Jan. 28, 2003

At last night's USD 470 board of education meeting at IXL Elementary, the two reports focused on student achievement and the No Child Left Behind Act.

IXL Principal J.K. Campbell told the board what his staff is doing to increase student achievement. The presentation, "Closing the Achievement Gap," involved teachers and students. It showcased effective instructional strategies teachers have gained through recent professional development opportunities.

Nine instructional stations were set up in the IXL gym &endash; three reading, three math and three writing. The board and audience rotated to a different station every five minutes to watch instruction and learning in action. The board and audience members were given a handout with a list of strategies to look for in the presentation. Campbell said these strategies are aligned to the state's standards and the district curriculum.

The presentation also included a brief overview of what the IXL data shows about student achievement in math, reading and writing. Nancy Burger, Success for All facilitator, and Deb Herndon, Resource Room teacher, presented graphs to show how IXL students score on state assessment tests and the Scholastic Reading Inventory.

"We're doing all we can to improve student achievement," Campbell said. "We're focusing on teacher quality."

He said IXL's goal is to have 80 percent of students on grade level in math.

"Our scores [on the state assessments] indicate we're not there yet, but we're getting there," Campbell said. "We're on the right road."

He said the staff is focusing on effective instruction and time on task, among other aligned strategies, to help close the achievement gap.

Jan Voss, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, presented a PowerPoint presentation about the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

The following are highlights of the presentation:

• The guiding principles of NCLB are accountability for student performance; focus on what works; reduce bureaucracy and increase flexibility; and empower parents through involvement.
• States must set annual standard measurable objectives for adequate yearly progress (AYP), which:
  • Is primarily based on academic assessments;
  • Must include secondary school graduation rates;
  • Must include elementary school attendance rates; and
  • There must be at least 95 percent participation in the assessment.
• If a school fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years it is placed on school improvement. Immediately after a school is found to be in need of improvement, officials will receive help and technical assistance. These schools will develop a two-year plan to turn around the school. Every student in the school will be given the option to transfer to another public school in the district that is not on school improvement. The district must notify parents when a school is identified for school improvement.
• If a school is identified for school improvement makes AYP for two consecutive years, the school is no longer subject to those remedial actions.
• States must implement academic assessments, as follows:
  • Now through 2004-05 school year: math and reading/language arts will be tested at least once each in grades 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12.
  • Beginning in 2005-06 school year: math and reading/language arts every year in grades 3-8 and at least once in high school.
  • Beginning 2007-08 school year: science at least once each in grades 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12.
• New qualifications for paras. All paras hired after Jan. 8, 2002, and working in Title I-Part A programs must have:
  • Completed at least two years of study at a higher education institution; OR
  • Obtained an associate's (or higher) degree; OR
  • Met a rigorous standard of quality and can demonstrate, through a formal state or local assessment (1) knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and math, or (2) knowledge and ability to assist in instructing readiness in these subjects.
• Existing paras must meet the same standard within four years (by Jan. 8, 2005). It applies only to instructional paras (does not apply to paras who act primarily as translators, and does not apply to paras whose duties are solely related to parent involvement activities). All Title I paras, regardless of hire date, must have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Voss' presentation included information from the U.S. Department of Education; Maree Sneed, attorney, Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P.; National Association of School Boards; Education Trust, Inc.; Kansas Department of Education; and Kansas Association of School Boards.

"This (law) is so significant," Superintendent Perry L. Perkins said. "As long as we keep focused, I think we'll be ok. We need to constantly come back to student achievement. I have confidence that our staff members can do what it takes to do this, but don't think it (NCLB) doesn't have dollar signs attached to it."

The No Child Left Behind Act, which is more than 1,500 pages long, includes numerous other provisions and details. For more information about NCLB, visit www.NoChildLeftBehind.gov.

In other business, the board passed the one action item on the agenda. With a vote of 7-0, the board authorized the issuance of a Request for Proposals for a food service contract, as approved and authorized by the Kansas State Department of Education, Food Services Division.

USD 470 has contracted for food services since 1998. This has been a cost-effective measure for the district with minimal expense increases and very limited price increases for both students and staff.

Both the Department of Agriculture and the Food Services Division of the Kansas State Department of Education require contracting school districts to issue a Request for Proposals that must be approved by both the local board of education and by the Department of Education. Qualifying proposals will be brought to the BOE for final consideration.

The board went into executive session to discuss negotiations and non-elected personnel. No public action was taken following executive session.

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