The Wolf Administration … issued directives aimed at addressing the troubling incidents of racism and religious intolerance that have played out across Pennsylvania schools in the wake of the election.
The administration has directed schools to contact the Pennsylvania Department of Education Safe Schools office and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission whenever an incident of hate or intolerance takes place. State offices will dispatch counselors to the school and along with commission staff take appropriate measures to provide assistance. The Pennsylvania State Police will also play a role, monitoring threats and providing support to victims and other law enforcement agencies.
“We need to fight racism and bigotry when it arises and my administration will work actively with school districts and other public institutions to stand up to intolerance,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in a written statement. “Our schools must be safe and open spaces where all children can learn and grow free of concerns for their physical, mental, and emotional safety…”
The State Department of Education is still on track to meet federal compliance deadlines, despite missing one of its self-imposed deadlines this week, a department spokesman said.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra and her executive team still want to submit Idaho’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan to the feds in March.
This timetable would actually afford the state a couple of months to receive feedback from the feds, department spokesman Jeff Church said.
And if the plan doesn’t comply, submitting the paperwork in March would provide Idaho a buffer. The state could make revisions and still have time to resubmit the plan in the summer, meeting the feds’ second deadline.
The ESSA plan is required to take effect during the 2017-18 school year.
Originally, Ybarra’s timeline called for submitting a draft of the ESSA compliance plan to the State Board of Education on Tuesday.
That means the State Board will not debate the plan and vote on it at its December meeting. The SDE must submit its plan to the State Board before submitting it to the feds.
During a telephone interview Wednesday, Church said Ybarra and her team want to be deliberative about crafting the plan, and decided to slow down in order to better incorporate public feedback.
“This is the state’s effort to be collaborative and involve the stakeholders in developing a plan that is truly Idaho’s plan,” Church said.
Since the 102-page draft was unveiled Nov. 1, educators, parents, taxpayers, paraprofessionals and some of Idaho’s most prominent education groups have said their voices were not sought out or built into the draft.
Church said the decision to slow down the SDE’s timeline is a response to that feedback.
It also gives the SDE time to finish the plan. As of late last week, details of the plan surrounding teacher quality, student achievement and school accountability remained unfinished.
In the days and weeks ahead, Church said SDE leaders will draft a new plan that incorporates feedback collected during a series of five public hearings earlier this month. SDE leaders will also work to update and post a new ESSA timeline.
Then, Ybarra and the SDE will submit their new compliance plan to State Board in early 2017, although an exact date has yet to be determined. Ybarra will also make sure Gov. Butch Otter and the Legislature have a chance to review the plan and offer suggestions.
Debbie Critchfield
State Board member Debbie Critchfield applauded the SDE’s decision to pump the brakes.
“At the most basic level, I wanted to see something that was complete before I voted on it,” Critchfield said. “I actually think that it is a good move on the part of the department if they are falling back and allowing themselves the opportunity to fill in the gaps and make accommodations for public feedback.”
At this time, Church said SDE leaders have not scheduled any additional forums or public hearings devoted to the ESSA plan. However, he said feedback will continue to be solicited and encouraged through the SDE’s website.
ESSA touches on a wide range of education issues, from school accountability and assessment testing to teaching English language learners, complying with federal programs and offering professional development training to teachers.
ESSA is notable, in part, because it pushes oversight and control of public schools away from the federal government toward the state.
Idaho has not had any kind of formal school accountability program in place since Ybarra took office in January 2015.
Pennlive.com, By Ryan Riley — The increase in graduation rate calls for an increase in the standard of education for students.
With graduation a handful of months away, high school seniors are preparing themselves for their turn to walk in a cap and gown to receive their diploma.
What has been an issue for many high schoolers in the past can now be a light at the end of the tunnel to know that the nationwide high school graduate rate has hit a new record of 83.2 percent, which is four points greater than the 2010-2011 school year.
This is the highest the graduation rate has ever been in the country, and marks a huge achievement for educators, state facilitators and the students themselves.
Schools should take a great deal of pride in the fact that the graduation rates have increased, as this shows promise for continued improvement. However, our jobs are not done yet.
The national math and reading test scores for college entrance exams, such as the SAT and ACT, are currently in decline…
On November 2, 2016, the National School Boards Association submitted public comment in response to the U.S. Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) implementing provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) relating to the Title I fiscal compliance test, supplement not supplant. NSBA members believe that “public schools should provide equitable access and ensure that all students have the knowledge and skills to succeed as contributing members of a rapidly changing, global society, regardless of factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, English proficiency, immigration status, socioeconomic status, or disability.” With these equity goals in mind, and on behalf of its membership, NSBA expressed several concerns with the proposed regulation, including that provisions of the rule conflict with ESSA in a way that undermines local governance. The full text of NSBA’s public comment can be accessed below.
In October 2015, the U.S. Department of Education’s, Office of Education Technology (OET) launched the #GoOpen Initiative via a White House briefing. Since that… read more
This was a week of education celebrations in Wyoming. It was a pleasure to attend several of the events.
Congratulations to the Blue Ribbon Schools:
Southside Elementary School in Worland
Fort Caspar Academy in Casper
Wilson Elementary School in Wilson
Also, Lingle-Fort Laramie Elementary School cut the ribbon to open their new school.
Finally, the prevention and safety app, Safe2Tell, rolled out in Casper (pilot district). The app replaces the WeTip program and will be available in all schools within six months.
Ft. Caspar Academy celebrates earning the Blue Ribbon award
JAC Chairman Harshman and OHS Director Guy Cameron discuss the hard work and collaboration in passing and implementing Safe2Tell in Wyoming
Ribbon cutting at the new Lingle-Ft. Laramie Elementary School
ESSA ROUNDTABLE
Thank you for the great attendance at the ESSA Roundtable held in Casper. Recall that Wyoming was one of several states to host a listening session attended by the US Department of Education. The topic was implementation of the new law in our state. We were very pleased with the content, depth, and variety of questions and comments. The meeting was streamed and will be available on our website shortly. The Powerpoint will also be available. A new set of listening sessions begins next week. The meetings will primarily be held at community colleges. This is one more opportunity to provide input on how ESSA should be implemented at the local level. All are invited to attend these listening sessions. The WDE will reach out to personally invite higher education, business and industry, and local government officials. Thank you, in advance, for helping spread the word. Here is a link to the dates and the media release.
NAEP SCORES were released this week. To see how Wyoming and the nation did, follow this link.
