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John White
State Superintendent of Education
877.453.2721
(toll-free)
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LDOE Weekly Newsletter 12/11/2012
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Dear Colleagues,
Over the last two weeks, I've been privileged to attend ceremonies honoring Top Gains Schools and the schools across our state awarded Believe and Include funding. While most schools across the state last year made academic progress, the Top Gains schools went above and beyond, hitting ambitious targets set at the outset of last school year. And our Believe and Include winners have proposed promising and innovative approaches (http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/uploads/20839.pdf) to educating students with disabilities. I'm excited to see the gains they will make with often hard-to-serve students, and I'm looking forward to honoring them and others who serve the mission of educating our most challenged kids.
While on the road, I'm holding meetings of teachers and administrators to discuss how we can use Compass to keep the improvement going and to prepare ourselves for the Common Core State Standards. It's clear that our educators are working hard to understand and internalize the Compass standards for their practice; the results are evident in schools statewide. It's also clear to me that we should make some adjustments to Compass so as to make it a true teacher development tool. That really is the purpose, after all: to provide feedback and to assist in improvement. Here are some concerns teachers have asked us to address in order to make the tool as useful for them as possible:
- The rubric could be more helpful if it were accompanied by greater guidance or more examples for what each row and descriptor actually looks like in practice.
- Goal setting and value-added data would be more valuable if teachers were provided greater data about their students at the start of the year.
- In some cases, the evaluator should be able to use more than one source of evidence or one data point in determining the teacher's effect on student learning.
- Teachers of some student populations - those affected by a disaster or those already performing at the highest levels - may not be well served through having the value-added data stand as the only means of measurement.
In January we will post a set of proposed adjustments that will help Compass to be a true teacher development tool. We will also be working with our Louisiana Believes Advisory Committee members on these adjustments, and we will propose some changes to BESE at the board's January meeting. In the meantime, if you have thoughts on suggested changes or areas of concern, please ever hesitate to contact me directly or to have your teachers do the same. We have asked our teachers to step up, and they have done so. We owe them the best professional development tool possible.
As always, thank you for all you do for our children,
John
John White
Louisiana Department of Education
Twitter @LouisianaSupe
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Due to the Christmas holiday, there will not be a newsletter the week of December 24.
All of us at the Louisiana Department of Education would like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season!
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Continued Spotlight on Component 3b: Questioning and Discussion Techniques
As Compass observations continue across the state, the LDOE newsletters will include a regular feature on the components within the Compass Teacher Rubric, along with videos of exemplar performance, to help educators and evaluators become more familiar with the content of the rubric. This week, we'll focus again on Component 3b: Questioning and Discussion Techniques with a look at a kindergarten math class.
Click here to view another video of Effective: Proficient teacher performance related to this component.
Click here to view an explanation of the evidence and rationale for the Effective: Proficient rating in this video.
The HCIS Help Desk is now live!
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Advanced Placement® FAQ
Please forward to all Principals, Counselors and AP® Coordinators.
In an effort to support your continuing implementation of Advanced Placement Course offerings so students have access to rigorous coursework that prepares students for college, the Department is providing the attached FAQ document. Should you have additional questions or concerns relative to AP please contact: Ernise.Singleton@La.Gov
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Course Choice Informational Webinars
Please forward to School/District Staff and School Counselors.
Course Choice will provide students and their families access to rigorous college and career, publicly-funded course offerings that best match student's abilities and needs beginning SY 2013-14. On December 6, the LDOE hosted an initial Course Choice informational webinar for professional school counselors and district staff. Beginning December 17, this webinar can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/CCWebinars.
We encourage all professional school counselors to attend the next webinar, which is scheduled for Wednesday, December 19, at 2:30 p.m. To join online select the following link: http://tinyurl.com/cczqofz . To connect with your telephone only, call 1-888-621-7121 (toll free), enter event number 716092. Please send questions to coursechoice@la.gov in advance.
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2012-2013 K-2 Math and K-5 ELA Textbook Adoption
Please forward to District Textbook and Curriculum Supervisors, Principals and Teachers.
The LDE initiated the annual textbook adoption process for K-2 Mathematics and K-5 English Language Arts (ELA) textbooks. Publishers' textbook submissions were reviewed by the Textbook Committee. The LDE reviewed committee recommendations and completed full comparison of the texts to Common Core State Standards. This review revealed misalignment between the texts and the standards. The LDE recommended that the Board (1) receive the 2012-2013 K-2 Mathematics and K-5 English Language Arts textbooks adoption report regarding, and (2) take no further action. The Board approved the LDE's recommendations.
Districts may use funds to purchase any textbooks and materials (including materials not on the state adoption list). Districts should follow their local procurement processes when purchasing materials. The Louisiana Publishers' Association is moving forward with a textbook caravan, and districts may participate.
The LDE will continue to support districts with potential purchasing decisions by identifying textbooks and other instructional materials that align with the Common Core State Standards. The LDE will publish their review of submitted textbooks' alignment with Common Core in early January 2013, prior to the textbook caravan.
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Assessments and Accountability
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December 2012 EOC Administration
Please forward to Middle/High Schools participating in the December 2012 EOC Tests Administration, as well as Test Coordinators and Curriculum Coordinators.
EOC test scores are released two school days after a student finishes all three sessions. The following reports are available to teachers and administrative users:
* Student Report
* Student Item Analysis Report
* Class Report
Teachers, schools, and districts can generate a Comma Separated Value (CSV) Student Score File from the EOC Tests system during the testing window only. This file can be used to upload EOC test scores into district/school grade book systems. The format and file layout are available from the EOC Tests home page, www.louisianaeoc.org, under Technology Resources.
To assist educators in interpreting these reports, districts and schools are invited to participate in an EOC Tests Webinar on Monday, December 17, 2012, 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. The presentation will also explain EOC Grade-Conversion tables, including how to use these tables to incorporate test scores in final course grades.
For instructions on joining the Webinar, please click here.
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Deadline for Submission of CEA Form for Testing Additional Seniors
Please forward to District Superintendents, Charter School Leaders.
Some superintendents have expressed the desire to test all seniors or a certain subset of their seniors (e.g., students that have tested but scored below 18) since the accountability system uses the highest ACT score that can be matched to students. The cost is $32/student.
Deadline for Testing Additional Seniors (Friday, December 14):
- Please fill out the attached form and return the signed CEA and the list of seniors to Bernadette Morris, Louisiana Department of Education, 2012 North Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, if you are interested in testing additional students.
- The deadline to submit the signed CEA with the list of seniors is Friday, December 14. There are thirty-five districts that need to submit the signed CEA.
- There are seven districts that need to let the Department know their decision and, if participating, submit the signed CEA by Friday, December 14.
If you have any questions about assessment administration, contact Bernadette Morris at Bernadette.Morris@la.gov
Attachment 1: CEA with Districts for ACT testing November 14 2012.docx
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Act 1 - Compensation - Panel Discussion
On December 6th, we hosted a Panel Discussion with several Superintendents on changes to teacher compensation. BESE Member Holly Boffy facilitated this discussion, which served as an opportunity to hear from superintendents about their approach to compensation reforms. If you were unable to attend or watch the panel, you can access an archived recording of it here.
Next week we will be publishing more information about each panel district's plan.
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Act 1 - Compensation - District Spotlight - Lincoln Parish
Districts continue to revise their compensation plans to meet Act 1 requirements and submit these plans to the LDOE for review. This week we are spotlighting the work of Lincoln Parish.
Lincoln Parish has created a compensation model that rewards strong classroom performance and engaged teachers. In Lincoln's model, Highly Effective teachers can receive a stipend of up to $500 dollars for performance and $1100 total. Teachers with two consecutive years HE or EP ratings are awarded a base salary increase equal to the average of the two prior effectiveness stipends, in addition to moving to the closest higher salary step. Lincoln will be going to their school board this week with their revised schedule, which you can access here.
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Bulletin 741 Proposed Revisions Webinar
Please forward to Superintendents and Principals
BESE will be studying these policy proposals and all changes proposed for Bulletin 741 in the month to come, hearing a recommendation from the Department in January. The Department will be hosting a webinar on the proposed changes on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Please click here for instructions on how to participate in this important webinar. You are urged to participate, or to have a staff member do so, as the changes proposed are significant and will require your attention to be implemented well.
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Policies Approved by BESE as Notices of Intent
Summaries of policies that the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved as Notices of Intent at its meeting on December 5, 2012, are provided here. These revisions must run in the Louisiana Register for public comment and complete the rulemaking process before becoming rule. For summaries of the policies approved as Notice of Intent, please click here.
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FY2012-13 Rewards for Student Progress
Please forward to Superintendents and Business Managers of City/Parish LEAs, Type 2 and Type 5 Charter Schools, LSMSA, OJJ and LSU Lab School.
The attached letter and allocation schedule are from Superintendent White and provide details regarding the Rewards For Student Progress for 440 schools identified as Top Gains Schools for meeting or exceeding growth targets during the FY2011-2012 school year.
If you have any questions or need additional information, you may contact Charlotte Stevens at charlotte.stevens@la.gov.
Attachment 1: Circular 1152 - Letter from Superintendent White Regarding Rewards for Top Gains Schools.PDF
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FY 2010-2011 IDEA Part B Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Confirmation
Please forward to Business Managers and Financial Officials of Public School Districts, Charter Schools, Lab Schools, and Other Entities and State Agencies defined as an LEA for these purposes.
To adhere to Section 34 CFR 300.203 of the IDEA Part B Federal regulations, LEAs are required to annually submit to the LDE a Maintenance of Effort "Confirmation" calculation for IDEA programs. The LDE launched the IDEA MOE "Confirmation" Application for 2010-2011 within the Grants Management System (eGMS) on October 2, 2012. The deadline for submission for this review was November 16, 2012. In an effort to afford all LEAs an opportunity to submit the required forms, the IDEA MOE Confirmation module in eGMS is currently open for submission as previously notified with an extended deadline of December 13, 2012.
Please have the fiscal agent for your LEA review the attached memo and complete the IDEA MOE Confirmation in eGMS. For further information and questions regarding the review, contact Nakia Jason, Federal Audit Supervisor, at Nakia.Jason@la.gov or 1-877-453-2721 or Jason Berard at Jason.Berard@la.gov for eGMS technical inquiries or support.
Attachment 1: 2010-2011 IDEA B MOE Confirmation Memo.pdf
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SRCL Project Directors: SRCL Cohort 1 - Year 2 Funding Budget Forms
Please forward to SRCL Project Directors and SRCL Fiscal Managers.
BESE approved SRCL Cohort 1 subgrantee Year 2 allocations for October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013, at its December 2012 meeting. Please complete the attached budget forms to reflect this allocation and funding period. Please submit your forms for approval by December 14, 2012. If you have any questions please call Julie Cutrer at (225) 342-0181.
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Monthly Systems Management Webinars
Please forward to all local Data Coordinators.
From 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., on the third Wednesday of every month from December through May, Systems Management will sponsor Webinars for all SIS, STS, CUR, PEP, AFR, SPS, and SPC Data Coordinators. The agenda for each meeting will include impending milestones for any open data collection, details on any application enhancements targeted for deployment before the next conference call, explanations of any code or table changes made since the last Webinar, and any topics suggested by you. Meeting reminders and instructions for joining the Webinar will appear in this Newsletter one week in advance of each meeting, and the agenda will then be posted on Blackboard. We will attempt to record each session for retrieval at your convenience, from Blackboard.
All comments should be sent to John Fielding at john.fielding@la.gov. We will also sponsor similar Webinars for SER Data Coordinators every other month. Details will follow.
To join the first Webinar on December, 19, follow the instructions below.
2. If prompted, enter the Meeting Key: O8CQV530
3. When prompted, select the participant type: Participant Application (Windows
User) or Web Participant (Macintosh User)
4. Once you have been logged into the event, a window will pop-up to provide you
with audio options (i.e. computer-based sound or telephone dial-in information).
5. If you have not used AT&T Connect before, go to http://tinyurl.com/6zeuxjt to download and install the participant application before the event.
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Dropout Data Certification
Please forward to all SIS Coordinators.
This year, Dropout Data Certification will be completed through the normal SIS dropout cleanup process. We will not distribute rosters. Please work with your SIS coordinator to be sure that dropout data is correct. Dropout data will be used in the dropout/credit accumulation index for students who were enrolled in grade 8 in 2011-12, and it will be used for the calculation of the cohort graduation index and graduation rate. All corrections must be submitted through SIS no later than January 18, 2013. Please remember that data errors not corrected by your district/school by January 18, 2013, cannot be used as grounds for an appeal of accountability scores in October per policy outlined in Bulletin 111.
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DHH File with Early Steps Participants
Please forward to all SER Coordinators.
The DHH Excel file containing Early Steps participants has been added to your file share section of SER. The file is named "<your LEA name> - From DHH- <month>". If you do not have a file, you did not have students on the list.
These files are intended to aid in the Part C to Part B transitioning process. Transitioning children are those who have an active IFSP, regardless of whether or not they qualify for Part B. This announcement applies to LEAs 001-069 and 396.
Reminder:
- When adding these students to SER, be sure to complete the Part C transition fields at the bottom of the Pre-Referral Activities page. This data will be used in the completion of the SPP, Indicator # 12, Early Childhood Transition.
- An interim IEP and/or timeline extension is not allowed for the child transitioning from Part C to Part B.
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