Dear Colleagues:

 

Thanks to District Planning Teams across the state, Louisiana's plan for increased, intensive support of curriculum, assessment, and technology plans has launched successfully. Already, guided by the District Planning Guide, districts are reviewing their technology assessments and examining 2015 sample test questions. This week the Department will begin to share the results of its instructional review process, designed to provide districts information on curricula that are aligned to new academic expectations. In weeks to follow, the Department will produce curriculum guidebooks that help teachers to plan for the school year.

 

It is important to note that curriculum will remain an issue for local schools and school systems to select and create. Curriculum is a local choice in Louisiana. 

 

In order to assist local schools and districts in making those choices, over the last four months the Department has solicited math textbooks from publishers for review to determine their level of alignment with the Common Core State Standards. Teachers and state staff together reviewed the submissions, carefully scrutinizing each for full alignment and the in-depth demonstration of skills expected of students on new assessments, and listing each with a "tier" representing its level of alignment. "Tier three" textbooks demonstrate minimal alignment; "tier two" textbooks demonstrate moderate alignment; "tier one" textbooks demonstrate full alignment. Schools and districts can then use this information as they see fit in planning for next year.

 

While the Department will continue to release textbook reviews over the coming weeks, in order to allow you and your teams access to early information, we are announcing that at this time Eureka Math was the lone submitted math curriculum demonstrating full alignment with the Common Core State Standards in mathematics. As a result, the Department will be launching a set of increased supports for those districts and schools choosing to adopt this curriculum, and your district will be able to get a head start on planning for next year:

 

• Access Eureka Math materials:
• Eureka Math is currently and will remain free for download and district/school printing.
• Eureka Math is now also available for purchase. Student workbooks and printed teacher editions are both available. 
• The state is working to finalize a state-wide contract with locked in Louisiana prices for these printed materials and will be available March 1st.  

• Eureka Math professional development: The Department will provide over 1,000 Eureka Math professional development seats beginning in June through the summer and fall.  In addition, the Department is securing lower purchase costs for Eureka PD. Click here to see an overview of the Eureka Math PD offerings available for purchase.  Lower prices along with a state contract and free training details will be available by March 1st. 

• Additional math support:  In addition, the department will begin releasing math guidebooks on March 1st. These guide books will include rigorous instructional tasks, practice assessment items, and guidance on standard by standard remediation. The items included here are samples of the materials soon to be available in the math guidebooks.  

 

We will share information regarding English language arts next week.

  

Our state's choice to adopt higher expectations for student work will pay great dividends for our state and its children. But our teachers must have the tools and training needed to make the shift. Provided tools, support, and time to learn the new expectations, they will thrive. As so will kids.

 

As always, thank you for all you do for our children,

 

In This Issue:

You are invited to participate in the Superintendents' Conference Call hosted by State Superintendent John White on Wednesday, February 12, at 10:30 am.  You may begin dialing into the call 15 minutes in advance.  Please follow the instructions below:

 

To join the Superintendents' February 12, 2014 Meeting:

 

1. Click here to log in.
2. Select: Participant Application
3. When prompted, enter the Meeting Access Code: 9725937#
4. Dial into the Phone Bridge: (866) 814-1914 (Use this phone bridge only; do not use the AT&T phone bridge listed on the link above.)
5. When prompted, please give the Meeting ID #: 1631691
6. You will need to identify yourself in order to be placed into the meeting.

 

DIBELS Next Winter Reporting Extension 

 

The deadline for reporting DIBELS Next assessment results through the online system is extended to February 28, 2014.

 

Placement Test Return of Materials 

 

District test coordinators will receive instructions by mail for the return of placement test materials from Riverside Publishing by February 14, 2014. 

 

2012 -2013 Graduation Cohort

 

Please forward to district test coordinators and accountability contacts. Next week, the Louisiana Accountability Data Correction System will open to district users for the purpose of (a) correcting data used to calculate the cohort graduation rate and the graduation index for 2012-13 and (b) reviewing documentation for sampled legitimate leavers.

 

For an introduction webinar outlining the process, click here. Additional information, including secure system log-ins and user guides, will be sent prior to the system going live. 

 

E-Rate News and Updates

                                                                                                                      

Please forward to district technology directors and E-Rate coordinators. This week the FCC outlined a plan to direct $2 billion over the next two years to dramatically expand its investment in high-speed connectivity for schools and libraries. Schools should begin to see funding for broadband connection and Wi-Fi this year. The FCC has committed to funding all Priority 1 services in 2014 and outlined plan to prioritize the review and approval of consortia and other joint applications. FCC Chairman Wheeler also noted they would be phasing out "legacy services" including low-bandwidth connections. The Department will provide more details as they become available.

 

Additionally, a recommendation was made at a recent USAC Board's Schools and Libraries Committee meeting to the FCC to deny all Priority 2 funding requests for FY 2013. The Department expects the FCC to approve the denial of all Priority 2 funding for FY 2013. With this said, all applicants should reapply for any FY 2013 priority 2 requests in FY 2014.  

 

Important Dates: 

 

• E-rate webinar information below:
• Dates: February 24, March 10, March 24
• Time: 9am - 10 am
• Click here to log in.  
• Call-in Number: 888-808-6929 / Access Code: 9571670

• E-Rate In-Person Applicant Assistance Days: These sessions are intended to provide schools and districts with one-on-one support in filing and/or reviewing their 2014-15 E-Rate application and forms. Schools and districts should email ERate@la.gov to register for these events.

• Dates: February 11, February 25, March 19
• Time: 9 am - 3 pm
• Location: Claiborne Building, Baton Rouge

 

For questions regarding E-Rate, please contact your POC or email ERate@la.gov.

 

Upcoming Task Force and Commission Meetings 

 

 

 

John White
State Superintendent of Education
(toll-free) 877.453.2721 
Twitter @LouisianaSupe

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