OLQJ FRP - In the Public Interest

From: Mary Laura Bragg ([email protected])

Sent time: Thursday, August 18, 2011 8:29:36 AM

To:

Bennett, Tony; Robinson, Gerard; Patricia Levesque ([email protected]); Barresi, Janet; Barresi, Janet Asst Becky Woodie;Barresi, Janet Comm Dir Damon Gardenhire; Barresi, Janet COS Jennifer Carter; Robinson, Gerard Scheduler Nyla Benjamin;Bennett, Tony Asst Debbie Downing; Bennett, Tony Asst Jennifer Outlaw; Bowen, Stephen; Bowen, Stephen; Cerf, Chris; Cerf,Chris Asst Helene Leona; Cerf, Chris Dep Comm Sp Asst Mamie Doyle; Cerf, Chris Special Asst Andrew Smarick; Gist,Deborah; Huffman, Kevin; Huffman, Kevin COS Emily Barton; Pastorek, Paul; Pastorek, Paul Asst Christina Rose; ChristyHovanetz ([email protected]); Skandera, Hanna; Skandera, Hanna COS Cathie Carothers; Skandera, Hanna PolicyLeighann Lenti; Skandera, Hanna Scheduler Bernadette Tennyson; Smith, Eric; Paula Noor ([email protected]); DavidDeSchryver ([email protected])

Cc:

Gist, Deborah; John Bailey ([email protected]); Deirdre Finn ([email protected]); Erin Price([email protected]); Fonda Anderson ([email protected]); Jaryn Emhof ([email protected]); Joanna Hassell([email protected]); Robinson, Gerard scheduler Joseph Morgan; Mandy Clark ([email protected]); MattLadner ([email protected]); Matthew Ladner ([email protected]); Bennett, Tony COS Heather Neal; BennettScheduler Jennifer Outlaw; Bowen asst Georgette Valliere; Bowen Scheduler Sandra Moreau; Gist asst Angela Teixeira;Huffman asst Janice Mann; Sarah Powell ([email protected]); Gist, Deborah Scheduler Hayley Jamroz; Pastorek,Paul Asst Christina Rose

Subject: REVISED: Chiefs call agenda and handouts

Attachments: 8.3.11 NEW draft of chiefs Common Core oped.docx Draft Statement Responding to AASA & NSBA call for blanketwaivers.docx Draft Letter to Duncan re RTTT 81111.docx 81911 C4C Call Agenda.doc 2011 ESEA Waiver Update.docx

Good morning,In addition to the handout from yesterday, here are three more documents – all communications pieces – for tomorrow’s call. A revised agenda is also a ached, as well as the update on waivers document from yesterday.Tony asks that you please review these communications pieces before tomorrow’s meeting in order to discuss/approve so wecan submit/send/go back to the drawing board.Thanks!Mary Laura Mary Laura BraggDirector of State Policy Implementa onFounda on for Excellence in Educa on850.391.3077 phone786‐664‐1794 faxwww.excelined.org From: Patricia Levesque ([email protected]) Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 4:06 PMTo: Barresi, Janet; Barresi, Janet Asst Becky Woodie; Barresi, Janet Comm Dir Damon Gardenhire; Barresi, Janet COS Jennifer Carter;Bennett, Tony; Bennett, Tony Asst Debbie Downing; Bennett, Tony Asst Jennifer Outlaw; Bennett, Tony COS Heather Neal; Bowen,Stephen; Bowen, Stephen; Cerf, Chris; Cerf, Chris Asst Helene Leona; Cerf, Chris Dep Comm Sp Asst Mamie Doyle; Cerf, Chris SpecialAsst Andrew Smarick; Gist, Deborah; Huffman, Kevin; Huffman, Kevin COS Emily Barton; Pastorek, Paul; Pastorek, Paul Asst ChristinaRose; Robinson, Gerard; Robinson, Gerard Scheduler Nyla Benjamin; Skandera, Hanna; Skandera, Hanna COS Cathie Carothers;Skandera, Hanna Policy Leighann Lenti; Skandera, Hanna Scheduler Bernadette Tennyson; Smith, EricCc: Christy Hovanetz ([email protected]); Deirdre Finn ([email protected]); Erin Price ([email protected]); Fonda Anderson([email protected]); Jaryn Emhof ([email protected]); Joanna Hassell ([email protected]); John Bailey([email protected]); Mandy Clark ([email protected]); Mary Laura Bragg ([email protected]); Matt Ladner([email protected]); Matthew Ladner ([email protected]); Paula Noor ([email protected]); Bennett Scheduler JenniferOutlaw; Bowen asst Georgette Valliere; Bowen Scheduler Sandra Moreau; Gist asst Angela Teixeira; Gist, Deborah Scheduler HayleyJamroz; Huffman asst Janice Mann; Robinson, Gerard scheduler Joseph MorganSubject: FW: chiefs call agenda and handout Chiefs, Attached is the agenda and information for Friday’s Chiefs for Change call. While the agenda is short, the first item will take upthe majority of the call. Patricia

In our modern economy, students are competing for jobs with their peers across the globe –not just across

the street. As our nation focuses on creating more employment opportunities and spurring sustainable

economic growth, it is crucial we prepare today’s students with the knowledge and skills to compete with

their worldwide peers in the 21st century job market.

It’s undisputed that today’s high-wage jobs require higher skills, particularly in the areas of math, science,

engineering and technology. However, a recent report by ACT found that only one-third to one-half of the

11th grade students sampled demonstrated college and career ready skills – a problem compounded by a

patchwork of academic standards and assessments that make it impossible to evaluate student achievement

from one state to the next, much less other countries.

Recognizing this endemic crisis, state leaders and educators from 49 states banded together to create a state-

driven model of rigorous academic content standards – the Common Core State Standards. The Standards

define the academic preparation students need for college and careers success while fostering the creativity,

analysis and problem solving needed to succeed in today's world.

The adoption of the internationally rigorous Common Core Standards is a major victory for states leading

the improvement of America’s education system, but the next step - developing an assessment system for

these new standards – is critical. Two priorities must be met to successfully and appropriately measure

student achievement against the Common Core Standards. First, the assessment system must insure a

strong system of accountability for the quality of instruction that our children receive. Second, the

assessment system must provide trusted data to be used in teacher evaluation systems.

Currently, two state consortiums - Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers

(PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium - are working to develop the next-generation

assessments needed to measure student gains and proficiency under the new standards.

Without a system of assessments that gives clear feedback on our nation's efficacy in delivering quality

classroom instruction that is aligned to the high expectations defined by the Standards, the Common Core

initiative is hollow. With this in mind, PARCC states are thoughtfully designing an assessment system to

meet this critical need. This system focuses on developing a highly trusted system of assessments to

promote the quality classroom experience every student deserves, parents expect, and the Common Core

requires. All this will be accomplished by producing achievement data to provide feedback for

accountability as well as feedback on teacher effectiveness.

Assessments must be able to provide feedback that is vital for successful implementation of the Common

Core Standards and student achievement. The first is feedback on schools, districts and state performance

that can be used for accountability and program improvement. This feedback requires accurate data that can

be compared across states and districts to drive thoughtful evaluation and strategic system improvement.

The advantage of the PARCC assessment system is that schools, districts and states will be able to gauge

their performance against the Common Core Standards as well as providing national and international

comparisons. This will equip educators, refine best practices and provide clear data for continuous

improvement of instructional practice.

The second purpose of the new assessment system is to provide achievement data for use in teacher

evaluation by determining the quality of a student’s classroom experience. The dramatic innovation being

made by PARCC in this area of design is the development of assessments that measures not only college

readiness, but also a student’s ability to think analytically and problem solve. The PARCC assessment

system is being tailored so it can provide trusted feedback in a way that is both psychometrically sound and

instructionally informative.

8.3.11 NEW draft of chiefs Com

mon Core oped.docx

The technical challenges in development and implementation of such an assessment system are certainly

significant; the rewards, however, are profound. These common assessments will allow our educators to

have the freedom and data to design lessons that prepare, challenge, and inspire our children for an

increasingly competitive world.

As education leaders of states who have participated in the shaping and adoption of the Common Core

Standards, we applaud this state-led movement of higher expectations and accountability. With careful

implementation and meaningful assessments, Common Core State Standards will empower states and

ensure that our students are mastering the critical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today’s

demanding workplace.

8.3.11 NEW draft of chiefs Com

mon Core oped.docx

Today, Chiefs for Change released the following statement regarding the American Association of School

Administrators and the National School Boards Association's rejection of conditional wavers and request for a blanket

waiver from requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

“Chiefs for Change is committed to student-centered education reforms. As Chiefs we support the immediate

reauthorization of ESEA and oppose suspending accountability provisions of the ESEA through blanket waivers or

universal modifications, as the American Association of School Administrators and the National School Board

Association recently petitioned.”

“Education is our top priority. Because our public schools nurture our nation’s most precious natural resource –the

skills and talents of our young people – it is imperative that waivers do not water-down accountability. Rather, the

Department must ensure the waivers promote, strengthen or accelerate reforms that will improve the quality of

education and lead to rising student achievement.”

“ESEA must be improved through reauthorization. Until that renewal occurs, we must guarantee that our schools and

states are held to the high standards necessary for the success of our students. Providing blanket waivers to all states

will weaken the quality of education and hinder states’ movements to improve education for their students. We will not

support policies or procedures that would threaten past and future progress of education reform and student

achievement.”

Visit www.ChiefsforChange.org for more information about Chiefs for Change.

Draft Statement R

esponding to AASA & NSBA call for blanket waivers.docx

The Honorable Arne Duncan

U.S. Secretary of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20202

Dear Secretary Duncan:

As a coalition of education leaders committed to visionary education reform that will

increase student achievement and prepare students for success in colleges and careers,

the Chiefs for Change supports the important reforms that you have advanced through

the Race to the Top initiative. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to

speak with us regarding Race to the Top. We are taking this opportunity write to you so

as to follow up on our conversation and to summarize the key points we discussed.

You initiated the Race to the Top competition in order to challenge states to set

ambitious goals for schools and students, to rethink and revise many outmoded laws

and regulations, and to forge new and important partnerships for transforming

education. By insisting that states applying for Race to the Top grants set ambitious

achievement goals, you ensured that the U.S. Department of Education would award

funds to support only those states with excellent, comprehensive proposals for

implementing rigorous standards, strong accountability systems, and innovative reforms

focused on educator excellence and school transformation.

As your Department works with states to implement Race to the Top, we support your

commitment to holding Race to the Top winners accountable for implementing their

plans as designed and as promised in their grant applications. We understand that

implementation plans and scopes of work may require adjustments, such as with the

timelines; however, in the spirit of the Race to the Top competition, Race to the Top

winners must be held accountable for improving the academic achievement of all

students and for fully implementing their Race to the Top proposals.

Race to the Top is serving as an important catalyst for education reform in many states

across the country, and the principles of Race to the top can help inform the

reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Thank you for your

leadership on this issue. We look forward to continuing to work with you and your staff

in furthering the education reform our country needs and our students deserve.

Sincerely,

Draft Letter to Duncan re RTTT 81111.docx

Chiefs for Change

Draft Letter to Duncan re RTTT 81111.docx

Chiefs for Change Conference Call

Friday, August 19, 2011

9:30am-10:30pm EST

Agenda

Call-In Info: Number: 850-391-0329/Passcode: 84940

I. ESEA Waiver Guidelines update – Hanna Skandera and David

DeSchryver

II. Response to AASA/NSBA on blanket waivers – Tony Bennett

III. Revised Op-ed on Common Core – Tony Bennett

IV. Revised letter to Duncan on Race to the Top – Deb Gist

V. Digital Learning Now! – Deirdre Finn

81911 C4C

Call Agenda.doc

Memorandum

Re: C4C Friday Call, Waiver Update

From: David DeSchryver and John Bailey, Whiteboard Advisors

Date: August 12, 11

USED Update

The Department of Education’s formal waiver process is due in early to mid-September.

http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/obama-administration-proceeds-reform-no-child-left-behind-

following-congressiona

The process will likely extend the administration’s emphasis on the ARRA’s 4 reform priorities: teacher and

principal evaluation/effectiveness; state data systems; common standards and assessments that prepare

students for college and career; aggressive school interventions for persistently lowest achieving schools.

The waiver applications will be peer-reviewed by individuals outside of the Department of Education.

This is not a competitive application process–state versus state since it’s not a grant. That noted, USED is

encouraging aggressive reforms so there is some threshold.

The Sec.’s authority to grant waivers is based on Section 9401 of the ESEA.

Critically, under 9401, a waiver request requires that the application described how waving the requirements

will (i) increase the quality of instruction for students; and (ii) improve the academic achievement of students.

The application must also describe, for each school year, specific, measurable educational goals.

State Waiver Update

At least 16 states are currently developing their waiver application/framework.

3 states have applied: KY, MI, TN.

o KY: http://db.tt/ogCuHuw

o TN: http://db.tt/GUBDYUL

o MI: http://db.tt/o9Ak4DC

2 states have been denied and are revisiting their applications: AR, KS

4 states have been granted some sort of flexibility; this is to be done through amendments to their

accountability workbooks.

o MT - http://db.tt/NVax6nM

o SD - http://db.tt/A3x6Hbp

o ID - http://db.tt/6raLBCh

o UT - state in March won approval to let 12 districts use computer-adaptive tests for accountability

purposes

Key discussion topics

Accountability

o Identification of schools, grading systems

o Differentiated consequences

o Rigor & fidelity

Funding

o Tracking dollars to the schools & school level analytics for ROI

o Student based budgeting

o Connecting fiscal & academic analytics

o Rewarding clarity with funding flexibility & transferability

Reporting

o Simplified

o Clarified

o Less frequent

Strategic human capital policies

o Value added policies/ evaluations

o Empowering school level decisions

o Development of talent pipelines

2011 ESEA W

aiver Update.docx

Protect and expand educational options

Communication and work among C4C.

What is the meaning of a “high bar” for the waiver submissions?

2011 ESEA W

aiver Update.docx

Documents

OLQJ FRP - In the Public Interest