November 29 2006 Welcome to Highlights a summary of actions by

							November 29, 2006


Welcome to Highlights, a summary of actions by the Washington State Board of
Education. Details of meetings are posted on the Board’s Web site.

On Nov. 26 and 27, in spite of snow and icy travel conditions, the Board met in
Olympia and focused on mathematics: short-term options through the Certificate
of Academic Achievement, and long-term strategies through the Joint
Mathematics Action Plan.

Raising student achievement dramatically is the Board’s highest priority and
math is an urgent issue because thousands of Washington students are not
showing the mathematical skills required to graduate.

Prior to taking action, the Board heard from a number of educators, legislators,
administrators, and the general public.

CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

The Board voted to keep the math WASL requirement for graduating seniors.
But, for students in the Classes of 2008–10, the Board recommends an
additional option. This option would allow students who have not met the
standard to graduate if they successfully complete two additional high school
mathematics classes. Those students must also continue to take the WASL until
they pass or graduate.

This decision on a proposal to the Legislature is consistent with a recent proposal
by Gov. Chris Gregoire and State Superintendent Terry Bergeson. The Board’s
support depends on adoption by the Legislature and funding of the Joint Math
Action Plan to strengthen how math is taught and learned.

The Board also recommended that the Legislature create a fund to provide
incentives for districts to show significant gains in math WASL scores over the
next three years.

JOINT MATHEMATICS ACTION PLAN

The Board approved the Joint Math Action Plan which outlines steps necessary
to bring Washington to the forefront of mathematics education and raise student
achievement dramatically.

The plan was developed cooperatively by the Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction (OSPI), the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB), and the
State Board of Education (SBE). The plan contains a common strategy and
action to be taken by each agency.
Why are students not performing better in mathematics? The Action Plan
identifies a number of system challenges:
   • There are questions about the appropriateness of state standards.
   •   The current system lacks the ability to ensure students actually take the
       mathematics classes and curriculum that align to the Essential Academic
       Learning Requirements (EALRs) and the Grade Level Expectations
       (GLEs).
   •   There is a lack of highly-qualified mathematics teachers.
   •   The high school mathematics graduation requirement is “seat time” based
       whereas the WASL is competency based. In addition, the high school
       mathematics graduation requirement is not aligned with college entrance
       requirements.
   •   Teachers lack classroom assessments and intervention strategies to
       monitor and help individual student performance.
   •   The state lacks adequate management information to track effective
       practices within the K–12 system. There needs to be better data on
       teacher credentials, student course taking, and remedial interventions
       being provided.
   •   Community members have differing expectations about the kind of
       mathematics students need to learn.

In response to these system challenges, the SBE, OSPI and, PESB will move
forward to do the following:

   •   Align standards, assessments, and curriculum.
   •   Ensure quality teaching.
   •   Revise graduation requirements.
   •   Deliver efficient, effective, and equitable Instruction and Interventions
   •   Gather meaningful data on learning and effective teaching
   •   Engage parents and the public.

COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE

State Superintendent Bergeson briefed the Board on additional work by OSPI to
improve planned implementation of the Collection of Evidence (COE). The COE
provides another alternative way students can meet the 10th grade reading,
mathematics, and writing standards through submitting a portfolio of work
samples.

Bergeson responded to concerns from the Board and others about issues of:
including stakeholders in the implementation, training, timing, funding,
complexity, and liability. OSPI is adjusting the mathematics COE to reduce its
complexity. Quality student work samples for teachers will be available soon on
the OSPI Web site (www.k12.wa.us). Bergeson will send a letter to school district
administrators with proposed advice to give students about the COE and other
alternative assessment options.

APPROVAL OF MATH ALTERNATIVE OPTION

The Board adopted cutscores on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT for the Certificate of
Academic Achievement “Mathematics Equivalency Option.” Students who have taken
the WASL twice and have not met the mathematics standard may use their PSAT, SAT
or ACT math scores if the score is at or above the cutscores defined below.

The minimum scores on the mathematics component of the three tests are:
   • PSAT: 47
   • SAT: 470
   • ACT: 19

HONORING GREAT TEACHING

The Board honored Andrea Peterson, the 2007 Washington State Teacher of the
Year. Peterson is a music specialist at Monte Cristo Elementary School in the
Granite Falls School District.

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Please forward this to others who might be interested in the State Board of
Education’s work.

Please visit the Board’s Web site http://www.sbe.wa.gov to sign up for Highlights
and other messages, read complete minutes of Board meetings, and learn more
about K-12 education in Washington State.

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