Immediate Action Required - Governor Considering a Veto of the School Grading Bill!

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Created on Friday, 29 March 2013 20:46

Support SB271S03 - School Grading 

 

CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: 801-538-1000

 

EMAIL THE GOVERNOR & STAFF: 

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POST A COMMENT on the Governor's Facebook page HERE

 

Send a tweet to the Governor: @GovernorHerbert using #schoolgrading

 

 

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Remember, when contacting elected officials, 

it's appropriate to be firm, BUT ALWAYS BE RESPECTFUL.

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Background

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In 2011, Senator Niederhauser sponsored SB59 - School Grading System - which became the law. This is the first year that every school in Utah will receive a letter grade A-F based on the proficiency and learning gains of their students. Beginning with the original bill passed in 2011,School Grading was built around the fundamental principle that every student is capable of making a year's worth of growth (learning gains) in a year's worth of time.

 

This year Senator Adams, on behalf of President Niederhauser, sponsored SB271 - School Grading Amendments - making necessary technical changes to solidify the positive work the legislature has done over the last two years to provide parents and citizens with clear accountability and transparency for the performance of all public schools. Hours of negotiations with the State Office of Education were held throughout the legislative session in good faith, which resulted in both compromise and concessions.

 

We need School Grading to move forward as the legislature intended. Parents, taxpayers and communities deserve clear and accurate information about the performance of their public schools.

 

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Support for SB271S03

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Yesterday, the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Stuart Reid, issued a letter in strong support of SB271S03 School Grading. Go HERE

 

The Utah Technology Council representing over 5,500 high-tech, clean-tech and life science companies in Utah asked the Legislature to support SB271 School Grading Amendments! GoHERE

 

During the legislative session the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Martell Menlove,issued an email of support for SB271S03 to House sponsor, Greg Hughes, to be distributed to all House members prior to the passage of the bill. Go HERE

On March 20, 2013, the Utah State Board of Education met to discuss a request for a veto of SB271 by Governor Herbert. The Board voted NOT to request a veto, with only 5 of 15supporting a veto! 

 

This letter of support, sent by former Florida Governor Jeb Bushduring the session encouraging our legislators to support the School Grading law, does a wonderful job of articulating the power of School Grading. Under his leadership, Florida was the first state in the nation to pass a strong School Grading law. The resulting outcomes for education have been phenomenal, and Governor Bush continues to be an outspoken champion for implementing strong accountability systems for our public schools. Go HERE

 

 

Go HERE to find our School Grading "Myth Busters" - bringing factual reality to the misrepresentations and FUD tactics being used by the Educrats to prevent accurate and fair accountability for outcomes from coming to our publicly funded education system.

 

Your 9-12 Grade Student Can Take 3 Online Classes This Fall from Utah's Newest Public School Choice Option! (2)

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Created on Thursday, 09 May 2013 20:33

The 2012-13 school year may be coming to a close, but it's not too late for students who will be in grades 9-12 this Fall to enroll in online courses. They can register for courses through the Statewide Online Education Program at anytime right up to the beginning of the new school year!      This innovative public school choice option allows all 9-12 grade students to customize their schedule with a rich variety of classes, such as Juilliard's groundbreaking virtual music class through Utah Connections Academy. The choices for online courses just keep on growing!     What else is new about Utah's "choice to the course" program for the 2013-14 school year?      In addition to being available to all public school 9-12 graders, home schooled and private school students in those grades can now enroll in courses through the Statewide Online Education Program, too! Best of all, these courses are free as part of our public school system.   But that's not all! Beginning this Fall, students can take up to THREE full credits or SIX half credits online! That is an increase of one additional credit over last year - and, remember, if public school students are enrolled in seminary during their regular school day, they can take one online course without having to adjust their class schedule.   Students can enroll in online courses for the 2013-14 school year now!        In fact, enrolling in online courses through the Statewide Online Education Program just got a lot easier!   ENROLLMENT UPDATE:  NEW STREAMLINED PROCESS FOR SUBMITTING YOUR ONLINE COURSE ENROLLMENT FORM (CCA)   No more hassles! Now you can register for online classes in one easy step! After selecting the provider and the course you want to take, simply click on the enrollment form found on the USOE website here, complete all necessary fields and submit! The State Office of Education will take care of the rest! Go HERE to see courses and Providers Go HERE to Register Now. How do you register? It's so simple.   If you're a public school student, the courses you select must align with your SEOP (Student Education Occupation Plan - which ensures that your credits align with your graduation plan). Find out more HERE. Remember, all 9-12 grade students (public, private, and home schooled) are allowed to take up to three (3.0) full credits online from any Statewide Online Education provider (goHERE). Select the courses you would like to take, then complete and submit the enrollment form (go HERE).      Do you still have questions about registration or want to read the FAQs? Go HERE ... Remember, this Program was created to meet the needs of our next generation learners. Our students need access to the best courses and the best teachers, regardless of zipcode. They need 21st century solutions to prepare them for college and careers. They're already online, now they have a high quality public school option that is, too! Online learning is free, flexible and personalized -  Pass this message on to someone who may benefit from this option   If you experience any problems or hassles with your school of enrollment telling you that you cannot enroll in online courses, please contact Judi Clark at (801) 710-2345 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  for assistance.

Stay Tuned - School Grading Coming to a Public School Near YOU - September 1, 2013! (2)

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Created on Wednesday, 03 April 2013 14:17

(Additionally, the percentages set in the School Grading Law for what determines an A, B, C, D or F were developed in collaboration with the Utah State Office of Education.)

URGENT - Stop the Utah State Board of Education from asking the Governor to Veto School Grading!

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Created on Wednesday, 20 March 2013 14:35

It's PCE Report Card Time for the 2013 Legislative Session! How Did Your Legislators Do? (2)

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Created on Monday, 08 April 2013 14:22

It's Report Card Time for the 2013 Legislative Session! - How Well Did Your Legislators Score On Important Education Policies? 

The Utah Legislature recently completed one of the most successful Legislative Sessions on record for accelerating innovation and enacting student-centric reforms through smart education policy!

School choice options grew through the expansion of the Statewide Online Education Program and the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship; Charter school funding was protected while the Higher Education Charter Authorizer law was strengthened; Accountability to parents and taxpayers will move forward for school performance as the legislature intended through the School Grading Law; Parents will now be empowered with access to the academic information and data the USOE already collects on their student, allowing them to be more informed and engaged in their child's education; Personalized instruction and innovation through technology resources in the classroom were expanded; A paradigm shift moving away from outdated seat-time restrictions and towards competency-based education advanced; Accountability for the $30M K-3 reading program was strengthened by requiring schools and LEAs to meet specified benchmarks for growth and proficiency in order to receive funding...

 

 

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PCE Policy Principles

 

Increasing Choice

Empowering Parents

Transparency & Accountability

Efficiency in Funding

Promote Quality Instruction

Promote Innovative Solutions

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Partnered Bills

Bill # Name Description Sponsor HB171 Screening for Reading Difficulties Early identification and treatment of reading difficulties will enhance the likelihood of reading literacy by the end of the third grade. Districts and charter schools shall provide a screening for dyslexia if the students are determined to be at-risk and provide appropriate interventions beginning in Kindergarten. Rep. Knotwell   Held in Rules HB293 School Parent Organization Amendments The number of both traditional and charter schools using independent parent organizations in lieu of a PTA has increased extensively. Due to the increase, this amendment recognizes "parent organizations" in Utah Code wherever "parent teacher associations" are referenced. Rep. D Brown   Held in Rules HB393 Competency-Based Education Amendments Requires the State Board of Education to recommend changing education funding formulas to reflect competency and subject mastery rather than seat time. Allows a school district or charter to establish a program and assessments that will grant credit and advancement upon subject mastery and competency. Rep. Hughes PASSED House Vote  Senate Vote SB79 Student-Centered Learning Pilot Program Creates a pilot program that will allow traditional district schools or charter schools to transition to a blended learning model and operate on an extended school year schedule. Awards grants to help schools create sustainable, scalable models that provide enhanced instruction and improved delivery of curriculum; create a culture that supports individualized learning across students, teachers, LEA leadership, and parents; and improve system structure and policy to allow for efficiencies in teacher practice, scheduling, staffing, use of space and the full implementation of blended learning practices. Sen. Stephenson PASSED Senate FAILED in House House Vote Senate Vote SB82 Student Achievement Backpack Requires the State Board of Education to use the robust, comprehensive state data collection system to provide access to a student's complete K-12 learner profile first and foremost to parents, and to the teachers educating them. The Backpack will eliminate silos, ensure privacy, and end bureaucracy by providing a uniform, transparent reporting mechanism for accessing a complete view (under FERPA) of a student's progress and achievement. This will assist teachers and administrators with diagnosing the students needs and abilities through the use of data, and give parents access to the information they need in order to play an active role in their student's education. Sen. Stevenson PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB103 Carson Smith Scholarship Amendments Modifies the Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act by establishing a growth formula triggering an automatic increase in appropriations for scholarship payments, so that the number of students participating in the program can increase year to year. The program has currently been in a lottery and capped by appropriations, serving only 1% of eligible students. Sen. Adams PASSED House Vote  Senate Vote SB110 School-Based Budgeting The state distributes funding equitably through the WPU. The districts then distribute it inequitably through teaching positions, ratios, and staffing norms with no fair distribution of revenue generated at the school level. This bill requires funding to follow the student directly to the school, allowing site-based management which empowers principals, parents, and teachers with the autonomy to make the best budgetary decisions to meet the needs of their students and school. Sen. Stephenson FAILED in Senate Senate Vote SB151 Authorization of Charter Schools by Higher Education Institutions Makes technical modifications to strengthen Utah's third charter Authorizer law in order to best serve the needs of students. Last year two Higher Education Institutions authorized the first charters under the law - Weber State University and the Davis Applied Technology College. Sen. Adams PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB260  Early Childhood Education Programs Amendments  Brings increased accountability for the state's dedicated K-3 reading literacy $30M appropriation by turning it into outcomes-based funding, requiring schools and LEAs to meet specified benchmarks for growth and proficiency as measured by the state's diagnostic and standards-based assessments in order to receive funding. As part of the statutory intervention component, requires the state to fund only evidence-based interventions that improve student outcomes, including an appropriation for digital tools that provide individualized instruction and inform teaching with data. Provides an ongoing appropriation for Early Intervention interactive literacy software for grades K-3. Sen. Urquhart   PASSED   House Vote   Senate Vote SB271 School Grading Amendments Makes some final modifications to the 2011 law. School Grading is in effect for the 2012-13 school year. School Grading will provide clear accountability and transparency for student performance by grading schools A-F, based on both student proficiency and student academic growth (performance gains). Sen. Adams PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB272  Public School Funding Amendments Codifies the current practice of funding charter school and ensures they will not experience the $6 Million cut to funding proposed by the State Office of Education. Sen. Bramble PASSED House Vote  Senate Vote Approps  Statewide Online Education Program The Legislature appropriated $150,000 for private and homeschool 9-12 graders to participate in the Statewide Online Education Program! They, like all 9-12 grade public school students, can now take up to 3 full credits online in the 2013-14 school year. PASSED

Supported Bills

Bill # Name Description Sponsor HB64 Felon's Right to Hold Office Prohibits an individual who is convicted of a sexual offense against a child from holding the office of State Board of Education member or local school board member. Rep. Moss PASSED House Vote Senate Vote HB134 STEM Action Center - Math Literacy Funding Component Provides funding for math literacy technology software for 6th-8th grade students using the following criteria:  (a) the technology contains individualized instructional support for skills and understanding of the core standards in mathematics; (b) the technology is self-adapting to respond to the needs and progress of the learner; and (c) the technology provides opportunities for frequent, quick, and informal assessments and includes an embedded progress monitoring tool and mechanisms for regular feedback to students and teachers. Rep. Peterson PASSED House Vote Senate Vote   HB344 Establishment of Charter Schools Modifies provisions regarding applying for and approving the establishment of specific types of  charter schools in order to meet the unique learning styles and needs of students. Rep. Lifferth PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB81 School Property Tax Funding Equalizes a larger portion of property tax revenue through the Basic Levy over time. Sen. Osmond FAILED not heard on House Floor Senate Vote SB169 Education Task Force Creates a legislative Education Task Force to review and make recommendations on public education and higher education issues, including identification of long-term education policies necessary to help job creation and education quality. Sen. Reid PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB175  Assessment of College Readiness Requires all districts and charter schools to administer a college readiness assessment adopted by the State Board of Education that includes an assessment of language arts, mathematics and science. An online test preparation program shall be made available to prepare students to take the college readiness assessment. Assessment scores will be included in the new School Grading calculations. Sen. Stephenson PASSED House Vote Senate Vote SB284 Education Technology Amendments Requires the Board of Business and Economic Development to select, through a request for proposals process, a single technology provider with integrated whole-school technology deployment experience to develop and implement a whole-school one-to-one technology deployment plan for public schools. Sen. Stevenson  PASSED House Vote Senate Vote

Opposed Bills

Bill # Name Description Sponsor SB71 Results-based Financing for Early Childhood Education Government expansion of education down to the Pre-K level is not the solution. The trouble with government-funded preschooling (i.e. Head Start $200 Billion taxpayer investment) is that we have decades of experience with virtually no measurable effects that last to the end of the third grade. Sen. Osmond FAILED in Senate Senate Vote

 

CONTACT YOUR REP NOW! SCHOOL GRADING BEING HEARD THIS MORNING

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Created on Wednesday, 13 March 2013 14:33

You're Invited to the Utah Blended Learning Summit! (2)

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Created on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 14:25

Attend Senate Committee & Contact Committee Members in Support of Carson Smith Scholarship!

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Created on Monday, 18 February 2013 15:56

LET'S PACK THE ROOM IN SUPPORT OF CARSON SMITH SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOLARSHIP - HELP THE PROGRAM GROW!

In 2005, the Utah Legislature passed the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship, allowing students with special needs to use a scholarship to attend the private school of their choice. This was a monumental step forward! - empowering parents to choose the best learning environment to meet the individual needs of their student.

 

Seven years later, the program's very limited funding is preventing thousands of students from taking advantage of this school choice option. The Carson Smith Scholarship is currently in a lottery and capped by appropriations, serving only 1% of eligible students. Out of the 62,929 students in Utah with special needs only 715 are being served by this scholarship.

 

Senate Bill 103 will change that. On February 1, during our "Utah School Choice Week" Event, Senator Stuart Adams made a special announcement about an amendment he is sponsoring that modifies the Carson Smith Scholarships for Students with Special Needs Act. The amendment establishes a modest growth formula triggering an automatic increase in appropriations for scholarship payments, so that the number of students participating in the program can increase year to year.

When: Tuesday, February 19th
Everyone Welcome - RSVP HERE to help us get a count of attendees 

Where: 1:30 pm Meet 1st Floor, Utah State Capitol (next to the Capitol gift shop)
            Come get refreshments and your Carson Smith Button!

              1:45 pm Room 210, Senate Building (East)
            Head over to Senate Education Committee Meeting

Please Join Us on May 22nd at our Blended Learning Summit! (2)

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Created on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 14:29