Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:03/14/2012
ATTENDANCE
Time:07:37 AM to 08:56 AM
Beezley
Hamner
Place:HCR 0112
Heath
Holbert
This Meeting was called to order by
Hudak
Senator Bacon
Johnston
Joshi
This Report was prepared by
Kerr A.
Kristen Johnson
King K.
Murray
Peniston
Ramirez
Renfroe
Schafer S.
Solano
Spence
Summers
Todd
Bacon
Massey
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
Presentation on Standards-Based Education-


07:37 AM -- Presentation on Standards-Based Education

Senator Bacon, Chair, made opening remarks and called the meeting to order. He invited the presenters to come to the table.

Melissa Colsman, Executive Director of the Teaching and Learning Unit, Colorado Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to present on standards-based education. Ms. Colsman provided a handout to the committee members (Attachment A). Ms. Colsman discussed the historical context of standards-based education in Colorado, which she stated was initiated by House Bill 93-1313. Ms. Colsman discussed the four questions that guide standards-based education: what do students need to know and be able to do; how do we effectively teach to ensure that students learn; how do we know if students are learning; and what do we do if students don't learn or if they are already performing at or above proficiency.

JtEd0314AttachA.pdf








Ms. Colsman discussed the continuous cycle of student learning chart that appears on page two of her handout (Attachment A). She said that standards-based education can be approached from a micro and macro level. She discussed her own experience as a teacher, saying that it is all about the idea of continuous improvement.


07:43 AM

Ms. Colsman continued her presentation. She stated that, as a system, we need common agreement on what students should be able to do, and standards ensure that we have a coherent system for educating children. She stated that standards also encourage collaboration among educators on best practices and research; support a comprehensive and consistent assessment system; and ease student mobility.

Ms. Colsman discussed the need for new standards, saying that the old standards have resulted in continued unacceptable achievement gaps; do not prepare students in the technology and skills needed for the 21st century; and are not sufficient for preparation for workforce and citizenship. Ms. Colsman discussed the Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids (CAP4K), saying that CAP4K sets a common purpose for Colorado's education system -- readying all students for postsecondary and workforce success by improving Colorado's public education by aligning preschool through postsecondary expectations.

Ms. Colsman responded to questions from the committee members about school readiness.


07:50 AM

Ms. Colsman continued, stating that it is not only about what children can do, but about the knowledge they can transfer. She stated that the new standards require students to apply and transfer knowledge and that this is their new definition of mastery.

Ms. Colsman responded to questions from the committee about English Language Learners (ELL) and how is best to teach them.

Senator Hudak asked about the differences between the old and new standards and how to transition and assess students who are in the middle of the transition. Ms. Colsman responded, saying that CDE has developed tools including a framework for gap analysis and crosswalk documents showing the changes between the old and new standards, to help districts with the transition. She stated that those tools are useful at all grade levels. Ms. Colsman discussed the new standards and the transition process for implementing the new standards in classrooms.




















08:02 AM

Dr. Oliver Grenham and Dr. Pamela Swanson, Adams County School District 50, came to the table to present information on developing a competency-based system. Handouts were provided to the members of the committee (Attachments B through D). Dr. Swanson thanked the committee for inviting them to speak. She discussed the differences between the standards-based system that exists statewide and the system being used at Adams County School District 50.

JtEd0314AttachB.pdf JtEd0314AttachC.pdf

JtEd0314AttachD.pdf

Dr. Grenham continued the presentation, stating that the district is in their third year of implementation. He discussed the change of the name the district gives to their system, which they now call a "competency-based system." He provided a brief overview of the make-up of the district.

Dr. Grenham stated that the issues that motivated the change in their district to competency-based education were static achievement, poor graduation rate, persistent achievements gaps, and rapidly changing demographics. He stated that his district needed a systematic approach to K-12 education. He discussed the tenants of their model, saying that learning matters most and that learning is the constant. He stated that time matters the least, and that time is the variable. He said that they teach students at their instructional level and want to help them get up to speed in as short a period of time as possible, and that students move on when they are ready to move on. He stated that the curriculum is clear about what is expected of the students. He stated that the district uses personalized delivery which empowers the student to take charge of their own learning and that learners progress purposefully. He discussed the need for a systemic and systematic approach, which he stated creates a shared purpose and vision across all levels and departments. He discussed the idea of learner-centered classrooms.


08:14 AM

Kelly Williams, Principal, Scott Carpenter Middle School, joined Dr. Grenham at the table to discuss competency-based learning at her school. Ms. Williams began by providing a brief overview of her school, stating that 56 percent of her students are English Language Learners (ELL) and that over 90 percent are on free and reduced-price lunch. She described her students, before the transition to the competency-based system, as passive, at best. She said that now her students are engaged learners. She said that students become engaged through having a voice in their education. She stated that now, she sees reflection from the students and goal setting, and that the students actually understand what they are learning. She stated that students are required to move at the pace of the teacher or faster, and that this independence is empowering to the students.













Senator Bacon commented. Representative Todd asked about the enrollment at Ms. Williams' school, and what range of levels exist in each classroom. Ms. Williams responded that there are currently 585 students at her school and that it is a very mobile population. She stated that most classrooms have between two and three levels in each classroom. Senator Johnston asked additional questions about the classroom structure.

Representative Todd asked about mobility and parental involvement in Ms. Williams' school. Ms. Williams responded that the mobility is overwhelming and that it is difficult to determine the reasons for this movement. She stated that she has not had anyone leave her school due to the use of the competency-based system. She said that she keeps parents involved through regular newsletter distribution, through phone calls, and through parent-teacher meetings. She said that they have begun holding classes for the parents.

Representative Todd asked if Ms. Williams' school is receiving any federal funds for this, and if her school has considered operating year-round. Ms. Williams responded that they do receive Title I funding from the federal government. Dr. Grenham also responded, saying that the district would like to have year-round schooling, but several of their buildings do not have air conditioning, so that creates a physical barrier to operating year-round. He added that additional instruction days have been added to the district's calendar for the upcoming school year, in lieu of spending as much time on professional development.

Senator Bacon and Ms. Williams continued to discuss parental involvement. Several clarifying questions surrounding assessments and how the grade levels are established within the district were asked by the committee members.


08:39 AM

Sarah Gould, Principal, Hodgkins Elementary School, joined Dr. Grenham at the table. Ms. Gould discussed the demographics of her school. She stated that when students own their learning and are setting goals and expectations for themselves, they are more engaged learners and there are far fewer discipline problems. She discussed her school's efforts to engage parents in their child's learning. She stated that her school holds monthly classes for parents covering topics such as how to help their child with homework, and provides legal assistance with personal tax filing. She said that attendance at these parent nights has ranged from 200 to 1000 parents. She added that the school focuses a lot on partnering and making it a community school.

Senator Johnston commented that this takes a shift in the way that schools serve parents; that the school must be seen as a service organization that is responsive to parents needs.

Senator Heath commented on the ability of the district to make such changes during a time of large budget cutbacks.

Dr. Grenham responded, saying that the process began in 2006 when a conversation with the State Board of Education (SBE) suggested that the district be put on academic watch. He stated that after that conversation, stakeholder groups were held in order to gauge the desires of the parents. He said that the parents were very supportive of the move to the competency-based system. He added that the SBE is very unified behind this system, but that it has taken a lot of work to get to this point. He concluded by saying that this work can be done through effort and focus, and that focus must be sustained over time.










08:50 AM

Michael Lynch, Principal, Westminster High School, discussed his experience implementing the competency-based system in his high school. He stated that the challenges of this system are exponentially greater in high schools. He stated that, for example, when students transfer out of his school to another school, it is difficult for the new school to transfer the student's coursework into their system. He stated that the two most important factors to students as they near college is their class rank and grade point average; measures used in the old paradigm. He said that the counselors at his school spend hours explaining the competency-based system to other schools and to institutions of higher education. He added that it has been extremely challenging and that the jury is still out at the high school level.


08:56 AM

Senator Bacon thanked the presenters. The committee adjourned.