STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT-MAY 2011
By: Deborah White | May 12, 2011, 2:51 pm
The May 11th State Board of Education Meeting began at 8 o’clock with an Executive Session followed at 9:15 with the three committee meetings, budget, rules, and charter. After the conclusion of the three committee meeting, the Operations Committee met. Following the Operations Committee Meeting, a second Executive Session was held and the Public Hearing began at 1 o’clock. Chairman Barrs asked for public comments; there were no comments.
When Chairman Barrs called the Committee of the Whole Meeting to order, the following items discussed in the morning committee meetings were moved to the Consent Agenda and the Consent Agenda was approved.
Budget Committee
To award a grant to selected Local Education Agencies (LEAs) not to exceed $2,831,312.00 in federal funds for expenses of students whose direct instructional and related services exceed $27,000.00 in individual annual costs. These grants will reimburse LEAs for the costs incurred for students whose IEPs require extensive and expensive direct instructional and related services that exceed three times the per pupil expenditure or $27,000.00 per student.
To contract with the Office of State Administrative Hearings (OSAH) for up to $250,000.00 in state/federal funds for due process hearings for special education. The Department of Education is required to provide due process hearings under State Board Rule 160-4-7-.12; the hearings are designed to resolve differences between concerned parties in the identification, evaluation, placement, or provision of a free and appropriate public education for a student with a disability.
To contract with the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessments (NCIEA) for technical assistance in the development of a strategic, integrated assessment plan to coordinate the Race to the Top assessment initiatives.
To award a state grant to Houston County the fiscal agent for Camp John Hope an Agricultural Education Youth Camp.
To contract with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on behalf of Valdosta State University not to exceed $517,349.00 in state funds for providing facilities and services for the 2011 (July) and 2012 (June) Governor’s Honors Programs.
To award a grant to the RESAs at a cost not to exceed $1,840,000 in federal funds for school improvement services to Title I schools in Needs Improvement Levels 1-3.
To amend the FY11 Title I, Part A grant with Odyssey/Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) to increase the allocation by $351,499 due to significant expansion of the number of eligible Title I students who may be served by GCA.
To enter into a contract with Cayen Systems, Inc. for 86,000 in federal funds for the Cayen AfterSchool data management system for 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
To adopt the FY 2012 (School Year 2011/2012) salary schedule for which funding has been appropriated by the General Assembly. Additional guidance will be provided by DOE. [The salary schedule reflects both the total state salary for the annual contract of 190 days and a daily rate based on employment of 190 days that may be used to calculate salaries if the school year is reduced from the 190 days].
Charter Committee
To deny a charter for C.J. Hicks Elementary School, a K-5 conversion charter school approved by Rockdale County Schools. Denial was for failure to demonstrate the need for the broad flexibility waiver, to demonstrate a commitment to increase student achievement, and the schools proposed governing board is not empowered.
To grant a charter for Spout Springs Elementary School of Enrichment, a grade K-5 conversion charter school approved by Hall County Board of Education.
To ppoint Melanie Stockwell to the Georgia Charter Schools Commission.
To approve a start-up charter petition to Destiny Achievers Academy of Excellence, DeKalb County School.
Rules Committee
To initiate rule making procedures to amend State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.12 COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM PLAN. This rule is being amended to include requirements in the O.C. G.A. §20-2-777 regarding annual fitness assessment, reporting, and compliance for grades 1-12. Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, each local school district will be required to implement an annual fitness assessment program for students in grades 1-12 to be conducted only during a physical education course taught by a certified physical education teacher.
To initiate rulemaking procedures to amend State Board of Education Rule 160-4-5-.02 LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE: PROGRAM FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS (ELs). This rule amendment supports districts in their efforts to comply with federal Office for Civil Rights guidelines, Title III of the NCLB requirements and best practices for servicing English Learners.
To initiate to repeal State Board of Education Rules 160-7-1-.01 Single Statewide Accountability System, 160-7-1-.02 Accountability System Definitions, 160-7-1-.03 Accountability Profile, and 160-7-1-.04 Accountability System Awards and Consequences.
To initiate to amend State Board of Education Rule 160-5-6-.01 Statewide School Nutrition Program. The proposed amendment provides greater clarity in defining required personnel as well as removing the provision regarding requests for exceptions to rule requirements since this is addressed in another State Board Rule.
To approve for the 2011-2012 school year, the Camden County School System’s waiver of SBOE Rule 160-4-8-.05 Guidance Counselors and the Dalton City School System’s waiver of SBOE Rule 160-4-2-.05 Middle School
To approve the Jasper County School System’s waiver request of SBOE Rule 160-5-1-.13 Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA) section (1)(e) so as to move from the Oconee RESA to the Middle Georgia RESA beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. The Jasper County School System is in close proximity to the member districts of the Middle Georgia RESA. The waiver request supports Jasper County Schools’ efforts to maximize academic and financial resources.
To approve system waivers for the Catoosa County School System that received extensive damage during the recent storms
Other Business Items
To approve the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for two Career Technical and Agricultural Education pathway course electives. These science courses will enable students to develop technical and academic skills in Geospatial Science and Technology
To approve the Five-Year Local Facilities Plans.
To approve 34 recommended Supplemental Education Services (SES) Providers for the 2011-2012 school year. SES provides eligible low-income students, who attend Title I schools in needs improvement status, the opportunity to receive free before-school, after-school, summer or Saturday tutoring services.
The State Board of Education approved the following items not placed on the Consent Agenda:
To adopt the amendment to State Board of Education Rule 160-5-3-.02 – CONTRACTED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES. Senate Bill 392 was passed into law at the end of the last legislative session. This Rule is being revised to match the changes in State Law.
To adopt the amendment to State Board of Education Rule 160-5-3-.11 – STANDARD COST DEVELOPMENT
To authorize the list of new private schools to participate in the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) Program for the 2011 - 2012 school year.
To initiate rulemaking procedures to create State Board of Education Rules 160-7-1-.01 Single Statewide Accountability System. The Proposed new rule is being initiated to ensure that the process for determining AYP aligns with the secondary assessment transition from the GHSGT to the EOCTs.
The Board withdrew the Training Program for Members of Local Boards of Education item.
Before adjourning Chairman Barrs announced that the State Board of Education will convene at 8 a.m. tomorrow, May 12th in the West Tower for a policy discussion.
This is a summary and is not an official record of the State Board of Education Meeting