Commissioner's Newsletter
July 14, 2005
Dear School Administrator:
Enclosed is a copy of Tom Davis’s letter summarizing the June meeting of the State Board of Education. It was an historic meeting; I urge you to read his letter. Following are several items I want to share with you before we convene for the annual summer conference in two weeks.
COOPERATIVE CONFERENCE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
We are making final preparations for the 44th annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators, which will be held July 31 – August 2 at Tan-Tar-A. More registrations are arriving every day, and we are expecting a large crowd.
I believe this is an important and productive conference, and I hope you will be able to attend. If you are unable to attend, I hope your district will be represented. You may still register online. Pre-registration is available until July 20.
I am pleased to announce that Governor Blunt has accepted our invitation to speak at the opening general session of the conference at 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 1.
We know there is a great deal of interest in the briefing about the new foundation formula. For the first time, we are using a "ticket system" to spread out the attendance for this session and assure that everyone hears the discussion. We appreciate your cooperation in attending this concurrent session at your designated time.
If you have already registered for the conference but have NOT received a confirmation notice, please call my office at 573-751-3563 right away. If you have any other questions about the conference, please call the same number.
PROPOSED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
As detailed in Mr. Davis’s letter, the State Board of Education has approved a proposed regulation to revise the minimum high school graduation requirements. Under the state’s rulemaking procedures, the Board must adopt this policy in preliminary form. The proposal must be published by the Secretary of State in the Missouri Register, and there must be a 30-day period for public comments. The official comment period begins August 1. The proposal must then come back to the State Board, along with all of the comments, for reconsideration and a final vote. I expect the final vote to take place in October.
These proposed changes would apply to the graduating class of 2010 – the students who will begin eighth grade this year. Therefore, it is important for you and your board and staff to begin thinking about the implications of these recommendations. These proposals are not final; the State Board may choose to modify the final regulation, based on the responses we receive during the next few weeks. However, I am confident the Board will approve at least some changes in the current minimum standards. In many districts, this year’s eighth graders will be planning their high school schedules by December and preparing to select courses for their freshman year (2006-07). You need to make sure that plans are in place to inform students, parents and staff about the pending changes in graduation requirements.
It has been 20 years since Missouri modified its minimum graduation requirements. There is no question, in my mind, that it is time to upgrade the state’s minimum requirements. I also think the minimum credit-and-course recommendations developed by the High School Task Force over the past year are on the mark and will move the state in the right direction.
The High School Task Force also recommended other changes: developing a high school exit exam to replace the current MAP assessments; and instituting differentiated diplomas as a way to motivate students and recognize high-achievers. Those proposals are not being ignored, but they will require more study than the proposed revisions in minimum graduation requirements. I expect we will bring these recommendations back to the State Board of Education this fall and decide how to move forward with other changes in high school-related policies.
To submit comments about the proposed graduation requirements, visit the DESE Web site. The news item about the State Board’s action on graduation requirements includes a link to the proposed regulation and instructions on how to submit comments.
THE NEW FOUNDATION FORMULA & A NEW SIMULATION
As you know, Governor Blunt signed Senate Bill 287 late last month. In an e-mail message to superintendents on May 13, I complimented the governor and legislative leaders for getting a new formulation passed this year. At that time, we also posted a "simulation" for the phase-in of the new formula.
Enclosed is a new "fact sheet" we have prepared concerning the revised formula. I hope you find this overview helpful. We also have created an updated simulation that projects the increase in state funds for 2006-07 over the current fiscal year (2005-06). Please note, also, that we have created a standing link on the School Finance Web page to provide the latest information related to the new funding formula.
This new formula represents a dramatic departure from past methods of calculating state aid. As a result, it creates a "learning curve" for all of us. The formula is based on new concepts and new terminology. It is important to remember that:
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The "state adequacy target" amount, $6,117, was determined by calculating per-pupil expenditures from local and state funds by the "performance districts" in 2003-04 and will be used as the base for the formula in 2006-07. The fact that the formula provides for the amount of money expended by the districts that earned 100 points on the APR is a logical and legitimate educational calculation. The formula is designed to insure that all districts have at least this targeted amount of money to address student needs, if their general operating property tax rate is no less than $3.43. The state target will be allowed to increase beginning in 2009.
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Each district’s local tax effort for 2004-05 will be calculated and "frozen" at that level for its formula calculation. This means that growth in local assessed valuation or local tax rates will NOT result in a corresponding reduction in state aid, as under the current formula. This allows greater local autonomy and flexibility. The elimination of several categorical funding streams (remedial reading, gifted, etc.) and the creation of weighted pupil amounts are among the major changes included in the new formula.
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The elimination of certain categorical ("earmarked") funds gives districts more flexibility to address the needs of all students. School districts also will have more flexibility to spend the portion of foundation formula money that is derived from riverboat gaming and specifically identified as the "Classroom Trust Fund."
School officials should give this formula an opportunity to work and use it to address the needs of students. The formula affords school districts far more flexibility than they have had in the past. Now it is up to districts to use that flexibility effectively.
UPDATE ON THE WELLSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Some of you have read recent news reports about the State Board of Education’s decision regarding accreditation of the Wellston School District and the process by which we are beginning to take over management of that district. I appreciate the calls I have received from several superintendents about this issue.
This is a first for the state; we are in uncharted waters with this action. Wellston became unaccredited in June 2003. Under state law, the district had two years – until June 30, 2005 – to regain accredited status. The district did not show enough progress to qualify for provisional accreditation. As a result, on June 23, the State Board voted to make no change in the district’s unaccredited status. The district sought a temporary restraining order to prevent us from taking steps to carry out the law, but that request was denied. The district’s request for a temporary injunction is pending, but we are moving forward with plans to operate the district and open school on schedule next month.
Dr. Charles Brown, DESE’s Assistant Commissioner for Teacher Quality and Urban Education, has been appointed by the State Board to serve as the superintendent of the district. Charles was a career administrator in the St. Louis Public Schools before he joined DESE, and I am pleased he agreed to accept the unique challenge of leading this school district. We also have appointed two residents of the district to serve with Charles on a "special administrative board" that is authorized by law to govern the district in place of the previous board of education.
I would like to publicly compliment the State Board of Education for its handling of this contentious and potentially explosive situation. While we would have preferred to avoid a confrontation with the district, the Board upheld the accreditation process and carried out its duty to act as a guardian of the welfare of the students in a failing school system.
Now we must directly face the challenge of turning around a low-performing school district. We understand the difficulties we are likely to encounter. I hope the staff, parents and patrons of the Wellston district will join with us in a good-faith effort to move the district forward and focus on the needs of all the children in that community.
UPDATE ON THE MISSOURI STUDENT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (MOSIS)
Early this year we began development of the Missouri Student Identification System (MOSIS), which will enable all districts to assign unique, secure ID numbers to all students, pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Many school district officials have been advocating for the development of such a statewide system, and we believe it will create a number of benefits for school districts and state officials alike.
The system was "turned on" June 2 for school districts to begin the initial phase of submitting student names. By July 1, about half of the school districts in the state had submitted files, and MOSIS had assigned ID numbers to almost two-thirds of the students in the state. The system was "turned off" on July 1 to allow for processing and validating all the ID numbers that have been assigned to date. The system will be reactivated on July 18 so that districts may resume submitting files.
We are extremely pleased with how much has been accomplished so quickly. Our staff will be following up soon with all school districts to see what barriers they have encountered and to offer technical assistance. If you would like to review the background information on this project, visit our Web site. The basics are covered under the link, "Directions on How to Get Access to MOSIS." If you have specific questions, call Leigh Ann Grant-Engle, DESE data manager, at 573-522-8310.
Starting in September, we will offer "pre-coding" of MAP student information sheets for all districts that have joined MOSIS. I believe this will be a significant benefit for districts as they prepare for the expanded, grade-level MAP testing that is coming to all districts next spring. I hope every district will be ready to participate.
RELEASE OF 2005 MAP RESULTS AND PRELIMINARY AYP STATISTICS
At this time, we are tentatively planning to make the public release of 2005 MAP results and preliminary adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations on Friday, August 19. Just as we did last year, we intend to make these data available to districts in advance, via the secure Web site, so that you will have an opportunity to review your district’s data. We expect to make these data available for your review on August 16.
We will provide more information for you soon about our timetable for releasing preliminary Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and final designations of "schools needing improvement" based on AYP results.
NEWS ABOUT "SCHOOL REPORT CARDS"
We will provide a complete report on new legislation during the School Administrators Conference, but I wanted to give you early notice about a bill that affects all school districts for the coming year. This week, Gov. Blunt signed House Bill 297; it becomes effective August 28. The bill deals with several issues, but the major provision relates to school district report cards, which all districts have produced for several years.
Under the new law, school districts are no longer required to publish their own school- and district-level report cards. Instead, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is required to produce the reports. The specific reporting requirements have been reduced and simplified somewhat, but we are required to publish most of the same information that has been provided to the public in recent years through our online reporting model.
Many school districts were already relying heavily on the online reports produced by DESE. Therefore, we thought it would be more practical and economical to allow our online system to carry the weight of state and federal reporting requirements. This should save local school officials time and money in the preparation of separate, and sometimes redundant, reports. This revision in state requirements also is consistent with Governor Blunt’s and our efforts to make government more efficient.
The new law does NOT relieve school districts of all responsibility for public reporting and accountability. It specifically requires districts to take steps to share information with the public and to make parents and patrons aware of the information that is available through the state’s online system. This law, however, should give you much more flexibility to produce more timely reports that are suited to the needs of your district and your community.
IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT THE NEW FINGERPRINTING SYSTEM
Identix, the contractor for the Missouri Highway Patrol, has started collecting fingerprints in some areas of the state. By August, these services will be available statewide. (We sent you details about this electronic fingerprinting service in a June 21 memo from Rusty Rosenkoetter, director of educator certification.) We believe the Identix service will greatly accelerate the process of submitting fingerprints for employee background checks and should make life easier for everybody – applicants, school district officials and our staff.
Here is an important reminder. Districts must continue to use the DESE Web site ("FBI Fingerprints/Sub Cert" screen on the secure login page) to enter names, addresses, Social Security numbers and the reasons for submitting each person’s fingerprints. If you do not supply this information, our staff cannot determine if a person is an applicant for certification or an applicant for a non-certificated position, or where to send the results of the fingerprint check when they are returned to us by the Highway Patrol. If you are waiting for fingerprint results but have not entered the necessary information about applicants on our Web site, please contact 573-522-8316 for information and assistance.
BUS SAFETY TASK FORCE – SURVEY FOR DRIVERS
Governor Blunt recently appointed a state-level School Bus Safety Task Force to make recommendations about ways to improve bus safety in the state. The task force was created in response to the serious bus crash that occurred in the Liberty School District in May. The task force has been meeting regularly and intends to issue its report before the start of school. Mark James, director of the Department of Public Safety, is chairing the task force. Representatives of DESE have presented to the task force and are monitoring its meetings.
As part of its research, the task force is conducting a survey of Missouri school bus drivers. This brief survey is available online at the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The link is listed under "Events."
If it is possible, please share this notice with as many of your bus drivers as possible, and encourage them to respond to the survey quickly.
Federal regulations (the Office for Civil Rights) require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to notify all local education agencies about our Title IX coordinator. Local education agencies must then post this information in a place where students, parents and employees are likely to see it. DESE’s Title IX coordinator is Ms. Jean Cole.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs may be directed to: Title IX Coordinator, Jefferson State Office Building, 5th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone 573-751-4212.
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I hope you are getting some time to recharge and refresh this summer. I look forward to seeing many of you soon at our annual summer conference.
Sincerely,
D. Kent King