Illinois State Board of Education Policy Planning Committee met Jan. 7.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
I. Roll Call
Chairperson Susie Morrison brought the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was
present with three members.
Committee Members Present
Chairperson Susie Morrison
Cynthia Latimer
Jackie Robbins (via phone)
Jane Quinlan
Staff Present
Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent
Kim Clarke, Interim Board Services Coordinator
Dr. Brenda M. Dixon, Research and Evaluation Officer
Dr. Jason Helfer, Deputy Officer, Instructional Education
Dr. Jennifer Kirmes, Executive Director, Teaching and Learning
Dr. Ernesto Matias, Education Officer
Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer (via phone)
Jen Saba, Executive Director, Regional Services (via phone)
Zach Allen, Supervisor, Early Childhood
Emily Fox, Director, Educator Effectiveness
Robert Wolfe, Financial Officer
Rae Clementz, Director, Accountability and Acting Director, Assessment
Azita Kakvand, Agency Rules Coordinator, Legislative Affairs
II. Public Participation
No public participation at this time.
III. Approval of the November 26, 2019, Meeting Minutes
Ms. Latimer made the motion for the Education Policy Planning Committee to approve the Nov. 26, 2019, meeting minutes. Ms. Robbins seconded the motion, and it passed by voice vote.
IV. Discussion Items
A. Review of January Board Agenda Items
1. Early Childhood Education Presentation
Mr. Allen outlined the presentation to be made during the January Board meeting and shared information about the panelists scheduled to participate.
Dr. Ayala and Dr. Matias stated that Board member Dr. Cristina Pacione-Zayas had suggested many of the panelists and has worked with the agency to create questions for the panel.
2. Student Advisory Council
Ms. Saba reported that members of the Student Advisory Council would present to the Board at the January Board meeting on the three areas of focus that they had selected: student success, student safety, and equity. The council will convene prior to the Board meeting and meet with agency staff to discuss these areas of focus. She reported that the council would also present the Board with ideas on how to engage schools and districts regarding the 2020 Census.
Ms. Saba stated that while she is the main contact for the council in the agency, other staff members have assisted with the council on a volunteer basis.
3. Part 375 (Student Records) Maintenance of Student Records
Ms. Snopek reported on the Part 375 Rules that are being modified to align with Public Act 101-0515 and Public Act 101-0161. She reported no changes since the last update to the committee.
4. Part 650 (Charter Schools) Charter Authorization and Oversight
Ms. Saba reviewed the legislation abolishing the Illinois State Charter School Commission, effective July 1, 2020, and the resulting impact for the agency in terms of responsibilities and rulemakings. The Part 650 Rules are being updated to accommodate these changes.
Dr. Ayala highlighted the budget and agency organizational implications associated with these changes. Mr. Wolfe detailed how funding for student enrollment is calculated for districts and charter schools hosted by districts.
5. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with Illinois State University to Administer the Illinois National Board for Professional Preparation Support System
Ms. Fox reviewed the agency’s request for a one-year intergovernmental agreement with the National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University, and what the National Board for Professional Preparation Support System does.
Dr. Ayala highlighted that Illinois has one of the highest numbers of National Board Certified educators in the country.
6. Approval of Notice of Funding Opportunities/ Request for Proposals for the Early Childhood Block Grant- Prevention Initiative 0-3, Preschool for All 3-5, and Preschool for All Expansion 3-5
Mr. Allen reviewed the agency request to release the Early Childhood Block Grant Notice of Funding Opportunities/Request for Proposals. The grant period will begin July 1, 2020. He said that Carisa Hurley, director of Early Childhood, would be presenting to the Board at the January Board meeting. He noted that there were no major changes to the application at this time.
Dr. Ayala and Ms. Snopek stated that the agency will focus on allocating resources to districts in greatest need, especially those without established programs for early childhood.
Mr. Allen and Dr. Helfer reported that the Early Childhood Department has collaborated with the Governor’s Office to analyze funding allocations. Dr. Helfer also discussed the application.
7. Approval of Cut Score Recommendations for Redeveloped Licensure Test
Ms. Fox reviewed the agency’s request to authorize Phase 4 groups 4 and 5 cut scores for the Illinois Licensure Testing System’s redeveloped licensure test. She stated that this test was developed by Pearson but is tailored to Illinois based on feedback by Illinois educators and program representatives. It is aligned to the Illinois content requirements. Ms. Fox described Pearson’s obligations to the agency in this agreement.
Dr. Helfer described the process through which cut scores are determined and evaluated.
8. Approval of RFSP for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness
Dr. Dixon and Ms. Clementz updated on the assessment review process and how it informed the development of the Request for Sealed Proposals (RFSP). They reported that there were no significant changes since the last committee update.
Chairperson Morrison and Ms. Clementz discussed the field responses to the Illinois Digital Item Library from Pearson. Dr. Ayala highlighted this link to the agency strategic plan strategy of assessment literacy.
Ms. Clementz explained this how this item relates to the budget request and districts’ options with respect to engaging with this assessment.
Ms. Latimer noted that the agency should emphasize that this new assessment could replace their current assessment for clarity. Dr. Ayala discussed the agency vision for a new, aligned assessment system.
Chairperson Morrison expressed the importance of engaging local influencers and legislative champions to generate more awareness and support regarding assessment literacy. Dr. Ayala highlighted that student assessment is a priority on the agency strategic plan.
9. Perkins V
Dr. Kirmes reported that the second draft of the state Perkins Plan will be presented to the Board at its January meeting. She will be presenting with Whitney Thompson, senior director of Career and Technical Education at the Illinois Community College Board.
Dr. Kirmes reported that there is an RFSP being created for an evaluation of the Education for Employment systems.
10. Educator Preparation, Support, and Success
Ms. Fox outlined the presentation that would be made to the Board during its January meeting. She highlighted the Part 25 Rule changes and agency activities regarding this initiative. She also detailed how the budget requests reflect this agency priority.
Dr. Kirmes discussed the Career and Technical Education line items relating to alleviation of the teacher shortage. Dr. Ayala noted that the agency aims to be intentional with the disbursement of the competitive grants across all six regions of the state.
Dr. Helfer discussed the Educators Rising item under Career and Technical Education.
B. Review of February Board Agenda Items
1. Part 51 (Dismissal of Tenured Teachers under Article 24 and Dismissal of Tenured Teacher and Principals under Article 34 of the School Code) Approved Training Application
Ms. Snopek reported on the Part 51 Rules, which provide the application and approval requirements for providers of Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) training. Dr. Helfer discussed some of the background context to PERA requirements.
2. Part 255 (Registered Apprentice Program) Apprentice Program
Ms. Snopek reported on the Part 255 Rules, which are being created to align with the enactment of Public Act 100-0992, effective August 20, 2018.
Chairperson Morrison remarked that the agency should consider evaluating high school requirements and standards.
3. Approval of Ed360/Illinois Longitudinal Data Systems RFSP
Dr. Dixon reported on the Ed360/Illinois Longitudinal Data Systems RFSP, highlighting that this grant would replace current contractual resources that are expiring.
Dr. Ayala stated that the agency is evaluating its capacity to do this contracted work internally. The goal is to keep these services through contractual work while transitioning over.
4. Approval of 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant Request for Proposals
Dr. Matias and Dr. Ayala reported on the purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant, and the agency’s goal to expand services to children and families from across the State of Illinois.
5. Approval of Illinois Science Assessment Waiver
Ms. Clementz outlined the purpose of and need for the Illinois Science Assessment waiver.
6. ESSA
Dr. Helfer outlined the information that the Board will be presented with regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) indicators at the February Board meeting. He also detailed a series of potential actions coming up at the February Board meeting. He highlighted that some indicators were approved by the previous Board.
Dr. Ayala reported on some organizational changes in the agency. These changes will align more effectively to the agency strategic plan.
V. Budget Requests
A. Gifted Education
Dr. Helfer reported on the agency’s efforts and timelines to make provisions for gifted education, especially in light of the advocates’ requests.
Chairperson Morrison expressed that it is important for the agency to create provisions for all students, including gifted students, in the spirit of equity. Dr. Ayala said that the agency will need to formulate a needs assessment and plan to ensure that gifted education has adequate staffing and effort behind it. Chairperson Morrison gave historical agency context from her time at ISBE regarding gifted education and stressed that agency personnel should be specifically allocated to oversee gifted education.
B. Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium There were no questions on this line item.
C. Evidence-Based Funding
Ms. Latimer asked if there was a way to increase the allocations to Evidence-Based Funding, given the research and results it yields. She expressed that the agency should seek to preference budget line items that provide equitable support to schools, districts, and students.
Mr. Wolfe reviewed the agency recommendation with respect to this line item. Dr. Ayala reported on the partnership with the Governor’s Office to ensure that the budget requests made by the agency do not extend too far from what the Governor will allot to the agency.
D. Statewide System of Support
Chairperson Morrison and Dr. Matias discussed the budget line items and the rationale between funding allocations for this line item. Chairperson Morrison encouraged the agency to push the federal funds further in order to extend more funds to the Evidence-Based Funding line item.
VI. New Business: Items for the next agenda
VII. Next Meeting: January 28, 2020
VIII. Adjournment
Chairperson Morrison adjourned the committee at 2:52 p.m.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/Ed-Policy-Planning-Committee-Minutes-010720.pdf
Alerts Sign-up