NCLB Update Mid-Maine Sharing Conference V Maine Department

NCLB Update Mid-Maine Sharing Conference V Maine Department of Education Kathryn Manning Jackie Godbout Rachelle Tome

School Recognition • Federal Level – National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID) : Distinguished Title IA School – NCLB--Blue Ribbon Schools Program • State Level – Recognition for Reading and Math Performance

Federal—National Association of State Title I Directors (NASTID) Each year NASTID recognizes two Title IA schools* from each state for recognition: • Sustained Achievement: The state’s Title IA school that has exhibited exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years. • Closing the Gap: The state’s Title IA school that has had made the most progress in significantly closing the achievement gap between student groups. *Schools selected must meet minimum poverty criteria of 40% and could not have received this recognition last year.

2007 Sustained Achievement School Lura Libby School—SAD 50 • Demonstrated improvement for 4 out of the past 5 years. • 52. 3% of the students were proficient in math • 66. 7% of the students were proficient in reading • Fewer than 10% of the students performed in the Does Not Meet category in both reading and math • Made AYP for whole group and subgroups for past two years

Title IA Schools Previously Recognized • • SAD 37 Columbia Falls Elementary School SAD 37 Harrington Elementary School SAD 37 Cherryfield Elementary School Union 122 New Sweden Consolidated School • SAD 33 Dr. Levesque School

Closing the Gap This is a baseline year for state assessment data, therefore we did not identify a school in this category. We hope to identify a school for this award next year.

Schools are recognized at the NASTID Conference • January 2007 • January 2008 Long Beach, CA Nashville, TN Changing Performance January 31 -February 3 Conference Information located at http: //www. aplusevents. com/t 07/

Federal—Blue Ribbon Schools The No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement.

Eligibility The program requires schools to meet either of two assessment criteria. • Dramatically Improving- schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance in accordance with state assessment systems • High Performing- schools that score in the top 10 percent on state assessments.

Nomination Criteria • The U. S. Department of Education determines how many schools each state may nominate based on enrollment numbers. • Maine may nominate up to 3 schools. • At least one of the nominated schools must meet the first criterion of having 40 percent of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nomination/ Award Process • Nominations are sent from the SEA to USDE in early November • Nominated schools are notified by USDE in late November and invited to apply for Blue Ribbon Status • Applications are due in early February • Secretary of Education announces the Blue Ribbon Schools in September • School personnel are invited to Washington, D. C. in late fall to receive a plaque and flag signifying Blue Ribbon Status

Maine Recipients 2004 Conners Emerson School- Bar Harbor 2005 Plummer-Motz School- Falmouth Strong Elementary School- Strong Yarmouth High School- Yarmouth

Want to know more? http: //www. ed. gov/programs/nclbbrs/faq. html

State Recognition • Annual recognition based on state assessment data • Letter and Certificate sent to school • Schools posted on the Maine Department of Education website: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Status of Maine Schools

State Recognition (cont. ) High Performing Schools (Reading or Mathematics) • 75 % Meets or Exceeds • 3 Year Average Improving Schools (Reading or Mathematics) • Reducing % in DNM • Comparison of DNM % to M & E % • Five year review w/at least 4 showing improvement

Funding 2007 -08 Title IA decreased by $2 Million Title IIA --little change Title IID--no change Title III--slight increase expected Title IV--no change Title V, VI--no change

NCLB Monitoring • Monitor each SAU every 5 years • 2007 -08 will begin a new cycle • Monitoring information located at http: //www. maine. gov/education/nclb/monitor ing/home. htm • Information will be updated but requirements will not change until new authorization

What it looks like • Meet at central office to get overview • Meet with each Title’s contact person • Go over Pre-review Self Assessment documentation • Visit Schools • Interview Title Staff at each school • Prepare oral report • Send a follow up letter • Follow up on citations if any are found

Findings Often Include • Need for Updated Parent Involvement Policies— District/School • Need for Parent Compacts • Need for Parent Evaluation of Programs/Training • Late submission of Application/Performance Report and other required paperwork • Need for Periodic Certifications and Personnel Activity Reports • Need for HQT Letters • Need for updated Lau Plan • Undocumented Contracted Services • NCLB Report Cards

NCLB Report Cards • State and local school district report cards are critical tools for promoting accountability for schools, local school districts, and States by publicizing data about student performance and program effectiveness for parents, policy makers, and other stakeholders. • Report cards help parents and the general public see where schools and districts are succeeding and where there is still work to do. • http: //www. ed. gov/programs/titleiparta/reportcard sguidance. doc

Report Cards (cont. ) • Assessment Data (MEA/ MHSA Report) for SAU/School • Accountability (AYP Report) for SAU/School • The professional qualifications of all public elementary and secondary school teachers in the State, as defined by the State (e. g. , bachelors and advanced degrees, licensure) for SAU/School.

Report Cards (cont. ) • • • Assessment Data—all students Accountability Data—does not include students who have not been in the district for a full academic year (FAY) Data whole group and disaggregated subgroups – – – Whole group Major Racial & Ethnic groups Students with Disabilities Limited English Proficient Economically Disadvantaged Migrant[1] – Gender 3 [1] Note that the subgroups of migrant and gender are subgroups for reporting purposes only and are not among the required subgroups for adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations.

Report Cards (cont. ) SAUs must disseminate district and school report cards to: (1) All schools served by the local educational agency; (2) All parents of students attending those schools; and (3) The community, through public means, such as posting on the Internet, distribution to the media, and distribution through public agencies, public libraries, etc.

Contracts http: //www. maine. gov/education/edletrs/2007/ adlet/07 adlet 006. htm $ in NCLB Applications under contracted services requires the following: • A written contract signed by the SAU and the contracted entity • Rationale for why the contractor was chosen

Contracts (cont. ) • References obtained as applicable; • A written code of standards of conduct for the SAU; • Relevant records maintained such as copies of contracts, participants attending professional development, other costs documented; • A process for dispute resolution.

Contracts (cont. ) • NCLB Application will have a process for asking these questions. • A SAU response of no will result in not being able to report expenditures for contracts on the Performance Report until the SAU can respond in the affirmative.

Reauthorization ESEA is up for reauthorization 2008 • President’s Plan—Building on Results: A Blueprint for Strengthening NCLB http: //www. ed. gov/news/opeds/factsheets/inde x. html? src=gu • NASTID Legislative Recommendations http: //www. titlei. org/documents/finalnclbpape r 61003. pdf

Reauthorization • ESEA is scheduled for reauthorization • NCLB was originally authorized with little input from educators • Check the Federal Register • Let legislators know what is important to you

Inventory/Tracking • Inventory purchases with a cost of $3, 000 • Need to track any purchase with a cost of $500 or more or if it is something you would expect to be replaced or repaired. http: //www. maine. gov/education/edletrs/2007/adlet/07 adlet 006. htm

Questions?

Contacts • • • Title IA Title IC Title III Title IV Title IID, V, VI 624 -6705 624 -6830 624 -6788 287 -2595 624 -6815