Illinois State Board of Education Policy Planning Committee met April 5.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Chairperson Susie Morrison brought the meeting to order at 12:31 p.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present with three members. She verified that each member could hear one another and follow the discussion, and that they were able to testify.
Committee Members Present
Chairperson Susie Morrison
Dr. Donna Leak (virtual)
Jaime Guzman (virtual)
Other Board Members Present
None
Staff Present
Dr. Carmen I. Ayala, State Superintendent
Kirsten Parr, Board Services Coordinator
Kim Clarke, Executive Assistant to the State Superintendent
Dr. Brenda Dixon, Research and Evaluation Officer
Christine Paxson, Director of ESSA/IL-EMPOWER
Dr. Dana Kinley, Executive Director of Systems of Support
Dr. Erica Thieman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Ernesto Matias, Education Officer
Dr. Jason Helfer, Deputy Instructional Education Officer
Dr. Jennifer Kirmes, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning
Jennifer Saba, Executive Director of Regional Services
Krish Mohip, Deputy Operational Education Officer
Oriana Wilson, Executive Director of Programs
Robert Wolfe, Financial Officer
Irma Snopek, Policy and Communications Officer
Jeremy Duffy, Legal Officer
Amanda Elliott, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs
Joanne Clyde, Director of Multilingual
Emily Fox, Director of Educator Effectiveness
II. Public Participation
John Burkey, executive director of the Large Unit District Association, discussed assessment. He reiterated that assessments need to be separate and believes the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) can be made shorter. He would like ISBE to support districts that are developing formative assessments.
Heather Livengood from the Champaign Federation of Teachers discussed assessments. She does not support some of the changes to the assessment and would like ISBE to follow a more human approach. She believes ISBE’s proposal will not reduce the amount of testing and would like ISBE to use data from IAR.
Melissa Maldonado from Start Early spoke about Part 25 rules. She supports the rules but believes the Board should not strike field experience from the rules.
III. Approval of the March 1, 2022, Meeting Minutes
Dr. Leak made the motion for the Education Policy Planning Committee to approve the March 1, 2022, meeting minutes. Mr. Guzman seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote.
IV. Discussion Items
A. Legislative Update
Ms. Elliott provided a legislative update. She noted the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on Friday and her team is still waiting to see what final budget will include.
She shared some new bills, such as a graduation requirement that would require one semester on financial literacy.
She shared that all ISBE initiatives have passed both chambers. She added there is conversation about reducing professional development by 20 percent. She noted that legislation that prohibits ISBE from administering assessments for K-2 passed both chambers. Legislation regarding waiving teacher evaluations for tenured teachers if there is an emergency order also passed. School construction legislation passed both chambers. Legislation that implements emergency rules on special education placement in non-approved facilities passed both chambers, and legislation that requires ISBE to develop a template for districts to verify employment history is also moving on. She noted the Right to Read Act is not moving forward, and the team is working on a press release and hosting a summer convening that will focus on literacy.
Chair Morrison asked how many mandates are moving forward. Ms. Elliott noted there are a handful at this point and added that she will have a better sense on Friday and will update the committee then.
Dr. Leak asked the team to create a spreadsheet that shows bills that have unfunded mandates and the timing on those bills.
B. ESSER Dashboard
Dr. Matias presented on this item.
Chair Morrison asked if many districts have not applied for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III funding, and this was confirmed as correct. Dr. Matias noted the team is trying to communicate with districts more and working with Regional Offices of Education (ROEs). Chair Morrison would like updates on this initiative.
Chair Morrison wondered how the team can put the student achievement data and ESSER dashboard data together in one database.
Mr. Guzman encouraged the team to include context regarding the data. Chair Morrison agreed.
Dr. Ayala shared data regarding total statewide ESSER I funding, which shows how the money is being used across the state.
Chair Morrison asked when the committee would be able to access the dashboard. Dr. Matias believes the dashboard will be done in the next few weeks.
Chair Morrison asked if there is similar database that shows how states are using discretionary dollars, and the answer was yes.
V. Review of April Board Action Items
A. Approval for Publication – Part 1 (Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision) and Part 207 (Absenteeism and Truancy Policy) New Part
There were no questions for this item.
B. Approval for Adoption- Part 25 (Educator Licensure)
Mr. Guzman asked what adjustments have been made to the rules. Dr. Kirmes noted the rules have amendments that relate to interagency early childhood consortium work that is ongoing and it streamlines opportunities for those in the early childhood workforce. She noted there are a couple of changes that are specifically designed to alleviate barriers that are problematic in the workforce. She added that individuals are looking to earn the Early Childhood endorsement on a Professional Educator License, which includes field experience. In the comment analysis, the team returned the language of field experience to at least two of the three early childhood age groupings; this is in Section 25-96. It further clarified by adding language that states the student teaching experience may satisfy work in one of the three age groupings.
C. Approval for Adoption- Part 35 (Mentoring Program for New Principals)
Chair Morrison asked for a quick review of the rules, and Mr. McGreal offered that update and noted the rules will provide more flexibility. Chair Morrison asked if this initiative is competitive, and the answer was yes. Chair Morrison asked if there will be an external evaluation. The answer was no; there will solely be an internal evaluation at this time.
D. Approval for Adoption – Part 65 (New Teacher Induction and Mentoring)
Chair Morrison believes that the team should not wait until Year 3 for the evaluation.
E. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million -- IGA with West 40 Intermediate Service Center #2 for ARP EANS (EANS II) Vouchering and Services
There were no questions for this item.
F. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval of the One-Year Intergovernmental Agreement with Northern Illinois University for the Illinois Report Card, My Data Dashboard (formerly Ed360), and 21st Century Learning Center
There were no questions for this item.
VI. Review of May Board Action Items
A. Approval for Publication - Part 1 (Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision) Dr. Matias and Dr. Thieman presented on this item.
Chair Morrison asked what changes were approved. Dr. Thieman noted the test is approved as a 12th-grade graduation requirement, but the school can still administer the test in eighth grade if it desires.
Chair Morrison confirmed that the test can be remotely administered, and the answer was yes.
Mr. Guzman asked if a third party can remotely administer and conduct the test. Dr. Thieman noted she would get back to the committee with this information.
B. Approval for Publication – Part 24 (Standards for All Illinois Educators)
Dr. Matias and Ms. Fox presented on this item.
Chair Morrison asked if the team has reached a consensus with stakeholders, and the answer was yes. Mr. Guzman would like to have a further conversation on how standards and licensures work together.
C. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of IGA with ROE #9 to administer Learning Technology Center Dr. Matias and Dr. Thieman presented on this item.
Chair Morrison asked how the Learning Technology Center (LTC) programs are evaluated. Dr. Thieman noted that there is data in the Board memo that shows who the LTC serves and the student populations that are impacted. She added that all are participating in the statewide district technology survey, which helps the team find out the districts’ needs, and the current resources districts have. She noted that the team meets with the LTC monthly.
Chair Morrison noted the team could consider external evaluations in the future.
D. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Request for Proposals for Summer Migrant Education Programs
Dr. Matias and Ms. Clyde presented on this item.
Chair Morrison asked if this contract is different compared to the contracts in the past, and the answer was no.
Mr. Guzman asked which funded entity and partners the team works with for this contract. Ms. Clyde noted the team currently works with school districts, community health organizations, community colleges, and community health organizations. Mr. Guzman asked if the partners are in charge of everything, and the answer was yes. Ms. Clyde also mentioned the team has a contract with NIU that helps provide training and oversight. Mr. Guzman noted that it is a vulnerable population that is harder to track and retain, and Ms. Clyde agreed that the challenge is finding individuals.
E. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million – Approval of Preschool Development Grant Birth – 5, Year 3 – National Louis University
Dr. Matias and Ms. Wilson presented on this item.
Chair Morrison noted that ISBE is the fiscal agent and asked if decisions are made with ISBE and the Governor’s Office. Zach Allen, workforce policy coordinator for the Governor’s Office, noted the Governor’s Office collaborates frequently with ISBE’s Early Childhood Department.
F. Contracts & Grants Over $1 Million - Approval to Release FY 2023 IL-EMPOWER Continuation Grant Allocations Exceeding $1 Million
Dr. Matias and Ms. Paxson presented on this item.
Chair Morrison noted that this will be a conversation at the May committee meeting. She stated that a lot of money is going to Chicago Public Schools and wonders if there is local data that shows if the funding is making a difference. She asked what the interventions are from targeted schools and wondered what staffing expertise the team has.
Mr. Guzman asked if the team is releasing the grant application earlier than usual. Ms. Paxson noted that last year the timing was later than usual; this year, the team wanted to push the initiative so that it is timely. Ms. Paxson also provided more details regarding the staff and their responsibilities. Chair Morrison noted that the coordinator role is critical.
G. Approval of Cut Scores for Redesigned Licensure Exams
Dr. Matias and Ms. Fox presented on this item.
Mr. Guzman asked if the cut scores are in any of the shortage areas. Ms. Fox noted that two areas are shortage areas, but the team does not anticipate that the cut scores will impact teachers joining the profession.
VII. New Business: Items for the Next Agenda
The committee would like an IL-EMPOWER update at the May committee meeting and an additional conversation about assessments.
VIII. Next Meeting: May 3, 2022
IX. Adjourn
Mr. Guzman made a motion to adjourn. Chair Morrison seconded the motion, and it passed by a unanimous roll call vote. Chairperson Morrison adjourned the committee at 1:47 p.m.
https://www.isbe.net/Documents_Board_Meetings/040522-EPP-Comm-Minutes.pdf
Alerts Sign-up