LEARNING SERVICES UPDATEAPRIL 2015

Debbie Jones, Assistant Commissioner

Stacy Smith, Director of Curriculum & Instruction

Hope Allen, Director of Assessment

Arkansas Department of Education

Legislation

• SB 1007- History- requires review• HB1241- PARCC- requires AR not renew contract with PARCC in excess of 1 yr. & take into consideration Governor’s Task Force for CCSS.

• HB1044- Cursive Writing (by end of grade three)• HB1183- Computer Science• HB1226- Counting Change• HB1381/Act832- Eliminates Home School Testing• HB1377- Waivers

Preparing for 2015-2016 School Year• Recommend training districts to utilize the

GPS/ASIS Dashboard. Dashboard Reports• AIP’s will not have state test data until Nov. 2015. See CM on guidance

to develop AIP’s LS-15-402• Learning Services future plans include integrating RTI within dashboard.

• Prepare to offer College Transition Course/s

• Prepare to offer Computer Science (Register)

• Address new legislation

Registration 2015-2016

• Registration is open once a school receives training on the new registration software.

• Each school should identify their “Super User” as someone that is directly involved in student schedules, has access to student data, and deals with parents and students of Virtual Arkansas. The Super User serves as the registrar and liaison.

• During training schools will receive access to a school registration profile and be able to register students during and after the initial training with onsite assistance.

• Training Dates (Check Cooperative PD for available locations.) Training is the same. Offered on multiple days as set by local cooperative availability.

April 15-17 8:30-3:30

May 27-29 8:30-3:30Visit virtualarkansas.org

Concurrent Credit Deadline

• Application packets must be postmarked by July 24, 2015.

• Applications packets should be complete.• Submit applications and register early. Access is

on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Visit virtualarkansas.org

New Courses for 2015-2016

• AP Computer Science A• Computer Science with Mathematics• Essentials of Computer Programming(Coding)• English 10 with Embedded Oral Communication• French I & II• Computerized Business Applications• Programming I & II• Web Design I• Transitional Literacy Ready• Transitional Math Ready

*Red-counts as require computer science course per HB1183/Act 187

Visit virtualarkansas.org

Potential of capping enrollment

• We may be forced to cap enrollment in full service courses due to availability of resources.

• We recommend registering in full service courses before July 1 to avoid a potential waiting list.

Visit virtualarkansas.org

ASSESSMENT UPDATE

March 19, 2015 Revised 11

Assessment Updates• How has it gone?

• Over all positive feedback

• Issues Encountered• Technology glitches• Local infrastructure• Pearson

• Opt Out- Assessment is mandatory• Refusal to test DOES count against your 95%

Spring • PBA Window

• March 9 – April 10

• EOY Window

• April 27 – May 22

• Computer Based

• Schools can set assessment schedule within the windows

• Paper Based

• Assessment schedule has been provided by ADE

Assessment Updates• Summer PD

• Train the trainer May 27th

• Coop and ADE Specialists will be offered training using evidence

tables & PARCC Resources

• ADE Assessment Specialists at Coops

• Excel/COGNOS Workshops

• Plan for Next year

• Better training from ADE

• Fall state tour

• Reduce data load on districts

• PARCC will be one testing window only

• Clearer guidance

• ELPA21, NCSC, Science all on same platform

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION UPDATE

Computer Science Expectations• All Arkansas high schools will be required to offer one

computer science course beginning in 2015-2016• ADE Approved Computer Science meeting the

requirements of ACT 187• Essentials of Computer Programming 460020• Computer Science and Mathematics 439100-Math license

• 460050- CS or Business license• AP Computer Science 560050• IB Computer Science 560060

• Virtual Arkansas will offer Essentials of Computer Programming and Computer Science and Mathematics FREE to schools.

Computer Science Licensure

• Praxis 5651

• First Testing Window June 15-26

• Testing Out (ALP)- Add to existing standard teaching license (excludes technical permits)

Contact Karli Saracini for more specific information regarding licensure.

September 23, 2014 Revised 18

Smart Core and Core Changes• Mathematics – 4 units (or 3 units of math and 1 unit of

Computer Science)* At least one unit must be taken in Grade 11 or Grade 12.• Algebra I (or Algebra A & Algebra B - Grades 7-8 or 8-9)• Geometry (or Geometry A & Geometry B - Grades 8-9 or 9-10)• Algebra II• Fourth Math - Advanced Topics and Modeling in Mathematics,

Algebra III, Calculus, Computer Science and Mathematics, Linear Systems and Statistics, Mathematical Applications and Algorithms, Pre-Calculus, or an Advanced Placement mathematics - Comparable concurrent credit college courses may be substituted where applicable.

September 23, 2014 Revised 19

Smart Core and Core Changes• Natural Science – 3 units with lab experience chosen

from the list below (or 2 units with lab experience and 1 unit of Computer Science)* • Biology• Physical Science, Chemistry, and/or Physics

• (All students must have 1 unit in Biology, IB Biology, ADE Biology, ADE Approved Biology Honors, or Concurrent Credit Biology.)

• Other ADE approved Science courses or Computer Science

September 23, 2014 Revised 20

Smart Core and Core Changes• Computer Science* (optional) – A unit of Computer

Science and Mathematics, Essentials of Computer Programming, AP Computer Science, or IB Computer Science may replace the 4th math unit requirement or the 3rd Natural Science Requirement.

• Two distinct units of the computer science courses listed above may replace the 4th math unit requirement and the 3rd Natural Science Requirement. If the 4th Math requirement and the 3rd Natural Science requirement have been met through other coursework, any of the computer science courses listed above may be used for career focus credit

Transitional CoursesCollege/Career Readiness Assessments:

• Algebra II & 11th ELA/Literacy, ACT, PLAN, COMPASS, ASSET, PSAT, or SAT exam.

See cut scores: LS-15-028• Template Letter: Parent Letter

• 6-15-2012(e) “high schools shall award the same credit for a full mathematics transitional course as it does for a fourth-year mathematics course”

• Smart Core- 4th math course

Literacy & Math Transition Options

Math Options:1. SREB Math Ready (SREB Training Required) 439110

2. Algebra III 439070

Literacy Options:3. SREB Literacy Ready (SREB Training Required) 496030

4. Transitional Literacy for College & Career Readiness 496040

5. 12 English/Transition (transition modules integrated & SREB Training Required) English Credit 413010

College & Career Ready

Practical Application:

1. Write a high school plan (counselors)

2. Determine systematic time, grade level, people who will run CCR Assessment Report.

3. Triand & Data Dashboards (Report by grade level showing all assessments taken) (Report run with ACT test scores)

4. Template Letter (distributed CAPS)

Math Ready (SREB)

• Professional Development this summer LS-15-047• 3 days this summer with 2 follow-up webinars

• Curriculum is written as a blended course taught with a math teacher.

• Smart Core- 4th math credit• Approximate cost to districts for consumables is $200.00

• District would need technology• Students need TI84 Calculator• Link to course information: http://www.sreb.org/page/1684/

math_ready.html

Literacy Ready• Professional Development this summer LS-15-047• 3 days this summer with 2 follow-up webinars • Curriculum is written as a blended course taught with a

certified teacher• Career Focus Credit (Not English replacement)• District would need technology

• 6 Units: 2 social science, 2 English, 2 Science

http://www.sreb.org/page/1683/literacy_ready.html

Math and Literacy Training (SREB)May sign-up for PD through ESC Works Account

• Arkansas State University• June 9-11 • Math Ready #241297• Literacy Ready #241301

• Benton High School• June 16-18• Math Ready #24173• Literacy Ready #241747

• Fayetteville High School• June 16-18• Math Ready #241236• Literacy Ready #241246

• Univ. of Ark at Monticello• July 7-9• Math Ready #241248• Literacy Ready #241250

September 23, 2014 Revised 27

Science Public Comment• Arkansas K-12 Standards Public Comment

• New Practice• Great Opportunity• Adapted NGSS standards to meet Arkansas needs

September 23, 2014 Revised 28

Dyslexia• ACT 1268

• “Dyslexia interventionist” means a school district or public school employee trained in a dyslexia program, such as a: • (i) Dyslexia therapist;• (ii) Dyslexia specialist;• (iii) Reading interventionist;• (iv) Certified teacher; or• (v) Tutor or paraprofessional working under the supervision of a

certified teacher;

September 23, 2014 Revised 29

Dyslexia• "Dyslexia program" means explicit, direct instruction that is:

• (A) Systematic, sequential, and cumulative and follows a logical plans of presenting the alphabetic principle that targets the specific needs of the student without presuming prior skills of knowledge of the student;

• (B) Systematic, multisensory, and research-based; • (C) Offered in a small group setting to teach students the components of

reading instruction, including without limitation: • (i) Phonemic awareness to enable a student to detect, segment, blend, and

manipulate sounds in spoken language;• (ii) Graphophonemic knowledge for teaching the letter-sound plan of English; • (iii) The structure of the English language that includes morphology, semantics,

syntax, and pragmatics;• (iv) Linguistic instruction directed toward proficiency and fluency with the patterns of

language so that words and proficiency and fluency with the patterns of language so that words and sentences are carriers of meaning; and

• (v) Strategies that students use for decoding, encoding, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension; and

• (D)(i) Delivered with fidelity.

September 23, 2014 Revised 30

Course Approvals

• Course Approvals Due May 1

• New Social Studies Frameworks• New Fine Arts Frameworks

• Embedded Courses• Oral Communications and English• Must have SBE approval

September 23, 2014 Revised 31

ESL Academy• University of Arkansas and Arkansas Tech Partnership• Applications on-line• 6 days in summer• On-line course work and support for 2015-2016• 12 hrs graduate credit• ESL endorsement w/ Praxis

• Commissioner’s Memo LS-15-060

QUESTIONS?