Date: 01/18/2012
Final
SMART and Jt Rule 25 Briefing by the Dept of Education
COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION
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09:52 AM -- SMART Act and Joint Rule 25 Briefing by the Colorado Department of Education
Commissioner Hammond and Deputy Commissioner Diana Sirko, Colorado Department of Education, came to the table to brief the committee pursuant to the SMART Act (House Bill 10-1119) and Joint Rule 25. Commissioner Hammond introduced members of the State Board of Education who were in attendance at the meeting. He referred the committee to the notebook of materials the department provided (Attachment A). Ms. Jill Hawley, Chief of Staff and Strategy, joined the Commissioner at the table as well. Commissioner Hammond made opening remarks to the committee, talking generally about the department's work, especially as it relates to education reform legislation passed in the last several years.
10:02 AM
Ms. Hawley described the department's strategic plan. She explained that the plan was started last summer with the State Board of Education, then continued with meetings with staff and the cabinet. She said the units within the department provided detailed feedback, which was considered as the plan was finalized. She referred the committee to the department's goals on page six of the plan, discussing each in turn. Ms. Hawley talked about the reduction in the backlog in educator licensure requests, noting that the time to get a license has been reduced greatly. Senator Bacon thanked the department for their work on this issue. Ms. Hawley described how performance targets were set for each objective in the strategic plan.
10:11 AM
Senator Hudak asked for more information on interventions for students who are struggling and for turnaround schools. Ms. Hawley referred her to page 15 of the plan, and offered to provide further detail. Conversation between Senator Hudak and Commissioner Hammond on these issues ensued. Commissioner Hammond talked about the accreditation system, specifically the unified improvement plan process. He explained some changes that have been made in the department to better support struggling schools and districts. He said the department is working hard to ensure that schools and districts do not stay on a turnaround plan for multiple years. Senator Bacon asked for information about how many schools are on turnaround and priority improvement plans. Commissioner Hammond provided this information, noting that six districts are on turnaround plans.
Representative Massey asked how the department's strategic plan addresses underserved student populations and how it addresses blended and online learning. Ms. Hawley provided a response to the question about underserved student populations, describing the supports and interventions that are used. In response to the question about online learning, she referred Representative Massey to goal three, which addresses choice and quality of choice options. Commissioner Hammond talked about achievement gaps, and how districts and schools are held accountable in the unified improvement plan.
10:22 AM
Commissioner Hammond said innovation and choice are critical, and reported that the department has received a variety of grants for work on these issues. He referred to the Expanded Learning Opportunities Commission report, and how the recommendations from that report are being used and implemented.
Representative Hamner asked whether anything has been learned yet from the closing the achievement gap projects that are going on around the state. Commissioner Hammond asked Associate Commissioner Keith Owen and Dr. Sirko to join him at the table to respond to Representative Hamner's questions. Dr. Sirko talked about the findings of the projects, saying intensive/targeted intervention made the most progress in closing achievement gaps. She said SchoolVIEW and similar tools help districts figure out what works. Dr. Owen said the department is trying to be very proactive with districts that are on turnaround and priority improvement plans. He said the work is tough; many of the districts are heavily impacted by poverty. He said they have learned that it is difficult to push money into a school and see results if the district is not invested in the work. He talked briefly about the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) waiver request filed by the department.
10:29 AM
Representative Solano asked about the educator equity gap, asking what is being done to get the best and most experienced teachers into low-performing schools. Dr. Sirko responded, talking about the importance of professional development and educator preparation, specifically discussing incentives and effective support of teachers.
Senator King asked for information about the transition from state standards to common core standards, and also asked for information about the Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP). Commissioner Hammond noted that discussion would be next on the agenda.
Senator Johnston asked for further information about what happens to a district that is on a priority improvement or turnaround plan several years in a row. Dr. Owen explained that the statute does not allow a district to stay on one of those plans for more than five years, so the department is being proactive in helping districts move off of those plans before they hit the five-year mark. He responded to follow-up questions from Senator Johnston about what happens when the five-year mark is hit. Dr. Owen also responded to questions from Senator Hudak on this same topic.
10:34 AM
Discussion on this topic continued, with Representative Schafer acknowledging the work of the department in improving outcomes for students. Representative Holbert observed that the goals and objectives in the department's plan refer first to the agency, and it is important to note that the first focus is on kids. He asked if the department is looking out farther -- 10, 20, or even 50 years. Ms. Hawley returned to the table to respond, saying the department's goal is to prepare kids for what the world will look like in coming years.
Representative Ramierez asked for clarification of which figures in the plan are actuals and which are goals. Ms. Hawley responded. Representative Ramirez asked for further clarification on the consequences to schools and districts that do not move off of a priority improvement or turnaround plan. Commissioner Hammond spoke to these issues as well.
10:41 AM
Representative Murray asked about the trend of more females than males enrolling in institutions of higher education, and asked whether the department is working on ways to reach male students. Dr. Sirko responded, talking about the importance of multiple modalities of learning.
10:45 AM
Commissioner Hammond noted that progress is being made on the implementation of Senate Bill 10-191, the educator effectiveness bill.
Dr. Sirko responded to Senator King's earlier questions about common core standards and TCAP. She talked about the adoption of common core standards and their incorporation into Colorado's new standards. In addition, she explained districts' work in implementing new standards as well. She provided information on TCAP and talked about the importance of maintaining the integrity of the growth model. She said the assessment is not assessing all of the new standards, just those at the intersection of the old and new standards. Senator King asked whether analysis had been done on how the changes to the standards will change the "cut points" for schools and districts on priority improvement or turnaround plans. Dr. Sirko responded, saying a downward trend is expected at the outset due to the increased rigor of the new standards. She explained how gaps and deficits will be analyzed as part of a data-driven decision-making process.
10:52 AM
Committee questions continued with Senator Johnston asking for further clarification of what will be assessed on the TCAP. Dr. Sirko and Commissioner Hammond provided that clarification. Commissioner Hammond explained that having a new assessment system to assess the mastery of the new standards is critical.
Commissioner Hammond reiterated the department's progress on the implementation of Senate Bill 10-191. He said they are prepared to answer questions on school finance, online education, and innovation and choice.
Senator Bacon said the department would be invited back for further discussion on all of these issues. He thanked the department for their good work.