and assigned a “turnaround officer” to work with the cluster to improve school performance. Schools will participate in summer workshops. Teachers in these schools will receive funds to provide for extended day services to schools and teachers will be expected to spend more time working in “teacher groups.”

Deputy Commissioner Spicer recognized that the application does not represent a finished product and that there is much more work to come. Spicer reiterated that the strength of New Jersey’s application is in the work we have done as a State thus far since over fifty (50) percent of the application’s scoring is based upon past accomplishment. Approximately forty (40) states provided notice of an intent to apply for the grants back in November. The USDOE is expected to award ten to fifteen grants over the two rounds of the grant program. New Jersey’s share would equate to between $200 and $400 million in federal funds.

President Obama on January 19 stated that he plans to include approximately $1.9 billion in additional funding to the competitive program as part of next year’s budget.

Questions on the application can be addressed to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office directly or individuals can send an email to: NJRTTquestions@doe.state.nj.us

Items for Consideration

Charter Schools

Reporting:

Division of District & School Improvement

Stage:

Adoption

Commissioner&rdsquo;s Recommendation:

That the State Board proposes the amendments pertaining to the early action approval process for Charter School applications at N.J.A.C. 6A:11-1 et seq.

Background:

N.J.A.C. 6A:11 regulates Charter Schools. While the chapter is not scheduled to expire until May 10, 2012 the Department is proposing amendments which will allow the Department of Education to provide an expedited approval process for applicants who seek fast track review in order to open a new charter school within a shorter time frame.

Discussion:

There was no opposition to the expedited process.

Outcome:

Approved

Standards & Assessment

Reporting:

Division of Education Standards & Programs

Stage:

Second Discussion

Commissioner’s Recommendation:

That the State Board discuss the proposed readoption amendment to the Standards and Assessment Code pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:8.

Background:

The Department of Education (Department) is proposing to readopt N.J.A.C. 6A:8, Standards and Assessment, with amendments. The chapter, which implements the Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Statewide assessment system, is scheduled to expire June 7, 2010. The Standards and Assessment rules were originally adopted in May 2000, readopted with amendments in June 2005, and most recently amended in June and September 2009.

On January 9, 2008, the State Board of Education adopted revised Core Curriculum Content Standards in mathematics and language arts literacy. The primary focus of this revision was on the high school expectations in the two content areas. On June 17, 2009, the State Board of Education adopted revised Core Curriculum Content Standards in visual and performing arts, comprehensive health and physical education, science, technology, 21st century life and careers, and world languages. On September 16, 2009, the State Board of Education adopted revised Core Curriculum Content Standards in social studies.

Discussion:

The department is proposing to readopt this provision without substantive changes. Based upon comments received, a technical amendment was made N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.2(b)5i to specify that an integrated curriculum should be based on Standard 9.

Outcome:

Matter moves to adoption level.

Discussion on the adoption of the Controversies and Disputes regulations were held at the request of the Acting Commissioner until the meeting in February. Renewal of regulations impacting the Katzenbach school were also reviewed.

Work Session

The Office of Math and Science Education also provided the Board information on how public input on the common core standards in math and language arts is expected to occur over the next several months.

New Jersey joined the list of 49 States and Territories in a state-led process to develop common English-language arts and mathematics standards back in June of 2009. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is jointly led by the National Governors Assoc. Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).

When New Jersey signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA), it committed itself to a state-led process to develop a common core of state standards in English language arts and mathematics for grades K-12. The standards are to be research- and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations, and include rigorous content and skills.

States have the opportunity to review the standards throughout the development process and will make a choice to accept or deny the standards individually. The standards for math and language arts will be released on February 2. States will then have an opportunity over a two (2) week period of time to comment on the content of these standards before they become “final.”

The Department will be setting up twelve (12) meetings monthly (during the February through March timeframe) across the State to get input from stakeholders on the content of these standards. The Department also plans to reactivate email box through the Office of Academic Standards to garner comments. The public also has the opportunity to comment directly to the authors.

Once the content public review period ends in approximately mid-March, State Board review will begin. The Department will continue to solicit comments from the public but the focus will shift from content to potential adoption of the standards. The Department will continue to meet with stakeholders to assess the impact on classroom practice, curricula revision, etc.

A Resolution for Adoption is expected to be presented to the Board at the February 2010 meeting with Public Testimony coincidentally scheduled. The Deparment hopes to act on adoption by April of 2010. This will allow districts sufficient time to review the new standards over the summer and ensure the new requirements are implemented in the fall of 2010.

In addition to New Jersey, the following states and territories have also signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA): Alabama; Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Vermont; Virgin Islands; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Wyoming.

President’s Report

New Jersey’s School Boards were also recognized by a State Board Resolution as part of School Boiard Recognition Month. School Board Association President Harry Delgado accepted the resolution for the organization.