From the Board Room

To the Classroom

PDK Panel Discussion

September 19, 2002

Overview

• Reauthorization of elementary and secondary education act

• Largest federal overhaul of education

• Largest increase of federal school funding

• Effective dates: Jan. 8, 2002 — 2007

Prepared by NC Department of Public Instruction

Focus in Four Areas

• Accountability

• Flexibility

• Emphasis on what works

• Empowerment of parents

Overview

• NC and Texas served as models

• NC already meets many requirements

• Implementation details are not complete

• Full regulations being developed now

Testing

• Aligned

• Comparable, valid and reliable

• Include LEP and special ed students

• Grade levels: 3-5, 6-9, 10-12

• Annual reading and math assessments by 2005-06

Testing

• Science by 2007-08 in grades

• NAEP biennially starting 2002-03, grades 4 and 8

• Test LEP students after 3 consecutive years

Testing — What’s New for NC?

• Science

• Specific LEP regulations

• Questions about high school testing

• NC already has other testing in place

Demonstrating Proficiency

• All schools required to have 100% proficiency within 12 years

• Schools must make “Adequate Yearly Progress”

Adequate Yearly Progress Measure

• State determines baseline

• Based on 2001-02 data

• Subgroups must make annual objectives

• 95% of each subgroup must be tested

Failing to Make AYP

• Increasingly severe sanctions

• Public school choice (after 2 years)

• Students receive tutoring, services (after 3 years)

Failing to make AYP

• District intervention (after 4 years)

• Alternative governance (after 6 years)

Flexibility

• Transfer up to 50 percent of various dollars

• Transfers into Title I allowed

• Flexibility projects in 7 states, 150 districts

Reading

• Major emphasis of law

• “Reading First” program targets K-3

• NC will receive $20.7 million

Teacher and Staff Quality

• Raises standards for teachers, paraprofessionals

• Standards immediate for Title I paraprofessionals

• Teacher standards by Dec. 31, 2005

Teacher Qualifications

• All teachers highly qualified by Dec. 31, 2005

- State certification/licensing exam &

- BA degree &

- demonstrate competence in subject

• No emergency credentials

Teacher Qualifications

• Applies to Title I teachers first day of 2002-03

• Applies to teachers hired prior to 2002-03 - end of 2005-06

• Charter schools exempt

Title I Paraprofessionals

• As of 1-8-02, all new hires must have:

- 2 years of higher ed OR

- an Associate degree OR

- pass a formal assessment

• Previous hires have 4 years to meet

Title I Paraprofessionals

• Exceptions to new requirements: translation, parental involvement

New State-Administered Programs

• Education technology

- Several programs consolidated

- Goal: more money to schools

- Professional development

Resources

• Congress authorized $26.5 billion, including $22 billion this year

• NC will receive $1 billion in 2002, an increase of $142.6 million

For Up-to-the-Minute Information

www.ncpublicschools.org/esea