Date: 02/01/2012
Final
Colorado Department of Education Updates
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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07:39 AM -- Colorado Department of Education Updates
CAP4K Update. Jo O'Brien, Assistant Commissioner, Colorado Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to provide an update on the implementation of Colorado's Preschool to Postsecondary Alignment Act (CAP4K). She provided a handout that provides a bill summary and implementation accomplishments as of January 2012 (Attachment A). Ms. O'Brien explained that in 2009, the State Board of Education (SBE) adopted a definition for school readiness and postsecondary and work force readiness (PWR). She reported that the next step that was completed was the expansion and refinement of the model content standards, saying that work was completed one year prior to the adoption of the common core standards by the SBE. Ms. O'Brien explained that 44 other states have adopted the common core standards. The next step, she explained, was the realignment of assessments with the new standards. She talked about feedback from stakeholders around assessments, saying it is important to those in the field that they get feedback multiple times per year. She also reported that school districts have assured that their local standards meet or exceed the state standards. Ms. O'Brien stated that conversations are underway around endorsed diplomas, and making diplomas meaningful. She said that, in the near future, CDE and the Department of Higher Education will begin conversations about reviewing and updating higher education expectations, admission policies, and teacher preparation programs. Finally, she said, local districts will implement school readiness assessments and create individualized readiness plans.
07:49 AM
Ms. O'Brien responded to committee questions. Senator Hudak asked for information about where financial literacy fits into the model content standards. Ms. O'Brien explained that financial literacy is built into the math and economic standards. It will be assessed she said, through the mathematics assessment. Representative Hamner asked how districts' work in creating a local blueprint fits into CAP4K implementation. Ms. O'Brien responded, describing the work that is being done and the deadlines established in law. Follow-up conversation between Representative Hamner and Ms. O'Brien ensued. Senator Bacon asked about work being done around school readiness and programs that might address those issues. Ms. O'Brien responded, explaining that funding issues prevent establishment of programs to supplement and support school readiness. Senator Bacon noted the need for a whole bank of assessments. Ms. O'Brien responded, saying content collaboratives, which begin today, are the start of that work. She discussed the importance of assessments being unobtrusive and as diagnostic as possible.
07:58 AM
Ms. O'Brien continued responding to committee questions, with Representative Todd asking about financial literacy and at what grade level it is assessed. Ms. O'Brien responded, saying personal financial literacy is articulated clearly in the standards, but there are questions in districts around when to begin financial literacy instruction. She said that when new assessments are developed, it will be more clear when that instruction should occur. Ms. O'Brien responded to follow-up questions from Representative Todd on this issue. Representative Ramirez asked for clarification of Ms. O'Brien's earlier use of several acronyms. Ms. O'Brien responded, providing information about the Colorado Basic Literacy Act (CBLA) and the Colorado Preschool Program (CPP). Representative Schafer asked about information literacy standards. Ms. O'Brien responded, talking about on-line assessments and technologies that will accelerate the speed of communications to teachers. She noted that information management is contained within the standards and said an assessment will be developed.
08:10 AM
Education Accountability Update. Keith Owen, Associate Commissioner, and Patrick Chapman, Office of Federal Programs, CDE, came to the table to provide an update on accountability issues. They provided a handout (Attachment B). Dr. Owen began by talking about performance frameworks, explaining that the indicators on the district and school performance framework reports build to different accreditation plan types. He said that each school and district is required to submit a unified improvement plan, which is available on SchoolVIEW. He said the plans drive changes that are necessary at the district and the school level. Dr. Owen discussed support for districts, based on their plan type, talking specifically about districts that are in the priority improvement or turn-around plan categories. He said he is meeting with the district superintendent and school board of the six districts that are on turnaround plan status. Dr. Owen said CDE is working to capture best practices from districts that are at the high end of the scale and to share those practices around the state.
08:17 AM
Dr. Owen responded to committee questions. Senator King asked how graduation rates are calculated for the district performance framework report. Somoh Supharukchinda, Field Services, CDE, came to the table to respond to Senator King's question. She explained that CDE is moving toward calculating a four-year on-time graduation rate, as well as calculating five-, six-, and seven-year graduation rates. Senator King made a number of comments about the way graduation rates are calculated and how the performance indicators are weighted, saying he believes the weights should be changed. Ms. Supharukchinda responded to his comments, noting that the weights are not specified in law or rule, but that the statute does require that growth and PWR have the greatest weights. She described the difficulties in getting remediation data for students who go to college out of state. Conversation on these issues between Senator King and Ms. Supharukchinda ensued.
08:26 AM
Committee conversation continued, with Dr. Owen noting that CDE is looking at whether the accountability system is creating any disincentives for schools or districts. He said it is important to give districts and schools credit for getting students to mastery and graduation, even if it takes longer than four years. Senator Hudak asked whether the PWR assessment would be the indicator for college readiness under CAP4K. Ms. Supharukchinda responded to Senator Hudak's questions. Senator Hudak asked some follow-up questions on this topic. Senator King commented that the ACT is given in the junior year, and there is no assessment in the senior year, so there is no way to know if seniors are making progress. He said many students attain college readiness in their senior year. He expressed concern about graduation rate usage on the performance framework reports.
08:32 AM
Dr. Owen continued his presentation, talking about the alignment of conflicting accountability systems. He spoke to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver CDE applied for from the U.S. Department of Education in November 2011. Senator Hudak commented on the participation rate category on the reports, saying that if the waiver is approved, schools and districts would like to see the participation rate category changed. She noted that the category is black and white, and can result in a school or district getting a lower rating for missing the rate by one percentage point. Ms. Supharukchinda provided clarification to this issue, saying there is some flexibility through an appeals process. Conversation on this topic ensued.
08:39 AM
Committee conversation continued, with Representative Hamner commenting on the alignment of accountability systems. She asked several questions about the NCLB waiver, and how or if it will impact measurement of adequate yearly progress (AYP). Dr. Owen responded, saying Colorado's system provides better information about where students are than does AYP. He noted that the U.S. Department of Education has struggled with how Colorado uses growth measurements because NCLB does not use growth measures. Ms. Supharukchinda added that under AYP, schools either "pass" or "fail," while the Colorado system is not that black and white.
08:43 AM
Dr. Owen concluded by discussing how CDE is engaging stakeholders in the implementation of the accountability system, speaking specifically about how rural districts are being engaged, saying they have unique needs. Representative Kerr asked what happens when a school is on a performance plan, but its district is on a turnaround plan. Dr. Owen responded, saying there are multiple options so that the progress of performance schools would not be disrupted.
08:47 AM
Representative Massey thanked the presenters and the committee adjourned.