Video- Nicastro on plans for unaccredited schools, state assessment

DESE: New assessment plan offers more time for instruction, costs less money

(From the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

The Department and a coalition of education partners have developed a revised assessment plan for the 2014-15 school year designed to reduce the amount of time spent on state testing and the overall cost.

The new plan would allow more classroom instruction time by implementing 30-minute survey assessments in English language arts and mathematics rather than a full seven hours of testing for grades 3, 4, 6, and 7. Students in grades 5 and 8 - the transition grades - would continue to take the full tests in English language arts and math, as well as the current science assessment.

Districts would have unlimited access to interim and formative assessment resources for English language arts and mathematics for grades 3-8. Districts can use those resources at their own discretion to help personalize learning for children during the school year.

End-of-course exams will be maintained in Algebra I, Algebra II (for students taking Algebra I at the middle level), English II, Biology, Government and Personal Finance.

For the first time, the state will provide a one-time administration of the ACT(r) for all high school juniors. This will allow students, teachers and parents to see whether or not students are academically prepared for college courses and will save families the testing fee.

Assessments will be administered online, further equipping students with the 21st Century technology skills they need and providing valid, reliable and quick results. Scores will be returned to districts within 10 business days for grade-level assessments and five business days for end-of-course assessments. Department research shows most districts will be able to meet the technology and device requirements for online administration of the new tests. The revised assessment plan reduces the Department's assessment funding request by $3.5 million to just under $27 million.

"We are committed to raising expectations for students and improving our assessment system to ensure our students graduate ready for college and career," said Assistant Commissioner Sharon Helwig, head of the Department's Office of College and Career Readiness. "This plan represents collaboration between the Department and several key stakeholders, including organizations representing teachers and administrators."

Making sure Missouri students graduate college and career ready is the number one goal of Missouri's Top 10 by 20 plan, which is aimed at placing student achievement among the top 10 states in education by 2020.

I would have an easier time buying this if DESE hadn't spent millions to buy a series of practice standardized tests from McGraw-Hill. This is just a reaction to criticism of Common Core Standards and the ever-growing testing emphasis.

DESE news release shortchanges Common Core Standards opponents

This news release notes that the State Board of Education heard comments on Common Core Standards Tuesday and mentions a few of those in favor of the standards. The only mention of the arguments against the standards is the naming of those who spoke against them.

(From the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

To foster open communication on the Common Core State Standards, the State Board of Education heard both sides of the debate over the standards at its meeting Tuesday. The presentation focused on Missouri’s transition to revised academic standards and perspectives on what implementation of the standards means for students, teachers and parents.

Dr. Mary Byrne, co-founder of Missouri Coalition Against the Common Core outlined opposition to the Common Core State Standards during the Board’s morning session. She was joined by Dr. Karen Effrem, pediatric specialist in early childhood learning.

During the afternoon session, the Board heard remarks by Cheryl Oldham, vice president of education policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Brian Crouse of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce regarding the Chamber’s support of the Common Core to help improve education across the country. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce believes the standards are critical to preparing students for high-skill jobs and helping the U.S. maintain a competitive edge in a global economy.

“Most Missouri schools have already begun implementing the Common Core State Standards in English language arts and math,” said Assistant Commissioner Sharon Helwig, “even though full implementation is not scheduled until the 2014-15 school year. Several national surveys have shown tremendous support for the standards from teachers, and we are certain the new standards will help us provide Missouri students with the quality education they deserve.”

The Common Core State Standards for English language arts and math have been incorporated into the Missouri Learning Standards and are expected to help Missouri reach its Top 10 by 20 goal of becoming a top 10 state in education by 2020.

State School Board approves new teacher certification requirements

(From the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)

Teachers seeking certification in Missouri will be meeting new requirements after a State Board of Education vote Tuesday. The proposed rule changes were presented to the Board after a period of public feedback that ended Jan. 1.

Teachers, school administrators, and representatives from higher education, professional organizations, the Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators, the Department and members of the Missouri General Assembly provided feedback through the public comment period. Much of the feedback pertained to early childhood education, with more than 40 percent of the comments focused in that area. The rest of the nearly 700 comments were spread over other aspects of certification.

“This is an important step toward meeting the Top 10 by 20 goal of preparing, developing and supporting effective educators,” said Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro. “As educator preparation and certification improves, our teachers will have the tools they need to help our children succeed.”

The new requirements for certification are scheduled to go into effect August 1, 2017. The Office of Educator Quality will work with the Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for Educators and other key stakeholder groups to complete any final revisions on rules language prior to the requirements going into effect. The Office of Educator Quality will also assist institutions of higher education regarding implementation of the new certification requirements.