(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – At its regular meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations, had in-depth discussions and made decisions on a number of items.
The board gave final approval to 703 KAR 5:010, the regulation that governs procedures for the writing portfolio. The amended regulation includes clarification on appropriate use of time to complete the portfolios, the process by which portfolios are sent to schools when students transfer and specifics on how writing instruction is to be incorporated into the portfolio requirement.
The board also gave final approval to 704 KAR 3:303, the regulation that governs The Program of Studies for Kentucky Schools, Grades P-12. The document outlines minimum requirements for content standards at all grade levels and in a variety of subjects.
After a presentation and discussion on norm-referenced testing, the board approved policy recommendations that will affect portions of the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS), including:
- replacing the current norm-referenced test (the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, or CTBS) at grade 9 with diagnostic/predictive tests at grades 8 and 10
- eliminating CTBS at the end-of-primary (grade 3), except for those used to aid in the identification of gifted and talented students
- moving the grade 6 CTBS testing from the spring to the fall to provide a national comparison as students move from elementary to middle school
The regulation that governs norm-referenced testing (703 KAR 5:020) will be brought to the board at a
future meeting for final consideration.
The board approved recommendations to implement four changes that will impact the reporting of No Child
Left Behind (NCLB) data in August 2006. Those changes are:
- calculating a proxy for special education students as defined by the U.S. Department of Education and applying only to schools that do not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) solely on the basis of the performance of students with disabilities
- invoking the Wellstone Amendment, which enables a state that does not currently test mathematics and reading at all grades 3-8 under its state standards-based system to use data from grades that are tested to determine AYP
- modifying reporting to reflect all tested students, which will include students who have not been enrolled in a school or district for a full academic year
- revising the standard-setting plan for the augmented NRT, a slight change to the state's original plan for standard-setting
The board also heard a report from the Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) on the work of its task force and bylaw amendments from the KHSAA Board of Control. The board directed KHSAA officials to place the proposed bylaw amendments before the group's membership for a vote, as required under the KHSAA constitution.
The board approved the per-child funding rates for the 2006-07 state preschool program and, because of increased preschool funding in the state budget, voted to send a letter of appreciation to legislators and the Governor.
The board took the following actions:
- approved district facility plans for Carroll, Hickman, Nelson and Robertson Counties and Frankfort and Newport Independents
- approved district facility plan amendments for Anderson, Bourbon, Meade and Oldham Counties
- granted extensions for time to complete local school board member training and approved the plan for 2007 in-service training
- gave final approval to 704 KAR 3:530, the regulation that governs the Mathematics Achievement Fund
- gave final approval to 704 KAR 3:490, the regulation that governs the Teacher's Professional Growth Fund
- agreed to re-advertise an open position on the KHSAA Board of Control
Other presentations and review items included:
- elementary and secondary education legislation
- dual credit programs
- a report from KHSAA on Title IX deficiencies
The board will hold its annual retreat on May 10 and 11 at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade. No business will be conducted. The next regular meeting of the board will be June 13 and 14 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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