ACTION ALERT: Please visit the web site of the Ohio Department of Education to complete a survey regarding the Achieve Report, "Creating a World Class Education System in Ohio" released in February 2007 by the State Board of Education. The survey takes approximately fifteen minutes to complete. The first open ended question provides arts education advocates with an opportunity to provide the following message:

MESSAGE: The Achieve report, "Creating a World Class Education System in Ohio", provides recommendations to help Ohio improve its education system in order to better prepare students for success in the global economy. However, this report neglects the importance of providing all Ohio students with a high quality comprehensive education that includes the arts --- dance, drama/theatre, music, and visual arts. More and more the leaders of the business community are recognizing the role of the arts in preparing students to be better thinkers, designers, innovators, and team players. High quality arts education programs in our schools should be included in any new strategies to engage Ohio's students, citizens, and communities to meet the new challenges of the creative economy, and find ways to redesign and energize Ohio's economy.

BACKGROUND: The Achieve report talks about the global economy and the skills students need to be successful in the 21st Century, but fails to recognize the research (Critical Links, Arts Education Partnership, 2002) that shows how arts education can be used as a strategy to help students achieve at higher levels, keep students in schools, meet the needs of at-risk students and those who might drop out of schools, and teach students skills such as design, creative thinking, and team building, which students need to be successful in the creative economy. Creativity and innovation are the skills that many policy makers and business experts believe students should develop to be successful in the global economy. According to the Progressive Policy Institute (2002) "The New Economy is all about economic dynamism and is epitomized by fast-growing, entrepreneurial companies, one of its hallmarks. The ability of firms to innovate..... is becoming a more important determinant of competitive advantage" (p. 1 at http://www.neweconomyindex.org/states/2002/index.html). Ohio's academic content standards for the fine arts are the only academic content standards in Ohio that identify "creativity" as a separate standard for students to achieve. The arts have an important role to play in redesigning and energizing Ohio's economy, but the arts must be recognized and included in the strategies that will be implemented to invigorate Ohio's schools, communities, and economy.

The State Board of Education will be reviewing the responses to the Achieve Report survey at their June 2007 retreat. Your responses to this survey will have an impact on their decisions. Please act today and complete the survey, and let your voice in support of the important role of arts education in efforts to meet the educational needs of students in the 21st Century be heard.

FYI ARTS � INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ARTS ADVOCACY FOR THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL�S BUDGET

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet in session and hold committee hearings this week.

HB 119 (Dolan), by a vote of 97 to 0. There were no amendments to the bill, and debate, or rather testimonials in support of the bill, lasted 90 minutes or so. The proposed $52 billion budget for FY08 and FY09 (General Revenue Fund monies) is already being debated in the Ohio Senate's Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey. The committee is currently hearing invited testimony from state agencies and departments. The Ohio Department of Education is scheduled to present testimony on May 8, 2007, and the Ohio Arts Council on May 11, 2007. The committee will hear public testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 later this month.

*The Ohio House selected Ron Gerberry to replace Representative Ken Carano, who recently resigned from the 59th Ohio House District seat to accept the position of Regional Director for the Office of the Governor for Mahoning Valley. Representative Gerberry is a former State Representative who served in the Ohio General Assembly from1982 to 2000, and chaired the House Education Committee.

*The Senate approved Sub. HB2 (Webster), appointment of the chancellor of the board of regents, on May 2, 2007 with some changes. The House must now agree with the Senate changes before the bill becomes law. The Senate version of HB 2 does the following:

-Allows the governor to appoint the chancellor of the board of regents for a term of five years with the approval of the Senate. The Senate must approve the chancellor before the chancellor can take office. The chancellor can be reappointed by the governor. The governor can remove the chancellor from office for demonstrated incompetence, malfeasance, and misfeasance.

-Transfers the current powers and duties of the board of regents to the chancellor.

-Assigns the following new duties to the chancellor: (1) adopt rules prescribing procedures for the chancellor to follow when taking actions associated with the chancellor's duties and responsibilities, (2) adopt rules prescribing the advisory duties of the board of regents, (3) request the board to hold a public hearing on whether to recommend the elimination of a graduate program at a public institution of higher education prior to the chancellor issuing a final recommendation, and (4) respond to requests for information about higher education from the General Assembly.

-Requires the board of regents to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the condition of higher education in Ohio and the performance of the chancellor.

-Requires the chancellor by September 28, 2007 to report to the General Assembly how to make college more affordable and increase access to higher education; keep students in Ohio after graduation; how higher education can be used to grow the economy; and how to use the talents of the Ohio Board of Regents.

-Requires the board of regents to meet quarterly, report annually on the state of higher education and on the chancellor, and conduct hearings on appropriate topics.

2) More details on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan): The Ohio House approved Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) on May 1, 2007 with no debate or amendments. Am. Sub. HB 119 allocates a total of $52 billion for FY08-09 in General Revenue Funds ($25.3 billion in FY08 and $26.7 billion in FY09), which is $785 million less than the proposed Executive Budget request submitted by Governor Strickland in March 2007. The total budget, including all funds and federal funds, is $52.5 billion in FY08 and $54.5 billion in FY09.

The General Revenue Fund Budget for K-12 education is $7.735 billion in FY08 and $8.07 billion in FY09. The total budget for education, including all funds and federal funds, is $10.9 billion in FY08 and $11.5 billion in FY09, which is slightly higher than the Executive Budget request.

Am. Sub. HB 119 makes many changes in Governor Strickland's budget request as introduced. The House version of the biennial budget reduces spending in several departments and agencies, including the Department of Development in FY09 and the Department of Mental Health, makes changes regarding Medicaid eligibility, and restores certain work requirements for TANF recipients. HB 119 also eliminates the moratorium on opening new charter schools; restores the Educational Choice Scholarship Program; creates a new voucher program for students in special education programs; restores funding for abstinence-only education; adds $22 million in FY08 and $149 million in FY09 for higher education; adds funds to support early childhood education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math schools; and $500,000 each year for Ohio Arts Council, to name a few examples. (There are several individual organizations and programs that also receive support through the budget, and these will be noted in a future Education Update.)

Am. Sub. HB 119 also retains many provisions from the Executive Budget request. The substitute bill retains the major components of the school funding formula for primary and secondary education; funding for early childhood education; changes in the property tax exemption for the elderly and disabled persons; the provision to securitize $5 billion in future tobacco settlement funds; the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), and more. The following are highlights of Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) as approved by the Ohio House, including CHANGES and NEW items approved in the House version. This summary was prepared from the Legislative Service Commission's (LSC) Budget Comparison Document, LSC's Budget in Detail, and the LSC Analysis of Am. Sub. HB 119, which are available at http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/.

BASICS OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA *Total State Aid increases by 2.6 percent in FY08 and 4.0 percent in FY09.

*Increases per pupil funding by 3 percent each year to $5,565 in FY08 and $5,732 in FY09.

*Eliminates the second formula ADM count currently the 2nd week in February. The district formula ADM is the final number verified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and authorizes the Superintendent to adjust the ADM to correct errors.

*CHANGE. Removes the provision that lowered the base cost of e-schools to $3,295 in FY08 and $3,387 in FY09 to reflect the use of a new student teacher ratio of 100 to 1 rather than the 20 to one used for other types of schools.

*Base Funding Supplements $49.42 in FY08 and $50.90 in FY09 per pupil. Retains the 75 percent phase-in for base funding supplement for professional development.

*Special Education - Maintains the weighted per pupil funding for special education in 1-6 categories, $517.5 million in FY08 & $551 million in FY09. Keeps the 90 percent phase-in for special education weights. Increases the threshold amount for catastrophic special education and related services from $26,500 to $27,375 for categories 2-5 and from $31,800 to $32,850 for category 6. Changes the term "special education teachers" to "intervention specialists."

*Career Technical Education. Maintains weighted funding for career-technical education.

*Gifted Education - Maintains unit funding for gifted ($47.6 million in FY08 & $48 million in FY09).

*Parity Aid - Maintains the changes for parity aid included in the Executive Budget. Parity aid will provide districts an amount that represents what 8 mills in FY08 and 8.5 mills in FY09 will raise in the 123rd wealthiest district. 410 low wealth districts will qualify in FY08 and 367 districts in FY09, which will cost $485 million in FY08 and $521 million in FY09.

*Adds poverty based assistance and parity aid to the base cost and the calculation of the state share percentage.

*Poverty Based Assistance - Increases state aid to poorer school districts through Poverty Based Assistance, and provides more flexibility to school districts, but requires districts to annually report to the ODE how they spend funds, and requires the ODE to find effective ways to spend funds. ($204 million in FY08 & $225 million in FY09). Poverty Based Assistance includes funding for All Day Kindergarten, Increased Classroom Learning Opportunities (K-3 class size reduction), Intervention - 3 Tiers, Limited English proficient, Teacher Professional Development, Dropout Prevention for big eight school districts, Community Outreach for Urban 21, Closing the Achievement Gap (new in Executive Budget). PBA is determined based on a district's poverty index, which is calculated using the number of children whose families qualify for Ohio Works First compared to a state percentage. Keeps the phase-in for limited-English proficient at 70 percent, but fully funds dropout prevention, professional development, and community outreach, rather than phasing in the levels in current law.

*Transportation- Increases by one percent state funding for transportation in FY08-09 and implements a new ODE recommended transportation formula, which would begin to operate in the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium. Also establishes the Biodiesel School Bus Program to award grants to promote the use of biodiesel fuels.

*Maintains the teacher experience and training adjustment *Maintains Gap Aid and removes any funds the district receives to replace tangible personal property tax loss from the Gap Aid calculation.

*Guarantee - Guarantees that no district will receive less state funds than the previous year. Provides increases to 302 school districts in FY08 and 368 school districts in FY09 out of 613 school districts. Eliminates the guarantees for poverty based assistance, base-cost, and reappraisal guarantee.

*Maintains funding for Joint Vocational Schools and provides $52 million a year for Educational Service Centers.

*Removes from the calculation gap aid revenue received by a school district to replace the Tangible Personal Property Tax Replacement Fund or the phaseout of the tangible personal property tax.

*Lottery Profit- Provides $672.9 million in FY08 and $667.9 million in FY09 from the Lottery Profit fund.

*Changes current law regarding an academic distress commission. 1) Permits rather than requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish an academic distress commission for a school district that has been in academic emergency and has not met adequate yearly progress for four or more consecutive school years; 2) Requires that the two members of an academic distress commission appointed by the president of the district board be residents of the district; 3) Changes procedures and requires each commission to adopt an academic recovery plan approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

*Physical Education Standards: CHANGE. Removes the provision in the Executive Budget that required the State Board of Education to adopt the most recent standards for physical education in grades K-12 developed by the National Association for Sports and Physical Education.

*Biology: NEW. Changes the biology requirement in the Ohio Core to "life sciences".

*Agriculture Education: NEW. Requires the ODE to appoint a Director of Agricultural Education to disseminate information on agricultural education to school districts, and retain consultants in agricultural education and provide assistance to school districts, and coordinate Future Farmers of America.

*Ohio Core: CHANGE. Makes chartered nonpublic schools eligible for funding as well as school districts for earmarks up to $3,600,000 in each fiscal year to be distributed to school districts to be used to obtain contracted instruction with institutions of higher education in advance mathematics, laboratory-based science, or foreign language for public high school students that results in dual high school and college credit.

CHANGE. Eliminates an earmark of up to $2,000,000 in FY08 for National Aeronautics and Space Administration resource centers.

CHANGE. Reduces earmark to $6,425,000 in FY09 to be distributed to public school districts for supplemental postsecondary enrollment options.

NEW. Provides $10 million each year for the creation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) academies throughout the state through GRF appropriation item 235-437, STEM Initiatives.

*School District and Building Performance Ratings: CHANGE: R.C. 3302.03 - Limits the highest performance rating a school district or building may receive based on the percentage of its students who do not take all required achievement tests according to the following: (1) to continuous improvement if 10 percent to 15 percent of the students are not tested, (2) to academic watch if more than 15 percent but not more than 20 percent of the students are not tested, and (3) to academic emergency if more than 20 percent of the students are not tested.

*NEW: Exempts from R.C. 3302.03 (the provision above) community schools in which a majority of the students are enrolled in a dropout prevention and recovery program.

*Replaces the current requirement, withholding payments to community schools and school districts that fail to report data to EMIS, with a set of sequential actions for ESC, school districts, and educational service centers that fail to properly report EMIS data.

*NEW. Requires the ODE to inform school districts which academic content standards and benchmarks were used to develop questions on the elementary achievement tests that are redacted, upon the release of those tests to the public.

*Requires a school district to label equipment or materials that it purchases or leases with state auxiliary services funds and which are loaned to a chartered nonpublic school, unless the district determines that they are consumable or have a value of less than $200.

*Shipping date of elementary achievement tests (R.C. 3301.0711) Changes the dates to submit the elementary achievement tests to the scoring company based on the enrollment of the school district.

*Requires community schools to conduct criminal records checks of governing authority members.

*Community School Payments: CHANGE. Restores parity aid and poverty-based assistance for dropout prevention and community outreach to "brick and mortar" community schools. Under continuing law, e-schools do not receive parity aid or any poverty-based assistance.

*Community School Enrollment Disputes: NEW. Prohibits the ODE from withholding payment to a community school when a district presents a challenge concerning a student's enrollment until after the district proves that the student should not be included in the community school's enrollment.

*Community School Moratorium: CHANGE. Removes the moratorium to open new community schools in the Executive Budget on "brick and mortar" community schools. Permits the opening of conversion charter schools. The moratorium on e-schools remains until the General Assembly enacts standards for e-schools. New startup community schools may open after June 30, 2007, but only if the governing authority of the school contracts with an operator that operates other schools in Ohio or other states that perform at a level higher than academic watch. Operators are allowed to manage one start-up school after June 30, 2007 for each school it manages nationwide that performs at a level higher than academic watch.

*Residential Facility - Prohibits a community school that opened for operation after May 1, 2005, from operating from a residential facility that receives and cares for children until July 1, 2009.

*Educational Service Centers: CHANGE. Limits an educational service center to sponsoring community schools that are located in a county or contiguous county to the ESC, but grandfathers current ESCs.

*Compliance with State Education Laws and Rules CHANGE. Eliminates the provision in the Executive Budget that required community schools to comply with all state laws and rules pertaining to other public schools, school districts, and boards of education, such as providing a curriculum that includes the arts, foreign languages, family and consumer science, etc.; assigning qualified staff; minimum standards covering instructional materials, equipment, and facilities (such as library facilities and school grounds); requirements for admission and promotion of students; instructional requirements (such as phonics and energy and resource conservation); reporting requirements, and other laws and rules from which community schools are currently exempt. The cost of operation for many community schools may have increased if they were held to the same operating standards as public schools.

*Community School Facilities: CHANGE. Removes the provision that repealed the process for community schools to purchase school district property. Revises current law to require that a school district offer property suitable for classroom space for sale to start-up community schools in the district if the district (a) has not used at least 75 percent of a building for "academic instruction" for at least 75 percent of a school year, and (b) has not adopted a plan to use at least 75 percent of it for academic instruction for at least 75 percent of the next year (rather than a plan to use the whole building within the next three years as under current law). This will eliminate an option to use the building for other "educational purposes," including administration or storage.

*Community School Operators: CHANGE. Removes the provision in the Executive Budget that required operators of community schools to be nonprofit entities, and a provision that required community schools to select operators through a competitive bidding process established by ODE. 151 community schools currently have contracts with operators, and 68 community schools contract with for-profit operators. There are a total of six for-profit and seven nonprofit operators of community schools in Ohio.

*Community School Minimum Enrollment: CHANGE. Eliminates the provision in the Executive Budget that increased the minimum enrollment for community schools from 25 students to 100 students, and the requirement for the ODE to develop criteria to grant waivers. Currently there are 114 community schools with a total average daily membership (ADM) of less than 100. For these schools formula ADM totals 6,608 and total state aid is $58.7 million. The State Board of Education has recommended an increase in the minimum enrollment of community schools.

*Community School Minimum School Year: CHANGE. Eliminates the provision that required community schools to provide students with 180 days, instead of 920 hours, of learning opportunities each school year. Currently in statute and administrative code school districts are required to provide 182 days of instruction: five days per week; five hours for grades 1-6 and 5.5 hours for grades 7-12. Five hours are required in law for grades 7-12, but the State Board of Education has set 5.5 hours in rule for grades 7-12 for school districts. Community schools are required to operate 920 hours.

*Community School Attendance: CHANGE. Eliminates the provision in the Executive Budget that required a community school to withdraw a student who fails to participate in 21 consecutive days of learning opportunities without excuse, and, unless the school primarily serves dropouts, prohibits the community school from re-enrolling the student for the duration of the school year. Current law states that the student must miss 105 consecutive hours of instruction in order to be withdrawn.

*Community School Student Enrollment in Career-Technical Program NEW. Permits a community school student to enroll in the career-technical program of the student's resident district. Permits both the district and the community school to receive state funds for the student for the proportion of the time the student attends each school.

*Closed Schools: Specifies that funds remaining after payment of debts after a community school permanently closes, must be paid to the Department of Education for redistribution to the resident school districts of the community school's students.

*E-school Teachers: CHANGE. Eliminates the requirement in the Executive Budget that each e-school employ (rather than retain an affiliation with, as under current law) at least one full-time teacher of record for up to 125 students. Currently e-school teachers may be affiliated with more than one school, and so they could be responsible for up to 125 students in each of those schools.

*Unauditable Community Schools: NEW. Requires the Auditor of State to provide notification of a finding that a community school is unauditable to the school, its sponsor, and ODE, and to post the notification on the Auditor's web site. NEW. Prohibits the sponsor of an unauditable community school from entering into contracts with additional community schools until the Auditor completes a financial audit of the school. NEW: Requires the sponsor of an unauditable community school to respond to the Auditor with a description of the actions it will take as a result of the finding that the school is unauditable.

NEW: Requires ODE to cease all state payments to a community school that fails to make progress in bringing its records into auditable condition within 90 days after being declared unauditable, but release withheld funds when the Auditor is able to complete an audit of the school.

*NEW. Creates the Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program to provide scholarships for children with Individual Education Plans in grades K-12 to attend alternative public or private special education programs in fiscal years 2008 through 2013. Limits the number of scholarships to not more than three percent of the number of identified students residing in the state. School districts are obligated to continue certain services, such as transportation, and review the child's IEP. Requires the ODE to develop a document that compares the rights under state and federal special education law and those under the Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program, and distribute that information to parents. Also requires the ODE to conduct a formative evaluation of the program by December 31, 2009.

*Educational Choice Scholarship: CHANGE. Removes language that repealed the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program R.C. 3310.01, 3310.02 through 3310.14, 3310.17. This program provides a voucher of up to $5,200 for eligible students in grades 1-12 and up to $2,700 for students in Kindergarten to attend eligible private schools. 312 chartered non public schools participated in the program this year; 2880 students participated in 2006-7 school year; up to 14,000 scholarships are available.

*Retains the Cleveland Scholarship and the Autism Scholarship Program. The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program served 5,813 students in 2006-7, and 46 chartered public schools participated. The Autism Scholarship program served 570 students this year, and 50 percent were between 3-5 years of age. 150 service providers participated in the program, and the average cost per student was approximately $17,000 per student. The program provides reimbursement up to $20,000 per student.

*Transportation of Nonpublic School Students -NEW. Permits a school district, upon request, to transport a student in grades K through 12 who does not reside in the district to a nonpublic school the student attends, if (1) the student's resident district is not required to transport the student because the travel time is more than 30 minutes, and (2) the parent agrees to reimburse the nonresident district for the costs that exceed the amount the district receives from the state for transporting the student. If the nonresident district declines the request, requires the district to state in writing its reasons.

*Accelerates the state's school building program, and securitizes future funds for that program ($2.2 billion for school facilities.) *Permits a school district to use the interest earned on district moneys in the project construction fund to pay the cost of facilities not included in the project.

*Eliminates the Career-Technical School Building Loan Program, but does not affect the Vocational School Facilities Assistance Program.

Requires that existing money in the program be transferred into the Public School Building Fund (school facilities cash fund) and that remaining loan repayments under the repealed loan program be deposited into the Public School Building Fund.

*CHANGE: Removes the earmark of $601,165 in each fiscal year to support educational media centers to provide Ohio public schools with instructional resources and services.

*CHANGE: Increases the earmark to $75,000 in FY08 and FY09 to Southern State Community College for the Pilot Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program with Miami Trace High School.

*CHANGE. Earmarks up to $400,000 in each fiscal year to be used for the Collaborative Language and Literacy Instruction Project.

*NEW. Earmarks $325,000 in each fiscal year for OCALI to contract with the Delaware-Union ESC to provide autism transition services.

*NEW. Earmarks $75,000 in each fiscal year for Leaf Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Funding.

*CHANGE: Removes an earmark of up to $25,000 in each fiscal year of GRF appropriation item 200-320, Maintenance and Equipment, for State Board of Education out-of-state travel.

TEACHER PREPARATION AND TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT *Teacher on Loan Programs CHANGE. Removes the earmark of $747,912 in each fiscal year to provide funds to school districts that have teachers participating in the teacher-on-loan program.

*Entry Year: CHANGE: Increases from $8,715,817 in each fiscal year to $9,515,817 for entry year programs for beginning teachers in school districts and chartered nonpublic schools, and permits the earmark to be used for entry year programs for principals as well as teachers.

*Alternative Education Programs: CHANGE: Removes the earmark of $100,000 in each fiscal year to be used for Youth Opportunities United, Inc.

CHANGE. Removes the earmark of $250,000 in each fiscal year to support Amer-I-Can. NEW. Earmarks $100,000 in each fiscal year for the Cincinnati Arts and Technology Center to increase program support for high-risk teens and unemployed urban adults.

NEW. Earmarks $2,000,000 in FY08 to support Improved Solutions for Urban Students (ISUS) in Dayton/Sinclair Youth Initiative.

*Educator Preparation: CHANGE. Removes the earmark $100,000 in each fiscal year for the Teacher Quality Partnership project.

*Improving Teacher Quality: NEW. Requires ODE to provide $600,000 in each fiscal year from FED Fund 3Y6 appropriation item 200-635, Improving Teach Quality, to the Columbiana County Educational Service Center for the Ohio Wyami Appalachian Teacher Cohorts Program.

*Literacy Improvement: CHANGE: Reduces earmark to $9,690,000 in each fiscal year for educator training in literacy for classroom teachers, administrators, and literacy specialists.

*Teachers: Qualifies all public and chartered nonpublic school teachers who hold a valid teaching certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to an annual $2,500 stipend.

*Provides property tax relief for the elderly and disabled ($385.5 million - 775,000 homeowners) through an exemption from local property taxes on the first $25,000 of a home's value for all Ohioans age 65 and older and those who are permanently disabled.

*Property Tax Reimbursement $794.5 mill in FY08 & $885 in FY09. (This does not include all reimbursements.)

*Sales tax exemption for school fundraising sales (R.C. 5739.02(B)(9)) Removes the six day limit on exemptions for primary and secondary school and student-related sales so that school sales are tax exempt no matter. Current law granted a sales tax exemption for sales made by school- and student-related nonprofit organizations (and by churches and other nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations), for six days in a year.

*Dual Purpose Levies - Authorizes school boards to levy, with voter approval, a dual-purpose income tax for both current expenses and permanent improvements.

*School District Income Tax Rate Increments Reduces the required increment that school district income taxes are to be levied from .25 percent to .10 percent.

*Rate Reduction - Allows board of education to reduce school district income taxes in increments of .10 percent.

*Transfer of adult education programs to Board of Regents (Section 269.60.30) Directs the ODE and the BOR to identify which "adult and career-technical education programs," other than adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) programs should be transferred from the ODE to the BOR to better align Ohio workforce education July 1, 2008.

CHANGE. Eliminates the provision in the Executive Budget that removed the phrase "for financial reasons" from the list of statutory reasons a school district or education service center (ESC) may make reductions in force in its teaching staff.

*NEW. Implements but changes the delayed requirement of the 126th General Assembly (HB 66) for the formation of School Employee Health Care Board and implementation of health care plans. Requires the health care board to adopt a set of standards to be termed "best practices" for school district health care plans; oversee the implementation of health care plans; request the Attorney General to seek appropriate court orders to enforce compliance with health care plans; and makes other significant changes in current law.

*State Funded Early Care (Section 269.10.20) - Continues GRF funding for early childhood education programs provided by eligible school districts, joint vocational districts, and Educational Service Centers (ESCs) for children at least three years old and whose families meet income requirements. The Executive Budget allocated approximately $29.0 million in FY08 and $31.5 million in FY09 for the Early Childhood Education Program (Section 269.10.20 of HB119). Of this amount $10.4 million in FY08 and $12.9 million in FY09 are for new providers. The House version adds another $2.4 million in FY08 and $2.7 million in FY09 through an earmark of GRF appropriation item 200-550, Foundation Funding. This program can serve children in families that earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

CHANGE: Eliminates the provision in the Executive Budget that postponed from FY08 until FY10 and sets new dates to implement the requirement that staff for state-funded early childhood education programs established prior to July 1, 2006, have at least an associate degree and teachers have bachelor's degrees. This may cause programs to close because they lack qualified staff.

*Requires the ODE to compile and distribute an annual report on state funded early childhood education programs and early learning program guidelines for school readiness.

Early Learning Initiative (ELI) (Section 309.40.60) Establishes the Early Learning Initiative (ELI), which will be paid for with federal Title IV-A (TANF) funds. This program will serve up to 12,000 children who meet the income and other eligibility requirements, and are at least three years of age. The program may also serve children whose families do not meet the federal poverty income level. The program will provide full-day, part-day, or a combination of services, and those services are specifically outlined in the bill.

The ODE and the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services are required to develop the rules and administer the program, including the development of guidelines for school readiness to evaluate the success of the ELIs, and oversee proper credentials of the ELI agencies.
Monday, 05-14-07 BACK
Arts on Line Update 05-14-2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) TESTIMONY ON AM. SUB. BILL 119 (DOLAN)

3) RESPONSES TO ODE TESTIMONY

4) STATEWIDE EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET

5) THIS WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE

6) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

8) OHIO ARTS COUNCIL BUDGET UPDATE FROM OHIO CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate have scheduled sessions and committee meetings for this week.

*According to the Ohio Department of Education, voters approved on May 8, 2007 89 out of 164 school funding issues (54.27 percent), which is less than the approval rate for the 2006 May election. 50.9 percent of the levies for capital improvements were approved, and 56 percent of the operating levies were approved.

*The House agreed with the Senate amendments to Am. HB 2 (Webster), which allows the governor to appoint the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, and makes other changes regarding the responsibilities of Ohio Board of Regents. Governor Strickland is expected to sign the bill into law this week. The bill includes an emergency clause, and will take effect on July 1, 2007.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, reported out favorably on May 8, 2007 SB143 (Padgett), which establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns, and includes an emergency clause that allows the placement of interns in schools as early as 2007. Currently there is a shortage of speech language pathologists in schools, and this bill will begin to address the situation. A similar bill has been introduced in the Ohio House, HB 180 (Setzer).

2) Testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan): Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, testified on May 8, 2007 for two and a half hours before the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey. For this committee meeting Senator Carey handed over his gavel to the chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Padgett, who then presided over the hearing.

Dr. Zelman provided an overview of the status of Ohio's education system, the funding components of the House version of Am Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), and requested that the Senate consider some changes as it debated HB 119.

According to Dr. Zelman's testimony, "Ohio's system of public education is better than it has ever been, but we still have more work to do. Until every Ohio student graduates from high school and is prepared to enter postsecondary education and the workforce, the challenge to improve education in Ohio continues. Our state's economy desperately needs a more skilled workforce, and supporting the education system is crucial to a vital economy."

Overall the House version of HB 119 (Dolan) includes $6.9 billion in FY08 and $7.2 billion in FY09 for primary and secondary education, which is an increase of .9 percent and 4.4 percent respectively. The base cost per pupil would increase three percent each year from $5,403 for FY07 to $5,565 in FY08 and $5,732 in FY09, and base cost supplements would increase the amount per pupil by $49.38 in FY08 and $50.90 in FY09. Other components of the school funding program, such as parity aid, poverty based assistance, categorical support for special education and career technical education, and gifted education, are retained with some changes. There is also support for teacher preparation and training, principal training, the Ohio Core, early childhood education, public preschool, assessment, accountability, and high school reform. Less than two percent of the ODE's budget is used for Ohio Department of Education operations.

Dr. Zelman also noted in her testimony that several State Board of Education recommendations were included in HB 119. For example, the House version of HB 119 includes modifications for Poverty Based Assistance (PBA), which provide school districts with more flexibility for using these funds; locks in the PBA index based on prior year data to avoid fluctuations during the year; eliminates all but the transitional guarantee to simplify the formula; supports a pilot project to define expenditure patterns in schools; provides stipends for National Board Certified teachers; seeks changes in the TANF eligibility and work related rules to expand access of the Early Learning Initiative, and more.

Dr. Zelman also recommended that the Senate consider the following areas as they deliberate on the budget:

Special Education: The state support for the catastrophic special education subsidy, funded at $19.8 million in FY08 and $20.5 million in FY09, is $30 million less than the actual obligation. This means that state funds for catastrophic special education to school districts are reduced proportionately, and districts pick up the excess costs.

Teacher Mentors: The annual state stipend for mentor teachers, $600 in FY08 and $500 in FY09, will be reduced as more teachers are added to the program. Local districts will need to contribute additional funding to provide the same level of support for teacher mentors.

Kindergarten: The State Board of Education has recommended full funding for all-day Kindergarten as one of its priorities.

Parent Curriculum Guides: The House version of the HB 119 reduced funding for standards and curriculum models by $252,000 each year, which will eliminate funds to publish and distribute parent guides to the academic content standards.

Transportation: The current formula produces an incentive for districts to reduce transportation services to students. As a result, transportation of students has dropped 12 percent over the past two years. A new fairer transportation subsidy formula has been developed by the ODE, but this formula will not be in place for two years.

Funding Levels for ODE: Funding levels for operating the ODE are below FY03 levels, even though the responsibilities of the ODE have increased. The ODE will need increased funding to implement the proposed voucher program for special education students and employ four agriculture employees.

Earmarked Funds for Programs: The State Board of Education opposes earmarking funds for specific programs in the budget. HB 119 proposes $10.5 million in FY08 and $8.5 million in FY09 in earmarks.

Teacher on Loan - $750,000: This program was eliminated in the House version of HB 119. The ODE had planned to use those funds to provide school improvement services.

STEM Funding - $20 million: Support for STEM should be included in the ODE budget rather than in the budget of the Ohio Board of Regents.

Students in Residential Treatment Facilities: The ODE is requesting that the education of students who are placed in residential treatment facilities be funded as a deduction from regular school districts.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: The ODE is requesting that the Ohio Revised Code be revised to align with changes in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.

3) Responses to ODE Testimony: Members of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee had many questions for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, following her testimony on HB 119 (Dolan) on May 8. 2007. These questions illustrate the complexity of Ohio's education system and especially its funding system for schools, and also indicate which education issues are a high priority for lawmakers. The questions also provide a way to see what changes the Senate may have in store for HB 119. The following areas of committee interest were identified from the questions posed by committee members:

Workforce Development: Senator Carey asked about the changes that have been proposed to shift some workforce development programs from the ODE to the Ohio Board of Regents. Dr. Zelman responded that she believes that GED and other programs should remain in the ODE.

Core Incentive: Senator Gardner proposed that school districts be provided an incentive to implement the Ohio Core graduation requirements earlier than proposed in SB 311, which is 2011. Dr. Zelman agreed.

Physical Education Standards: Senator Gardner also asked Dr. Zelman about SBE support for physical education standards. Dr. Zelman replied that the State Board of Education would be reviewing his bill, SB 118 (Gardner) Physical Education Standards, at their May meeting.

Charter School Accountability: Senator Dale Miller asked Dr. Zelman about the proposed changes to increase the accountability of charter schools included in the budget bill. Dr. Zelman responded that some accountability provisions supported by the State Board of Education are included in another bill currently in the Senate Education Committee, SB 141 (Padgett), and these should be added back into HB 119.

Per pupil spending: Senator Amstutz questioned Dr. Zelman regarding per pupil expenditures, and why some districts were able to spend less, but had better academic results than high spending districts that receive more state support. Dr. Zelman responded by saying that limited funds need to go to the districts with the most need. The State Board of Education recommended even more funds for school improvement, but these were not reflected in the budget.

Parity Aid: Senator Roberts asked why community schools should receive parity aid. Dr. Zelman responded that the SBE supports community schools receiving parity aid, because they don't have the ability to raise local revenue.

Rapidly Growing Districts: Senator Cates suggested creating a way to support rapidly growing school districts so that they can keep up with the added expenses as their student population increases during the school year. Otherwise districts must wait until the following year for enrollment increases to be supported with additional funds.

Excellent District Incentive: Senator Cates also asked about the proposal in the House version of HB 119 to provide an extra $10 per student ($6 million in FY09) for school districts that achieve an excellent report card rating. Dr. Zelman agreed that school districts and schools should be recognized for their success, but there also must be dollars for school districts that need to be improved.

Accountability for Charter Schools; Senator Ray Miller asked what the ODE is doing to ensure that charter schools are being appropriately monitored. Dr. Zelman replied that the SBE has requested for legislative changes so that the State Board of Education has oversight over all sponsors of charter schools, and also agreed that the provisions in SB 141 (Padgett) should be included in HB 119.

Support for English as a Second Language: Senator Stivers asked how school districts experiencing a rapid growth in the number of students with limited English were being supported. Dr. Zelman noted that Poverty Based Assistance provides some financial support, and the State Board of Education has been researching a weighted formula for ESL students.

Special Education Voucher Program: Senator Niehaus asked about the cost to administer the proposed special education voucher program included in HB 119 by the House. Dr. Zelman estimated that 8000 students may take advantage of the scholarship, and the ODE would need more funds to monitor the program. No money is included currently in the budget to monitor the program.

Closing the Achievement Gap: Senator Clancy asked a question regarding achievement gaps, and if closing achievement gaps was a major concern for all districts or just a few. Dr. Zelman replied that the data the ODE has been collecting shows that even excellent districts are having trouble meeting Adequate Yearly Progress for all subgroups of students.

Board Certified Teachers: Senator Clancy asked how many board certified teachers are in the state, and will the added funds for National Board certification encourage teachers to become Board certified. Dr. Zelman estimated that there are 3000 or so Board Certified teachers in Ohio, and that the stipends proposed in HB 119 would encourage more teachers to become Board Certified.

Cost of Doing Business Factor: Senator Dale Miller stated that with Ohio's weak economy and the elimination of the cost of doing business factor (CDBF) that he was fearful that the "pie" would be cut up into smaller pieces, and that changes in state funding will be made at the expense of urban districts. Should the state give larger shares of dollars to needy school districts, or focus on improving education across the state? Dr. Zelman replied that the SBE did not agree with the CDBF -- since it was based on county costs, which vary even within the county. The Executive Budget made a commitment to flow dollars to the districts that need them the most through Poverty Based Assistance; closing the achievement gap; TANF funds; Parity Aid, and public pre-school programs.

Achieve Report: Senator Roberts stated that he has some concerns about the Achieve report, which he believes was developed with limited participation from educational organizations and the public. He asked Dr. Zelman what are the next steps for the Achieve report. Dr. Zelman replied that the SBE will meet in June for their two day retreat, and will look at the data and make recommendations for the next steps regarding the Achieve report.

Guarantee: Senator Stivers stated that there were about 400 districts on the guarantee, and asked what that says about the school funding formula. Dr. Zelman responded that it means that it is time to rethink the way schools are funded.

Charter School Facilities: Senator Dale Miller asked about the House language that requires school districts to sell schools that are being used less than 75 percent of the time for educational purposes 75 percent of the year. Dr. Zelman responded that the ODE is no longer involved in issues regarding school facilities.

Regional Centers: Senator Padgett was concerned about support for the regional centers included 126-HB115. $13 million was eliminated for these centers in the governor's budget, and now she is hearing from people in the field who are losing their jobs. Dr. Zelman agreed that the money should be restored.

Dual Enrollment Programs: Senator Padgett said that she was very, very, very interested in allocating funds for "bridge programs" that encourage students in high school to take courses at the college and university level for credit. These include advanced placement and Postsecondary Enrollment Options program. Dr. Zelman replied that the SBE had recommended putting more dollars in these programs, and also dollars to train AP teachers and for supplies and fees for students to take the AP exams. There is a lot of research on AP.

Three wishes: Senator Padgett asked Dr. Zelman if she had three wishes, what three items would she like to see included in the budget that would make the most impact.... not necessarily the most expensive, but the most impact. Dr. Zelman replied that the SBE education would want dollars to go into foundation program. But, to impact students she thought the budget should include 1) more dollars for high quality professional development to improve classroom teachers; 2) restore the $13 million for school improvement services; and 3) investments are most valuable in early childhood education.

4) Statewide Education Organizations Respond to the Proposed Budget: Members of the Ohio School Boards Association, Ohio Association of School Business Official, the Ohio Education Association, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators sent a letter to Senate President Harris on May 8, 2007 to clarify their positions on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) the Biennial Budget, in response to comments that have been made by legislators and the media.

According to the letter, which is available on the website of the Ohio School Boards Association (http://www.osba-ohio.org), these organizations commend Governor Strickland for his commitment to making education a priority in spite of fiscal constraints, and applaud the House for supporting investments in early childhood education, Poverty Based Assistance, the removal of the second ADM count for school districts, and important implementation language recommended by the School Employees Health Care Board. They see this budget as a transition to a better school funding system, which will support a quality education system to ensure a strong economy for Ohio. The letter goes on to recommend the following changes for Am.

Sub. HB 119 as the Ohio Senate considers putting together its version of the state budget:

*Consider an alternate method for accounting for the differences in costs for districts across the state to replace the Cost of Doing Business Factor, which has been eliminated. The Education Tax Policy Institute (ETPI) has developed a new "cost adjustment" factor that takes into account wages, housing costs, remoteness of the school district, and concentrations of poverty.

*Reinstate the multiple guarantees and Parity Aid funding to all the school districts that have qualified in the past. We also support the restoration of the 9.5 mill calculation for Parity Aid.

*Provide weighted funding to meet the needs of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students, 100% funding for Special Education weights, and increased funding for Education Service Centers (ESCs have not received an increase in state funding for over 10 years).

*Eliminate the proposed special education voucher program in the substitute bill, which weakens the due process rights of students and parents, and drains resources from the public schools. Currently school districts can utilize outside providers to meet the needs of students with special needs, but these providers are also accountable to the school district for their performance. This program will divert dollars for a few students, and jeopardize the ability of public school districts to meet federal and state standards.

*Provide meaningful investment for STEM within the current public school structure.

*Reinstate the provisions regarding community schools and the elimination of the EdChoice voucher program in the Executive Budget request, which best addresses accountability issues.

5) This Week at the Statehouse

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 10:00 AM and 2:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing room. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services - Helen Jones Kelley, will present testimony on HB119 Biennial Budget (Dolan) in the morning, and Attorney Marc Dann will present testimony on the biennial budget in the afternoon.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer (614-644-8051) will meet at 2:30 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB94 Undergraduate Education (Koziura) Requires universities to guarantee undergraduate students can complete study in a specified time.

-HB190 Elementary Achievement Tests (Koziura) Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests.

-HB181 School records - missing children (Setzer) Requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and notify law enforcement of requests for those records.

-HB180 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Setzer) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns and declares an emergency.

-HB155 (Setzer) Establishes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Schools.

-HCR9 (Skindell) Amends the No Child Left Behind Act to fully fund the appropriations.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett

(614-466-8076) will meet at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SCR3 No Child Left Behind Act (Dale Miller), which urges Congress to amend and fully fund the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; SB118 Physical Education Instruction (Gardner), which requires daily physical education instruction in grades K-6; and SB89 School Opening Day (Gardner), which prohibits schools from opening before Labor Day.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM in the

Senate Finance Hearing room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) from state agencies and departments.

THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2007

*The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) the FY08-09 State Budget from state agencies and departments.

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2007

*The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156) will meet at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) from state agencies and departments.

6) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on May 14-15, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The Executive Committee, chaired by Jennifer Sheets, will meet on May 14, 2007 at 8:30 AM in the Conference Room. The committee will review the agenda and receive updates from the School Funding and Territory Transfer subcommittees, and make a recommendation as to public participation at the upcoming June SBE meeting.

The Capacity Committee, Sue Westendorf and Carl Wick co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Steve Millett, co-chairs, will meet at 9:15 AM.

The Capacity Committee will discuss the community school sponsor evaluations; discuss the definition and criteria of a Master Teacher, discuss and approve SB 311 family and community engagement policy; discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-25-09, Speech-Language Pathology Internship Permit.

The Achievement Committee will approve the resolution of intent to adopt "A Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines"; review rule 3301-07-01 ethical use of tests; review rules 3301-13-01 to 3301-13-18 to 3301-13-11 state testing; review rule 3301-13-07 testing fairness and sensitivity.

The full SBE will convene at 11:00 AM in the Conference Center to hear presentations on a comprehensive system of learning supports guidelines, the family and community engagement policy per SB 311, the model anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy, and Rule 3301-25-09 Speech-Language Pathology Interns.

During lunch the Achieve Report Public Engagement Subcommittee will meet in the Garden Gallery to discuss the current activities regarding the Achieve Report, "Creating a World Class Education System in Ohio."

The full SBE will reconvene at 1:30 PM to hear reports on state and federal legislative initiatives and reports from SBE members. There is one written report this month on school readiness solutions implementation. The SBE will also review items on this month's business agenda.

At 4:00 PM the State Board will conduct a Chapter 119 hearing on Rules 3301-83-06 -07 and -20 School Bus Driver Issues. The SBE will then adjourn.

On Monday evening at 5:30 PM the School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, will meet in Ballroom A at the Embassy Suites, 2700 Corporate Exchange Drive, Columbus. The Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee, chaired by Carl Wick, will meet at 7:30 PM in Ballroom B. The subcommittee will discuss recommendations from the Partnership for Continued Learning and an update on Early College and the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative.

On Tuesday, May 15, 2000 the State Board of Education's Territory Transfer Subcommittee will meet at the Ohio School for the Deaf at 8:30 AM in the Delaware Room. This committee is chaired by Mike Cochran. At 9:00 AM Dr. Julie Schaid, Executive Director of the Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning, will present information regarding a recommendation for Dual Enrollment programs. At 9:30 AM Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, will lead a policy discussion regarding Quality and Middle High Schools.

The business meeting will begin at 11:30 AM, and the Board will immediately convene into executive session. After the Board reconvenes at 1:15 PM it will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, public participation on agenda items, and take action on fourteen personnel items, one territory transfer, and the following resolutions:

#3 Approve a resolution regarding public participation at the June 2007 SBE board business meeting.

#4 Approve an intent to adopt Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-25-09 Two year school speech-language pathology internship permit.

#5 Approve an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-40-03-05-06-07 regarding nonpublic schools administrative cost reimbursement.

#6 Approve a motion to direct the ODE to withdraw Rule 3301-102-08, expected gains in student achievement from the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.

#7 Approve an intent to adopt the Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines.

#8 Approve an intent to adopt the Anti-Harassment, anti-intimidation, or anti-bullying policy.

#9 Approve an intent to adopt the Family Involvement Policy.

#23 Approve a resolution to allow the Lakota Local School District Board of Education to sever ties with the Sandusky County Educational Service Center and annex to the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center.

#24 Amend Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-11-01,-03,-04,-05,-07 and -11 regarding the establishment of the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program.

#25 Rescind Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-13-07 and adopt rule 3301-16-02 to establish criteria for the diploma with honors.

#26 Adopt Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-16-01 regarding GPA Calculation for Alternative Pathway to Graduation.

#27 Adopt Ohio Administrative Code rule 3301-38-01, Transfer of Region within Education Regional Service System.

#28 Adopt Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-58-01, -02 and 03, Value Added Progress Dimension.

#29 Refile Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-83-06, School Bus Driver Personnel Qualifications.

#30 Deny the request of the Creekside Academy to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#31 Declare that the Reformed Home School Academy not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#32 Declare that the Peaceful Sojourners School shall be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#33 Declare that the Golden Sparrow Academy shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#34 Declare that the Hearts for Jesus Christ Christian Education Institute shall not continue to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

The State Board of Education is scheduled to meet with members of the House Education Committee at the Riffe Center at 5:00 PM on May 15, 2007.

For more information about the State Board of Education, please visit: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

7) Bills Introduced this Week:

HB 216 School Construction (Collier): Grants priority for state classroom facilities assistance to school districts that consolidate or make joint use of their facilities.

8) Ohio Arts Council Budget Update from Ohio Citizens for the Arts:

During the past six years, the Ohio Arts Council�s budget has seen a continuous decline amounting to more than 30%. This decline has made a dramatic negative impact on the resources to artists and arts organizations in our state. In order to support the arts, to enhance arts education, to grow the economy, and to protect Ohio�s rich cultural heritage we must reverse this trend.

The Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education heard testimony on March 27^th and made their recommendations to the Finance Committee who moved the budget bill for full House consideration. The House recommended an additional $1,000,000 for the program subsidies line item in the Ohio Arts Council�s budget. The bill was approved unanimously by the House. The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee heard testimony from Julie Henahan, Director of the Ohio Arts Council on May 11^th. Ohio Citizens for the Arts will keep you posted as this next step in the process unfolds.

One thing is certain�the 127th Ohio General Assembly will continue to focus on Ohio�s two most pressing challenges � the economy and education. Ohio has nearly 16,500 arts related businesses that are tracked through Dunn and Bradstreet. These businesses employ nearly 83,000 people. The arts mean business. These creative knowledge workers need a strong foundation from which to grow their skills and interests. This connects directly to the need for high quality public education that includes the arts. Arts and culture have a vital role to play in strengthening Ohio�s economy.

The united message to legislators from Ohio Citizens for the Arts: RESTORE the Ohio Arts Council�s funding from the FY2006/2007 level of $22,476,322 to its FY2000/2001 level of $32,247,900.

Key talking points:

1) The arts play an essential role in solving Ohio�s education challenges:

� Children who are immersed in the arts in school do markedly better in all other academic subjects.

� Scientific research supports the effectiveness of arts education to help students learn.

� Arts education helps to strengthen reading and math skills, improve student behavior and reduce truancy, keep students in school, build oral language skills, enhance cognitive development, develop creative thinking skills, and transfer learning in the arts to other areas of learning.

� Arts education fuels the creative and knowledge-based economies. Communities that want to remain economically strong should strive for a high level of arts learning in their schools and community organizations so that creativity, academic success and college readiness are improved.

2) The arts build strong economies by:

� Creating Jobs

� Stimulating Trade Through Cultural Tourism

� Diversifying Local Economies

Monday, 05-21-07 BACK
Arts On Line - Update 05-21-2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) GOVERNOR STRICKLAND SIGNED INTO LAW AM. HB 2

3) FEDERAL UPDATE

4) INVITATION TO ATTEND CONFERENCE

5) THIS WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE

6) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS

7) NEWS FROM ODE

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

ACTION ALERT � Ohio Arts Council�s Budget

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet this week to hold sessions and committee hearings.

-The Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, continued to hold hearings last week on the FY08-09 budget, Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan). Invited testimony was presented from a variety of state agencies, commissions, and departments. Education organizations have been invited to testify on the bill on May 29, 2007, and public testimony is scheduled for June 6th-8th. The Senate has set the week of June 12th to vote on the bill, leaving the week of June 18th for conference committee work. The budget must be signed into law by June 30th.

-On May 22, 2007 members from several education organizations will be in Columbus to advocate for adequate resources to support public schools in the state's FY08-09 budget Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan).

There will also be rallies for public schools in Cleveland on May 24,

2007 at 4:30 PM at the Cleveland Board of Education (1360 E 6th

Street) and in Columbus on May 25, 2007 at 4:15 PM at the Alladin Shrine Temple, 3850 Stelzer Rd. in Columbus.

2) Governor Strickland signed into law Am. HB2 (Webster) on May 15, 2007. The bill makes changes in the responsibilities of the Board of Regents, and allows the governor to appoint the chancellor. Eric Fingerhut, the current chancellor, is expected to be confirmed as the governor's appointee as chancellor this week by the Senate Finance Committee. The bill does the following:

-Makes the board of regents an advisory board to the chancellor.

-Transfers the current powers and duties of the board of regents to the chancellor.

-Shortens the terms of members of the board of regents from nine to six years.

-Requires the board of regents to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the condition of higher education in Ohio and the performance of the chancellor.

-Requires the board of regents to meet quarterly, report annually on the state of higher education and on the chancellor, and conduct hearings on appropriate topics.

-Declares an emergency.

3) Federal Update:

-Federal Budget: The U.S. Senate and House agreed to a conference report on S. Con. Resolution 21 on May 17, 2007, finalizing the federal budget parameters for FY 2008 and budgetary levels for FY 2007-2012. The $2.9 trillion federal budget resolution takes effect without the signature of the President, but provides only guidelines for the thirteen appropriations bills that Congress needs to approve to provide funding to operate federal programs and services. The U.S. House and Senate are currently holding hearings in committees on the thirteen appropriations bills for FY08, which begins October 1st.

The proposed budget guidelines include increases of five percent for education and health care. According to a press release issued by Representative John Spratt, chair of the House Budget Committee, the FY08 federal budget does the following:

*Reaches balance in five years, and runs a surplus of $41 billion in 2012.

*Allocates $954 billion in discretionary spending, and $450 billion for non-defense discretionary spending, or about $23 billion more than this year. (This amount is over the $930 billion limit set by President Bush.) *Accommodates an increase of $50 billion to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).

*Provides $4.6 billion over current services for education, job training, and employment services, which includes funding for No Child Left Behind programs, special education, and student loans.

-Head Start Program: The U.S. House of Representatives approved on May 2, 2007 the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, H.R. 1429. The legislation reauthorizes the Head Start program, which serves a million children. Attempts to reauthorize Head Start had stalled due to concerns raised regarding certain controversial faith based practices, but these practices have been removed from the legislation. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved in March 2007, S. 556, Head Start for School Readiness Act.

-Senator Ted Kennedy recently introduced the Keeping Parents and Communities Engaged Act (Keeping PACE) S. 1302. This act provides funding for "full service schools" to provide services in local school buildings to support students, parents, and families, and coordinate services for students with mayors, community-based organizations, and for-profit organizations. The bill provides $130 million for outreach coordinators in Title I schools to facilitate parental participation and community involvement; $78 million for community-based organizations partnering with schools to reduce dropout rates and close the achievement gap by offering integrated health, tutoring, and counseling services to students; and $52 million for incentive grants to encourage schools to deliver, expand, and coordinate services for children and their communities.

4) Invitation to Attend Conference: C.J. Prentiss, former Senator and currently the Governor's Special Representative for Closing the Achievement Gap, will serve as moderator for the Governor's Conference on Increasing the High School Graduation Rate for African American Male Students. The conference will be held on May 30, 2007 at the Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and include a panel discussion, workshops, and a luncheon address by Governor Ted Strickland. Topics that will be included in the workshops are: The responsibility of teachers, parents and the community for cultural competency; The responsibility of the family -Tough love, no more excuses Education starts at home; The responsibility of the religious community; The responsibility of mentors -Beyond the role model; The responsibility of policy makers; The responsibility of students -Raising expectations and changing attitudes; The responsibility of the community -Overcoming the seduction of gang life; Investing in the front side of life -Putting our pre-schoolers on the right path; The responsibility of colleges -A call to teach: African-American men needed; The responsibility of elected officials -What can city, county and state governments do; The responsibility of business leaders -Connecting teenagers to future jobs; and The responsibility of the juvenile justice system -Preparing incarcerated youth for academic success. There will also be an opportunity to network with other participants by state regions to develop strategies and next steps. Information about speakers, workshops, and how to register for the conference is available at http://www.ohioclosethegap.org/conference.html

5) This Week at the Statehouse:

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 10:00 AM in the Senate Finance Hearing room to hear invited testimony on HB119 Biennial Budget (Dolan). The committee will consider the appointment of Eric Fingerhut as Board of Regents Chancellor.

*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan, will meet at 1:00 PM in room 313. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills related toeducation:

-HB14 Tangible Personal Property Reimbursement (Hughes) Extends full reimbursement to school districts for phase-out of taxes on business tangible personal property.

-HB34 Graduate Student Loan (Wolpert) Establishes the Third Frontier Pilot Forgivable Loan Program for graduate students.

-HB36 Rapid Growing School Districts (Wolpert) Creates the Rapid Enrollment Growth School Facilities Assistance Program.

-HB48 Auctions (Gibbs) Exempts certain tax exempt organizations and schools that sell at auction items donated to them from license and contract requirements for such an auction.

-HB136 High Wealth Districts (Raussen) Permits certain high-wealth schools to receive payments for classroom facilities project in lieu of participating in other state programs.

-HB162 Big Eight District Teachers (Luckie) Allows a refundable credit against the income tax for taxpayers who teach in and reside in a big eight school district.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer

(614-644-8051) will meet at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB94 Undergraduate Education (Koziura) Requires universities to guarantee undergraduate students can complete study in a specified time.

-HB143 Boards of Education (Wagner) Eliminates certain requirements/prohibitions applying to school district boards of education.

-SB 143 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Padgett) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns and declares an emergency.

-HB190 Elementary Achievement Tests (Koziura) Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests.

-HB180 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Setzer) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns, and declares an emergency.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) from state agencies and departments.

THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007

*The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear invited testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget from state agencies and departments.

6) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, met on May 14-15, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

*The Capacity Committee, Sue Westendorf and Carl Wick co-chairs, discussed a resolution regarding school bus transportation, Rule 3301-83-06; the definition and criteria of a Master Teacher; the family and community engagement policy; and Rule 3301-25-09, Speech-Language Pathology Internship Permit.

During the discussion about the transportation rules, a board member asked about any provisions in law that ensure the safety of students when taxi cabs are used to transport students. Pete Japikse, ODE Director of Pupil Transportation, told members that this is an issue, but the laws are very complicated, and will require continued discussions before any rules are developed covering taxi cab drivers.

Todd Hanes, Executive Director of the Office of Community Schools, reviewed with the Capacity Committee the process and next steps regarding the new tool being piloted by the ODE to evaluate sponsors of community schools. The SBE has oversight of only 18 out of 69 sponsors according to state law. These sponsors and Lucas County Educational Service Center are participating in this first year of the sponsor evaluation, which consists of data collection, site visits, and a self evaluation conducted by the sponsors. A composite score is prepared for each sponsor based on all of the data available for the community schools it sponsors, including academic, financial, and operational data. At this time the sponsors are anonymous, because this is a pilot and the tools are still being tested, but in the fall the sponsors' names will be included in the reports. The SBE must decide the threshold composite rating for sponsors that will require sponsors to develop and implement corrective action plans.

During the discussion there was a question about how many teachers in community schools meet the requirements for highly qualified teachers per the No Child Left Behind Act. According to state and federal law, teachers in community schools must be highly qualified, but are able to meet that designation through different and lower standards than regular public schools. Currently 90 percent of teachers in community schools are considered highly qualified using the different standard. Teachers in community schools must be licensed, but, unlike regular public school teachers, are not required to be licensed in the subject areas that they are teaching in. Also, 46 percent of teachers in community schools have long term substitute licenses.

Cindy Yoder from the ODE Center for the Teaching Profession shared a draft of information about the work of the Educator Standards Board regarding the development of a definition of "master teacher" per SB 2. This includes the criteria, application process, and procedures for districts to determine and report the number of master teachers to EMIS. The Standards Board was directed to develop multiple, equal-weighted criteria to identify master teachers, which could be uniformly used by all districts. Districts are required to report the number of master teachers employed through EMIS, and the number of master teachers will eventually be included on the Local Report Card.

The Educator Standards Board has developed criteria for teachers through the "Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession." The designation of master teacher will be applied to teachers who achieve an exemplary score in four of five areas on the scoring guide based on the criteria. The criteria includes the areas of constituent leadership, focused collaboration, distinguished teaching focus on students and environment, distinguished teaching focus on content, instruction, and assessment, and continued professional growth.

*The Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Steve Millett co-chairs, approved the resolution of intent to adopt "A Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines". These guidelines are based on an underlying philosophy that, "....every student has a basic right to academic programs and services to meet his or her unique needs to achieve his or her fullest potential. And, early detection and early intervention with students experiencing learning and other problems prevent costly and intensive interventions later on." The purpose of the guidelines is to help school districts design educational services to provide students with "whatever it takes" to be successful, but also provide districts with flexibility. Special education, limited English proficient, and gifted services are embedded within the guidelines.

The committee also heard a presentation on the purpose of assessments in order to begin the process to review and update rules 3301-07-01 ethical use of tests; rules 3301-13-01 to 3301-13-18 to 3301-13-11 state testing; and rule 3301-13-07 testing fairness and sensitivity. The State Board of Education is required by administrative code to review its rules every five years in order to align rules with any changes in law and ensure technical accuracy. Over the past five years there have been tremendous changes that affect the rules for assessment, and the new draft rules will reflect technical changes and changes in law, including changes in assessment for students in special education and English as a Second Language programs. The revised rules cover the following topics: definitions and types of tests; development and administration of assessments; validation of scores; types of accommodations for students with disabilities; exemptions from the assessments; waivers for funding purposes; oral administration of assessments; scoring; ethical use of tests and how to prepare students for testing; reporting scores; and more.

The full SBE heard also heard presentations on May 14, 2007 about a comprehensive system of learning support guidelines, the family and community engagement policy per SB 311, the model anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy (which was revised by the Board), Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-25-09, Speech-Language Pathology Interns, an update on state and federal legislative initiatives, and reports from SBE members.

During the discussion about current legislation before the Ohio General Assembly, the Board agreed to add SB 118 (Gardner), physical education standards, to the July agenda of the Achievement Committee. The Board also conducted a Chapter 119 hearing on Rules 3301-83-06-07 and -20, School Bus Drivers.

On Tuesday, May 15, 2000 the State Board of Education heard a presentation from Dr. Julie Schaid, Executive Director of the Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL) on recommendations that have been proposed for Dual Enrollment programs. A subcommittee of the PCL has worked for over a year to develop these recommendations, which are being presented to the SBE and the Board of Regents for feedback. The charge of the subcommittee was to develop recommendations that would increase opportunities for students to take college courses, including those on high school campuses; define good standing as it applies to eligibility of high school students who participate in dual enrollment programs; and revise the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program.

The subcommittee developed recommendations in six policy areas:

Access and Eligibility; Awareness and Student Support; Consistency and Rigor; Awarding and Transferring Credits; Quality Control, Evaluation, and Oversight; and Funding. In the area of funding the committee recommended that a council be created to further study some of the funding options for Post Secondary Enrollment, including using a weighted funding formula. $6.5 million for FY09 has been included in the proposed FY08-09 budget bill, Am.Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) for Post Secondary Enrollment Options. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman and Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability, Dr. Mitch Chester, then led the Board in a policy discussion about Quality and Middle High Schools focused on the question: What is the state's role in ensuring that every student graduates from high school prepared for college and/or the 21st Century workforce?

Board members were asked to consider three sub-questions:

-How can we certify that students are ready to succeed in college and/or the 21st Century workplace?

-How can we incentivize participation in a rigorous curriculum for all students?

-How can we ensure that all students arrive in high school ready to succeed.

Before Board members discussed each sub-question, ODE staff provided a review of the data on the topic and current ODE initiatives regarding the topic.

Dr. Zelman explained how the ODE is part of a nine state Achieve project to develop an Algebra II end of course exam, which will be field tested in the fall of 2007 and administered in the spring of 2008. The Board of Regents, College Articulation Advisory Committee has also supported the development of two tests, Mathematical Expectations for College Readiness and English Expectations for College Readiness, by a panel of high school and college faculty.

Other strategies to identify college readiness are also being developed in other states and nations. The California University system is looking how to use student portfolios to demonstrate certain skills that students must possess in order to be admitted to a state university in California. The Cambridge Exam in England includes a standardized part and a teacher component to determine student readiness for college.

Program models, which are being piloted in 21 sites in Ohio, were designed by the ODE to provide a more challenging and engaging curriculum for high school students. Ohio has also received a grant to implement Gateway to Technology, a pre-engineering program to engage more middle school students in math, science, and engineering courses. The ODE is also providing professional development for educators to increase the use of research-based best practices in literacy and mathematics instruction.

The SBE's business meeting was held in the afternoon of May 15, 2007. A resolution in support of the election of three individuals as officers of the National Association of State Boards of Education was removed from the SBE's agenda. Several board members had raised concern over one of the candidates, who is alleged to support "intelligent design". The Board did take action on fourteen personnel items, one territory transfer, and the following resolutions:

#3 Approved a resolution suspending public participation at the June

2007 SBE board business meeting held during the annual retreat.

#4 Approved an intent to adopt Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-25-09, Two year school speech-language pathology internship permit.

#5 Approved an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-40-03-05-06-07 regarding nonpublic schools administrative cost reimbursement.

#6 Approved a motion to direct the ODE to withdraw Rule 3301-102-08, expected gains in student achievement from the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review.

#7 Approved an intent to adopt the Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines.

#8 Approved an intent to adopt the Anti-Harassment, anti-intimidation, or anti-bullying policy.

#9 Approved an intent to adopt the Family Involvement Policy.

#23 Approved a resolution to allow the Lakota Local School District Board of Education to sever ties with the Sandusky County Educational Service Center and annex to the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center.

#24 Amended Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-11-01,-03,-04,-05,-07 and -11 regarding the establishment of the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program.

#25 Rescinded Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-13-07 and adopted rule 3301-16-02 to establish criteria for awarding the diploma with honors.

#26 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-16-01 regarding GPA Calculation for the Alternative Pathway to Graduation.

#27 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rule 3301-38-01, Transfer of Region within Education Regional Service System.

#28 Adopted Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-58-01, -02 and 03, Value Added Progress Dimension.

#29 Adopted a resolution authorizing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to refile Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-83-06, School Bus Driver Personnel Qualifications.

#30 Denied the request of the Creekside Academy to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#31 Declared that the Reformed Home School Academy shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#32 Declared that the Peaceful Sojourners School shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#33 Declared that the Golden Sparrow Academy shall not be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

#34 Declared that the Hearts for Jesus Christ Christian Education Institute shall not continue to be registered for the 2006-2007 school year as a non-chartered, non tax supported school.

The State Board of Education will hold its annual retreat on June 10-12, 2007 at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio, when it will also conduct the evaluation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. A brief business meeting will be held on Tuesday morning, June 12, 2007 regarding the evaluation of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

For more information about the State Board of Education, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

7) News from the ODE:

-NAEP News for 2007-2008 School Year: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will be administering the Long Term Trend assessment and field tests at grades 4,8, and 12 in reading, mathematics, and science during the 2007-2008 school year. The Long Term Trend assessment, which is NAEP's original assessment, provides information about student achievement based on age, not grade level, and is administered three different times a year.

NAEP will also be assessing this year student achievement in music and visual arts at grade 8. The arts were last assessed by NAEP in 1997. Information regarding this assessment can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/arts/.

-OGT Alternative Pathway: Students who are graduating this year must score at proficient or above on the OGT as one graduation requirement. Under ORC Sec. 3313.615 students can also graduate through an alternative method, by passing four of the five OGT and meeting other criteria. The Ohio Department of Education has developed worksheets and guidelines to determine the eligibility of a student to graduate under the alternative pathway to graduation. More information is available on the ODE assessment web site at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=216&ContentID=23705&Content=27530.

8) Bills Introduced the Week of May 14, 2007:

SCR 9 Community Theatre (Stivers) Proclaims April as Community Theatre Month to recognize the importance of community theatre in our society.

HB 221 Campaign Finance (Stewart, D.) Re-establishes the Campaign Finance Law and Public Contract Law as it existed prior to the enactment of Am. Sub. H.B. 694 of the 126th General Assembly.

FYI ARTS:

*According to an article in Science Daily on March 13, 2007 called "Music Training 'Tunes' Human Auditory System", researchers at Northwestern University have found concrete evidence that playing a musical instrument significantly enhances the brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds, which may lead to improved encoding skills for learning language. The results of this study were published in the April 2007 issue of Nature Neuroscience. The research was conducted by Dr. Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory and Patrick Wong, Erika Skoe, Nicole Russo, and Tasha Dees. Patrick Wong has also published an article, "Musical Experience Shapes Human Brainstem Encoding of Linguistic Pitch Patterns", which includes findings of other studies linking musical experience with learning tone languages. This research also supports using music to help some children with learning disabilities improve through auditory training of the neocortex. This research is available at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070312152003.htm

*GAO Asked to Investigate: Senators Chistopher Dodd and Lamar Alexander have requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study student access to music and arts education in public schools since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. The request also asks the GAO to investigate the link between participation in music and arts education and increased student engagement, positive behavior, high school graduation rates, and academic achievement for all students, including minority and low-income students and students with disabilities. The results of this research would be used as Congress considers the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.

ACTION ALERT

OHIO ARTS COUNCIL�S BUDGET: If you have not yet contacted your member of the Senate regarding the Ohio Arts Council�s budget please go to www.OhioCitizensForTheArts.org � enter your zip code in the E-Advocacy Center box and click on the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Action Alert for the Ohio Arts Council�s budget. It�s easy, a direct link to your Senator, and you can make your voice heard to support public funding for the arts in Ohio. Thank you. If you need additional information please contact Ohio Citizens for the Arts at 614.221.4064.

###

Monday, 05-28-07 BACK
Arts On Line, Update 05-28-2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) UPDATE ON FEDERAL EDUCATION

3) HEARING HELD LAST WEEK IN THE OHIO HOUSE

4) HEARINGS THIS WEEK

5) MORE ON NCLB

6) CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND SCHOOLS

7) TOOL KIT ABOUT MEDIA FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

8) PUBLIC SCHOOL SPEAKS REALEASED

9) NEW STUDIES ON EDUCATION POLICIES �

10) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

ACTION ALERT � OHIO ARTS COUNCIL�S BUDGET

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are scheduled to hold sessions this week. The House announced last week the following dates in which it will hold sessions: May 30, 31; June 5, 6; June 13, 14; June 19, 20, 21; June 26, 27, 28, 29, 30; and July 10 and 11, if needed.

*Several education organizations have joined together to sponsor a forum on public education to be held on May 31, 2007 from 6:30 -8:00 PM at the ProgressOhio offices, 265 S. 3rd Street, Columbus, OH 43215. The speakers so far include Darold Johnson, Government Affairs Director of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, State Representative Tracy Maxwell Heard (HD 26), and Tom Beck, teacher at Worthington Public Schools. The forum will provide an opportunity for the public to discuss issues regarding public education in Ohio.

For information please contact Karen Gasper at 614.236.3410. To attend please RSVP to http://www.progressohio.org/page/petition/EDForum

2) Update on Federal Education: Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich are sponsoring legislation (S. 1431) that would develop the Early Childhood Education Professional Development and Career System Grants. These grants would help states attract, train, and retain high quality educators for early childhood education programs. For information about the bill please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas.

3) Hearings Held Last Week in the Ohio House:

*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan, had several education related bills on the agenda for May 22, 2007, but only two were heard.

HB14 (Hughes) -reimbursement to school districts for phase-out of taxes on business tangible and HB133 (Hughes) - grants tax credits to businesses that provide internships to students in Ohio, were not heard at request of the sponsor.

HB34 (Wolpert) - establishes the Third Frontier Pilot Forgivable Loan Program for graduate students, was withdrawn at request of sponsor.

HB162 (Luckie) - allows a refundable credit against the income tax for taxpayers who teach in and reside in a big eight school district, was not heard at the request of the sponsor.

Representative Wolpert did present sponsor testimony on HB36 (Wolpert), which creates the Rapid Enrollment Growth School Facilities Assistance Program. This assistance program would help 16 school districts that are experiencing capacity problems, but would not be connected with the Ohio School Facilities Commission's school building programs. Funding would be provided through the state's capital budget for districts that are enrolling at least 100 new students per year on average over five years. The state would provide 25 percent of the cost of constructing a new facility.

Representative Raussen also presented sponsor testimony on HB136 (Raussen), which would permit certain high wealth school districts that receive state payments for school facilities to opt out of the regulations and oversight required by the Ohio School Facilities Commission programs. The bill would provide school districts that are using most of their own dollars to rebuild schools, with more flexibility regarding the operation of their school building program.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, met on May 22, 2006, and heard testimony on the following bills:

HB94 (Koziura) - Representative Koziura presented sponsor testimony on the bill, and explained that the bill would require public colleges and universities to guarantee to undergraduate students that they will be able to complete their required courses for graduation in a specified time. The bill addresses the situation in which students have to delay graduation because they can not get into a specific class that they need to complete their major or minor.

HB143 (Wagner) - Eliminates a number of requirements/prohibitions applying to school district boards of education. Two witnesses testified on the bill. Tom Ash, Director of Governmental Relations from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, testified in support of the bill, which would reduced many mandates now required for school districts to follow. However, some of the eliminated mandates may serve a public purpose, and so Mr. Ash recommended further discussion on the components of the bill.

Gary Allen, president of the Ohio Education Association, testified as an opponent of the bill. According to his testimony, the bill would "eviscerate" the current structure of managing education employees by eliminating the requirement of school districts to bargain collectively with their employees. Before collective bargaining there was no structure to resolve contract differences, and teachers were actually jailed during contract disputes. The bill would make permissive certain mandates now in law and rule such as the transportation of students; identification of gifted students; notification of missing children; civil service and due process rights of teachers; collective bargaining; and more. Committee members asked that a detailed list of provisions in law that would be affected by the bill be provided to committee members.

HB181 (Setzer) - A technical amendment was approved and added to the bill, which requires public and nonpublic schools to indicate on student records when a student has been identified as a missing child, and requires the school to notify law enforcement when a student's school record is requested. Fred Fastenau, Associate Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA), testified in support of the bill, which he believes will address a gap in current law regarding missing children.

HB190 (Hite) - Judy Feil, Director of the Office of Assessment at the Ohio Department of Education, testified in support of the bill, which adds an additional week for school districts to administer Ohio achievement tests, and changes the process for returning the tests to the scoring contractor. The bill provides more time for districts to administer the tests, which will benefit special education students, who are often given the tests with accommodations that require more staff and time. Also testifying in favor of the bill was Stephen Seagrave, an elementary principal, who also recommended that other changes be made in the state's testing program to provide districts with more flexibility to meet local school and population conditions.

4) Hearings this Week:

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing room to hear public testimony on HB119 Biennial Budget (Dolan) from education groups including the OEA, OASBO, BASA, OFT, Educational Service Centers, and others. In the afternoon the committee will hear testimony on charter schools.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer

(614-644-8051) will meet at 3:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB 180 Speech Language Pathology Interns (Setzer) Establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns and declares an emergency.

-HB190 Elementary Achievement Tests (Hite) Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests.

-HB192 Plan for Threats (Brady) Requires each state institution of higher education to develop a plan for responding to threats or acts of violence on campus.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM in the

Senate Finance Hearing room. The committee will hear public

testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) in the morning on the following

topics: special education, gifted education, career technical education, and early childhood education, and on higher education in the afternoon.

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007

*The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear public testimony in the morning on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget, regarding Medicaid, and other health related and human services issues in the afternoon.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007

*The Senate Financial and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear public testimony in the morning on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget, regarding local government, and public testimony in the afternoon.

5) More on NCLB: The Center on Education Policy (CEP) has released a new report called "Educational Architects: Do State Education

Agencies Have the Tools Necessary to Implement the NCLB Act." The

report includes an analysis of data from 50 states, and the results of a survey of 15 high-ranking state education officials from 11 states. The report finds NCLB has challenged the capacity of state education agencies in the areas of staffing and infrastructure; inadequate federal and state funding; a lack of sufficient guidance and technical support from the U.S. Department of Education; and barriers in NCLB and within state education agencies. This report is the second in a series of reports that the CEP is preparing to release on NCLB as Congress prepares for the reauthorization of the Act. The report is available at

http://www.cep-dc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=document.showDocumentByID&nodeID=1&DocumentID=193

6) Civic Engagement and Schools: An Opinion article published in the West Virginia Gazette on May 8, 2007 called "Schools Can't Do It By Themselves" by Becky Ceperley, president and CEO of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, highlights the work on civic engagement in schools conducted by the Education Alliance, the Public Education Network, and the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. These organizations came together in October 2006 to create a Civic Index on quality public education to identify the social capital and civic capacity that is needed to support quality public education in a community or state. Four states, including West Virginia, participated in this effort. The index is based on ten categories, developed by the public, and include education leadership of elected officials; tolerance and inclusiveness; active parents; strong civic organizations; performance data about the school/district; partnerships with higher education; knowledge of and voting for school board; active business community; youth involvement; and media coverage. According to the article, where civic engagement in community affairs is high, teachers report higher levels of parental support and lower levels of student misbehavior. To read the article please visit http://wvgazette.com/section/Opinion/2007050710.

7) Tool Kit for Media About Charter Schools: The University of Washington's Center on Reininventing Public Education's National Charter School Research Project has prepared a guide for the media covering charter schools nationally called "Making Sense of Charter School Studies: A Reporter's Guide". The guide provides information about charter school achievement studies and research on other education issues. A database of national charter school statistics is also available http://www.ncsrp.org/cs/csr/view/csr_pubs/12.

8) Public School Speaks Released: The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) has released a DVD that promotes the value and importance of public education called "The Public School Speaks". The new DVD is part of the Stand Up for Public Education Campaign, which is an effort to educate the public about the history, mission, accomplishments, and challenges of providing a free universal public education for all Americans. For more information please visit

http://www.aasa.org/content.cfm?ItemNumber=8376&CFID=1243384&CFTOKEN=70782634

9) New Studies on Education Policies, Issues, etc. Released: The Education Policy Research Unit (EPRU) at Arizona State University and the Education and Public Interest Center (EPIC) at Colorado University in Boulder have released the following three analyses of recent studies on education topics. The Education Policy Research Unit (EPRU) conducts original research, provides independent analyses of research and policy documents, and facilitates educational innovation. EPRU facilitates the work of leading academic experts in a variety of disciplines to help inform the public debate about education policy issues.

*"Teacher Attrition Rate Higher at Charter Schools" by Gary Miron and Alex Molnar is based on an analysis of data collected from national surveys of charter school employees from 1997 to 2006. The analysis shows that 20-25 percent of charter school teachers leave after the first year compared to an eleven percent attrition rate for traditional public schools. 40 percent of newer teachers in charter schools leave after the first year. High teacher turnover has a impact on overall costs for recruiting and professional development of teachers, and an impact on creating stable school environments and community involvement. The study also found that the teachers who did leave were more likely to be uncertified. Teachers who left reported being unsatisfied with the mission of the charter school, the ability of the charter school to achieve its mission, and the administration and governance of the charter school, frustration with working conditions and dissatisfaction with salaries and benefits.

This report is available at

http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/documents/EPSL-0705-234-EPRU.pdf.

*"Evidence Doesn't Support Purported Voucher Savings" by Bruce Baker and Kevin Welner (May 24, 2007) examines a report "Education by the

Numbers: The Fiscal Effect of School Choice Programs, 1990-2006" by Susan Aud and published by the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation.

In this analysis, Bruce Baker and Kevin Weiner from the Think Tank Review Project, dispute the report's conclusion that choice programs have saved nearly $444 million dollars over 15 years. According to Baker and Weiner, the study by Aud confuses a reduction in government expenditures with the term "cost savings", and neglects to include school quality and private support as factors in the analysis of spending on students. The study by Aud examines the voucher programs in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Washington D.C. and tax credit programs in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Arizona. The report is available at http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/ttreviews/EPSL-0705-235-EPRU.pdf

*"Supplemental Education Services (SES) Under NCLB, Emerging Evidence and Policy Issues", a policy brief by Patricia Burch, shows that the supplemental education services program of the NCLB, which requires school districts to pay the cost of after-school tutoring services, was included in NCLB without any supporting research or scrutiny.

The supplemental education services provision of NCLB requires school districts to pay the cost of after-school tutoring services for eligible students attending schools that have failed to meet mandated Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmarks three years in a row.

Schools must set aside 20 percent of their Title I funds to pay for tutoring services provided by state-approved operators, including for-profit or nonprofit, public or private service providers.

According to the brief, researchers found that SES are limited for students with English as a second language and for students with disabilities, and states do not have the capacity to monitor the service providers, and so there is little accountability. The brief recommends that when NCLB is reauthorized it include a provision to conduct a federal study of the SES provision and its effects on

student achievement and student access to services. To see the

policy brief please visit

http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/documents/EPSL-0705-232-EPRU.pdf

10) Bills Introduced the Week of May 21, 2007:

HB 226 (Batchelder) Earmarks 88 percent of the personal income tax for primary/secondary education expenditures, in addition to all lottery profits, and creates a new method for distribution.

HB 234 (Fessler) Includes revenue from all operating levies, including school district emergency levies, in the calculation determining whether a school district's effective tax rate is below the 20-mill floor, or, for joint vocational school districts, the 2-mill floor.

FYI ARTS

*The National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipends Program provides up to $6000 to support advanced research that contributes to scholarly knowledge or the public's understanding of the humanities.

Recipients of the stipend are required to produce scholarly articles, monographs on specialized subjects, books on broad topics, archaeological site reports, translations, editions, or other

scholarly tools. Faculty or staff of colleges and universities,

primary and secondary schools, or independent scholars and writers are eligible to submit an application for the stipend program. The application deadline is October 2, 2007 http://www.grants.gov/search/synopsis.do.

*The National PTA is sponsoring a "competition" to find the best response for the question: How do you encourage an appreciation for the arts in your child?" The responses selected will be published in Our Children magazine and those selected will receive a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble. Many parents understand the importance of arts education, but do not understand that appreciation for the arts and artistic abilities need to be cultivated and nourished through quality arts education programs in schools. Responses should be submitted to forum@pta.org by June 4, 2007.

*Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant Program for Public Schools and Public Libraries supports educators, parents, and children in their efforts to spread literacy and love of learning. The maximum award is $500.

Public schools and libraries are eligible to submit a proposal. The deadline is September 15, 2007. For information please visit http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/programs/minigrant.html

*Internationally renown expert in creativity and innovation, Sir Kenneth Robinson, proposes a new education system that nurtures creativity in students. According to Sir Kenneth, all students have a tremendous amount of talent that is sometimes lost or ignored in our current education system. Sir Kenneth's ideas are presented in a video of a speech that he made in Monterray, California in February 2006. To see this video please visit

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66

ACTION ALERT

OHIO ARTS COUNCIL�S BUDGET: If you have not yet contacted your member of the Senate regarding the Ohio Arts Council�s budget please go to www.OhioCitizensForTheArts.org � enter your zip code in the E-Advocacy Center box and click on the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Action Alert for the Ohio Arts Council�s budget. It�s easy, a direct link to your Senator, and you can make your voice heard to support public funding for the arts in Ohio. Thank you. If you need additional information please contact Ohio Citizens for the Arts at 614.221.4064.

This update is made possible through the generous support of the Ohio Music Education Association (www.omea-ohio.org), Ohio Art Education Association (www.oaea.org), Ohio Educational Theatre Association (www.Ohioedta.org); OhioDance (www.ohiodance.org), and the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (www.OAAE.net).

Tuesday, 06-05-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 06-04-2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) HEARINGS THIS WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE

3) EDUCATION ADVOCATES TESTIFY ON BUDGET BILL

4) KNOWLEDGE WORKS SURVEY RELEASED

5) THOMAS B. FORDHAM INSTITUTE RELEASES SURVEY RESULTS

6) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions this week.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, is expected to consider on June 5, 2007 a substitute bill that includes the Senate Finance Committee's amendments for Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 state budget proposal.

The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee will continue hearings on Am. Sub. HB 119 this week, and accept additional amendments by June 8, 2007. The committee may vote on the proposed budget bill on June 12, 2007, which will be followed by a vote of the full Senate next week. The Senate and House versions of HB 119 will then need to be reconciled before the state's spending plan for FY08-09 goes to Governor Strickland for his signature.

*Three education organizations will hold a press conference on June 6, 2007 at 9:00 AM (location TBA) to outline their recommendations for education spending in Am. Sub. HB 119. The three organizations include the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, the Ohio School Boards Association, and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. The public is welcome to attend. For more information please visit http://www.oasbo-ohio.org/

2) Hearings this Week at the Statehouse:

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing room. A substitute bill is expected to be introduced for Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) FY08-09 Budget.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer (614-644-8051) will meet at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on HB 155 (Setzer), which establishes a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics School System.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2007

*Press Conference (location TBA) 9:00 AM sponsored by education organizations.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and after session in the afternoon. The committee will hear testimony on education topics on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) in the morning.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and at 1:30 PM or after session in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear public testimony on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget.

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear public testimony in the morning on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 State Budget.

Amendments are due to the chairman's office.

3) Education Advocates Testify on the Biennial Budget Bill: The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, held hearings last week on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), and accepted testimony on May 29th and 30th from several individuals representing education organizations, proponents of the proposed special education and educational choice voucher programs and charter schools, representatives from school districts, and representatives from gifted education, special education, career technical education, Educational Service Centers, school psychologists, and early childhood education programs. The following is a summary of some of the testimony presented:

Statewide Education Organizations

Barb Shaner from the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, presented testimony along with Melissa Clark (Ohio Education Association), Tom Ash (Buckeye Association of School Administrators), and Jennifer Economus (Ohio School Boards Association). The group testified in support of many of the school funding provisions included in Am. Sub. HB 119 for early childhood education, improvements in programs like Poverty Based Assistance, the removal of the second ADM count, and implementation language regarding the School Employees Health Care Board. However, education organizations also recognize the current constraints on the state revenue growth, and the fact that, "...the current school funding formula is not working" when so many school districts are receiving the same amount of state funds that they have received the previous year through a guarantee. The education organizations urged lawmakers to use this budget to "...begin the transition to a better system." The following recommendations were made:

-Restore the current formula (126 -HB 66) to allocate parity aid. This will mean that 122 districts will continue to receive funding.

-Implement a "cost adjustment" factor, recently proposed by the Education Tax Policy Institute, to replace the former Cost of Doing Business Factor. This new factor considers wages, housing costs, remoteness of the school district, and concentrations of poverty to account for differences is costs among school districts.

-Restore the targeted guarantees.

-Address the issue regarding the phase-out of the replacement of lost revenue due to the elimination of the Tangible Personal Property Tax (TPP).

-Implement weighted funding for students with Limited English Proficiency.

-Provide 100 percent funding for special education weights.

-Increase funding for Educational Service Centers, which have not received an increase for over 10 years.

-Provide adequate funding for the Regional School Improvement Teams.

-Improve accountability for charter schools by restoring the provisions included in the executive budget, including the moratorium on charter schools and those measures to increase accountability of charter schools. In 2005-2006 school year, for example, twenty of the thirty charter schools rated excellent received their rating based on one report card standard.... attendance.

-Eliminate the EdChoice Voucher Program.

-Remove the House provision for the Special Education Voucher Program.

-Eliminate language requiring the resident school district to develop and enforce provisions of an Individualized Education Plan without any requirement that the private provider keep, retain, or provide districts with appropriate records so that the districts can review the IEP.

-Use the current system of tradition public schools to implement STEM proposal rather than create another separate and unequal education system.

-Support investments in professional development such as the National Board Certification Program, the Entry Year Program, and other training programs.

-Support the principles of the School Employees Health Care Board with changes that are currently being discussed with Representative Widener.

Education Tax Policy Institute (ETPI)

Dr. Howard Fleeter from the Education Tax Policy Institute provided an overview of the proposed cost adjustment factor (CAF) developed by the ETPI to replace the cost of doing business factor (CODB), which had been included in previous school funding formulas to account for the differences in costs among school districts to provide educational programs and services. According to testimony, the CODB factor was highly criticized for its one-dimensional reliance solely on regional wage rates. The proposed CAF relies upon four components to adjust state aid to reflect cost differences among school districts. These include Labor Market - regional wage data used in current CODB factor; concentration of poverty - percentage of students whose families are enrolled in the Ohio Works First program; housing costs - residential property value per capita; and remoteness - county population factor. Each of the components is weighted equally to determine the Cost Adjustment Factor for each school district.

Ohio Eight Coalition

Dr. Eugene Sanders, CEO and superintendent of the Cleveland Municipal School District and co-chair of the Ohio 8 Coalition, testified on behalf of the 240,000 students who attend public schools in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, and Youngstown. Representatives of these school districts were also in the audience, and answered questions from committee members following the testimony.

Dr. Sanders thanked lawmakers for their investments in urban education, especially support for improving school facilities, academic interventions, and professional development, which have led to increased student achievement. For example, since 2000-2001 the Ohio 8 districts have posted an average gain of 19.6 percentage points compared to 14.2 statewide on Ohio's Performance Index. Dr. Sanders requested that the Senate reinstate the provisions in the executive budget that eliminated the Ed Choice voucher program and retained the moratorium on charter schools, and eliminate the proposed Special Education Scholarship Program, which was included in the House version of HB119. These programs divert limited public resources away from public schools. According to the testimony, the cost of special education programs already exceeds state and federal support, and so local dollars must be used to provide needed services. "Siphoning off additional financial resources from the public schools will only make it more difficult for districts to support the learning needs of the great majority of special education students who will continue in the traditional public schools." The Ohio 8 Coalition requests that "All school systems that are supported by the Ohio taxpayer should be held to uniformly high standards of accountability and transparency that protect the rights of all children."

High Growth School Districts

Presenters: Superintendent Kevin Bright from the Mason City School District; Becky Jenkins, Treasurer Olentangy Local School District; Superintendent Mike Taylor from the Lakota Local School District; Erin Green, graduate from Lakota Local School District; and Cheryl Conaway-Nelson, a parent from Lakota Local School District.

Representatives from several school districts reported that funding per pupil in their districts would be less than the previous year per pupil amount as a result of the loss of the per pupil guarantee in the proposed budget HB 119. Approximately 40 school districts in Ohio are considered "fast growing" with more than 50 pupils added to enrollment in a year. According to testimony these school districts are actually spending $364 less than the state average per pupil each year, but are not able to keep up with the increased cost for educating new students, and must pass additional levies. Representatives from these districts asked the Senate committee to restore the per pupil guarantee in the proposed budget bill, HB 119 (Dolan). For example, approximately 797 out of 18,000 students in the Lokota School District are without state funding, because of the loss of the per pupil guarantee. The total impact of this request would increase state spending by $8.7 million in FY08 and $13.4 million in FY09.

Special Education Scholarship Program

Several parents whose children attend Catholic and other private schools testified in support of the proposed Special Education Scholarship Program included in the House version of HB 119. These parents said that they would use these vouchers to provide their children with special education services through Catholic schools or other private schools. The proposed Special Education Scholarship Program would provide parents of children who have an established Individual Education Plan (IEP) developed by a school districts with public funds to pay for special education services through public or private entities approved by the Ohio Department of Education. Proponents believe that the Special Education Scholarship Program will reduce litigation between parents and school districts over the services outlined in the IEP, even though the proposed Special Education Scholarship program requires that to be eligible for the program, the special education student must have an IEP that is not being contested.

Ohio Educational Service Centers Association (OESCA) Craig Burford, executive director of the Ohio Educational Service Centers Association, testified on behalf of the 60 Educational Service Centers in Ohio, which support professional, operational, health, and social and behavioral services to more that 95 percent of schools districts in Ohio. Mr. Burford provided detailed testimony focused on the following areas:

-Funding Stability. Current funding levels of $37 (single county) and $40.52 (multi county) per pupil will maintain a base foundation for ESC operations, but ESCs have been flat funded for years. It is recommended that the Senate tie ESC funding to a percentage of basic aid and allow ESC funding to grow in future years.

-School Improvement. OESCA supports restoration of $12.9 million for school improvement, which was eliminated in the executive and House version of HB 119. (These funds were diverted to the new Achievement Gap funding supplement through Poverty Based Assistance.) -Area Instructional Media Centers. OESCA supports restoration of $601,165 to support 23 Area Instructional Media Centers which are located in ESCs.

-Special Education. OESCA supports the provision in the House and executive versions of HB 119 that require the Ohio Department of Education to update each biennium the cost-based methodology that is used to determine the special education weights.

-Ohio Core. OESCA supports Core funding levels in the House version of HB 119, and encourages delivery of these programs through regional advisory councils of the Educational Regional Service Delivery System.

Ohio Federation of Teachers

Sue Taylor, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, asked the members of the Senate Finance committee to consider the following as they developed the Senate version of HB 119:

Community Schools - Create a timeline for conducting audits of community schools; Make all community school records related to public funds available for public inspection; Allow only sponsors with excellent community schools to replicate; Restore the moratorium for community schools; Require community schools to meet all standards applicable to traditional public schools, including teacher licensure standards.

Vouchers - Eliminate all voucher programs and end the gaming of the Ed Choice voucher program by requiring students to attend public schools for at least a year before they are allowed to receive a voucher.

Excellent School District Stipend - Remove the $6 million earmark for excellent schools and return funds to support Core professional development programs.

School District Reduction in Force - Allow RIF to only apply to ESCs. Most school districts already have language in their contracts addressing this issue.

STEM - Remove the $20 million earmark by the House that creates a separate education system and instead support STEM schools within the public school system.

Ohio Fair Schools Campaign

Debbie Phillips, executive director for the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign, thanked lawmakers for investing in Ohio's education system through support of school facilities, parity aid, and poverty based assistance, and acknowledged that with a tight fiscal climate, this budget serves as a "good first step toward resolving some of the problems in Ohio school funding." "However, the overall system is still not working." The following recommendations were made to address lingering concerns:

-Restore the proposals in the executive budget to increase accountability for charter schools, including a moratorium on new charter schools and the elimination of the Ed Choice Voucher Program, and remove the proposed Special Education Scholarship program from the House version of HB 119.

-Eliminate for-profit management companies of charter schools.

-Eliminate parity aid for charter schools.

-Prevent expansion of the Ed Choice voucher program in public schools that have shown improvement.

-Eliminate eligibility for the Ed Choice voucher program in school districts in Continuous Improvement Status.

-Require the ODE to make at least one on-site visit every year to schools accepting vouchers.

-Require the ODE to conduct a two year evaluation of the impact of the voucher program on student achievement and administrative costs to public schools.

Charter Schools and Vouchers

Susan Zanner, executive director of School Choice Ohio, spoke in support of the Ed Choice program, and urged the Senate committee to continue this program, which provides students with an opportunity to leave failing schools and seize a chance for a better life. William Sims, executive director of the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools, outlined many of the changes to improve accountability of charter schools that have been approved through recent legislation, HBs 66, 79, and 530, and requested that lawmakers give these new accountability requirements time to be implemented and take effect.

Autism Scholarship Program

Parents also testified in support of the Autism Scholarship Program. Doug Krinsky, of the Autism Society of Ohio, reported that parents need more options than provided by school districts, where children with disabilities are often bullied and at risk of failure.

Ohio School Psychologists Association Ann Brennan, director of legislative services and professional relations for the Ohio School Psychologists Association (OSPA), said that OSPA supports the investments in early childhood, professional development, and special education included in the Executive and House versions of Am. Sub. HB 119, and appreciates the continued support for the school psychology intern program also included in the budget bill. In addition OSPA recommends that the state pay 100 percent of its share of special education weights and increase funds for Educational Service Centers, which deliver many special educational services to school districts.

OSPA also has the following "....serious concerns regarding the inclusion of the special education voucher program" in HB 119: 1) Compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and Ohio Operating Standards for Students with Disabilities by all providers of special education services; 2) Assurance that the rights of all students with disabilities are protected through procedural safeguards for due process and other rights under state and federal law. Current language in HB 119 forces parents to give up due process rights if they accept the special education voucher. 3) Assurance that all special education programs comply with state and federal assessment requirements in the No Child Left Behind Act. "In an era of increased accountability for student performance and when our legislators are endorsing a more rigorous high school curriculum we cannot afford to risk leaving our students with disabilities behind."; 4) Assurance that school districts have sufficient and meaningful data in order to continue to be responsible for updating the IEPs of voucher students; 5) Assurance that public school funds are not diverted to support voucher type programs at the expense of those students with disabilities who remain in the public schools. Some school districts in Florida, for example, were forced to reduce services to students in special education programs after the state instituted a special education voucher program. There is also currently a statewide shortage in Ohio of intervention and other specialists who provide services for students with special needs. This situation will be exacerbated if the special education voucher program goes into effect, because it will diminish the capacity of school districts to serve students with disabilities.

Gifted Education

Ann Sheldon, executive director of the Ohio Association for Gifted Children (OAGC), asked the Senate committee to improve services for gifted children in Ohio. According to written testimony, state funding for gifted education has increased very little since 2002, and was actually reduced in 2005 and 2006. Because gifted services are not mandated by the state, some school districts have reduced or eliminated programs for gifted students as budgets have tightened.

In 2003 37 percent of students identified as gifted were receiving support, and now in 2007 28 percent are receiving support. Over fifty school districts have recently returned gifted units to the state. Ohio will not be able to turn its economy around if it does not adequately educate its most talented and gifted students, and provide those students with opportunities and incentives to stay in Ohio to complete their education. The following recommendations were also made:

-Base state funding for gifted units on the same minimum teacher salary schedule that districts are required to use, or increase gifted unit funding by three percent each year, as has been proposed for basic aid.

-Add gifted children (in the categories of superior cognitive, math, and language arts) as a sub-group to the state's accountability system for schools so that school districts would have an incentive to provide needed services to gifted children. Currently there are school districts that are rated excellent, but do not provide adequate services to students who are gifted.

-Modify the $6 million earmark for excellent school districts in the House version of HB 119 to ensure that districts rewarded also demonstrate excellent value added growth, or use the earmark to support Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Post Secondary Enrollment Options programs.

-Increase flexibility in awarding Carnegie unit credits by using alternative exams such as ACT, PSAT, or SAT to measure mastering of course material by students.

-Develop a state residential accelerated math and science academy in conjunction with one of Ohio's postsecondary institutions.

-Create a state wide online gifted school where courses developed at the state level could be delivered to any student.

-Restore funds to support gifted research and demonstration projects to increase new types of learning opportunities for students in Ohio.

Consider using some of the STEM funds for this purpose.

Early Childhood Education

Lori McClung, representing the groundWork Ohio Campaign, told Senate committee members that advocates for early learning appreciate the support for young children included in the executive and House versions of HB 119. She recommended, however, that the Senate committee appropriate $5 million for a pilot program that would develop a fiscal model to support sustainable early child care and education programs in rural, urban, and suburban settings, and add

$5.82 million to fund treatment programs for young children identified with behavior problems. For information about the groundWork campaign please visit http://www.groundworkohio.org/

4) KnowledgeWorks Survey Released: The KnowledgeWorks Foundation released on May 31, 2007 "Policy Report, Public Attitudes on K-12 School Funding in Ohio: The System is Broken and Needs to be Fixed." This report was prepared by Andrew Benson with research support from Julie Brinker, and examines the attitudes of registered voters on issues related to school funding and Governor Strickland's proposals for school funding included in the biennial budget proposal, HB 119 (Dolan) now before the Ohio Senate. The survey of 804 registered voters was conducted May 6-9, 2007 by Fallon Research & Communications, Inc., and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.45 percent. The report and the survey results are available at http://www.kwfdn.org/resource_library/_resources/may2007_policy_report.asp

The report includes the results of 31 survey questions and detailed background information pertaining to the questions. The results are organized under four statements that summarize the results of several questions. The four statements and some of the survey results are included below:

*The public believes the state system to fund K-12 public education is broken and needs to be fixed, and has handed this problem to state leaders as their highest priority as elected officials.

-80 percent of respondents agreed that the school funding system has not been fixed. (48 percent of respondents agreed that "the school funding system has not been fixed" and an additional 32 percent agreed that the school funding system has not been fixed and more money is needed.)

-31 percent indicated that the top priority of the governor and state legislature should be changing the school funding system.

*Public is not confident things are going in the right direction.

-57 percent of respondents said that Ohio spends too little on public education; 22 percent said Ohio spends the right amount; and 11 percent said Ohio spends too much.

-12 percent rated school districts excellent on spending tax money effectively and responsibly; 33 percent rated districts good with spending tax money; 31 percent rated districts fair; and 21 percent rated districts poor.

-27 percent of respondents rated their school district's quality of education as excellent; 39 percent good; 18 percent fair; and 11 percent poor.

-59 percent approved the work of Governor Strickland and 14 percent disapproved.

*Most school funding proposals by the Strickland administration get public support.

-84.8 percent favored an expansion of the homestead exemption and an elimination of the income requirement for all senior taxpayers.

-73.6 percent supported paying for school construction and improvements by using existing money from the state's tobacco settlement fund in order to save the interest costs that would have to be paid if the work was financed with bonds.

-66 percent of respondents favored distributing public education dollars to school districts based on need.

-40 percent of respondents supported the elimination of the Education Scholarship Program, while 56 percent oppose eliminating the program.

*The public may be willing to look at other alternatives to school funding problems, but voters will need to know more about them to make a decision.

-46 percent of respondent reported that they have not heard anything and 39 percent reported hearing very little about the proposed constitutional amendment to fix school funding.

-56 percent of respondents said that they opposed changing HB 920, which limits the amount of tax revenue that school districts can collect as a result of inflationary growth of property.

*Demographics: 75.5 percent of the respondents who completed the survey were 45 years old or older; 82.9 percent white; and 75.2 reported not having any children in public schools.

5) Thomas B. Fordham Institute Releases Survey Results: The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Chester Finn president, released the results of a survey on May 24, 2007 called "Ohioan's Views of Education 2007." The survey of 1000 Ohio residents included questions on topics such as school quality, school funding, academic standards, school reforms, vouchers, and charter schools. Some of the questions were similar to those asked in a 2005 survey and the results are compared. The survey results are available at http://www.edexcellence.net/doc/052407_OhioSurveySummary.pdf

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is affiliated with the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation in Washington D.C. and believes that all children deserve a high quality K-12 education at a school of their choice. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute is a sponsor of several charter schools is Ohio, and receives state funds to sponsor charter schools.

The survey results were summarized by the following statements included in the report:

* Lingering dissatisfaction with district public schools exists.

* There is steady support for charter schools and school vouchers - and scant support for doing away with them.

* There are stubbornly low levels of familiarity with charters, vouchers and even the No Child Left Behind law (NCLB).

* Considerable openness exists for a host of reforms in school operations, staffing, management and accountability.

* Few sizable differences are evident across demographic groups, with the exception of political party identification.

* Attitudes from 2005 to 2007 are stable, with no dramatic shifts in trends.

The following is a summary of some of the survey questions and results:

-54 percent of respondents in 2007 and in 2005 agree with the statement that a high school diploma "Means that the typical student has at least learned the basics."

-41 percent in 2007 and 37 percent in 2005 would prefer to send their children to public schools if money were not an issue.

-46 percent of respondents agree that government funding for public schools should increase or increase greatly, while 41 percent agree the government funding should remain the same.

-71 percent of respondents believe that more money for public schools will "get lost along the way."

-82 percent of respondents in 2007 and 83 percent of respondents in 2005 support students passing the OGT in order to receive a diploma.

-57 percent of respondents support a national test and standards while 38 percent support different tests and standards in different states.

-37 percent of respondents in 2007 and 42 percent of respondents in 2005 report that they know much about the No Child Left Behind Act.

-52 percent of respondents in 2007 strongly favor or somewhat favor charter schools; 38 percent of respondents strongly oppose or somewhat oppose charter schools. These results are similar to those in 2005. (51 percent vs. 34 percent respectively.)

-68 percent of respondents would allow new charter schools to open if they were run by organizations with a proven track record; 15 percent would not allow new charter schools to open.

-63 percent of respondents think that Ohio should close only the worst charter schools while eleven percent would close them all.

-57 percent of respondents favor or strongly favor the Ed Choice voucher program in 2007; 37 percent oppose or strongly oppose the program. 55 percent favored the program and 37 percent opposed the program in 2005.

-52 percent of respondents oppose Governor Strickland's proposal to remove the Education Choice Scholarship Program.

-50 percent of respondents favor expansion of pre-school for Ohio's poorest children.

6) Bills Introduced the Week of May 28, 2007

HB 245 (Strahorn) Per pupil formula. Modifies the method of adjusting the per-pupil formula amount for school districts from year to year.

HB 240 (Goodwin) Re-employment of retirees. Addresses the employment of retired members of the Public Employees Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System, and Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.

FYI ARTS

*Dr. Ellen Langer, author of "The Power of Mindful Learning" and "On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity", will present a lecture called Mindfulness, Creativity, and Music on Monday, June 11, 2007 at Denison University in Granville, OH. The lecture will be presented at 8:00 PM in Welsh Hills Room, Burton-Morgan Hall. The cost is $25 for general admission. Seating is limited, so please contact David Nesmith at

nesmith@denison.edu. For more information please visit

http://www.poisedforlife.com/langerkeynote.htm

*Governor Strickland announced last week the appointment of Barbara Gould of Cincinnati to the Ohio Arts Council. The Ohio Arts Council fosters and encourage the development of the arts in Ohio and to preserve Ohio's cultural heritage. The council operates various grant funding programs to provide support to artists and broaden the availability of arts activities in Ohio. Gould has worked in fashion, interior design, and music and currently serves on several cultural arts boards in the Cincinnati area, including the Cincinnati Opera, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Arts Association, the Cincinnati Ballet, and the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati.

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ACTION ALERT

Monday, 06-11-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 06-11-2007

Arts on Line, Education Update for June 11, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) SENATE BUDGET TAKES SHAPE

3) TESTIMONY ON HB 119 CONTINUES IN THE SENATE

4) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET

5) NEWS FROM ODE

6) BILLS INTRODUCED THE WEEK OF JUNE 4^TH

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are scheduled to hold sessions and committee hearings this week. The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, accepted an omnibus amendment to Am. Sub. HB 119 on June 5, 2007, and heard testimony on the bill throughout the week. The Finance Committee is expected to consider other amendments on June 12, 2007, and then report the bill out of committee. The full Senate is scheduled to vote on Am. Sub. HB 119 on June 13, 2007. According to statements made by committee members, some of the issues that may still be addressed by the Senate include the school transportation formula, funding for fast growing school districts, and clarification about funding for Early Childhood Education Programs.

*Hearings this Week:

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2007

The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156), will meet at 10:00 AM in the Finance Hearing Room to consider amendments to Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), which makes operating appropriations for FY08-09. A vote on the bill is possible.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2007

The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey (614-466-8156) will meet IF NEEDED at 9:30 AM in the Finance Hearing Room to consider Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), which makes operating appropriations for FY08-09.

2) Senate Budget Takes Shape: The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, met on June 5, 2007, and accepted an omnibus amendment to Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the proposed $52.375 billion FY08-09 budget for Ohio.

The omnibus amendment increased the proposed General Revenue Fund budget by $133 million in FY08 and $112 million in FY09 over the House version of HB 119. The increases were made possible through a $100 million transfer in unobligated revenues to FY08; $36 million available through the elimination an exemption from a use tax on tobacco imports; $17.9 million available through excess revenue from the Commercial Activity Tax; and approximately $12 million available through reductions in other line items. The total increase of the Senate Committee version of the budget for all funds is $259.2 million for FY08-09.

Spending increases were included for the Department of Development ($9.8 million), Ohio Department of Education ($23 million), the Ohio Board of Regents ($161.3 million), the Ohio Arts Council ($1 million), social services, School Facilities Commission ($31.2 million), after school programs, and more. The debt service lines items that were removed in the House version of the budget bill were also restored. The omnibus amendment includes a total of 42 amendments related to primary and secondary education; 16 for higher education; 23 for taxation; eight for securitization; and other amendments related to state departments and agencies. Highlights of the changes are listed below. A more detailed list of changes in HB 119 will be available after the bill has been approved by the Senate.

Changes in Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) the FY08-09 Budget - Senate Finance Committee version. This summary was prepared from the Legislative Service Commission Comparison Document, which is available at http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/

Primary and Secondary Education

Formula Changes

-CHANGE. Eliminates the second formula ADM count currently the 2nd week in February. Clarifies that the ODE many adjust a school district's formula ADM to account for community school students only for a portion of a school year.

-CHANGE. Modifies the calculation of the new subsidy for assistance in closing the achievement gap for districts that have a poverty index and an academic distress index of at least 10.

-CHANGE. Reinstates certain current law regarding the spending requirements for Poverty Based Assistance.

-CHANGE. Replaces the executive provision regarding the calculation of transitional aid payments and clarifies language regarding transitional aid payment for joint vocational school districts.

-NEW. Replaces unit funding with grant awards for vocational education programs operated by state institutions.

Transportation

-CHANGE. Removes the provision in the executive and House versions that replaced current method for calculating transportation funding with a new formula developed by the ODE.

-NEW. Requires the ODE to make recommendations by December 31, 2008 for enhancing regional collaboration for transportation of students.

After School Programs

NEW. Requires that up to $10 million in each fiscal year of appropriation item 600-689, TANF Block Grant (Fund 3V6), be used to support summer and after-school programs and services for TANF eligible youth served through community based organizations, faith-based organizations, and schools to provide academic support not available during the regular school day, nutrition, transportation, youth development activities, drug and violence prevention programs, counseling programs, technology education, and character education programs.

Early Childhood Education

-CHANGE. Increases the appropriation for early childhood education by $7 million over the executive budget proposal, making the total $31 million in FY08 and $36.5 million in FY09.

-CHANGE. Reinstates executive provisions for staff qualifications for early childhood education programs.

Nonpublic Schools, Vouchers, and Charter Schools -CHANGE. Removes the Special Education Scholarship Program.

-NEW. Requires the ODE by December 31, 2008 to report ways to expand the current Autism Scholarship Program to students with disabilities.

-CHANGE. Removes the House provision that requires a school district to offer schools that are not being used 75 percent of the time for academic instruction to community schools.

-CHANGE. Removes the House provision that prohibits ODE from withholding payment to a community school in certain enrollment disputes with school districts.

-NEW. Restricts payments to community schools for certain students who have unexcused absences.

-CHANGE. Clarifies that sanctions for not reporting EMIS data apply to school districts, community schools, educational service centers, vocational school districts, etc.

-NEW. Adds social work to the list of services that may be provided to students of chartered nonpublic schools with state Auxiliary Services Funds.

-NEW. Increases from $275 to $300 per pupil, the cap on reimbursement payments to chartered nonpublic schools for mandated administrative expenses. The bill appropriates $59.8 million in FY

2008 and $61.6 million in FY 2009 for these payments.

Physical Education Standards

-CHANGE. Reinstates the executive provision requiring the SBE to adopt standards for physical education, but states that the standards can be developed by the SBE, rather than using the national standards; removes the requirement that the standards be approved by the General Assembly; requires each school district, community school, and chartered nonpublic school to report to the ODE the number of minutes per week and the number of classes per week of physical education provided to students in each of grades K-8 in 2006-2007, and scheduled to be provided to students in 2007-2008; requires the ODE to hire a physical education coordinator. The ODE can use funds from the line item academic standards to fund the position.

Ohio CORE

-NEW. Requires the state report cards in 2008 through 2013 to designate as "Ohio Core Certified" school districts and community schools that both (1) offer all components of the Ohio Core curriculum to their high school students, and (2) apply the requirement to complete two semesters of fine arts between grades 7 and 12. Requires ODE to list the Ohio Core Certified school districts and community schools on its web site.

-CHANGE. Specifies that if a school district erroneously reported a zero percent graduation rate for the 2005-2006 school year for the district or any building in the district, and the district notified ODE of the error by June 30, 2007, the ODE must allow the district to correct the graduation rate, and include the corrected rate on the August 2007 report card issued for the district and any affected building.

STEM

-NEW. Requires ODE in collaboration with the Board of Regents and the Chancellor, and in accordance with criteria prescribed by the Partnership for Continued Learning, to award start-up grants for new STEM schools serving students above grade 6, and grants to support STEM programs of excellence serving students in any of grades K to 8.

Start-up grants for new STEM schools may be awarded only to school districts (including joint vocational school districts), educational service centers, community schools, and consortiums of districts, service centers, or community schools. Grants for STEM programs of excellence may be awarded only to school districts, district operated schools, educational service centers, or community schools. The bill provides $2,783,000 in each fiscal year for start-up grants for new STEM schools and $3,500,000 in each fiscal year for STEM Programs of Excellence.

-NEW. Makes the following earmarks of GRF appropriation item 200-457, STEM Initiatives: Earmarks $2,783,000 in each fiscal year for start-up grants for new STEM schools. Earmarks $3,500,000 in each fiscal year to support STEM Programs of Excellence. Earmarks $350,000 in each fiscal year to support the Young Buckeye STEM Scholars After School and Summer Program. Earmarks $2,600,000 in each fiscal year for mathematics initiatives including intensive teacher professional development institutes that focus on classroom implementation of the mathematics standards. Earmarks $200,000 in each fiscal year for the Ohio Resource Center for Math and Science. Earmarks $282,000 in each fiscal year for the Jason Expedition project. Earmarks $285,000 in each fiscal year for science initiatives including the Ohio Science Institute (OSCI).

Alternative Education Program

-CHANGE. Decreases the earmark for alternative education programs to $322,281 in each fiscal year for program administration, monitoring, etc. Removes the earmark for Center for Learning Excellence at OSU; increases the earmark for the Toledo Tech Academy to $100,000 in each year, and requires $25,000 to be used For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology; earmarks from School Improvement Initiatives $250,000 for Amer-I-Can.

Earmarks

-CHANGE. Earmarks from the line item - Academic Standards the following: increases earmarks for continuous improvement plans to

$10,387,835 each year; decreases earmark for early college high schools to $3,053,985 in FY08 and $3,803,985 in FY09.

-CHANGE. Changes some earmarks for literacy improvement professional development.

-CHANGE. Earmarks $207,364 in FY08 and $212,486 in FY09 for kindergarten readiness assessment.

-CHANGE. Removes the House provision that earmarked $6 million in FY09 for school districts rated excellent.

-CHANGE. Reduces earmark for post-secondary enrollment options to $5,675,000 in FY09.

-NEW. Earmarks $750,000 in FY09 for Advance Placement Summer Institutes.

-NEW. Earmarks $650,000 in each fiscal year for Project More.

-CHANGE. Removes the House earmark in Foundation Funding of $2.4 million in FY09 and $2.7 million in FY08 for Early Childhood Education.

-NEW. Earmarks $3,312,165 in each fiscal year for providing additional support to districts in the development and implementation of their continuous improvement plans.

-CHANGE. Removes the requirement to fund the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, Ohio Wyami Appalachian Teacher Cohorts Program.

School Facilities

-NEW. Prevents a school district's percentile wealth ranking from being raised to a higher percentile for purposes of scheduling assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program after

(1) the district has entered into an agreement with the School Facilities Commission (SFC) under the Expedited Local Partnership Program and (2) the district's voters have approved a bond issue to pay the district's portion of the basic project cost. Requires that the SFC use this "capped" percentile ranking only for determining when a district is eligible for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, and not for calculating the district's portion of the basic project cost. Requires the SFC to annually notify the Department of Education of all school districts whose percentile rankings have been capped since the Department completed its most recent ranking list.

-NEW. Adds a city, local, or exempted village school district's net gain in interdistrict open enrollment students to its "valuation per pupil," for purposes of determining the district's adjusted valuation per pupil for its school facilities funding ranking, if its open enrollment net gain is at least 10 percent of its formula ADM.

-CHANGE. Same as the House, but replaces the Public School Building Fund (Fund 021) with the GRF as the recipient of the $40 million cash transfer from the Education Facilities Endowment Fund (Fund P87) in fiscal year 2008, and eliminates the appropriation of these funds to CAP-622, Public School Buildings.

Commercial Activity Tax Earmark

-NEW. Dedicates 70 percent of annual CAT revenue in FY 2019 and thereafter to school funding, changing current law which dedicates CAT revenue after 2019 to the GRF. HB 66 in the 126th General Assembly revamped Ohio's tax structure, and began to phase-out the corporate franchise tax and the tangible personal property tax. A new tax was created, the commercial activity tax, and revenue raised through this tax was dedicated to replace revenue lost by school districts and local governments due to the phaseout of the tangible personal property tax.

Income Tax for Schools

-NEW. Provides that, beginning with the August 7, 2007 election, up to three elections may be held during a calendar year on the question, or any combination of the questions, of levying school district income taxes and school district property taxes. Current law provides that school district income tax levy questions may be submitted to the electors up to twice a calendar year, and that school district property tax levy questions may be submitted up to three times a calendar year.

-NEW. Authorizes two or more school boards in a county with a population greater than 1,200,000 to create a taxing district for the joint funding of special education and behavioral health services for students and their immediate families. Based on the 2000 Census, this change currently would apply only to Cuyahoga County.

Miscellaneous

-CHANGE. Removes the provision that makes it permissive instead of mandatory for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish an academic distress commission.

-CHANGE. Permits adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) programs to be transferred to the Board of Regents, requires that a plan for the transfer be developed by July 1, 2008, and moves the date of the transfer back six months to January 1, 2009.

-CHANGE. Earmarks $1,715,000 to the Auditor of State to perform audits of districts in fiscal distress.

-CHANGE. Changes the application deadline for the Homestead Exemption expansion.

-CHANGE. Assigns the House earmark for abstinence-only education to its own line item.

-CHANGE. Makes several changes to the tobacco securitization plan, including a limit on bond purposes and prior Controlling Board approval of appropriation changes.

Higher Education

-CHANGE. Makes several changes in provisions regarding co-located technical colleges.

-NEW. Requires the Chancellor of BOR to create the Ohio Innovation Partnership, consisting of two competitive grant programs: the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program and the Ohio Research Scholars Program. The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, would provide an award to any of the 13 state universities and the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine for initiatives that recruit Ohio residents as students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine (STEM) or STEM education. The Ohio Research Scholars Program would provide awards to endow any of the 13 state universities and the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine for initiatives to recruit scientists to their faculties. Provides the same amount of funding ($50 million per year) as provided in the House budget for the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program. The Senate budget provides $30 million in GRF money in FY 2008 in the BOR budget and $20 million in the Third Frontier bond money in FY 2009 in the Department of Development budget for the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

-CHANGE. Removes a House provision that requires the BOR to study the effectiveness of the Jobs Challenge, Access Challenge, Success Challenge, and Economic Growth Challenge programs.

-CHANGE. Replaces the House provision with a provision that freezes in-state undergraduate instructional and general fees in both FY 2008 and FY 2009. Earmarks $58 million in FY 2008 and $60 million in FY 2009 to be distributed based on each campus's share of total in-state undergraduate tuition amount for FY 2007. The overall appropriations (including the earmarked funding) for SSI increase by 5.6 percent in FY 2008 and 9.8 percent in FY 2009.

-CHANGE. Renumbers the Choose Ohio First Scholarship line item from 235-569 to 235-438 and replaces the House intent language with codified language that establishes the Ohio Innovation Partnership, consisting of two competitive grant programs: the Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program and the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

-NEW. Specifies that GRF appropriation item 235-571, James A. Rhodes Scholarship, be disbursed as matching funds upon receiving certification that the James A. Rhodes Foundation has raised at least $10 million from nonstate resources.

-NEW. Earmarks $200,000 each fiscal year to support the Cleveland Institute of Art.

3) Testimony on HB 119 Continues in the Senate: Proponents and opponents of Am. Sub. HB 119 appeared before the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee last week as the Senate panel continued to hear testimony on various provisions included in the proposed FY08-09 budget. The following is a summary of some of the testimony presented:

School Funding Provisions

Jonathan Boyd, treasurer and CFO for the Cincinnati Public Schools, shared with the committee the impact of the school funding formula on the Cincinnati Public Schools. He addressed his remarks to issues regarding the school funding guarantees, the use of the state aid ratio to determine funding for other state programs, the elimination of the cost of doing business factor, and the phase-out of the tangible personal property tax.

Mr. Boyd asked the Senate Committee to restore the cost of doing business factor; provide a permanent hold harmless for lost tax revenue as a result of the elimination of the tangible personal property tax; provide the same level of funding for special education and vocational education for all school districts; and restore the four guarantees, reappraisal, foundation, formula, and transitional, in the school funding formula. HB 119 includes just one guarantee, the transitional aid guarantee. Historically these guarantees have provided school districts with a way to gradually adjust their budgets to reflect changes in tax policies or state policies, which reduce tax revenue for school districts. According to his testimony, "If the foundational aid and formula aid guarantees are not maintained, then most school districts across the state will receive less state funding in the future than they would have received otherwise as a result of the impacts of changes in school funding."

Transportation:

Susan Haverkos led off testimony about the state's transportation formula accompanied by several parents from the Milford Exempted Village School District. Susan Haverkos is an elected member of the State Board of Education, but was not speaking on behalf of the State Board. She requested that the Senate Committee implement a new formula for transportation recommended by the State Board of Education. According to the testimony, some school districts have reduced transportation services for some students, but are still receiving state transportation support at the same level. This is because the current method used to distribute transportation funds to school districts, and continued in HB 119, provides an increase in funding even if the district reduces the number of students transported. Fast growing districts also suffer because they are not reimbursed when enrollments increase. "This is not student centered funding."

Higher Education

Dr. Louis M. Proenza, President of The University of Akron, testified in support of the STEM focused Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, and the Ohio Research Scholars Program, which was included in the omnibus amendment to HB 119.

Dan DiBiasio, President of Wilmington College, asked the Senate Committee to fully fund the Ohio Student Choice Grant program (SCG). "Since the start of the program, the percentage of Ohio residents attending independent colleges increased from 47 percent to 72 percent. Hence the SCG is a financial aid programs that works." The current version of HB 119 reduces this allocation by one third.

Patrick Osmer, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate School at Ohio State University, testified in support of the Innovation Incentive Program, and asked the Senate Committee to provide matching funds for the program. This program is designed to encourage universities to reallocate their own funding away from weaker doctoral programs. According to the testimony, the General Assembly created the program in the last biennial budget. If matching funds can not be provided, the law should be changed to freeze the program, because without matching funds the cost of the program is prohibitive.

Early Learning

Sallie Westhemer, 4C..for Children; Benjamin W. Kearney, Bera Children's Home and Family Services; Gerry Weller, Cincinnati Association for the Education of Young Children; Sylvia Hatch, Kinship Caregiver Coalition; and Thomas Maurer, Sheriff of Wayne County, Ohio spoke in support of funding for Early Learning in HB 119. They asked the Senate committee to support the House version that increases funding for TEACH Early Childhood Ohio and Step Up to Quality; support for the House version that increases the reimbursement level for child care to the 65th percentile of the market rate; dedicate additional funding to early childhood behavioral health treatment; and support a pilot project to implement a fiscal model for early childhood education at rural, suburban, and urban locations.

Limited English Learners, STEM, and School Improvement Funds Dr. George Tombaugh, Superintendent of the Westerville City Schools, testified in support of a weighted subsidy for Limited English Proficient students, support for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs, and requested that the Senate committee restore $12.9 million in funding for school improvement.

Dr. Tombaugh requested that the Senate committee eliminate the poverty index qualifier of 1.0 in order to provide additional funding to school districts with high concentrations of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). According to the testimony, school districts like Westerville receive no additional funding to provide needed support services for students with Limited English Proficiency, but are held accountable for the academic performance of these students. School districts with high concentrations of LEP students should become eligible for a weighted subsidy. Dr. Tombaugh recommended a .3 weight be established, which would mean an increase in the per pupil amount of $1,670 per pupil in FY08 and $1,720 in FY09 for school districts with LEP students. Information was attached that highlights the legal issues concerning the civil rights of LEP students, and recent court attention to these civil rights issues.

On another issue, the proposal to fund STEM initiatives in Ohio will be "...one of the drivers to move Ohio into the global economy of the 21st Century." According to the testimony, STEM includes educating the 'whole child' through the Arts, Humanities, and Social Studies, and should serve all students across Ohio.

Dr. Tombaugh also asked the Senate committee to restore $12.9 to the school improvement line item. This money was shifted to the new Achievement Gap initiative within Poverty Based Assistance line item. Nearly 60 percent of school districts in Ohio have benefited from this program.

Accountability

Tom McGuire, former school board member from Federal Hocking Local School District, addressed the Senate committee regarding charter school accountability, cost effectiveness of schools, and the academic performance of charter schools. According to the testimony, charter schools need more oversight, and there must be more transparency so that public funds can be monitored. Public funds flowing through for profit community school management companies are not easy to follow. The Senate Finance Committee should "..apply the same rules of accountability and auditing to charter and voucher schools that apply to traditional public schools." A moratorium on expanding new charter schools is appropriate until the effectiveness of charter schools has been determined. Also, Ohio should be more involved in efforts to identify cost effective practices in schools, and develop models and tools to help districts align spending with proven ways to improve student achievement.

4) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will hold their annual retreat on June 10 - 12, 2007 at Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, OH. The objectives of the retreat are to provide the State Board an opportunity to interact and develop a long-term vision in support of sound educational policies for the state of Ohio; review progress on the 2006-2007 Board Approved Priorities; and identify the 2007-2008 Board Approved Priorities and their long-term context. The only action item on the board's business meeting agenda is the evaluation and determination of compensation for the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The board will return to its regular business meeting format in July.

5) News from the ODE:

*The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) announced last week that it is sponsoring five regional Safe Schools Summits in the month of June. The public is welcome to attend these summits and testify on local efforts that create safe and supportive school environments. The information gathered from these events will be used to help shape policy recommendations of the State Board of Education. The ODE will schedule as many oral presentations for the summits as time permits. In addition, written testimony may be submitted to the ODE web site through June 30, 2007. Guidelines for presenting testimony are available at the ODE website, www.ode.state.oh.us, keyword search - regional safe schools. For more information about the summits, please contact (800) 788-7254. The summits are tentatively scheduled for 1:00 - 4:00 PM on the following dates and locations: June 14 - Dayton City Council, 101 W. Third St., Dayton, Ohio 45402 June 20 - Cambridge City Council, 1131 Steubenville Ave., Cambridge, Ohio 43725 June 21- Youngstown City Council, 26 South Phelps Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503 June 27- Cleveland City Council , 601 Lakeside Ave., 2nd floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 June 28- Toledo City Hall, 600 Jackson, Toledo, Ohio 43604

*The Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators, in collaboration with ODE, have worked together to design one, unified entry year principal program of instructional leadership. The new program intensifies the professional development of entry year principals (EYP) while aligning program content to the standards for Ohio's principals. Principals and assistant principals holding a two-year provisional license can register for the Ohio Entry Year Principal Program through ODE's CORE system. ODE CORE registration will be open from June 1 through Aug. 3. For full program details, requirements, and registration instructions please visit

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1222&ContentID=4284&Content=30452

*The State Board of Education is expected in July 2007 to adopt guidelines that will help districts meet or exceed legal requirements for parent and family involvement policies, diagnostic assessment procedures, intervention services, and data collection for intervention evaluations. For more information about the Parent and Family Involvement Policy and Learning Supports Guidelines, please visit

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1234&ContentID=29857&Content=30182

6) Bills Introduced the Week of June 4, 2007

HB254 Nutrition Standards (Peterson) - Establishes the Ohio Child Wellness Advisory Council, to establish nutritional standards for certain foods and beverages sold in public and chartered nonpublic schools.

FYI Arts

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, accepted on June 5, 2007 an omnibus amendment to Am.

Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 proposed budget. The amendment included an additional $500,000 in each for the Ohio Arts Council's budget under the State Program Subsidy Line Item. Including the additional funds, the State Program Subsidy line item increases to $10,147,480 in FY08 and in FY09. General Revenue Funding for the OAC is projected at $12,488,161 in FY08 and in FY09. Total funding for the OAC, including all fund groups, is projected at $13,659,527 in FY08 and in FY09. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to meet on June 12, 2007 and vote on HB 119. The full Senate will then consider this legislation. For more information please contact Ohio Citizens for the Arts at http://www.ohiocitizensforthearts.org/

*The U.S. House Labor, Health, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by David Obey, approved on June 8, 2007 $39 million for the arts in education program. This is an increase of $3.7 million over last year's funding level. The subcommittee also provided an increase 12.7 percent ($125 million) for 21st Century Community Learning Centers (after school programs). The full appropriations committee must now approve the funding levels for education, as the process to approve appropriations bills moves through Congress. Action on this issue is expected this week. For more information please visit Americans for the Arts at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.

New Action Alert posted on Ohio Citizens for the Arts website regarding the Ohio Arts Council�s budget: www.ohiocitizensforthearts.org Take Action today!

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Monday, 06-18-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 06-18-2007

IN THIS ISSUE

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) SENATE AMENDS BUDGET BILL

4) NEWS FROM ODE

5) STATE OF POVERTY REPORT RELEASED

6) NEW RESEARCH FROM THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

7) WHOLE CHILD WEB SITE LAUNCHED

8) EDUCATION WEEK�S SPECIAL REPORT ON HIGH SCHOOLS

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions and committee meetings this week. The House is expected to take up action this week on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the $52.4 billion state budget for FY08-09. The Senate unanimously approved its version of HB119 on June 13, 2007 (33-0). If the House does not concur with the Senate changes to the bill, a conference committee will be appointed to work out the differences. Governor Strickland must sign the budget into law before the current state budget ends on June 30, 2007. Recent reports about the state of Ohio's economy are fuming speculation that the proposed budget may be $200 million more than projected revenue estimates, which will be an issue for the conference committee to consider.

*Governor Strickland signed into law on June 11, 2007 Am. Sub. HB100 (Brinkman), the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation budget bill for FY08-09. The new law also reforms the oversight and governing structures of the bureau. The budget for FY08-09 is $328.9 million in FY08 and $329.2 million in FY 09.

*This Week at the Statehouse:

-The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on SB143 (Padgett) Speech Language Pathology Interns; HB192 (Brady) Campus Safety; HB254 (Peterson) Nutrition Standards in Schools; HB190 (Hite) Elementary Achievement Tests; and HB181 (Setzer) School Records for Missing Children.

-The House Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee, chaired by Representative Widener, will meet on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on HB152 (Widener) Alternative Retirement Plans for Teachers and School Employees; and HB240 (Goodwin) Employment of Retired members of the Public Employees Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System, and Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund.

2) 110th Congress: The U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, Representative David Obey chair, approved on June 7, 2007 funding levels for education for FY 2008, which begins October 1, 2007. The bill (not numbered as yet) provides $151.5 billion in discretionary spending for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The funding levels represent an increase of $6.9 billion, or 4.8 percent over FY07 levels, and $10.6 billion more than President George W. Bush's FY08 proposed budget.

Funding for the Department of Education will total $61.7 billion, a $4.2 billion or 7.4 percent increase over FY07 levels. A chart showing the proposed funding levels for some education programs is available at http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/LHHSChart.pdf

The following increases in funding levels have been proposed:

-The No Child Left Behind Act (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) - $25.6 billion, an increase of $2 billion above FY07, including $1.9 billion for Title I grants to schools. This will benefit 55,000 Title 1 schools and fully fund reading and math instruction for 161,000 low income students.

-Even Start - $99 million, an increase of $16.7 million, 20.3 percent.

-21st Century Community Learning Centers (After-School Centers) - $1.1 billion, an increase of $125 million, 12.7 percent.

-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grants -$10.9 billion, an increase of $174.5 million. The federal contribution would be 17.2 percent of the per pupil expenditure.

-English Language Acquisition - $774 million, an increase of $105.6 million, 15.8 percent.

-Reading First - $400 million, a decrease of $629.2 million, 61.1 percent.

-Pell Grants - Pell grants will be raised from $4,310 to $4,700.

-Child Care and Head Start - $75 million more than FY07 for the Child Care Block Grant and $75 million more for Head Start.

The full House Appropriations Committee was scheduled to consider the subcommittee's bill on June 14, 2007, but that hearing was cancelled.

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies will meet on June 19, 2007 to consider its 2008 appropriations legislation. The full Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Robert Byrd chair, is scheduled to meet on June 21, 2007 and consider the FY08 appropriations for the Departments of Education and the Interior.

3) Senate Amends Budget Bill....Again: The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator John Carey, met for only 34 minutes on June 12, 2007, approved two amendments and an eight page omnibus amendment to Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), and then reported the bill favorably out of committee. The full Senate approved Am. Sub. HB 119 on June 13, 2007 without further amendments.

The omnibus amendment approved on June 12, 2007 included approximately 116 changes in the bill, including seventeen for primary and secondary education, and additional amendments for higher education and early childhood education. Some members of the committee expressed disappointment over the fact that the bill still did not include meaningful changes in law to improve the accountability of charter schools, restored the Special Education Scholarship program, and did not provide health care coverage to low-income parents and uninsurable children. Questions were also raised about the adequacy of Ohio's tax base to meet the needs of citizens as a result of the changes made in Ohio's tax structure in the previous biennial budget (126-HB66).

A summary of Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) will be provided in upcoming Education Updates, after the House and a possible conference committee have deliberated on the bill. The following are some highlights of the amendments added by the Senate Finance Committee on June 12, 2007, which are included in the version of Am. Sub. HB 119 approved by the Ohio Senate on June 13, 2007:

Changes between House and Senate versions of Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION -CHANGE - Restores, with some changes, a provision added by the House that creates a Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program for students with disabilities in grades K-12 to attend alternative public or private special education programs in FY09 through FY14.

This provision was eliminated from HB 119 in the first omnibus amendment approved by Senate Finance Committee on June 5, 2007, but was added back through the omnibus amendment approved on June 12, 2007. However, the Senate made changes in the pilot voucher program.

The maximum amount of the scholarship will be the least of the following: 1) the fees charged by the alternative program; 2) the sum of the per pupil base cost and the special education weighted funding amounts; or 3) $20,000.

-NEW -Requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to base full time equivalency of a community school student, to determine state funding, on the percentage of the community school's total learning opportunities provided, rather than the percentage of 920 hours of learning opportunities under current law. 920 hours is the minimum number of instructional hours that the state requires community schools to provide, but may not be the total number of instructional hours provided by a particular school.

-CHANGE- Specifies that if a district uses Poverty-Based Assistance funds to employ classroom aides to increase classroom learning opportunities, that the aides must be engaged in classroom support activities. Eliminates the requirement that a district submit an annual report on the deployment of Poverty-Based Assistance funds if the district received less than $10,000 in Poverty-Based Assistance funds.

-CHANGE - Authorizes ODE to withhold a portion of funding from school districts, charter schools, educational service centers or other educational entities, along with other sanctions, for reporting inaccurate data to the Education Management Information System, -CHANGE - Clarifies for purposes of the tangible personal property tax reimbursement for school districts that the definition of "state education aid" includes the amounts calculated for Poverty-Based Assistance and Parity Aid.

-CHANGE - Permits the governing authority of a charter school to enter into a contract with its sponsor to open an additional school in the 08-09 school year if the current school was rated Excellent or Effective and named a School of Promise for three of the last four school years; is not managed by an operator; and files a copy of the sponsor contract with the state superintendent of public instruction by March 15, 2008.

-NEW - Permits the board of speech-Language Pathology to issue a two-year student permit to speech pathology interns.

-CHANGE - Clarifies that only adult career-technical education programs will be moved to the Board of Regents (BOR). The bill requires the Board of Regents, in collaboration with the Department of Education (ODE), to identify which adult career-technical education programs to move from the ODE to the BOR by January 1, 2009.

-NEW - Requires ODE to submit an annual report to the General Assembly of each school district's aggregate employee salary and benefits expenditures.

-NEW - Updates statutory language regarding the provision of special education and related services for children with disabilities to align with federal law.

-NEW- Repeals the requirement that the Legislative Service Commission

(LSC) prepare a report in even-numbered years estimating the costs of each education law and administrative rule that became effective during the preceding two years.

HIGHER EDUCATION

-CHANGE - Overall clarifies language and changes appropriations for higher education programs. Also eliminates language regarding income eligibility for Student Choice grants; restores the current method of apportioning based upon the amounts appropriated; and allows the unspent balance to be carried over and appropriated for the same purpose from FYs08 and 09.

TAXATION

-CHANGE - Makes technical corrections to the homestead exemption provisions.

-CHANGE - Clarifies when school districts may go to the ballot for school district income tax levies. This provision will not commence with the August 7, 2007 election, because filing deadlines will have been missed by the time HB119 is approved.

-CHANGE- Extends the authority for a county sales and use tax subsidy

- "Tax Increment Financing" - for impact facilities until December 31, 2007. "Impact facilities" continue to be defined as $50 million retail locations with some educational or exhibition space.

EARLY CHILDHOOD

-NEW - Requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and ODE to develop a fiscal model that joins early care and education programs under one funding system to provide children with access to affordable quality care and education.

-CHANGE - Earmarks $50,000/year in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for the Alliance Early Childhood Education Pilot Project.

MISCELLANEOUS

-Allows the Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Foundation to create a nonprofit and raise funds.

-Reduces the Commission on African American Males from 41 members to 23 members and moves the management to the Ohio State University African American and African Studies Community Extension Center.

-Designates May as Nutrition and Physical Fitness Month.

-Earmarks funds from TANF block grant for the Ohio Council of Urban Leagues for career development programs.

-Makes corrections to the Senate's substitute version of the bill by adding $100,000 per fiscal year to the Ohio Historical Society's Line Item 360-502, and earmarks the funding added in that version of the bill of $300,000 per fiscal year for the state archives project.

4) News from the ODE:

*The State Board of Education held its annual retreat on June 10-12, 2007 at Maumee Bay State Park, and adopted a resolution commending Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, for making excellent progress on meeting the Board's priorities for 2006-2007. The Board Approved Priorities are in the areas of Educator Quality and Capacity, Early Childhood Education. Education in the New Global Economy, Identify and Remedy Low Academic Achievement, High Achieving Middle and High Schools, and Modernization of School Funding and Resource Management. The Board discussed priorities for 2007-2008, and will approve those priorities at their July 9-10, 2007 meeting in Columbus.

*Algebra II End-of-Course Exam. Ohio is one of nine states working with the American Diploma Project (ADP) Network to develop a common end-of-course exam in Algebra II. The exam will be field tested in several public and nonpublic high schools in October 2007, and available for districts and schools to administer in the spring of 2008. For general information about the Algebra II End-of-Course Exam please visit http://www.achieve.org/node/842

*INFOhio offers several resources and information for summer learning activities for students and their families. Please visit http://www.infohio.org/. Some sites require a user name and password.

*The Ohio Board of Regents released "Making the Transition from High School to College in Ohio 2001-2005". The report includes information by school district and by high schools on students who have graduated from high school, and are now attending a public or private university or college in Ohio. The information includes the percentage of students who have graduated; the percent attending four year and two year colleges and universities in Ohio; the percentage of students who took the Ohio Core in high school; and information about the percent of students who are taking remedial coursework in college. The report is available at http://regents.ohio.gov/perfrpt/hs_2007/

*According to an announcement in the June 6, 2007 Education Week (News in Brief Washington Roundup), Ohio and Iowa have been given permission by the US Department of Education to use growth models, based on the growth of individual students, to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind law. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings made the announcement on May 24, 2007. Iowa has been given unconditional approval, while Ohio must adopt a uniform "N" size, which is the minimum number of students in a subgroup, for all ethic, demographic, and racial groups tracked by NCLB. Currently Arkansas, Delaware, North Carolina, and Tennessee are using growth models, and Florida has also been given conditional approval.

5) State of Poverty Report Released: The Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies and the Center for Community Solutions released on May 7, 2007 its annual report called "The State of Poverty in Ohio 2007: Jobs Vanish and Incomes Plunge as Inequality Rises, Poverty Reaches All Time High since the War on Poverty".

According to the report, Ohio's poverty rate increased to 13 percent in 2005, which is an all time high. 1.75 million of Ohioans were in poverty in 2000 compared to 1.862 million Ohioans in 2005. Ohio lost 204,308 jobs between 2000 and 2005, and did not recover from a national recession like other states. Income inequality is also increasing as income levels are rising among the wealthy while they are declining among the poor and middle class.

"The obvious means to end poverty in any family is for a worker in that family to get and hold a job that pays earnings sufficient to exceed the poverty income standard. A full-time year-round job must pay at least $8.25 to reach this level, a figure 60 percent higher than the current federal minimum wage. Even the newly increased Ohio minimum wage of $6.85 per hour provides wages that are 17 percent below the poverty level for a typical Ohio family of three that contains a full-time year-round minimum wage worker." p. 1.

The report includes interesting information for school districts in Ohio, including rankings of school districts in 2000 and 2004 based on real median income levels, information about increased inequity in incomes within school districts, and a map showing the percent change in real median income in 2004 by school district. Almost all of Franklin County, for example, shows a decrease in real median income from 12.4 to 30 percent.

"Thus the fact that real median incomes between 2000 and 2004 increased in only 25 of Ohio's 612 communities, while they fell in the remaining 587, indicates that substantial income erosion among middle-income taxpayers was taking place in virtually all geographic areas of Ohio and Map B shows that decreases were most severe in inner ring suburbs." p. 10.

The report makes the following recommendations:

-State Earned Income Tax Credit: Ohio should establish a state earned income tax credit (EITC) on Ohio state income tax returns. The earned income tax credit will encourage work and will provide urgently needed cash for Ohio's poorest workers and families. A state EITC would help Ohio families escape for poverty or meet basic expenses. A 2003 report by Policy Matters Ohio found that a state EITC would lift 8,000 Ohio children out of poverty.

-Medicaid Coverage: Ohio should restore Medicaid coverage to those working low-wage parents who have incomes between 90 and 100 percent of the federal poverty level. These parents work at jobs that pay $7 -10 per hour, and have little discretionary income for other necessities. They cannot afford to purchase health insurance.

Medicaid coverage helps keep working parents healthier, which enhances their ability to parent effectively.

-Proactive Action to Prevent Unemployment: Ohio needs to increase its level of proactive action to prevent unemployment. The state should include significant increases in its efforts to retrain workers for new jobs that may replace the jobs that have disappeared over the last decade plus. The first step would be to move the Workforce Investment program from the Department of Job and Family Services to the Ohio Department of Development.

-Monthly Cash Assistance Benefit: Ohio Works First's primary focus should be on ensuring that the basic needs of Ohio parents and children living on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are met. One way to do this is to provide an increase in the monthly cash assistance benefit paid to families and to tie future increases in the grant to increases in the consumer price index.

-Academic Readiness for School: When all children start with a fair chance to learn, they will have a much better chance of avoiding poverty. Fair chances start with giving family members the tools they need to help their young children develop social, emotional, and academic readiness for school. Ohio can do this by offering a full-day kindergarten option for all Ohio children, by improving access to primary and behavioral health care, and by creating a high quality early care and education system. A child's experiences in their education setting should also be reinforced at home. Family literacy programs should also be available to help parents and young children form a learning partnership that can help end the cycle of poverty. A study by the National Center for Family Literacy has concluded that parental literacy is one of the single most important indicators of a child's success.

-Food Stamp Reform: Thousands of low-income Ohioans aren't able to access the federally funded Food Stamp Program because Ohio hasn't fully implemented the food stamp reform provisions of the federal farm bill. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services should move quickly to bring Ohio's program up to date and to make sure that adequate funding.

6) New Research from the Center for Public Education: The Center for Public Education is an initiative of the National School Boards Association and the National School Boards Foundation. Recently it released information about dropout prevention, "Keeping Kids in School: What Works to Prevent Dropouts?"; "No-Excuses Approach to School Improvement in Bisbee, Arizona", "Embracing a spirit of Innovation at Walden III in Wisconsin", and "At-a-Glance Guide to Calculating High School Graduation Rates."

The article by Craig Jerald called "Keeping Kids in School", summarizes research on the components that should be included in a comprehensive district plan to tackle students who are dropping out of school. The components are, Prediction: Processes for identifying students early on who are in danger of dropping out; Intervention: Programs and initiatives to help high-risk students get back on track; Prevention: Ways to organize school programs that will minimize the chances a student will become at risk of dropping out; and Recovery: Options for keeping older students in the pipeline when intervention and prevention are not enough.

Please visit http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org to read these articles and sign-up for the Center's email news briefs.

7) Whole Child Web Site Launched: The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) has launched a new web site to support its campaign: The Whole Child: Healthy, Safe, Engaged, Supported, Challenged. The web site includes a resource clearinghouse, information about policy makers who support the whole child initiative, and ways to take action to support whole child initiatives. For information please visit http://www.wholechildeducation.org/

8) Education Week's Special Report on High School Diplomas:

Education Week published on June 12, 2007 a report called 2007 Diplomas Count, Ready for What? Preparing Students for College, Careers, and Life After High School. This report uses data from the Occupational Information Network and the American Community Survey to look at the impact of education levels on types of jobs and income levels available to students entering the job market.

According to the analysis, today's high school graduates will need at least some college to obtain decent paying careers, and students without a diploma will face an uncertain future. Nationwide only 70 percent of 9th grade students graduate from high school in four years.

The report also raises policy issues. For example, the type of academic and nonacademic skills that students will need to be prepared for work is not clear. Students with higher skills in mathematics earn more in the labor market, but some researchers believe that it is just as important for students to develop skills in problem solving and soft or applied skills, such as being able to work with people from other cultures, creativity, communication skills, and being dependable and industrious. Some states are currently defining what college and work ready means so that students are prepared for college or careers. The report notes that eleven states have defined college readiness based on course requirements, and fourteen more are in the process of defining college readiness, and twenty-one states have defined work readiness, and ten more are working on a definition. For more information visit http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2007/06/12/index.html

FYI ARTS

*Schools Improve Through Arts Education: The most comprehensive collection of research on arts education was published in 2002 by the Arts Education Partnership and is called Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, R. Deasy Editor. More than 65 distinct relationships between the arts - dance, drama/theatre, music, and visual arts - and academic and social outcomes are documented in this compendium, which is available online at http://www.aep-arts.org/publications/info.htm?publication_id=10.

Critical Links includes 62 research studies on arts education, and includes all arts disciplines: dance, drama/theatre, music, and visual art. All of the studies that were included in Critical Links demonstrated one or more of the following:

*The studies show how the study of the arts enables all students to reach high levels of academic achievement; *The studies show how the study of the arts improves overall school performance; and *The studies show how the study of the arts creates the context and climate in schools that are most conducive to learning.

Two articles have recently been published in the popular press that support the findings of Critical Links. These articles are:

1) Daily Times of Salisbury, MD, "Grants enable Willards Elementary students to learn about other cultures by Candice Evans, June 12, 2007 http://www.delmarvanow.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070531/NEWS01/705310378/1002, and 2) Christian Science Monitor, "By forming community partnerships, Hope High School in Rhode Island and other struggling public schools are showing signs of improvement" By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo, May 31, 2007. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0531/p13s01-legn.html.

-Willards Elementary School in Salisbury, MD created the Willards Integration Network Team (WIN Team) four years ago to integrate the arts -- visual, theater, dance, and music -- into the curriculum of this Title 1 school. Since that time Willards has moved from the lower testing range to one of the top three schools in the county. According to teachers, the arts have made progress possible because students are excited to be in school. Willards was awarded the

2006-2007 Maryland State School "Creative Ticket School of Excellence Award" designed to recognize excellent arts education programs and their outstanding accomplishments in making arts an essential part of education in their district. They were also given "The Visionary School Award" from the Young Audiences of Maryland, granted to a school that demonstrated the importance of art education for their students.

- Hope High School in Providence, Rhode Island has made a dramatic turnaround with the help of the Rhode Island School of Design, Brown University, and the Hope High School Arts Community, a smaller school formed in 2003 within the original high school. This school provides students with an integrated curriculum that applies academic learning in the arts and other subjects to real situations. The results have been increased student attendance, test scores, and participation in after school programs. Students are winning competitions in the arts and college scholarships. AND, after decades of being unaccredited, the school recently became one of just two high schools in Providence accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Monday, 06-25-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 06-25-2007

IN THIS ISSUE

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) FEDERAL EDUCATION NEWS

3) CONFERENCE COMMITTEE BEGINS WORK ON BUDGET BILL

4) MORE ON THE BUDGET

5) EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICES RELEASES SURVEY RESULTS

6) EVALUATION OF VOUCHER PROGRAM RELEASED

7) DOES MONEY MATTER? AASA

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI Arts

1) 127th General Assembly: The House and Senate will hold sessions and committee hearings this week. Ohio lawmakers will focus this week on the biennial budget bill, Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), as the July 1, 2007 deadline for the enactment of a new budget draws closer. On June 19, 2007 the Ohio House failed to concur with the Senate changes to Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan). A six member conference committee has been appointed to review the latest Senate version of Am. Sub. HB 119 and negotiate a budget that is acceptable to both the House and Senate. The conference committee began meeting last week and has come to agreement on most of the budget's 300 plus provisions. It is scheduled to meet each day this week, but may be able to conclude its work by Tuesday. The following is a schedule of conference committee meeting dates and times: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 1:30 PM, room 313; Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 9:00 AM, room 313; Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 9:00 AM, room 313; and if necessary on Thursday and Friday at 12:00 PM in room 313.

*On June 19, 2007 the House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, heard testimony on HB192 (Brady) Campus Safety and HB254 (Peterson) Student Nutrition. HB254 is a bi-partisan bill that creates the Ohio Child Wellness Advisory Council to establish nutritional standards for certain foods and beverages sold in public and chartered nonpublic schools. The committee also reported out favorably three bills: SB143 (Padgett) Speech Pathology Interns; HB190 (Hite) Dates for the Elementary Achievement Tests; and Am. HB181(Setzer) School Records.

2) Federal Education News: The U.S. House and Senate have been making progress toward the reauthorization of the Head Start Act and the Higher Education Act, and continue to work in their respective committees on the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Head Start: The House approved H.R. 1429 (Kildee), the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, on May 2, 2007, and the Senate approved an amended version on June 19, 2007. The Senate has insisted upon its amendments to the bill, and has appointed a conference committee.

The Head Start Act was first approved as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty Initiative in 1965, and since that time has served over 20 million children. The Senate version of the bill increases the authorization of the program to $7.3 billion in FY08; $7.6 billion in FY09; and $7.9 billion in FY10-12; expands access to Head Start to additional low-income children; focuses on school readiness; supports a National Academy of Sciences review of child outcomes and assessments; establishes new education goals for Head Start teachers; expands the role of the state by creating advisory councils on early care and education in every state; dedicates $100 million from Head Start appropriations for a new competitive incentive grant program to implement state early care and education plans; expands the role of the State Head Start Collaboration Office in every state; and improves monitoring and accountability of programs. For more information on this legislation please visit http://help.senate.gov/Maj_press/2007_06_20_d.pdf

Higher Education: Congress first passed the Higher Education Act more than 40 years ago. This Act provided qualified students with funds to attend college through the Pell Grant program. However, in recent years the cost of a college education has risen dramatically, and states have now identified several problems with student loan programs. Both the U.S. House and Senate are working on legislation that would increase access and affordability for students to attend institutions of higher education, and address the high cost of repayment of student loans.

The House Education and Labor Committee approved on June 13, 2007 the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669), which will now be considered by the full House. This bill would increase college financial aid by $18 billion over the next five years, and pays for itself by reducing federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry. It also increases Pell Grant scholarships by $500 so that by 2008 the maximum scholarship would be $4,900 in FY08 and $5,200 in FY11; cuts interest rates from 6.8 to 3.4 percent; limits loan payments to not more than 15 percent of the student's discretionary income; and includes provisions for loan forgiveness. The House Education and Labor Committee also plans to consider a comprehensive Higher Education Act reauthorization bill later this year.

On June 20, 2007 the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy, approved two major higher education proposals, the Higher Education Access Act of2007 and the Higher Education Amendments of 2007 (S. 1642 - Kennedy). This legislation will increase student aid, reform the student loan industry, and encourage public service by providing loan forgiveness for eligible students. It will provide more than $17 billion to help students and families pay for college; increase the Pell Grant; and cap student loan payments at 15 percent of their monthly income.

3) Conference Committee Begins Work on Budget Bill: The Conference Committee on Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 state budget, met this week to begin deliberations on a compromise budget bill for the Ohio Senate and House to approve. The state's current budget ends June 30, 2007, and the new budget must be signed into law by July 1, 2007. The managers of the conference committee include Representative Dolan, chair, and Representatives Flowers and Skindell, and Senators Carey, Niehaus, and Dale Miller. The conference committee has broad powers to review Am. Sub. HB 119 and revise it, eliminate provisions, and even add new provisions. Once the conference committee has made its recommendations, both the Ohio House and Senate must concur with any changes in the bill before Governor Strickland can sign the bill into law. Governor Strickland can also veto provisions, which can be overturned by a three-fifths vote in both houses of the General Assembly. The conference committee has scheduled meetings through next week, but is expected to complete work by Monday or Tuesday.

Director of the Office of Budget and Management (OBM), Pari Sabety, provided the conference committee on June 21, 2007 with an update on the economic, revenue, and caseload forecasts. She told the committee that OBM has revised revenue estimates down for FY07 through FY09. The revised projections show that the state will have $230 million less in resources than estimated in March 2007 when the executive budget was introduced. $167 million can not be covered by leveraging currently available resources.

According to written testimony, projections in three areas are affecting the downward forecasts for Ohio's economy: a flat level of growth in employment through 2008 and a .6 percent increase in employment in FY09; downward estimates (.5 percent) for growth in Ohio wages and salaries; and a much deeper slump in Ohio's housing market.

The General Revenue Fund for FY07 is now projected to be $19.417 billion, or $15.3 million less than the March estimates. This adjustment is due to downward revisions in the non-auto sales tax and cigarette tax, even though the corporate franchise tax and personal income tax have exceeded estimates. The FY07 state budget will still have a positive balance of $165 million at the end of the FY on June 30, 2007, due to underspending in healthcare, primary and secondary education, and tax relief through 2007.

State General Revenue Fund revenues are now estimated to be $19.657 in FY08, which is $188.3 million below OBM's March projections, and $19.653 billion in FY09, which is 1.2 percent below OBM's March estimate.

In her testimony Director Sabety noted that the lower estimates in revenue reflect changes in the baseline forecasts as noted above, but also certain policy changes made by the House and Senate in Am. Sub. HB 119 that differ from those included in Governor Strickland's budget as introduced. These policy changes account for $81.8 million in FY08 and $90.6 million in FY09.

The full testimony is available at http://www.obm.ohio.gov/budget/operating/executive/0809/bb0809_test062107.pdf

4) More on ...... Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan): Several provisions that were included in the executive and House versions of the budget bill, Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), are no longer in the bill. The following are just some of the education provisions that have been eliminated from the current Senate version of the bill. This list was prepared from the Legislative Service Commissions Comparative Document on Am. Sub. HB 119:

-Removed. Earmarks in GRF appropriation item 200-427, Academic Standards up to $747,912 in each fiscal year to provide funds to school districts that have teachers participating in the teacher-on-loan program.

-Removed. Removes the phrase "for financial reasons" from the list of statutory reasons a school district or educational service center (ESC) may make reductions in force in its teaching staff.

-Removed. Eliminates a statutory procedure for a school district not covered by the state Civil Service Law (exempted village and local school districts and some city school districts) to terminate some or all of its pupil transportation staff, and to instead engage an independent contractor to provide pupil transportation.

-Removed. Eliminates, beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, the authority of school districts to adopt August 1, rather than the September 30 state standard, as the date by which a child must be five years old to be admitted to kindergarten and six years old for first grade.

-Removed executive and House provisions. Makes it permissive instead of mandatory for the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish an academic distress commission for a qualifying school district.

-Removed. Earmarks $247,000 in each fiscal year to contract with the Center for Learning Excellence at the Ohio State University to provide technical assistance and evaluation of the grant program.

-Removed. Earmarks $100,000 in each fiscal year to be used for Youth Opportunities United, Inc.

-Removed House Provision. Earmarks $6 million in FY09 for a new subsidy for school districts rated excellent on the local report card. Establishes the amount of the subsidy for each eligible district as $10 multiplied by the average daily enrollment of the district as reported on the district's local report card.

-Removed House Provision. Requires ODE to provide $900,000 in each fiscal year in federal funds from the State Grants for Improving Teacher Quality Program to the Columbiana County Educational Service Center for the Ohio Wyami Appalachian Teacher Cohorts Program.

-Removed. Repeals the Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program, which provides up to 14,000 scholarships each year to students in specified lower performing public schools to use to pay tuition at chartered nonpublic schools.

-Removed. Earmarks up to $2 million in FY08 for National Aeronautics and Space Administration resource centers.

Community Schools and E-Schools

-Removed. Eliminates parity aid and poverty-based assistance for dropout prevention and community outreach from state payments to "brick and mortar" community schools. Under continuing law, e-schools do not receive parity aid or any poverty-based assistance.

-Removed. Prescribes a ratio of 100:1 for e-schools and sets a separate per pupil formula amount for e-schools at $3,295 for FY08 and $3,387 for FY09.

-Removed House Provision. Prohibits ODE from withholding payment to a community school when a district presents a challenge concerning a student's enrollment until after the district proves that the student should not be included in the community school's enrollment. Prohibits ODE from withholding payment pending the determination. If the community school subsequently presents documentation correcting the school district's report, requires ODE to resume payments.

-Removed. Repeals the following provisions: (1) a requirement that a school district first offer property suitable for classroom space for sale to start-up community schools in the district before otherwise disposing of it; (2) a requirement that a school district offer property suitable for classroom space for sale to start-up community schools in the district when the district has not used the property for educational purposes for one year and has not adopted a plan to so use that property within the next three years; and (3) a provision granting a school district that sells unused property to a community school under (2) the right of first refusal if the community school later disposes of the property.

-Removed. Requires community schools to comply with all state laws and rules pertaining to other public schools, school districts, and boards of education, including requirements for assigning staff, minimum standards covering instructional materials, equipment, and facilities (such as library facilities and school grounds), requirements for admission and promotion of students, instructional requirements (such as phonics and energy and resource conservation), reporting requirements, and other laws and rules from which community schools are currently exempt.

-Removed. Requires each e-school to employ (rather than retain an affiliation with, as under current law) at least one full-time teacher of record, and limits the number of students for which a teacher of record may be responsible to 125 total instead of 125 in each school the teacher is affiliated with.

-Removed. Requires community schools to provide students with 180 days, instead of 920 hours, of learning opportunities each school year.

-Removed. Specifies that any day in which a student enrolled in an eschool participates in less than five or more than ten hours of learning opportunities does not count toward the 180 days.

-Removed. Requires a community school to withdraw a student who fails to participate in 21 consecutive days, rather than 105 consecutive hours as under current law, of learning opportunities without excuse, and, unless the school primarily serves dropouts, prohibits it from re-enrolling the student for the duration of the school year.

-Removed. Requires each community school to submit its end-of-year report to its sponsor and students' parents within three months, rather than four months as under current law, after the end of the school year.

-Removed. Increases the minimum enrollment for community schools from 25 students to 100 students and requires that the ODE establish criteria for granting waivers from the minimum enrollment.

-Removed. Requires that contracts between a community school and an operator for the management of the school be selected through a competitive bidding process established by ODE.

-Removed. Requires operators of community schools to be nonprofit entities. Exempts community schools that currently contract with for-profit operators from this requirement until the contracts expire.

5) ETS Releases 2007 Survey Results: The Educational Testing Service, Kurt Landgraf, President and CEO, released the results of its annual survey on June 19, 2007 called "Standards, Accountability and Flexibility: Americans Speak on No Child Left Behind Reauthorization". The bi-partisan poll shows that parents, teachers and school administrators strongly support reauthorization of NCLB, but also favor greater flexibility in assisting students and schools struggling to meet high standards, and increased funding for schools failing to make adequate progress. The survey also found the

following:

-45 percent of the public believes they know a great deal or fair amount about NCLB;

-25 percent of teachers and 22 percent of public school administrators say Congress should not reauthorize the law;

-59 percent of adults and K-12 parents and 60 percent of Hispanics think NCLB should be more uniform by replacing 50 sets of state standards and tests in 8th grade with one set of national standards and tests; -a majority of public school teachers and administrators believe we should keep the system as it is because it lets each state define its own academic goals;

-77 percent of teachers think English language learners should be given more time to learn the language before pushing them to learn the core curriculum at grade level.

-57 percent believe that funds should be increased to hire more teachers, reduce class size and improve conditions.

The lack of parental involvement is viewed as the biggest problem facing our nation's schools by teachers, administrators, the public, and parents of school-age children. Lack of discipline in the classroom is the second biggest problem, according to parents and the public. Teachers and administrators say lack of funding is the second biggest problem.

For more information please visit www.ets.org/americansspeak.html

6) Evaluation of Voucher Program Released: The Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, U.S. Department of Education, released on June 21, 2007 "Evaluation of the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program: Impacts After One Year", Patrick Wolf, University of Arkansas, Principal Investigator. (NCEE 2007-4009) This report is available at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee.

Congress approved a voucher program for Washington D.C. in January 2004 called the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). The program for eligible low income students provides a voucher up to $7,500 for students to attend eligible private schools. As of fall 2006 1,800 students were participating in the program.

According to this report, the program generated no statistically significant impact on student reading or math achievement in sample year 1; no statistically significant achievement for students from schools in school improvement status under the No Child Left Behind Act; and no statistical impact on other subgroups. The Program may have had an impact on math achievement for two subgroups of students with baseline characteristics associated with better academic preparation. However, the researchers advised that these findings should be interpreted with caution, as "....adjustments for multiple comparisons suggested they may be false discoveries."

The Program had a substantial positive impact on parents' views of school safety, but not on students' actual school experiences with dangerous activities.

According to the report, "Parents in the treatment group perceived their child's school to be less dangerous (an impact of -0.74 on a 10-point scale) than parents in the control group. Student reports of dangerous incidents in school did not differ systematically between the treatment and control groups."

The Program also had an impact on parent satisfaction with their child's school. For example, an additional 19 percent of the parents of students in the treatment group graded their child's school "A" or "B" compared with the parents of control group students.

"For the most part, student satisfaction with their school was unaffected by the Program."

Researchers also questioned the high satisfaction rate noted by parents, when the Program also showed a high attrition rate. In cohort 1, 1,027 students entered the Program in the fall of 2004, however, there were 919 scholarship users in the fall of 2005, and 788 remained in the Program by the fall of 2006.

Future reports will examine the impact on students in the Program over more years, consider additional outcome measures, assess the extent to which school characteristics are associated with impacts, and examine how the DC public school system is changing in response to the Program. Studies of similar voucher programs in Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Dayton have also been inconclusive about whether or not vouchers increase academic achievement of students who previously attended public schools.

7) Does Money Matter? The June 2007 issue of The School Administrator (American Association of School Administrators) includes an article by Kevin G. Welner called "Money Mutterers". The author describes the work of the policy centers at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Arizona State University, which formed the Think Tank Review Project in 2006 to examine education research and provide expert reviews of reports published by think tanks throughout the U.S.

One recent analysis by the Think Tank Review Project examined a report issued by the American Legislative Exchange Council called the "Report Card on American Education". This report found that even though per pupil expenditures have increased 77.4 percent over 20 years in public schools, academic achievement of students had improved only slightly, thus concluding that money does not matter when it comes to improving student achievement.

According to this article the Think Tank Review Project found that the measurements and data used in the "Report Card" were flawed and failed to track how the dollars were actually spent. There was an assumption in the "Report Card" study that schools were spending money on the same items as in the 1980s. However, a closer examination of spending on education shows that schools are spending more on special education, dropout prevention, transportation, health care, energy, etc than in the past.

The author writes, "Why would resources be any less important for education than for medicine, national defense, road building or a think tank's own promotion activities? To the extent that money has been spent unwisely and inefficiently, this is an argument against flawed practices, not against increased school funding."

To read the article please visit http://www.aasa.org/publications/saarticledetail.cfm?ItemNumber=9076.

8) Bills Introduced the Week of June 18, 2007:

SB187 (Cates) School Transportation - Requires school districts to provide transportation to the school for students under sixteen years of age whose parents request transportation.

HB 271 (Patton) Remedial Education - Permits a school district to establish a policy guaranteeing state institutions of higher education that its graduates will not require remedial coursework in specified subject areas or the district will cover the costs of remediation.

HB 269 (Driehaus) Tax expenditures - Provides for an appraisal of the effectiveness of tax expenditures and for their expiration after appraisal if not renewed.

HB 270 (Schneider) Limitations on Pensions - Provides that a member of the Public Employees Retirement System, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, State Teachers Retirement System, or School Employees Retirement System who retires and then returns to public employment in the same position will not receive a pension while earning a salary for that employment.

FYI ARTS

Letter in the Toledo Blade Praises the Arts: Sidney A. Ribeau, President of Bowling Green State University, describes the arts as the "beating heart of knowledge" in "Arts Mirror the Soul--And Define It" published in the Toledo Blade on June 13, 2007. The letter was inspired by a speech delivered by Henry Fogel at the spring commencement at Bowling Green State University's colleges of Musical Arts and Education and Human Development. Henry Fogel is president and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League. In his address to graduating students Mr. Fogel expressed the purpose of the arts to sustain civilized society through intellectual achievement and human expression. According to President Ribeau, "These enduring qualities of culture must receive increasing focus. This is the ultimate aim and outcome of a good liberal arts education. The arts are nothing if not the beating heart of knowledge. It is our business, as educators and institutions of higher learning, to tend this heart, and ensure it is beating for perpetuity. In our global world, we must not neglect it." The letter is available at http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/OPINION03/706130320/0/OPINION

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Monday, 07-02-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 07-02-2007

Arts on Line, Education Update for July 2, 2007

Please Note: Highlights of Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) - the FY08 and FY09 state budget, will be emailed once all changes to the law are finalized.

The next issue of Education Update will be emailed in September 2007. Happy Summer!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) FINAL TOUCHES TO AM. SUB. HB 119 (DOLAN)

3) GOVERNOR STRICKLAND VETOES 38 ITEMS

4) EVEN MORE ON OHIO�S BUDGET

5) ONE LAST SECTION ON THE STATE�S BUDGET

6) U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES ON SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT

7) REPORT FINDS MCKAY SCHOLARSHIP WANTING

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: Governor Strickland signed into law Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), Ohio's FY08 and FY09 operating budget, on June 30, 2007 after vetoing thirty-eight items. (For a list of vetoed items see #3 below.) The $52.3 billion state budget was approved overwhelmingly by the House and Senate on June 27, 2007 after both chambers agreed to provisions worked out by a conference committee led by Representative Dolan. The House and Senate leadership now must decide whether or not to attempt an override of the vetoes. A 3/5th vote in both chambers is needed for lawmakers to override the vetoes, and the House must initiate the action. A 3/5th vote in the House would require 60 votes, and there are currently 54 Republicans and 45 Democrats in the Ohio House.

"If needed" sessions are scheduled by the House and Senate on July 10th and 11th, and then lawmakers are not scheduled to return to Columbus until September 4, 2007.

In addition to the state's budget bill, lawmakers were very busy last week completing work on several other education related bills. The House and Senate concurred on June 26, 2007 on SB 143

(Padgett) - Speech Language Pathology Interns, which establishes a limited student permit category for speech language pathology interns. Governor Strickland signed the bill into law on June 30, 2007. The House also approved on June 26, 2007 HB 190 (Hite), which allows school districts more flexibility in scheduling elementary achievement test dates for special needs pupils, and HB142 (Batchelder). This bill increases the penalty for inducing panic at a school or institution of higher education to a felony of the second degree. It was also amended to permit school districts to make up excess calamity days by adding extra hours to the remaining days in the school year.

2) Final Touches to Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan):

Ohio's FY08 -09 state budget was sent to Governor Strickland after the Ohio House and Senate concurred with a conference committee report that resolved differences between the different versions of the bill and a $167 million deficit that had been identified earlier this month.

Conference Committee managers eventually presented to both chambers the 1865 page budget with $16.9 million more than needed for a balanced budget.

Many of the provisions included in Governor Strickland's executive budget proposal were retained by the Republican led House and Senate, including the components of the state's formula for distributing state funds to schools; securitization of the tobacco settlement funds; expansion of the Homestead Exemption; the Early Childhood Initiative; extended health care coverage for uninsured children; increased funding for higher education; and more.

The House and Senate also added their own touches to the budget bill, such as a new pilot voucher program for children with disabilities (vetoed by Governor Strickland); restoration of the EdChoice voucher program; changes in a moratorium for opening new community schools; support for new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

(STEM) schools for grades 6-12; and changes in the campaign finance law (126-HB694) approved last year.

Some funding levels in the Senate version of the bill were also changed by the conference committee. For example, the conference committee added funding to line items for Special Education Enhancements and Alternative Education Programs, and decreased funding for Literacy Improvement Professional Development and Student Assessment.

Budget totals from selected state agencies and departments are included below, but may be subject to change as a result of certain vetoes of earmarks by Governor Strickland.

Main Operating Budget Appropriations for Ohio Total for FY07 $26.082 billion Total $25.4 billion in FY08 and $26.9 billion in FY09 for a total of $52.3 billion for the biennium Total All Fund Groups $52,624,233,164 in FY08 and $54,775,629,368 in FY09

Ohio Arts Council

Total for FY07 $11,238,161

General Revenue Funding - $12,488,161 in FY08 and $12,488,161 in FY09 Total Funding All Groups - $13,659,527 in FY08 and $13,659,527 in FY09

Department of Mental Health

Total for FY07 $573,705,486

Total Funding All Groups - $1.15 billion in FY08 and $1.19 in FY09

Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Total for FY07 $354,795,421 Total Funding All Groups - $1.17 billion in FY08 and $1.25 billion in FY09

Department of Job and Family Services

Total for FY07 $10,880,877,212

General Revenue Funding - $9.76 billion in FY08 and $10.59 billion in FY09 Total Funding All Groups - $16.7 billion in FY08 and $17.69 billion in FY09

Ohio Board of Regents

Total for FY07 $2,550,632,969

General Revenue Funding - $2.77 billion in FY08 and $2.86 billion in FY09 Total Funding All Groups - $2.79 billion in FY08 and $2.88 billion in FY09

Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Total for FY07 $1,514,281,251 General Revenue Funding - $1.53 in FY08 and $1.58 in FY09 Total Funding All Groups - $1.75 billion in FY08 and $1.81 billion in FY09

Ohio School Facilities

Total for FY07 $256,514,700

General Revenue Funding - $307.4 million in FY08 and $339.6 million in FY09 Total Funding All Groups - $315.2 million in FY08 and $347.4 million in FY09

Ohio Department of Education

Total for FY07 $7,658,577,679

Total General Revenue Fund - $7.748 billion in

FY08 and $8.092 billion in FY09 (Biennium $15.8 billion)

Total Federal Special Revenue Fund Group - $1.66 billion in FY08 and $1.57 billion in FY09 Total All Fund Groups - $10.8 billion in FY08 and

$11.2 billion in FY09 (Biennium $22 billion)

Selected Line Items for the Ohio Department of Education -Foundation Funding (GRF-200-550) $5.761 billion in FY08 and $6.034 in FY09 -Pupil Transportation (GRF-200-502) $424.78 million in FY08 and $429 million in FY09 -Auxiliary Services for chartered nonpublic schools (GRF-200-511) $131.7 million in FY08 and

$135.69 million in FY09

-Gifted (GRF -200- 521) $47.608 million in FY08 and $48 million in FY09 -Ohio Core Support (GRF-200-536) $7.7 million in FY08 and $15.1 million in FY09 -Special Education Enhancements (GRF-200- 540) $138.8 million in FY08 and $140 million in FY09 -School Improvement Initiatives (GRF-200-431) $21.5 million in FY08 and $21.9 million in FY09 -Career Technical Education Enhancements

(GRF-200-545) $9.29 million in FY08 and $9.37 million in FY09 -Property Tax Allocation (GRF-200-901) $794.5 million in FY08 and $850.8 million in FY09 -Tangible Tax Exemption (GRF-200-906) $21.4 million in FY08 and $10.7 million in FY09 -Early Childhood Education (GRF-200-402) $31 million in FY08 and $36.5 million in FY09 -STEM Initiatives (GRF-200-457) $10 million in FY08 and $10 million in FY09 -School District Property Tax Replacement - Business (047-200-909) $611.5 million in FY08 and $763.3 million in FY09

-School District Property Tax Replacement - Utility (053-200-900) $91 million in FY08 and $91 million in FY09

3) Governor Strickland Vetoes 38 Items: Before signing Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan) into law on June 30, 2007 Governor Strickland issued a statement that included 38 vetoed items in five areas:

Health and Human Services; Education; Environment and Public Safety; Technology; and Governance, Management, and Administration. According to Governor Strickland's veto message,

"This budget represents a historic consensus. But long after our agreement is forgotten, the people of Ohio will be benefiting from what we agreed upon.

This budget makes a commitment to education from pre-schools to universities. Instead of spiraling tuition costs, we will have a two year tuition freeze. We make a substantial investment in our primary and secondary schools. And as we strengthen our schools we will also reduce the property tax burden on every senior and disabled homeowner through an expansion of the Homestead Property Tax Exemption.

This budget makes a commitment to provide health care coverage to the uninsured children of Ohio.

This budget makes a commitment to investing in growth and development, both by expanding the skills and education of our people, and by identifying and supporting emerging economic opportunities.

The following sections detail 38 line item vetoes I have issued among five issue areas. These are areas of honest disagreement. But in a budget document containing 1865 pages, and tens of thousands of lines of text, I would say our differences are remarkably small in the face of our larger common purpose."

Summary of Vetoed Items

Health Services

Item 1 - Provisions regarding the federally required Medical Care Advisory Council Item 2 - Certain earmarks for Healthy Ohio and the prescriptive language of the Healthy Ohio Assessment Item 3 - Provisions that constrain the School Employees Health Care Board's duties Item 4 - Provisions regarding the establishment of the Behavioral Health Pilot program Item 5 - The Annual Review of the best practices of the School Employees Health Care Board, which are outside the scope of the Ohio Department of Insurance and lack resources to support this provision Item 6 - Limitations on Restrictions of Coverage of Mental Health Drugs Item 7 - Federal Abstinence Earmark Item 8 - Provision that creates a General Fund appropriation for Abstinence Education and Adoption Education. Focusing "exclusively on abstinence is contrary to a comprehensive educational approach."

Education

Item 9 - Ohio Choice Grant - Restrictions that limit the administration's right to transfer any unused or lapsed funds from other state-funded financial aid or scholarship programs, including the Ohio Choice Grant, to the Ohio College Opportunity Grant Program.

Item 10 - Distribution of the Innovation Incentive Program through a formula rather than on a competitive basis.

Item 11 - Provisions regarding the Purchasing Consortium, which would prevent a statewide, all-inclusive approach to purchasing collaboration and perpetuate inefficiencies and comes at the expense of taxpayers.

Item 12 - Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program "The administration believes that funding private schools with public tax dollars deprives the state and its taxpayers of proper oversight and accountability of these programs. Further, by draining funds that would otherwise be used to support public schools, such a program serves to harm the vast majority of students, including disabled students, who attend public schools. The administration is committed to working with the Department of Education and parents to review alternative policies to best meet the needs of all children with disabilities. Indeed, the administration has increased funding for special education by more than 8 percent in each year of the biennium."

Item 13 - Disputed Enrollment between Community School and District "This language creates an unnecessary burden for local school districts in instances where school districts and community schools dispute enrollment figures and where the two parties are not able to resolve the differences. The Department of Education has worked with affected parties over the past several months to develop a set of business practices to address the concerns related to this item. The business practices developed by the Department will more fairly apply to both community schools and school districts. The creation of new statutory provisions is unnecessary and would limit agency discretion to address the needs of stakeholders and resolve disagreements."

Item 14 - Ranking of Expedited Local Partnership Program Districts "This language would result in moving Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) districts higher on the equity list, and therefore move other districts lower relative to the ELPP districts.

This would increase the local share of education costs of some, potentially many, districts.

Additionally, this would increase the amounts and millages necessary for school district bond issues. This violates the premise of which Ohio school facilities commission funds are allocated."

Item 15 - Literacy Improvement Professional Development (Reading Recovery Training Network) "This item would provide $900,000 in each fiscal year to fund the Reading Recovery Training Network, provide pilot grants to other districts to implement other reading improvement programs, and conduct an evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the Reading Recovery program and other reading improvement programs. Reading Recovery is a short term early literacy intervention program. The program accelerates the reading ability of students that have difficulty with reading. The program utilizes job embedded peer coaches and intensive literacy training for the Reading Recovery teachers. The provisions in this item would divert valuable funds from the Reading Recovery program to unproven, non-research based pilot projects."

Environment and Public Safety

Item 16 - Dredging the Grand River at the Village of Fairport Harbor Item 17 - The impact of the Areawide Planning Agencies on the work of the Division of Surface Water and 22 counties not covered by an areawide planning agency Item 18 - Changes in the Fireworks Law that are not in the public safety Item 19 - E-check program that employs only onboard diagnostic tests that are ineffective in vehicles manufactured prior to 1996

Technology

Item 20 - eTech Commission Membership and Duties (inadvertently left out of the enrolled bill), that would place an undue burden on the Commission in fulfilling its duties, would inappropriately limit the decision making authority of the commission, and unnecessarily limit the governor's ability to appoint the Commission's chair; Item 21 - Limitations on NextGen/Third Frontier earmark

Item 22 - Digital/HDTV Earmark of $1 million to public broadcast stations to purchase and install digital high definition conversion Governance, Management, and Administration

Item 23 - Setting the Maximum Lottery Ticket Price of $20

Item 24 - Executive Order required for Sunday drawings

Item 25 - Controlling Board Notification GRF Subsidy Encumbrances "In a typical fiscal year, more than 200 encumbrances occur that would be subject to additional reporting requirements under this provision. This language imposes an undue burden on the Executive Branch by establishing excessive red tape and duplicative reporting requirements that could interfere with the flexibility of the administration to manage state finances on a daily basis."

Item 26 - 5% Debt Service Limitation Calculation on obligations that are "avoided" (not issued) as a result of the tobacco securitization authorized in ORC 183.51.

Item 27 - Restrictions that hamper the collection of Ohio sales tax from Nonresident Motor Vehicle Sales Item 28 - Transfer from Automated Title Processing Fund, which is prohibited by The Ohio Constitution, Article XII, �5a.

Item 29 - Cuyahoga County Special Services District "This provision allows multiple school districts from a county with 1.2 million people to form a Special Services District to serve special education students. This provision would create one special tax district in the state and empower the district to tax and issue debt. The impact of granting the tax and debt issuance authority is unknown."

Item 30 -Managed Care Reimbursement Rates Item 31 - Risk adjusted managed care rates Item 32 - Controlling Board approval of transfers from the Medicaid Reserve Fund Item 33 - Unfunded requirement for Electronic Submission and Maintenance of Applications by county boards.

Item 34 - Electronic Submission of Medicaid Applications Item 35 - Hospital Performance Data - insufficient funds.

Item 36 - Medicaid Provider Audits - duplicative of current audits.

Item 37 - Auditor of State Performance Audit of the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services - duplicative of internal review process

Item 38 - Auditor of State Performance Audit of the Department of Mental Health - duplicative of internal review process

4) More on Ohio's State Budget: According to a press release issued on June 29, 2007 by Governor Strickland's office, Ohio's FY08 and FY09 budget "delivers" to Ohio families in the areas of healthcare access, tax relief, support for local schools, access to affordable higher education, and support for job creation. The following details of the budget bill were highlighted in the press release:

Healthcare Access for All Ohio's Children The State Children's Health Insurance Program will provide children in families up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level access to healthcare, and families at incomes above 300 percent of poverty will be able to buy health coverage from the state for children with special needs that prevent them from qualifying for private insurance.

Tax Relief for Approximately One in Four Ohio Homeowners The expansion of the Homestead Tax Exemption for Ohio's senior citizens and disabled homeowners will provide a tax cut to approximately one in four Ohio homeowners.

Record Investment in Public Schools. The state percentage of support for local schools will increase to nearly 54 percent when all sources of state support are considered.

Historic Levels of Funding for Ohio's Public Colleges and Universities Tuition for students attending Ohio's public colleges and universities will be frozen for two years, and eligible students will receive increases in the Ohio College Opportunity Grants.

The newly created Accelerate Ohio Program will help adult workers pursue higher education by providing college credit for appropriate work-related certificates and training programs.

Adult career technical education programs will be transferred from the Ohio Department of Education to the Ohio Board of Regents, creating a seamless system of lifelong learning and higher education opportunities for Ohio's workers. A new Ohio Innovation Partnership will include two new programs: The Choose Ohio First Scholarship, a $100 million scholarship program, to be leveraged by at least $100 million in private dollars or other support, to encourage Ohio students to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics, or become teachers in those fields; and The Ohio Research Scholars program, a $50 million effort to recruit world-class scholars tied to job creation in Ohio's regional economies.

Programs to prepare Ohio's Young People for the Jobs of the Future Five new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) schools for grades 6-12 will also be created, and existing STEM Programs of Excellence will be strengthened, allowing charter schools and school districts to enhance their current programs.

5) More on Ohio's State Budget: The Ohio Republican Party issued a statement on June 27, 2007 phrasing the state's FY08 and FY09 budget for focusing on the "....state's economic future by continuing the phase-in of a 21 percent income tax cut and the overhaul of state business taxes to make Ohio more competitive for attracting jobs and makes strategic investments in higher education."

"The budget also expands health care services for those most in need, provides more educational opportunities for primary and secondary students and enacts the largest property tax cut in Ohio history for seniors and disabled Ohioans."

"All of these priorities were funded while meeting the constitutional requirement of a balanced budget and a commitment to restrained government spending."

The statement also highlights efforts in the budget bill that will improve math and science education, reduce the cost of a college education, and efforts to revitalize Ohio's economy and create new job opportunities for families. Lawmakers increased funding for higher education by more than $333 million over the next two years, including the $100 million Choose Ohio First Scholarship program, and the newly-created James A. Rhodes Scholarship for students attending Ohio's accredited two-year community and technical colleges. The General Assembly also invested $50 million into the new Ohio Research Scholars Program, to help state colleges and universities attract highly-productive research scientists to Ohio.

The new STEM initiative will expand opportunities for students to prepare for the future. The budget includes $20 million in K-12 STEM programs, including funding support for programs of excellence in existing public schools and funds to create new STEM-focused schools throughout Ohio.

The budget also expands school choice options by retaining charter schools and the Educational Choice Scholarship in Ohio, and the new Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program, an educational voucher program designed specifically for special education students.

Quoting from the statement, "Perhaps there is no better endorsement of school choice in Ohio than for the Ohio House and Senate to vote near-unanimously in support of a state budget that continues the school choice programs that have provided essential educational options for nearly 100,000 Ohio children," said Gene Schuster, president of the board for My School, My Choice."

Support for early childhood education in the budget will put children first and ensure that "Ohio's youngest citizens have access to education and health care services they need to grow into productive adults".

HB 119 also includes the largest property tax cut in Ohio history - allowing one in every four Ohio homeowners to take advantage of the Ohio homestead exemption. Approximately 775,000 seniors will pay no tax on the first $25,000 of their home's values.

According to the statement, "In all, state legislators from both chambers of the Ohio Legislature worked over the course of the past months to craft a bill that recognizes the needs of all Ohioans - from the youngest child to the eldest senior - providing for those in need and preparing for a strong economic future."

The full statement is available at http://www.ohiogop.org/News/Read.aspx?ID=1517

6) U.S. Supreme Court Rules on School Assignment

Cases: The U. S. Supreme Court issued on June 28, 2007 a 5-4 decision that limits the ability of school districts to assign students to keep schools integrated through "controlled school choice programs". (Parents Involved in Community Schools vs The Seattle School District) This is the first major decision issued on school desegregation over the past twelve years. The plaintiffs in the cases, Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District, argued that there is no compelling government interest to treat children differently because of their race. Parents from the Jefferson County School District in Kentucky and the Seattle, Washington School District argued that their children were denied access to a school of their choice as a result of their districts' "controlled school choice program", which considered race as a factor in student placement. The defendants argued that there is a valid reason to keep integrated schools, because research shows that minority students perform better in integrated schools. The Bush administration supported the plaintiffs in these cases, saying that "controlled school choice programs", that use race as a consideration in student assignment, violate the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Justices ruled in a close 5 to 4 decision that even though the goal of integrated education was a compelling interest, the districts had failed to justify their controlled choice program for student placement. Writing for the majority was Chief Justice Roberts.

According to the Civil Rights Project, Gary Orfield co-director, "This decision is another step backward following the Court's three decisions limiting mandatory desegregation in the l990's. In a country which now has more than 40% nonwhite students and millions in segregated schools that have been proven to be unequal in the statistics produced by the Administration's own No Child Left Behind Act, the Court has taken the extraordinary step of rejecting modest efforts that have produced desegregated education in two districts that have *voluntarily* implemented such policies."

For more information about the decision please visit http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05-908.pdf http://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/policy/court/voltint.php):

Joint Statement from Nine University-Based Civil Rights Centers: http://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/policy/court/voltint_joint_full_statement.php

7) Report Finds McKay Scholarship Program Wanting: As lawmakers in several states, including Ohio, are expanding voucher programs, a new report released on June 26, 2007 by the Education Sector, "Information Underload: Florida's Flawed Special-Ed Voucher Program" by Sara Mead, details the problems with Florida's McKay Scholarship Program, which has been promoted by proponents of vouchers as a model program. According to this report the McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program provides parents a voucher to choose alternative education options for their children, including the option to attend private schools.

The law was approved by Florida's legislature in 1999 and approximately 17,900 students (4 percent of students with disabilities in Florida) currently participate in the program, costing the state $108 million. However, the lack of accountability and data on the effectiveness of the program provide tax payers with no information about how public dollars are actually being spent, and what outcomes are being achieved.

Sara Mead writes that, "Students with disabilities have long had the right, under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to attend private schools at public expense if the public schools in their community are unable to provide them with appropriate special educational services. But less than 1 percent of students with disabilities have such private placements, in part because these placements can be costly, complicated, and time-consuming to obtain under the existing law."

Students participating in the McKay program are not required to take the annual state tests administered by public schools and are not required to report information on student outcomes, in contrast to the national effort through the No Child Left Behind Act to document the progress of ALL students.

The lack of data makes it "....virtually impossible to say whether special-needs children using McKay vouchers to attend private schools are faring better, worse, or about the same as they had in their old public schools. It is also difficult to determine whether the McKay program is improving existing special-education services, since, unlike public schools, McKay schools are not required to provide these services at all."

In addition, "....taxpayers have almost no knowledge of how their money is being spent, and neither taxpayers nor parents have access to solid information about the performance of different McKay schools. For parents, the stakes are very high, as they are required to give up their due process rights under IDEA if they choose to participate in the McKay program.

Parents, taxpayers, and the state's special-needs children deserve better."

This research was funded by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. The full report is available at http://www.educationsector.org/research/research_show.htm?doc_id=506895

FYI ARTS:

Recent articles highlighting arts education:

*Peoria Journal Star, "Funding the Arts An Investment in Our Future", by Gary Panetta on June 24, 2007.

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/062407/GAR_BDH15OEK.026.php

A speech made by Ra Joy, the new director of the Illinois Arts Alliance, was highlighted in an article written by Gary Panetta in the Peoria Star Journal. According to the article, in a "bottom line" world the arts need to be recognized for helping students learn and supporting communities.

"Investments in the arts impact the economy in positive ways that far outstrip the initial investment."

"If you think about the world we live in and the work force in the 21st century, there is no greater skill or attribute we can be arming our young people with than a creative mind. And that's certainly something that the arts provide."

*Herald Tribune "Education should reflect vital role of the arts in our community" by Guest Columnist Nancy Roucher, Arts Education chairwoman, Sarasota County Arts Council.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20070623/COLUMNIST13/706230341

According to the article, "The Arts Council, representing Sarasota's outstanding arts organizations, artists and supporters, believes that arts education is essential for all students." A 2006 report from the Governor's Commission on Arts in Education provides research that shows how the arts improve student performance in reading and math, engage and motivate students, promote social and civic activities, enhance economic development and work-force preparation, and improve school climate.

The Sarasota County School District has many examples showing how arts education programs positively impact student achievement. Roucher writes, "Our students succeed with arts education. Gocio Elementary School, which has many lower socio-economic students, has instructors in music, art, drama and dance. Its FCAT scores have steadily improved over time, with a total change of 61 percentage points in seven out of eight areas.

"At Phoenix Academy, the principal cites the arts program as an impetus for many at-risk students to attend every day. He considers the arts a key factor in the school's grade improving from an F in 2004-05 to a C in 2005-06."

"There are other opportunities for the arts to impact learning and meet district objectives. Dance instruction can help meet the state requirement for 150 minutes of physical education. Talented arts educators in the district infuse the arts into reading instruction. They can work with other teachers and share creative methods for the state-mandated reading requirement."

"Finally, the arts can play an integral part in the district's career and technical education initiative. Sarasota County is a place where students can get a job in the arts. The Creative Industries Report from Americans for the Arts finds that Sarasota is home to 1,495 arts-related businesses employing 5,337 individuals in the nonprofit arts industry. This does not even capture the countless small nonprofits or the actual for-profit businesses, such as architecture firms, graphic design firms, marketing firms and galleries. According to writers like Daniel Pink and Tom Friedman, the arts provide the very skills students need to succeed in the 21st century - innovation and creativity."

"In a community that prides itself on the quality of its schools and relishes being called the "cultural coast," arts education should be flourishing. We offer our help in making sure students have a superior education in every area, including excellent arts education. There is considerable work to do, but through our continuing partnership, a shared vision and a commitment to arts education as a priority, Sarasota County can be a shining example of a community that excels ... because of the arts."

*The New York Sun "Campaign Aims To Increase Arts Education in Schools" by Elizabeth Green, June 25, 2007. http://www.nysun.com/article/57249

According to this article by Elizabeth Green, the Center for Arts Education, Richard Kessler executive director, is planning to push for an increase in arts education in the New York City Schools, and monitor Mayor Michael Bloomberg's recent reorganization of the schools. The Center for Arts Education is a nonprofit organization that has worked to promote arts education in the New York City Schools. The city's Department of Education will introduce new accountability measures this year that will include a review of the arts programs available in each school. A recent survey by the Center for Arts Education revealed that students had limited access to arts education programs in most schools.

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Tuesday, 09-04-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 09-04-2007

Arts on Line, Education Update for September 3, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

BACK TO SCHOOL STATS

1) 127^th OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) COMMENTS DUE ON NCLB DRAFT September 5^th (See Title 1, Part I Core Curriculum Development)

3) WHAT DO CHILDREN NEED

4) REPORT ON POVERTY AND INCOME RELEASED

5) LATEST REPORT ON FOR PROFIT EDUCATION COMPANIES

6) WHAT IS THE WHOLE CHILD CAMPAIGN?

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

Back to School Statistics

An estimated 49.6 million students are projected to be enrolled in grades K-12 this fall in the United States, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau's Back to School Fact Sheet. Other interesting back to school statistics follow:

*$489.4 billion is projected to be spent on elementary and secondary schools in 2007-2008.

*$9,969 is the projected average expenditure per pupil in 2007-2008.

*887,000 students are projected to be enrolled in charter schools this year in the U.S.

*6.1 million students are projected to be enrolled in private schools.

*42 percent of students in grades K-12 are minorities, as of October 2005.

*10.5 million students between the ages of five and seventeen speak a language other than English at home. Most of them, 7.5 million, speak Spanish.

*21 percent of high school students had jobs while they were in high school in 2005.

*1.1 million students are home schooled in 2003 (2 percent of students 5 to 17).

*18 million students are projected to be enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities this fall.

For more Back to School Facts please visit http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010218.htmland http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id+372.

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: Ohio House and Senate leaders announced last week that the House will hold sessions on September 11 & 12, 2007, and the Senate will meet on September 11, 2007.

Senator Patricia Clancy recently announced that she will resign from her seat in the Ohio Senate (8th Ohio Senate District) in early October to accept a position as assistance chief probation office for the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. The Senate Republican Caucus is now accepting nominations for candidates to complete Senator Clancy's term.

2) Comments Due on NCLB Draft by September 5, 2007: The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, Representative George Miller (D-California) chair, released on August 28, 2007 draft recommendations for the reauthorization of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act. The draft represents the recommendations gathered from dozens of hearings over the past year, and responses from over 100 organizations. The committee is seeking comments by September 5, 007 regarding the recommendations.

Overall the draft recommendations include a variety of changes in the current law that would lessen some requirements and penalties, and provide school districts (and schools) with more flexibility to meet the accountability requirements. Specifically, under Title 1 Part A there are recommendations that require states to set a minimum subgroup size of 30 for reporting and accountability purposes; require school districts to develop plans to assist students who are at risk of dropping out of school; create priority schools and high priority schools to receive assistance; and extend the deadline for meeting proficiency goals in reading and math beyond the 2013-14 school year, if all racial and demographic subgroups are on track for eventual mastery. Also, states may be able to use multiple indicators/assessments for accountability purposes. For example, states may factor in graduation rates, dropout rates, college attendance, percentage of students completing end of course exams, etc. into the calculation for adequate yearly progress. In addition, a new fund is recommended, the Graduation Promise Fund, which will focus resources on ways to help keep students in schools, starting in middle school.

Legislation that includes these recommendations may be introduced over the next few months. To view a summary of the recommendations and the 400 plus page draft visit, please visit http://edlabor.house.gov/.

The following includes some of the draft recommendations proposed for the reauthorization of the Title 1 Elementary and Secondary Education Act:

Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

-Title I, Part A - Disadvantaged Children Meet High Academic Standards. This is the largest program in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and authorizes federal aid to State and local educational agencies for helping educationally disadvantaged children achieve the same high State academic achievement standards as other students. Most of the recommended changes to the legislation are included in this section under the topics of Graduation Promise; College and Work-Ready Standards and Assessments; Multiple Indicators/Assessments; Growth Models; Performance Index; N Size and Confidence Intervals; English Language Learners; Students with Disabilities; Peer Review; Report Cards; Other Elements of the State Plan; Comparing State Standards; Local Educational Agency Plans; School Improvement Assistance and School Redesign; Parental Involvement; Qualifications for Teachers and Paraprofessionals; Closing Comparability Loopholes; Graduation Rates, and more.

-Title I, Part B - Student Reading and Literacy Skills Improvement Grants. Includes literacy programs, including Reading First, Early Reading First, and Even Start Family Literacy Programs. The text for this section is not included in the draft legislation, but is expected to be ready soon.

-Title I, Part C - Migrant Education. Provides academic assistance for children of migrant workers.

-Title I, Part D - Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk. Provides formula grants to States to serve neglected and delinquent youth in institutions, community day programs, and correctional facilities.

-Title I, Part E - National Assessment of Title I. Authorizes the Secretary of Education to conduct an evaluation of Title I programs and activities, and report findings to Congress. It also requires the Secretary to conduct a longitudinal study of schools receiving assistance under Title I. The discussion draft also requires the National Academies of Sciences to conduct a study to identify an appropriate instrument to accurately measure the closing of achievement gaps among various racial and ethnic groups.

-Title I, Part F - Comprehensive School Reform. Authorizes the Comprehensive School Reform program, which is designed to assist schools in improving the quality of the entire school based upon reliable research and effective practices. Includes the next generation of comprehensive school reform based on Chicago's school reform model.

-Title I, Part G - Advanced Placement. Authorizes the Advanced Placement program to increase access to advanced placement tests, improve Advanced Placement programs, increase student academic achievement, and increase the number of individuals who achieve a baccalaureate or advanced degree. This section was rewritten to be consistent with the AP-IB language in the America COMPETES Act. It also maintains the current law's requirement to help students pay for exam fees.

-Title I, Part H - School Dropout Prevention. Provides grants to States to strengthen and develop dropout prevention and school reentry programs, and to raise academic achievement levels by providing grants that: (1) challenge all students and (2) ensure that all students have access to school-wide programs proven to be effective in dropout prevention and school reentry. The existing program is rewritten in this draft to provide incentives to states to increase graduation rates. States will be required to determine how to strengthen state policies in order to raise gradation rates, while ensuring a rigorous secondary education, and implement new policies. The analysis will include an examination of policies of school funding, data capacity, accountability systems, interventions, new school development, and dissemination and implementation of effective local school improvement activities.

-Title I, Part I, Core Curriculum Development. Includes a new program to provide funds to low-income districts to support high quality instruction in music and arts, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, history, geography and physical education and health. Funds would support expanding the amount of instructional time in such subjects, developing high quality curriculum, providing essential materials and textbooks and partnering with community- based organizations to increase student learning in these subjects.

-Title I, Part J, Expanded Learning Time Demonstration Program: Includes a new program to provide funds to states and local educational agencies to expand learning time aimed at improving student achievement and engagement. Funds could be used to expand learning time at elementary and secondary schools to support innovation, redesign, and improve educational programs, improve instruction and teacher collaboration, and improve the academic achievement of all students in participating schools.

3) What do Children Need? Voices for Ohio's Children is sponsoring community briefings to discuss issues that will affect children in Ohio in 2007-08; review the recently approved state budget for FY08-09; review federal issues and strategies for becoming effective advocates; and identify budget issues for 2010 and 2011. The briefings are open to the public, but registration is required, and the organizers are asking for a $10 donation to defray expenses. For more information (dates, time, and locations) about the community briefings, please visit http://www.vfc-oh.org/cms//970ae92bf0bd552e/index.html

4) Report on Poverty and Income Released: The U.S. Census Bureau released on August 28, 2007 a report called "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006". This annual report includes 2007 data collected from two surveys to supplement the 2000 Census. According to the report, 12.3 percent of Americans (36.5 million people) were living below the poverty level in 2006. This percentage has decreased from 12.6 percent in 2005. The average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2006 was $20,444, and the median household income in the U.S. rose from $47,845 in 2005 to $48,201 in 2006.

The percentage of individuals without health insurance rose from 15.3 percent in 2005 to 15.8 percent or 47 million people, and number of uninsured children also increased from 8 million to 8.7 million.

According to the American Community Survey, the median household income levels in Ohio increased from $43,493 in 2005 to $44,532 in 2006. The percent of people in Ohio below the poverty level increased slightly from 13.0 percent in 2005 to 13.3 percent in 2006. 18.7 percent of Ohio's children lived below the poverty level in 2006, which is above the national level of 18.3 percent. Cleveland and Cincinnati were rated fourth and third poorest cities in the U.S. Detroit was rated number one, with a poverty rate of 32.5 percent.

These reports are available at http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf and http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GRTSelectServlet?ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&_lang=en&_ts=206806266618

5) Latest Report on For Profit Education Companies: The Arizona State University Commercialism in Education and Education Policy Research Units released on August 9, 2007 a report called "Profiles of For-Profit Education Management Organization: 2006-2007." This annual report, in its ninth edition, provides an overview of information on education management companies (EMOs) in the U.S.

According to the report, "The for-profit education management industry has, based on the available data, entered a period of relative stability. The industry's actual condition, however, is more difficult to determine than ever. This is because companies that dominate the industry are privately held and do not have to provide information to the public that they choose not to share. As a result a large portion of the EMO industry is not subject to independent scrutiny of either financial results or academic performance."

Researchers found that 25 percent of students are enrolled in charter schools operated by EMOs; large EMOs dominate the for-profit education management industry; EMOs mostly serve charter primary schools; and 89 percent of students enrolled in an EMO operated school will be in a school larger than the national average. Overall the number of charter schools is increasing, although the number of students attending charter schools is declining, and the number of EMO charter schools is stabilizing or declining slightly.

The researchers also noted the following, ".....despite repeated requests, several large publicly funded Education Management Organizations (EMOs) failed to provide information about their schools or finances when queried by researchers. Ohio-based White Hat Management, for example, was so reluctant to provide information that an employee answering the phone at their corporate headquarters refused to provide even her name before hanging up on an ASU researcher." For more information about this report please visit http://epsl.asu.edu/ceru/CERU_2007_emo.htm or contact INFORMATION Alex Molnar at 480-965-1886; epslmail@asu.edu.

6) What is the Whole Child Campaign? The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development launched the Whole Child Campaign to support an education system in which all children are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

The ASCD's Learning Compact Redefined: A Call to Action, recommends that policy makers ensure conditions that support comprehensive approaches to learning. This includes the following:

*Each student enters school healthy and learns about and practices a healthy lifestyle.

*Each student learns in an intellectually challenging environment that is physically and emotionally safe for students and adults.

*Each student is actively engaged in learning and is connected to the school and broader community.

*Each student has access to personalized learning and to qualified, caring adults.

*Each graduate is prepared for success in college or further study and for employment in a global environment.

The compact also supports a well-rounded curriculum, access to rigorous programs in arts, foreign languages, and social studies, and flexible graduation requirements.

To learn more about the Whole Child Campaign and view their extensive list of resources please visit http://www.wholechildeducation.org/

7) Bills Introduced:

HJR2 Special Sessions (Book). Specifies that no General Assembly may be held after the date of the general election in an even-numbered year, except a special session.

FYI ARTS:

*The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development issued on July 26, 2007 and August 9, 2007 two ASCD Express issues on the arts called "The Value of the Arts" Part 1 and 2. (Issues 21 and 22). These issues include several articles on arts education, and give examples of how teachers, schools, districts, and communities are supporting high quality arts education programs.

The following topics are included in these issues: Seeing Science Through the Lens of Art; Fine Arts Team Strengthens Cross-Curricular Learning; Giving the Arts Their Due; Insight on At-Risk Students; Aesthetic Literacy: Enlivening the Self and the World, and more.

To access these issues please visit the following web site: http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.d6eaddbe742e2120db44aa33e3108a0c/

*The Role of Arts Education Debated in New Book: Researchers Ellen Winner (Boston College) and Lois Hetland (Massachusetts College of Art) have written a new book with co-authors Shirley Veenema and Kimberly Sheridan, called "Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education" (Teachers College Press). The book focuses on the benefits of an education in the visual arts, and furthers their thesis that an education in the arts should be "championed" for its own sake rather than for how it benefits students in other subject areas. This concept was included in a 2000 study of Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, in which the researchers argued that there was a lack of evidence showing a causational effect of arts education on student achievement.

In the new book the researchers report the indirect benefits of a visual arts education for students. Their study of students in several art classes in Boston area schools identified specific skills and mental habits that students learned through the visual arts. These skills were not addressed in other areas of the curriculum and include visual spacial abilities, reflection, self-criticism, persistence, experimentation, and more.

For more information please visit the Boston Globe article, "Art for our sake" by Ellen Winner and Lois Hetland, published on September 2, 2007.

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/mcas/articles/2007/09/02/art_for_sake/?page+full

*Nominate a Winner for the 2008 Governor�s Awards for the Arts in Ohio. The Ohio Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2008 Governor�s Awards for the Arts in Ohio. Submit your nominations and support letters online at www.oac.state.oh.us Nomination deadline: Monday, October 15^th at 5:00 PM. Support letter deadline: Monday, October 22^nd at 5:00 PM. A complete explanation of the nomination process is available on the web site. Nomination will be accepted only online. Award winners are chosen from outstanding contributions to the arts � statewide, regionally, and nationally. Awards are given in the following categories: Arts Administration; Arts in Education; Arts Patron; Business Support of the Arts; Community Development and Participation; and Individual Artist.

*Save the Date! Mark your calendars for Arts Day, Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Arts Day will include an arts advocacy briefing, arts tradeshow, legislative visits, student exhibitions, and the 2008 Governor�s Awards for the Arts in Ohio and Arts Day Luncheon. Invitations for the event will be available in early 2008. Watch this update for more information! This event is presented by Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.

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Monday, 09-10-07 BACK
Arts On Lin Update - 09-10-2007

Arts on Line, Education Update for September 10, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2. UPDATE ON FEDERAL ISSUES

3. OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES OPINION

4. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET

5. 39^TH ANNUAL PHI DELTA KAPPA/GALLUP POLL

6. UPCOMING CONFERENCES

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly:

*A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 11, 2007 in the Statehouse Rotunda for U.S. Representative Paul Gillmor (5th Congressional District), who passed away on September 5, 2007. Representative Gillmor had a long and distinguished career in government. He was elected to Congress in 1988 and also served in the Ohio Senate.

Due to the service, the Ohio House has moved its scheduled session on Tuesday to 1:30 PM, and the Senate has canceled on Tuesday its scheduled session and some committee meetings, including the Senate Education Committee meeting.

A new representative for the 5th Congressional District will be chosen through a special election, which will take place at the call of Governor Strickland.

*The citizens group Citizens for Community Standards has filed petitions with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office to place on the November 6, 2007 ballot a referendum on Sub. SB 16 - a law approved in June 2007 by the Ohio General Assembly and known as the Community Defense Act. This law tightens regulations on some sexually-oriented businesses in the state. According to the Secretary of State's web site, the signed petitions will be sent to local boards of elections to verify signatures. If petitioners have the necessary 241,366 valid signatures to qualify, the referendum will be on the November 6, 2007 ballot.

2) Update on Federal Issues:

*Appropriations Bills: Last week members of Congress returned to Washington, D.C. to begin a hectic fall term. Scheduled for approval are 12 appropriations bills for FY08, which begins on October 1,

2007. So far the House has approved all twelve of the spending bills, but the Senate has only approved the Homeland Security Bill. The proposed appropriation bills include $23 billion more in discretionary spending than President Bush proposed in his budget recommendations introduced last February 2007. To avoid a veto President Bush has asked lawmakers to stay within a $933 billion cap on discretionary spending. If Congress does not approve the spending bills by the October 1, 2007 deadline, then lawmakers will need to approve extensions of the current appropriations. In past years when faced with a time crunch, Congress has approved all of the spending bills through one omnibus bill. To see a summary of appropriations bills already approved by the U.S. House please visit http://appropriations.house.gov/

Appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education are included in S. 1710, which has not been approved by the Senate, and H.R. 3043, which was approved by the House on July 23, 2007, and has been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar. For a summary of H.R. 3043 please visit http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/LHHSSummaryHP.pdf

*Head Start Reauthorization: Different versions of the Head Start for School Readiness Act - H.R. 1429 have been approved by the U.S. House on May 2, 2007 and the U.S. Senate on June 19, 2007. The Senate has also appointed members of a conference committee for the bill. To see a detailed summary please visit http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/110_HR_1429.html#usercomments

*Higher Education: The U.S. House and Senate agreed on September 7, 2007 to a conference report on H.R. 2669 - the College Cost Reduction and Access Act. This law increases college aid by $20 billion over the next five years, pays for itself by reducing federal subsidies paid to college loan lenders, and does the following:

-Cuts interest rates in half on subsidized student loans over the next four years; guarantees that borrowers will not have to pay more than 15 percent of their discretionary income in loan repayments; and allows certain borrowers to have their loans forgiven after 25 years.

-Increases the maximum Pell Grant scholarship by $490 next year and up to $5,400 by 2012. Expands eligibility to serve more students with financial need.

-Provides tuition assistance to qualified undergraduate students who commit to teaching in public schools in high-poverty communities or high-need subject areas.

-Provides public servants loan forgiveness after 10 years of public service and loan repayment for military service members, first responders, law enforcement officers, firefighters, nurses, public defenders, prosecutors, early childhood educators, librarians, and others.

-Invests $510 million over five years in colleges and universities that have historically served African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

-Establishes a partnership among federal, state, and local government entities and philanthropic organizations through matching challenge grants aimed at increasing the number of first generation and low-income college students.

To see a fact sheet on this bill please visit http://edlabor.house.gov/publications/20070905ConfReportOnePager.pdf

*State Children's Health Insurance Program: The U.S. House and Senate have approved different versions of legislation to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This program was created ten years ago, and covers the health care costs of approximately 6.6 million children from low income families. The program expires at the end of September. According to some reports recently introduced regulations will make it more difficult for states to expand their SCHIP to cover middle-income children, such as those with catastrophic illnesses.

*NCLB Reauthorization: As reported last week, the House Education and Labor Committee, chaired by Representative George Miller, released a discussion draft of Title 1 Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB). This major education act is up for reauthorization this year. During the week the committee released a draft of the remaining sections of the act. The committee is scheduled to meet on September 10, 2007 at 10:00 AM for a live broadcast and discussion of the draft. To see the recommendations for the remaining sections of the act please visit http://edlabor.house.gov

*Federal Help for School Facilities: A coalition called Rebuilding America's Schools is supporting legislation that would provide federal assistance to rebuild or renovate public schools. The America's Better Classroom Act of 2007 - HR 2470 would subsidize $25.2 billion in zero-interest bonds for school renovations. A similar bill, S. 912, amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for investment in qualified public school modernization bonds for the construction, rehabilitation, or repair of a public school facility. Senators Tom Harkin, Edward Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, and Barb Mikulski have also introduced a bill that would provide $1.6 billion in FY08 and future sums for grants that school districts could use to plan and renovate schools. The bill also requires the Government Accounting Office to determine the facilities needs of public schools in the U.S., which was last done in the mid 90s.

3) Ohio Attorney General Issues Opinions: The Office of Attorney General Marc Dann issued on September 5, 2007 two opinions concerning tuition payments charged by school districts. According to the opinions, school districts have no authority to charge tuition to parents whose children attend all-day kindergarten classes (Ohio Department of Education SYLLABUS: 2007-027), and no authority under current law to charge a parent for their child's attendance at a cooperative educational program outside the school district, including educational options or joint educational programs. (Ohio Department of Education SYLLABUS: 2007-028). To read more about these opinions please visit http://www.ag.state.oh.us/legal/opinions/index.asp.

4) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on September 9-11, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The State Board's School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown met on August 16, 28, and September 9, 2007. The subcommittee is reviewing proposals to address several school funding issues, and anticipates developing options, which could become part of the State Board's 2010-2011 legislative and budget recommendations.

The Board will begin its meeting at 8:30 AM on September 10, 2007 with a discussion of the work of the Board in 2007-2008 and the Board Approved Priorities, which were adopted at the July 10, 2007 meeting.

The Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, will meet at 9:00 AM.

The Capacity Committee will discuss the Ohio Regional Delivery System Structure; review Rules 3301-2-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, and 09, 11, and 13 (Personal Information Systems); and Rule 3301-24-05 (Adult Permits).

The Achievement Committee will discuss and approve the Resolution of Intent to adopt Rule 3301-07-01, (Ethical Use of Tests), Rules 3301-13-01 to 06, and 3301-13-08 to 3301-13-11 (State Testing), and Rule 3301-13-07 (Testing Fairness and Sensitivity); review Rule 3301-51 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities); discuss Physical Education Standards; discuss Rule 3301-4-01 regarding State Board Meeting Notices; and discuss eTech Curriculum for Distance Learning.

The full Board will convene at 10:30 AM in the Conference Center to hear presentations from the Achievement Committee regarding the rules that will be voted upon by the Board during their business meeting, and the Capacity Committee will present information regarding the definition and criteria for a Master Teacher. At 11:30 AM the Board will hear an update on community school grants. The School Readiness Solutions Group Implementation Committee will meet during lunch from12:15 to 1:30 PM.

The Board will convene its business meeting at 1:30 PM and immediately go into executive session. The Board will recess its business meeting at 3:00 PM. At 3:15 PM legislative liaisons, John Bender and Carl Wick, will provide an update on State and Federal legislation, and the chairs of the Executive, Achievement, and Capacity Committees will provide an update of their work to the full Board. The Board will then review written reports and resolutions to be considered.

At 4:15 PM the Board will recognize Ohio's finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in mathematics and Science Teaching. The Board will adjourn at 4:45 PM. The Subcommittee for Education in the new Global Economy, chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, will meet from 5:00 - 6:15 PM in the Delaware Room.

On September 11, 2007 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:30 AM with a presentation about the results of the 2007 State and Local Report Card. The Board will accept reports from Board committees at 11:00 PM, and discuss the report regarding the deconsolidation of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District into the Monroe Central, River Local, and Beallsvill Local School Districts.

Following lunch at 1:45 PM, the Board will reconvene its business meeting. The Board will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, public participation on agenda items, and take action on 32 personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then accept public participation on non-agenda items and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is October 8-9, 2007.

State Board of Education Agenda for September 11, 2007.

9 - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-7-01, Standards for Ethical Use of Tests.

10 - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rule 3301-13-07, Fairness Sensitivity Review Committees.

11 - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rules 3301-13-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 08, 10, and 11, and to amend Rules 3301-13-04 and 09 - Assessments.

12 - Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-19-01 and 3301-91-04 - National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

13 - Resolution of Intent to consider confirmation of the Norwood City School district's determination of impractical transportation of certain students attending St. Nicolas Academy, Cincinnati, a chartered nonpublic school, Hamilton County.

14 - Resolution to adopt a recommendation to the General Assembly for the establishment of a uniform minimum group size and the implementation of a growth model for the purposes of determining whether all local education agencies, public elementary schools and public secondary schools make adequate yearly progress.

15 - Resolution of appointment to the Educator Standards Board.

15A- Motion to select Rob Hovis as delegate and Jane Sonenshein as alternate delegate to represent the State Board of Education at the 2007 NASBE Annual Conference.

32 - Resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and approve transfer of school district territory from the Zanesville City School District, Muskingum County, pursuant to Section 3311.24 of the Ohio Revised Code.

33 - Resolution of to rescind OAC Rule 3301-21-01 - Definitions.

34 - Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-24-01 - Definitions.

35 - Resolution of to adopt new OAC Rule 3301-25-09 - Two year school speech-language pathology student permit.

36 - Resolution to rescind OAC Rule 3301-27-02 for athletic trainers.

37 - Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-40-03, 05, 06 and 07 Nonpublic Schools Administrative Cost Reimbursement.

38- Resolution to confirm the Galion City School District's determination that it is impractical to transport certain students attending Mansfield St. Peter's School, a chartered nonpublic school, pursuant to Section 3327.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.

39 - Resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer to deny the request of the Marva Collins Preparatory School to be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program.

40 -Resolution to approve the determination of the Ohio Department of Education that the St. John Nottinham Lutheran School should not be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program.

41A Resolution to deny the request to create the River Local, Beallsville Local, and Monroe Central Local School Districts from the territory of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District.

41B Resolution to propose the creation of the River Local, Beallsville Local, and Monroe Central Local School Districts from the territory of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District.

42- Resolution approving the appointment of J.C. Benton as the Director of the Office of Board Relations.

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

5) 39th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/ Gallup Poll: The results of the 39th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools were released on August 28, 2007. The poll provides valuable information for policy makers by chronicling the growth and changes in K-12 schooling since the late 1960s.

This year, as in the past, the poll includes questions on the several topics, and summarizes the responses in "findings" for each topic. The following are just some of the findings of the poll:

*Improving Student Achievement, including questions on the No Child Left Behind Act

"Finding: It seems fair to say that, as the public knowledge of NCLB grows, the public's view of NCLB is becoming less and less favorable."

"Finding: It seems fair to say that the public believes that NCLB's emphasis on English and math is reducing the attention to other subjects and that this is a matter of concern."

52 percent of respondents believe that instruction time for other subjects has been reduced as a result of emphasis on math and reading through the NCLB Act.

93 percent of respondents who believe that the NCLB Act is reducing instruction time for science, health, social studies, and the arts, report being very or somewhat concerned about the influence of the law.

*Public View of Standardized Testing

"Finding: It seems fair to say the increase since 2002 in the percentage who say there is too much testing, particularly the 20 percent increase among parents, indicates that the public's view of standardized testing is becoming less favorable."

43 percent of respondents and 52 percent of parents believe there is too much testing, a 20 percentage point increase since 2002.

*Changing the Public Schools

"Finding: It seems fair to say that almost three-fourths of the public wants to see improvement come about through reforming the existing public schools and only about one-fourth wants to find an alternative."

60 percent of respondents oppose and 39 percent of respondents favor allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense.

"Finding: It seems fair to say that if charter schools are considered as an alternative, they are the most popular of the alternatives currently being considered or implemented."

60 percent of respondents favor and 35 percent oppose charter schools.

"Finding: It seems fair to say that opposition to earning some credits online may be softening, but opposition to earning most high school credits online is growing stronger."

*Grading the Public Schools

"Finding: It seems fair to say it would be a mistake to shape public policy decisions on data regarding the nation's schools. The schools in the community are the ones that the public knows about and cares about."

67 percent of parents give the school their oldest child attends an A or a B.

*School Effectiveness

"Finding: It seems fair to say that the importance of a good education has become self-evident and that K-12 schools have moved toward the top of the policy agenda, causing the public to take an increasing interest in its local schools."

*Curriculum

The public is equally split between "not enough" (48 percent) and "about the right amount" (48 percent) of emphasis on science and math.

*Closing the Achievement Gap

The majority of the public view providing low performing students with additional instructional time as a very effective way to close the achievement gap. Additional preschool and kindergarten are also supported.

*International Education

"Finding: It seems fair to say that the public understands the fact that we are living in an ever-smaller world, that language facility is important, and that children should learn a second language at an early age."

85 percent of respondents believe that all children in the U.S. should learn a second language in addition to English, and 70 percent want foreign language instruction to start in elementary school.

*Teachers and School Personnel

"Finding: It seems fair to say that the pubic believes that incentives involving additional pay will attract and retain highly qualified teachers."

*Budget Problems

"Finding: It seems fair to say that the public understands the fact that funding is closely tied to improving student achievement and is aware that lack of funding is currently a major concern."

To view the responses to all questions please visit http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/kpollpdf.htm

The results of the poll are also included in the September 2007 issue of Phi Delta Kappan magazine.

6) Upcoming Conferences:

*Arts Integration: Theory, Practice, and Lessons Learned The Arts Education Partnership (AEP) will hold a forum in Cleveland, OH on September 27 and 28, 2007 to explore important issues, themes, and trends affecting arts education. The forum will be held at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on September 27, 2007, and from and 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM on September 28, 2007. For registration information please visit http://www.aep-arts.org/forums/registration.htm.

*The Ohio 8 Coalition Second Summit on Urban Education in Ohio: The Ohio 8 Coalition will sponsor the Second Summit on Urban Education in Ohio, October 11-12, 2007, at the Columbus Hyatt Regency Hotel & Convention Center. This year's Summit is entitled Investing in Our Children, and will focus on strategies that are proving effective at raising student achievement in Ohio's urban classrooms. Eight sessions will offer specific evidence-based educational strategies that are proving successful in student intervention, using data, instructional support teams, supplementary tutoring, applying value-added measures, creating learning communities, improving reading achievement and engaging parents and community members.

This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Ruby Payne, author of A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Speakers from the HOPE Foundation, the Institute for the Future, the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, and the Urban Collaborative for Special Education will also present a series of problem-solving sessions. An additional session will involve middle school math experts and curriculum directors working with the Ohio Department of Education to design math professional development specifically geared to the needs of teachers in urban settings.

For more information about registration and hotel accommodations, please visit http://www.ohio8.org or contact the Ohio 8 office at (216) 241-9400.

*Partnering for Progress: Accountability Improves Results for All Children Conference The Fifth Annual Partnering for Progress: Accountability Improves Results for ALL Children Conference will be held October 16, 2007, from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North (formerly Columbus Marriott North), 6500 Doubletree Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. The conference is sponsored by the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). The conference is free. Participants include educators, parents, school administrators and others interested in educational accountability for ALL students. To register online visit http://www.ocecd.org.

*Promoting Creativity Conference: In today�s world innovation and technology go hand in hand. The leading figures in the dot com revolution used skills of creativity and imagination to bring about tremendous change in society. What has happened because of that change? Do the arts still have a role to play as we educate our kids for the world of tomorrow? These questions are at the heart of the Promoting Creativity Conference sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council on October 5 and 6, 2007. This annual event brings together artists, school leaders and members of the public from across the state to explore the role of the arts in education. Most activities at the conference are limited to Artist in Residence program artists and representatives from Ohio Arts Council funded residency sites, but the keynote address is open to the public. Burns Hargis will discuss the role of innovation and creativity in society on Friday, October 5, 2007 at 8 p.m. Hargis is a founder of Oklahoma Creativity, a statewide initiative for innovative thinking and action. He is also vice-chairman of the Bank of Oklahoma and a former candidate for Governor of Oklahoma. The event will be held at the Capitol Theatre in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts, 77 South High Street in downtown Columbus and is free and open to the public. (taken from the ArtsOhio publication of the Ohio Arts Council, September/October 2007)

FYI Arts

*Art is Education Initiative: The Cleveland Integrated Arts Collaborative (CIAC) has established the Art is Education initiative in partnership with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to foster the creativity and innovation of students, and prepare them for life in the 21st Century.

The CIAC is a consortium of over 30 arts and cultural organizations, which was brought together by Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (YANEO). Art is Education is a comprehensive initiative designed to improve skills in literacy and the arts. Last year the successful pilot program served 500 students. In the 2007-08 school year the program is expected to serve 3500 students in third grade, and eventually serve all students in CMSD. For more information please visit http://www.keepartsinschools.org/Programs/Cleveland/index.html

*Opening Minds Through the Arts serves 17,000 students in 37 public schools in Tucson Unified School District, Arizona. The founder, former businessman H. Eugene Jones, started the program as a pilot in 1999 based on research that showed how the arts, when integrated throughout the curriculum, increase student achievement and builds skills such as critical thinking. According to one study, after three years in the program third-grade students scored significantly higher than their counterparts on standardized tests in mathematics, language, and reading. For more information please visit http://www.omaproject.org/

*ARTS EDUCATION GRANTS

The Airborne Teacher Trust Fund invites elementary and middle school teachers to submit proposals for art and music programs that their schools are unable to fund. For information please visit http://www.airbornetrust.com/index.aspx

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Monday, 09-17-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 09-17-2007

Arts on Line, Education Update for September 17, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) UPDATE ON NCLB

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

4) MORE ON NCLB � WITH TALKING POINTS

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate have canceled sessions this week. The Senate's next session will be the week of October 1, 2007, and the House will meet on an "as needed basis".

The House and Senate Education committees will not be meeting this week, but other committee meetings have been scheduled.

*A special primary election will be held on November 6, 2007 to select candidates to run for U.S. 5th Congressional District. The election for this seat will be held on December 11, 2007. U.S Congressman Paul Gillmor held the seat until his death on September 4, 2007.

*Representative Bill Seitz (30th House District) has been selected to replace Senator Patricia Clancy (8th Senate District). Senator Clancy recently announced that she would resign her Senate seat in October 2007 to become assistant chief probation officer for the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas. A process to select a representative for the 30th House District is expected to be announced soon.

*The Ohio House unanimously approved on September 11, 2007 HB181 (Setzer), which requires school districts to note on the school records of children those who have been abducted by a parent.

2) Update on the No Child Left Behind Act: The U.S. House Education and Labor Committee chaired by Representative George Miller

(California) held hearings on September 10, 2007 on the draft recommendations for the reauthorization of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, also known as the No Child Left Behind Act. A bipartisan draft was released in late August 2007.

Testifying before the committee were distinguished representatives from schools, education organizations, business organizations, and other stakeholders. The committee heard testimony divided into the following topics: Big Picture Panel; High School Reform and College and Career Readiness Panel; Civil Rights Panel; Business, Foundation and Innovation Panel; Teaching and School Leadership Panel; State and Local Administrators' Panel. A video and transcripts of the hearing are available at http://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/fc091007.shtml. The following are some of the comments regarding the draft proposal:

*The National Governors Association (NGA) - Joan Wodiska, NGA Director of Education, Early Childhood Education, and Workforce Committee, stated that, "Governors strongly support the use of accountability, but the measures, systems, and solutions must be determined at the state level, not by the federal government."

*American Association of School Administrators - Director of the AASA Dr. Paul Houston concluded his remarks to the committee with the following statement: "In conclusion, we are pleased with the direction, transparency and professional courtesy of the process. However, we would be hard pressed to support the draft. We urge Congress to take the time to get the assumptions right, make the bill internally consistent, eliminate the conflicts with IDEA and accommodate the realities of rural schools."

*National Commission on Teaching and America's Future - Linda Darling-Hammond representing the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, focused her comments on the provision to encourage multiple measures of assessment and indicators of school progress; the provision to improve the quality and distribution of the teaching force; and the means for measuring school progress from year to year.

Dr. Darling-Hammond provided information from other countries,"...that are investing intensively in the kinds of curriculum and assessments and the kinds of teaching force improvements that we desperately need and that this re-authorization bill is seeking to introduce."

According to her testimony, "Underneath the United States' poor standing is an outcome of both enormous inequity in school inputs and outcomes and a lack of sufficient focus for all students on higher-order thinking and problem-solving, the areas where all groups in the U.S. do least well on international tests."

*Center on Education Policy (CEP) - Jack Jennings, Director of the CEP, told the committee that the Center on Education Policy has conducted research on the No Child Left Behind Act since 2002. He focused his remarks on some of the key features of the proposed changes in the law regarding the use of multiple indicators; growth models; English Language Learners and Students with Disabilities; and School Improvement.

According to his testimony, "Educators express frustration that this test-based system is leading to a narrow vision of education and hope that our nation could pursue a more comprehensive vision of how to make American education the best in the world."

*Business Roundtable - John Castellani, president of the Business Roundtable's Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA) said that the BCSA supported provisions of the draft recommendations regarding math and reading proficiency by 2013-14; postsecondary and workplace readiness; accountability and rigor for high school; student growth models; and a uniform N-size.

Mr. Castellani also expressed the following: "However, as we detailed in the attached comments, we are deeply concerned about provisions included in the draft that we believe would undermine the current accountability for all students to reach proficiency and would provided a path by which many States would create accountability systems so complex as to be rendered meaningless. While we do not believe it is the intent of the Committee to reduce accountability, the cumulative impact of the implementation of provisions related to multiple measures, indexing and local assessments, among others, would be significantly adverse."

*National Education Association - President of the NEA Reg Weaver outlined several concerns about the draft. According to his written testimony, "We are pleased that the draft includes the concepts of growth models and multiple measures in an attempt to get a more accurate picture of student learning and school quality. These provisions, however, are inadequate, as the accountability system the Committee envisions still relies overwhelmingly on two statewide standardized assessments. This does not give real meaning to the growth model and multiple measure concepts, and defies the advice of assessment experts across the country, some of whom are here today."

President Weaver concluded his statement with the following: "We are not able to support the Title I or Title II discussion draft as currently written. We are hopeful that the Committee will take the time to get this right. In essence, we urge you not to rush to mark up a bill that would lead to yet another set of unintended consequences."

*National Alliance for Public Charter Schools - President Nelson Smith of the Alliance included in his remarks some of the components of the draft that the Alliance supports. For example, the draft provides greater support for the expansion and replication of successful charter school models; encourages states through the grant process to adopt ideal state charter school laws, such as encouraging growth of non-district authorizers and equitable funding for charter schools; allows charter school authorizers to serve as grant administrators in addition to state education agencies; and allows the Secretary of Education to allocate funds as needed between the Charter Schools Program and State Facilities Incentive Grants Program.

According to Mr. Smith's testimony, "In the last 20 years, few education reforms have been as successful as charter schools, which have provided thousands of new public school choices to children and families who need them the most. While many public school districts around the country struggle to maintain their current students (particularly in inner cities), charter schools have grown exponentially since 1992, and demand continues to grow. We estimate that there are over 300,000 students on charter schools waiting lists."

Regarding teacher quality Mr. Smith states, "For charter schools, NCLB explicitly defers to state charter law regarding certification requirements. If a state does not require any charter teachers to be certified, NCLB does not impose that additional mandate. Fortunately, the discussion draft keeps this provision."

"The Alliance recommends that NCLB provide broader latitude to states in defining teacher quality, including allowing states to define core subjects. It should also encourage states to focus on teacher effectiveness instead of input-based qualifications. This shift will be facilitated by the move to an accountability system that includes student-level growth data, which should be the foundation for the definition of a "highly effective teacher."

3) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, met on September 9-11, 2007 in Columbus, OH. The State Board's School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, met on September 9, 2007 and continued discussions regarding how schools are funded in Ohio. The subcommittee is reviewing options to address several school funding issues, and anticipates developing recommendations which would become part of the State Board's 2010-2011 legislative and budget proposal.

President Sheets and Vice President Stewart presented to the Board on September 10, 2007 an overview of the Board Approved Priorities (BAP) for 2007-2008, and how they align with the work of the Board's Achievement and Capacity committees and the work of the other Board subcommittees.

The Board Approved Priorites were adopted at the July 2007 State Board of Education meeting, and provide a way for the Board to measure progress and outcomes to achieve the goals of the State Board's strategic plan -- to raise expectations, build capacity, and improve results. The BAP focus on Higher Achievement for All Students; Educator Quality and Effectiveness; Early Childhood Education; High Achieving Middle and High Schools; Modernization of School Funding and Resource Management; Education in the New Global Economy; and Creating a World Class Education System. A detailed description of the BAP is available at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/gd/templates/pages/ODE/ODEGoogleSearch.aspx?page=221&query=BAP%202007-2008&start=0&OriginatingURL=/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?Page=1.

According to President Sheets the State Board of Education has an opportunity to develop and implement policies to support a comprehensive seamless preK-16 education system, which will prepare children for the 21st Century. To accomplish this goal the Board will organize its work through the Achievement and Capacity Committees and several subcommittees, including the Quality Middle and High School, School Funding and Resource Management, and School Readiness subcommittees.

In addition, the Board has created two new subcommittees. The Education in the New Global Economy subcommittee, chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, will engage stakeholders, including representatives from business and industry, entrepreneurs, and post-secondary institutions, to identify the future skills and knowledge that students in Ohio will need to compete in the global economy.

Board members Eric Okerson and Carl Wick will chair a State Board of Education Coordination Committee to oversee the alignment of all committee work to achieve the Board's goals.

Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, is charged with developing a set of interconnected and comprehensive strategies to identify and implement best practices and recommendations proposed by the committees. These include legislative proposals, policy and budget recommendations, initiatives, etc.

An intensive session will be held at the annual June retreat (June 2008) to bring the committee work together, and develop policy and legislative recommendations for 2010-2011. President Sheets also announced the State Board of Education's schedule for future policy discussions:

-October 2007 - Implementation of initiatives to build the capacity of low-performing schools and districts and raise achievement for all students.

-November 2007 - Value added initiative, which will be implemented as part of Ohio's accountability system in 2007-2008.

-December 2007 - Early childhood education and an update on the implementation of the School Readiness Solutions Group's recommendations.

-January 2008 - Community Schools

-February 2008 - Educator quality and effectiveness to improve the quality and capacity of teachers and administrators.

-March 2008 - High achieving middle and high schools -April 2008 - Modernization of School Funding and Resource Management -May 2008 - Education in the New Global Economy

Following President Sheet's remarks, the Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, met on September 10, 2007.

The Capacity Committee heard an update on the implementation of the Ohio Regional Delivery System Structure; reviewed and approved Ohio Administrative Code Rules 3301-2-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, and 09, 11, and 13 (Personal Information Systems); and reviewed Rule 3301-24-05 (Adult Permits). The Capacity Committee also agreed to resubmit to the full Board a resolution first proposed in February 2007 regarding Educational Service Centers (ESC), but hold for a future discussion a proposal about payments for ESCs.

The Achievement Committee discussed and approved the Resolution of Intent to adopt Rule 3301-07-01, (Ethical Use of Tests); Rules 3301-13-01 to 06, and 3301-13-08 to 3301-13-11 (State Testing), and Rule 3301-13-07 (Testing Fairness and Sensitivity). These rules will be considered by the full Board at their December 2007 meeting.

The Committee heard a presentation on proposed changes to Rule 3301-51 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities). The proposed changes reflect recent changes in federal and state law, and some technical amendments. A resolution of intent will be considered by the Board in October 2007, and final adoption is scheduled for December 2007.

The Achievement Committee also heard an update on the status of requirements regarding physical education included in HB 119 (Dolan), including the development of physical education standards, employment of a consultant for physical education at the ODE, and documenting the number of physical education courses being offered in Ohio's public schools. The ODE will be asking school districts to complete a survey to determine the physical education course offerings. The Board will be asked in December 2007 to approve standard statements for physical education in order to comply with HB 119 (Dolan). Once these standards are adopted, a process will be initiated to develop benchmarks and indicators for physical education aligned to the standards statements.

The newly formed Education in the New Global Economy subcommittee, chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, met for the first time to discuss the charge of the subcommittee. The draft version of the subcommittee's charge called for the committee to pull together representatives of business, technology, industry, high education, and determine what Ohio students will need to know and do to achieve success in the future. The subcommittee members had a lengthy discussion about the charge and procedures for going forward, including how to gather and integrate research, data, and studies on this topic; how to reach out and include all stakeholders; and how to implement the findings. According to the proposed timeline, preliminary recommendations will be prepared for the June 2008 Board retreat, and final recommendations will be ready in December 2008.

On September 11, 2007 the State Board of Education heard a policy discussion led by Dr. Mitch Chester, Senior Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability, regarding the results of the 2007 State and Local Report Card; the challenges and strengths of the current state accountability system; and potential refinements and changes in Ohio's state accountability system for schools as a result of changes in federal and state laws.

According to Superintendent Zelman's report to the Board, "Ohio has now fully transitioned from proficiency testing to an aligned educational system of standards, curriculum, achievement tests and accountability. This is the fifth year of the new accountability system, which measures the progress of districts and schools based upon state indicators, the performance index, performance index improvement, and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals."

The following are some highlights from the presentation and discussion on the results of the Local Report Card:

-The Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) bar has been held flat for the past three years, but this year it will be raised. This will have an impact on schools and districts. Last year 181 districts met AYP; 283 had one subgroup miss AYP; 146 had more than one subgroup miss AYP.

-States must adopt a universal minimum group size for determining Adequate Yearly Progress, which is a federal requirement. Ohio now uses two minimum group sizes, 30 students and 45 students for special education. The Board is considering adopting 30 as the universal group size of students.

-Ohio's value added measure of student achievement for students in grades 4-8 in reading and math will be included on the State and Local Report Card results for the 2007-2008 school year. Districts and schools will receive a rating based on a value added composite scores. In November the Board will discuss the value added data and how the component will be integrated on future Local Report Cards. Adding this new calculation means that the report card will need to be redesigned.

-Ohio is committed to transitioning to a longitudinal graduation rate, which may affect the ratings of some schools and districts in the future. The new rate will incorporate data on students who graduate in four, five, or six years. The graduation rate is currently calculated using the previous year's data, so that students who graduate in August can be included in the calculation. During the two year phase-in to the new longitudinal rate, two rates will be calculated and published, but only one will count toward the report card rating. Next year the former rate will be counted, but in future years the new rate will be used on the Local Report Card.

-Ohio has added to the Local Report Card other measures of school and district quality, although these measures are not included in the overall rating for schools and districts. These measures were adopted by the Board last year, and include number students and percent taking the ACT and SAT national exams; the number of students who graduate with an honors diploma; and the number of students who participate in Advanced Placement, Career Tech, and Post Secondary Enrollment Options. The ODE tried this year to determine the number of students who completed the new Ohio Core graduation requirements, but that data was not reliable this year.

There is much variation in opportunities for students in Ohio to take challenging courses. Two-thirds of Ohio seniors take the ACT, but in three-fourths of Ohio's schools fewer than two-thirds of students participate; one-fourth of Ohio high schools have students participating in the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program; 39.1 percent of high schools have no students participating in Advanced Placement; and 16.6 percent of students graduated in 2005-06 with an honors diploma.

-The U.S. Department of Education has conditionally approved Ohio's proposal to incorporate growth in the calculation of adequate yearly progress.

-Discussions will continue about the Continuous Improvement (CI) designation on the report card. Districts can earn the CI designation in two different ways, which has caused some confusion. The CI designation is now used as a cap for districts and schools that have persistent achievement gaps for three or more years for two or more subgroups missing AYP, and also as a minimum designation for districts and schools that meet AYP. Several legislators are proposing that the AYP rating be decoupled from the overall rating of schools and districts.

-Discussions will continue regarding whether or not there is sufficient attention to students who are scoring above proficient, and if the weights to determine the Performance Index score are providing the proper incentive.

-Discussions will continue regarding indicators of school quality other than test scores.

-Five new tests were added in the 2006-2007 school year. This is the first year in which there has been a decline in the number of schools and districts receiving an excellent rating. 80 percent of districts are rated excellent or effective, and no districts are in academic emergency.

-There have been strong gains in math, but student performance on science and social studies assessments is lower than expected. Student performance on the Ohio Graduation Test are lower than last year, and the graduation rate has fallen slightly from 86.2 to 86.1 percent.

For more information about how Ohio's students are performing please visit the ODE website at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1

Following lunch the Board heard the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and public participation on agenda items. Representatives from the Switzerland of Ohio School District presented proponent and opponent testimony regarding the deconsolidation of the district. The Board then took action on 24 personnel items and on the resolutions included below:

State Board of Education Agenda for September 11, 2007.

9 - APPROVED - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-7-01, Standards for Ethical Use of Tests.

10 - APPROVED - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rule 3301-13-07, Fairness Sensitivity Review Committees.

11 - APPROVED - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rules 3301-13-01, 02, 03, 05, 06, 08, 10, and 11, and to amend Rules 3301-13-04 and 09 - Assessments.

12 - APPROVED - Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-19-01 and 3301-91-04 - National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

13 - APPROVED - Resolution of Intent to consider confirmation of the Norwood City School district's determination of impractical transportation of certain students attending St. Nicolas Academy, Cincinnati, a chartered nonpublic school, Hamilton County.

14 - APPROVED - Resolution to adopt a recommendation to the General Assembly for the establishment of a uniform minimum group size and the implementation of a growth model for the purposes of determining whether all local education agencies, public elementary schools and public secondary schools make adequate yearly progress.

15A- APPROVED - Motion to select Rob Hovis as delegate and Jane Sonenshein as alternate delegate to represent the State Board of Education at the 2007 NASBE Annual Conference.

32 - APPROVED - Resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and approve transfer of school district territory from the Zanesville City School District, Muskingum County, pursuant to Section 3311.24 of the Ohio Revised Code.

33 - APPROVED - Resolution of to rescind OAC Rule 3301-21-01 - Definitions.

34 - APPROVED - Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-24-01 - Definitions.

35 - APPROVED - Resolution of to adopt new OAC Rule 3301-25-09 - Two year school speech-language pathology student permit.

36 - APPROVED - Resolution to rescind OAC Rule 3301-27-02 for athletic trainers.

37 - APPROVED - Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-40-03, 05, 06 and 07 Nonpublic Schools Administrative Cost Reimbursement.

38- APPROVED - Resolution to confirm the Galion City School District's determination that it is impractical to transport certain students attending Mansfield St. Peter's School, a chartered nonpublic school, pursuant to Section 3327.01 of the Ohio Revised Code.

39 - APPROVED - Resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer to deny the request of the Marva Collins Preparatory School to be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program. NOTE: Forty-four families were notified before the school year started by the ODE about the purpose of this resolution.

40 -APPROVED - Resolution to approve the determination of the Ohio Department of Education that the St. John Nottinham Lutheran School should not be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program. NOTE: Eleven families were notified before the school year started by the ODE about the purpose of this resolution.

41A APPROVED by a vote of 14 to 3 - Resolution to deny the request to create the River Local, Beallsville Local, and Monroe Central Local School Districts from the territory of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District.

42- APPROVED - Resolution approving the appointment of J.C. Benton as the Director of the Office of Board Relations.

Two representatives from the Coalition for Public Education (CPE), Barbara Shaner and Andy Jewell, addressed the Board during public participation on nonagenda items on the topic of community school accountability and performance. The CPE is a statewide alliance of education, parent, and civic organizations interested in improving public education for Ohio's children, and increasing accountability to taxpayers. Ms. Shaner is Associate Executive Director for the Ohio Association of School Business Officials and serves as chairman of the CPE. Andy Jewell is a researcher at the Ohio Education Association, and has published over the past few years extensive reports on charter schools in Ohio.

Ms. Shaner's remarks focused on the report card results for charter schools; the differences in how charter schools are funded; and the current qualifications for charter school teachers and treasurers. She asked the Board and the ODE to better enforce accountability provisions for charter schools to prevent future academic failures and financial mismanagement, and, due to the differences in rules and law, issue annually a report on the performance of charter schools, so that the public can better understand the differences between charter schools and traditional public schools. Marking the ten year anniversary for charter schools in Ohio this year, Ms. Shaner told the Board, "We find a decade later, evidence shows that traditional public schools are still the best educational choice for Ohio children."

Teacher qualifications may contribute to the poor performance of charter schools, because current charter school law allows licensed teachers to teach in charter schools without certification in the subject area being taught. Also, charter school teachers with a substitute license are considered highly qualified, which is not the case in traditional public schools.

The qualifications for a fiscal officer also differ between charter schools and traditional public schools. Treasurers/CFO in traditional public schools must have a bachelor's degree in business, classes in school law and school finance, a 300 hour internship in a school district, implement an ongoing individual education professional development plan, and participate in at least 180 hours or the equivalent of continuing education before renewing their license after five years. The fiscal officer for a charter school may have a treasurer's license, or 16 hours of continuing education in accounting, 24 hours of training over the next year, and eight hours per year in subsequent years.

Mr. Jewell distributed a document entitled "Ten Years and Still Failing: An Analysis of Ohio Charter Schools - August 2007". According to his remarks, "When the State Report Card was released on August 14, glaring in its absence was any reference to the academic performance of charter schools. Ohio's charter school program is arguably the highest profile education reform initiative in the state over the past decade. Yet, the Department, once again, failed to make any mention of the return on a half-billion dollar annual investment. The performance of charter schools was buried among the ratings of over 3000 school buildings."

In an analysis of the Local Report Card data provided by the ODE, Mr. Jewell found the following about charter school performance:

-The majority, 57 percent, of charter schools remain in academic emergency or academic watch.

-Charter schools met 21 percent of Local Report Card standards.

-While 55 charter schools experienced a rating increase over their 2005-2006 Report Card, 68 received a lower rating for the 2006-2007 school year.

-Big 8 traditional schools outperformed competing charter schools on 27 of 28 state achievement tests.

-Among economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities, those attending traditional schools performed better than those enrolled in charter schools on all 28 of the state tests.

-All things equal, charter schools are losing ground academically.

Mr. Jewell asked the State Board and the ODE to conduct an "... objective and comprehensive study of the performance of Ohio's charter school program. Too much is at stake to continue to bury the return on a multi-billion dollar expenditure of public monies and to jeopardize the future of tens of thousands of Ohio schoolchildren."

The analysis of charter school performance based on the results of the Local Report Cards is available at http://www.ohea.org/GD/Templates/Pages/OEA/OEADefault.aspx?page=1

The State Board meeting then adjourned. For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

The next State Board of Education meeting is October 8-9, 2007.

4) More on NCLB

The reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) provides an opportunity for arts education advocates to inform their elected officials in Congress about the academic and social value of arts education for all students, and why it is so important to support arts education in the reauthorization of the law. Arts education advocates have developed several recommendations to strengthen the arts in schools, because research has shown that arts education has suffered as a result of the focus on mathematics and reading in NCLB.

The following recommendations have been submitted by Americans for the Arts to the U.S House and Senate committees working on the bill. Please use these talking points to inform your representatives in Congress about needed changes in the law. In addition, please share these recommendations with your colleagues, and ask them to include these recommendations in their professional organizations' correspondence regarding the reauthorization of NCLB.

Legislative Recommendations Strengthen Arts Education in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act - No Child Left Behind

*Retain the Arts in the Definition of Core Academic Subjects.

The federal government requires that a complete education for every child include rigorous instruction in all core academic subjects - a designation given to the arts in the No Child Left Behind Act.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2002, Title IX General Provisions, Part A Definitions, Sec. 9101 Definitions (11) CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS - The term "core academic subjects" means English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civic and government, economics, arts, history, and geography.

*Require Annual State Reports on Student Access to Core Academic Subjects.

Collecting and reporting the status and condition of arts education and other core academic subjects at the state level is critical to ensuring equitable access to a comprehensive education for all students.

Amend Title I., Part A , Subpart 1 Basic Program Requirements, Sec. 1111(h) State Plans to require states to collect and report annually comprehensive information about the status and condition of all core academic subjects for which challenging academic standards apply. Such information should include student enrollment, pupil/teacher ratios, amount of instructional time, budget allocation, teacher subject certification, full time equivalent teacher load, or other such measures chosen by the state to be significant in the subject area.

*Improve National Data Collection and Research in Arts Education.

The U.S. Department of Education's research efforts must be strengthened by systematically including the arts in studies conducted on the condition of education, practices that improve academic achievement, and the effectiveness of Federal and other education programs.

Amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, Public Law 107-279, Title III, Section 303 to require a National Assessment of Educational Progress in the Arts once every five years, in grades 4, 8, and 12.

Amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, to require the National Center for Education Statistics to collect and disseminate full and complete statistics on the condition and progress of education at the preschool, elementary, secondary, postsecondary, and adult levels in the United States in all core academic subject areas.

*Reauthorize the Arts in Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education

The Arts in Education programs of the U.S. Department of Education identify and support successful models of arts instruction, integration, and professional development, and support the leadership initiatives of VSA arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Reauthorize Title V, Part D, Subpart 15 Arts in Education, Sec. 551 Assistance for Arts Education, including findings recognizing the benefits of arts education and improving the dissemination of timely information about the impact and best practices resulting from projects funded through the Arts in Education programs.

FYI ARTS

The Columbus Museum of Art has issued a new website: www.artandsocialissues.com The site was developed in response to the museum�s newly acquired New York Photo League and Phillip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Arts, 1930-1970, the website has pages for teachers and students including artist biographies, art and history timelines, a glossary, and lessons plans. The museum is requesting your feedback. After you visit the website send your thoughts at �contact us� found on the site. Thank you.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 100^TH CONGRESS

3) POLICY MATTERS OHIO REPORT

4) NEWS FROM ODE

5) UPCOMING EVENTS AND CONFERENCES

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to hold sessions until October 2007. Some House and Senate committees are meeting this week, but the House and Senate Education Committees are not meeting.

2) 110th Congress:

*Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. continue to work on the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program known as SCHIP, which, without an extension, will expire on September 30, 2007. This program was created ten years ago as a state and federal partnership to provide health care for children from low-income families who do not qualify for Medicaid. Approximately

6.6 million children have been covered.

The U.S. House and Senate approved different versions of SCHIP bills in August 2007, and are working on compromise legislation that would expand the program to include four million more children. A vote on a compromise bill may come this week. However, the Bush administration issued in August new eligibility guidelines that limit who the program can serve, and President Bush has indicated that he would veto a costly expansion of the program, especially if it intrudes into private health care plans. For information about the proposed legislation please visit the Kaiser Family Foundation's web site.

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=47541

*Congress has approved one (Homeland Security) out of twelve FY08 appropriations bills that fund the federal government. As the September 30, 2007 end of the fiscal year approaches, lawmakers are considering approving temporary extensions of current FY07 spending levels so that the government can keep operating while compromise legislation is worked out. The U.S. House has approved all of the

FY08 appropriations, but the Senate has approved only four so far. The approved House and Senate versions increase discretionary spending, which President Bush has threatened to veto. It may not be until December when all of the appropriations bills are finally approved and signed into law. For information about the appropriations bills visit http://www.earmarks.omb.gov/by-tracking/summary.html and http://www.ombwatch.org/article/archive/86, and http://www.senate.gov/reference/Legislation/Appropriations/2008.htm.

3) Policy Matters Ohio Report: Policy Matters Ohio, Amy Hanauer president, released a report on September 9, 2007 called "The State of Working Ohio". Over the past 18 years Ohio's workers have experienced "...staggering increases in inequity; low job growth; rising productivity, hours and education; slight wage increases; modest progress on disparities; and slight unemployment declines."

For example, households in the bottom 60 percent income level experienced few real income gains, while those in the 95th to 99th percentile experienced income gains of nearly 24 percent ($40,000).

Households in the top one percent income level experienced more than 40 percent increase, from $698,000 in 1988 to $986,000 in 2006, earning over 26 times what middle-income households earned in 2006. There has also been a 21 percent loss in manufacturing jobs since 2001 and a 2.8 percent decrease in available jobs over the past six years. The report includes the following recommendations that have helped other states become more competitive:

-Invest in the future by enacting a renewable portfolio standard and putting in place universal pre-kindergarten and statewide all-day kindergarten.

-Create more opportunity by targeting economic development dollars wisely and getting a handle on development spending through a unified development budget.

-Construct on-ramps to the middle class by working with neighboring states to establish universal health care and giving all workers in Ohio the ability to earn paid sick days.

-Build and protect people's assets by blocking exploitative payday lending; restoring the non-economic damages provisions in the consumer sales practices act; and enacting a state Earned Income Tax Credit.

-Retain strong public structures by restoring the income tax cuts for Ohio's most affluent taxpayers and keeping public services public.

The report is available at http://www.policymattersohio.org/sowo_07.htm.

4) News from the ODE:

*The Ohio Department of Education urges teachers to register online at toolsforteachers@ode.state.oh.us. to receive "Tools for Teachers". This is an electronic mailing list that provides announcements and information on licensure, awards, recognition programs, scholarships, professional development, study opportunities, and classroom tools such as model lesson plans aligned to the academic content standards.

*The Ohio Department of Education in collaboration with the Educator Standards Board and the State Board of Education has produced "Standards for Ohio Educators". This book includes background information about the development of the educator standards, and sections on the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession, Ohio Standards for Principals, Ohio Standards for Professional Development, and tools for individual educators to become aware of how the standards can enhance their professional practice. For more information please visit the ODE web site on Ohio's Educator Standards at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=513&ContentID=8561&Content=36775

5) Upcoming Events and Conferences:

*October is National Arts and Humanities Month 2007: Americans for the Arts is once again coordinating activities for October's National Arts and Humanities Month. This is the largest nationwide celebration of the arts and humanities in America. To learn more about events and how to become involved, please visit http://www.americansforthearts.org/get_involved/visibility/visibility_002.asp

*Value Added Conference: Battelle for Kids is sponsoring the National Value-Added Conference "The Power of Two: Progress and Achievement" October 14-16, 2007, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The conference will provide information about value-added analysis and how this data can be used to improve teaching and learning. For more information visit http://www.battelleforkids.org/home/Events/Value_add2007.

*October 19, 2007 Organize! Ohio Statewide Gathering: On October 19, 2007 Organize! Ohio will sponsor a statewide gathering in Columbus, Ohio. Organize! Ohio is a statewide organization working to advance and encourage community organizing as a strategy for progressive change in Ohio. The event will be held at Broad Street Presbyterian Church at 760 East Broad Street from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and focus on issues and priorities in education, health care, human services, housing, consumer protection, social justice, and more. For information please visit http://www.organizeohio.org/

*The Ohio Art Education Association will hold its annual convention on November 1-3, 2007 in Dayton, at the Crowne Plaza Dayton, OH. This year's conference theme is "Art Speaks, from the Past, to the Present, for the Future." For more information please visit http://www.oaea.org/convention.html.

FYI ARTS

*PTA Start the Art Week: The National PTA is sponsoring a campaign to advocate for arts education in schools called "Start the Art" - Embrace the Arts! Celebrate the Arts! Advocate for the Arts!" The PTA is urging students, parents, educators, and community members on October 8-12, 2007 to take part in a weeklong celebration of the arts. Information and ideas for each day of the week can be found on the http://www.pta.org/local_leadership_subprogram_1181754612156.html>PTA Web site.

The importance and value of arts education in our public schools is also featured in the recent issue of PTA's bimonthly publication called "Our Children". Articles from this magazine are available at http://www.pta.org/pr_magazine_issue_details_1187298849687.html. Listed below are some of the ways suggested by the National PTA to bring parents into schools through the arts:

-Showcase students' talents in performances and art exhibitions. Post fliers and send e-mails, invitations, and letters inviting families to attend.

-Work with the school's art teacher to display student artwork throughout the school (in halls, offices, classrooms, etc.); then invite parents to tour the school and see the artwork. Ask teachers to talk to the visiting parents about how the art projects tie in with the children's learning in other subjects.

-Tap into the power of parents. Ask parents to serve as volunteers on PTA Start the Art Week committees and in arts classes.

-Organize productions and publications (plays, musicals, literary magazines, etc.) that employ the talents of both students and parents.

-Set up a volunteer-run arts resource center to provide families with information on available arts programs, volunteer opportunities in the arts, and arts advocacy efforts.

-The arts also offer opportunities to promote the value of all cultures in the school. Organize folklife and folk arts activities that allow students and families to share their cultures.

-Host a schoolwide international night. Set up booths for families to display artifacts, pictures, and books from and about their native countries. Also incorporate families' native foods, dance, music, and dress into the evening.

-Create a mural to celebrate your school's diversity. Provide the paints and banner paper, and invite all students and families to illustrate some aspect of their heritage for the mural.

-Translate invitations and informational materials into parents' primary languages.

*NAEP Arts Assessment: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) will conduct an assessment of selected eighth-grade students in music or visual arts January 28 through March 7, 2008. The last assessment of student achievement in the arts was conducted ten years ago. For more information please visit the NAEP home page at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/

*New Jersey Survey on Arts Education Released: The long awaited results of the New Jersey Arts Education Census Project were released on September 18, 2007. "WITHIN OUR POWER: The Progress, Plight, and Promise of Arts Education for Every Child" was designed to evaluate the state of arts education in New Jersey's K-12 public schools, but the process used, survey questions, and results can be used by other states to assess their own arts education programs in schools. The New Jersey Arts Education Census Project is a collaborative partnership of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Department of Education, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Music for All, and the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey. The participation rate in the survey was very high at 98 percent, due to the leadership and strong support for the survey from the Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells and New Jersey Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy. Data on charter schools was not included in this report, but will be included in a separate report to be released at a later date. The following are some of the findings of the survey:

-While 94% of our students have access to some arts education in their schools, the majority of New Jersey public schools fail to offer instruction in all four arts disciplines (Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Art).

-More than 75,000 students attend schools every day with no access to arts education.

-While 81% of schools have updated curricula to reflect the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards in the Visual and Performing Arts - 19% of schools have not.

-95% of all schools use appropriately certified arts specialists as the primary provider for music and visual arts instruction. But in theater instruction, no more than 59% of schools in any grade use appropriately certified arts specialists. In dance the percentage falls to 44%.

-Per-pupil arts spending (spending on materials and supplies) is a key factor in determining the level of visual and performing arts.

-Nearly 42% of the TOTAL spending on elementary arts education came from outside sources.

-Nearly 90% of New Jersey Public Schools interact with more than 1000 community arts organizations to enhance visual and performing arts in the schools.

The survey also included the following recommendations from the New Jersey Arts Education Census Project:

* We recommend that the New Jersey State Board of Education and the New Jersey State Department of Education continue to support the visual and performing arts as part of the nine core curriculum content standards areas and advance policies to ensure every child has access to arts education, and implement an accountability process to report on the implementation of these policies.

* We recommend that the New Jersey State Board of Education require schools to publicly report on an annual basis information regarding access to, level of participation in and quality of visual and performing arts education and that this information be included as part of a state accountability system.

* We recommend that school districts weight courses in the visual and performing arts equally with other courses worth the same number of credits in calculating a pupil's grade point average, not including advanced placement courses. We call on the New Jersey State Board of Education to take the appropriate actions to eliminate this barrier to participation in visual and performing arts courses.

* We recommend that the New Jersey State Department of Education, with the Census Project Partners, commence a review of schools where no arts instruction is available so information, policies and resources may be aligned to support the restoration of arts education in these schools. Closing the gap between those with access and those without must be a priority.

* We recommend school administrators ensure students have access to all four arts disciplines as part of a basic education as required by state code.

* We recommend that New Jersey state colleges and universities include visual and performing arts coursework in the high school GPA calculations used to determine eligibility for enrollment, and at least the equivalent of one year of instruction in the visual and performing arts be required for entrance in all institutions of higher learning.

* We recommend that school districts allocate a minimum of 5% of the total school budget to support visual and performing arts instruction.

* We recommend that the New Jersey Board of Education and the New Jersey Department of Education share the facilities finding with The New Jersey Schools Development Authority to ensure all new schools and additions to schools include the appropriate physical facilities to support instruction in the visual and performing arts, with particular attention to the proper facilities for dance and theater.

The complete report and the survey questions are available at http://www.artsednj.org

*The Columbus Museum of Art has issued a new website: www.artandsocialissues.com The site was developed in response to the museum�s newly acquired New York Photo League and Phillip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Arts, 1930-1970, the website has pages for teachers and students including artist biographies, art and history timelines, a glossary, and lessons plans. The museum is requesting your feedback. After you visit the website send your thoughts at �contact us� found on the site. Thank you.

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Monday, 10-01-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 10-01-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for October 1, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) NAEP REPORT CARD RELEASED

4) SHOW SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

5) UPCOMING EVENTS

6) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: Lawmakers are returning to Columbus this week for hearings and sessions. The Ohio House has canceled the October 2, 2007 session, but will hold session on October 3, 2007 at 1:30 PM. The Ohio Senate will hold sessions on October 2, 2007 and October 3, 3007 at 1:30 PM.

*Several House and Senate committees will also meet this week. The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will meet on Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear sponsor testimony on HB190 (Hite), which specifies dates for the administration of elementary achievement tests. The committee will also consider a substitute bill for SB57 (Coughlin), Special Education Scholarship Program. No testimony will be accepted on that bill.

*Robert Mecklenborg is expected to be appointed to the 30th House District seat when Representative Bill Seitz leaves for the Senate in early October. Representative Seitz is replacing Senator Patricia Clancy, who will resign from the Ohio Senate effective mid October.

*Two subcommittees of the State Board of Education will meet this week. The State Board of Education's School Funding Subcommittee will meet at 10:00 AM on October 2, 2007, and the New Global Economy Subcommittee will meet at 2:00 PM on October 2, 2007. Both meetings will be held at the State Library of Ohio, 274 E. First Ave., Columbus, OH 43201. For more information please contact ODE Press Secretary, Karla Carruthers at 614-728-2765.

2) 110th Congress:

*House Joint Resolution 52 was approved by both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate and presented to President Bush on September 28, 2007. This resolution continues appropriations for government departments, agencies, and services at current levels until November 16, 2007.

Lawmakers have been unable to approve the twelve appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008, which begins on October 1, 2007. This resolution will give Congress more time to work with the President on an agreement over funding levels.

*Both the U.S. House and Senate approved last week the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - HR 976, which expands the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bill has been presented to President Bush, who has threatened to veto it in the past. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override a veto, but the bill was approved by 265-159 votes in the House, which is 24 votes short of making it veto proof.

3) NAEP Report Released: Mark Schneider Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics, released on September 25, 2007 the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading and mathematics at the 4th and 8th grade levels. The scores are reported in two ways: scale scores that range from zero to 500, and achievement levels for basic, proficient, and advanced performance. Approximately 700,000 students participated in the assessments in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Department of Defense schools. The following are highlights of the overall findings:

Grade 4

-Both reading and mathematics scores increased since 2005, and there was an increase in the percentage of students performing at or above Basic and at or above Proficient.

-White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander fourth-grade students attained higher scores than their peers in 2005 in both subjects.

-The gap in scores between White and Black students narrowed in reading, but not in mathematics.

Grade 8:

-Scores increased in both subjects since 2005, and a higher percentage of students performed at or above Basic.

-The percentage of students performing at or above Proficient increased in mathematics only.

-Scores rose for White and Black students in both subjects and for Hispanics in mathematics.

-The White-Black score gap narrowed in mathematics.

Results for Reading

-The 2007 score in reading at the 4th grade was higher than in any previous assessment, and a higher percentages of students scored at or above Basic and at or above Proficient in 2007 than in any previous assessment.

-Since 2005, grade 4 reading scores increased in 18 states. No state showed a decline. Not all states participated in the 1992 NAEP assessment. But of the 42 that did, 25 showed higher average scores in 2007.

-The 2007 average scores in reading at the 8th grade level are 1 point higher than in 2005 and 3 points higher than in 1992. Increases occurred among lower- and middle-performing students, those performing at the 50th percentile or below.

-The achievement level percentages for students at or above Basic also show increases in 2007, compared to both 2005 and 1992. The percentage at or above Proficient and the percentage at Advanced showed no significant differences in comparison with either year.

-There were increases for White and Black students over both comparison years (2005 and 1992), but the gap between them did not change.

-The scores for Hispanic students were higher than in 1992, but not significantly different from 2005. Asian and Pacific Islander students and American Indian and Alaska Native students did not show increases over either comparison year for which data were available.

-There were few significant changes in scores for students classified according to family income. Scores for students who were eligible for free lunches did increase from 2003 to 2007, by 2 points.

-Since 2005, reading scores at grade 8 increased in six states-Texas, Florida, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Vermont, and Hawaii-and declined in two-North Dakota and Rhode Island.

Results for Mathematics

-The overall score for grade 4 in mathematics was higher than in any previous assessment, and was 27 points higher than the first assessment in 1990.

-The percentages of students in grade 4 at or above Basic and at or above Proficient are both higher than ever before. This was also true for the percentage at Advanced.

-There was improvement across the board in mathematics performance at grade 4 for White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian and Pacific Islander students, with increases of at least 1 point since 2005 and at least 27 points since 1990. There was no significant change in performance among American Indian and Alaska Native students.

-The mathematics score gap between White and Black students was narrower in 2007 than in 1990, but was not significantly different from 2005.

-Student performance at grade 4 in all income groups increased since 2003. This includes students eligible for free school lunches and reduced-price lunches, as well as those ineligible for the program.

-23 states had higher mathematics scores compared to 2005. None experienced a decline. All 42 states that participated in the 1992 state NAEP assessment had higher scores in 2007 than in 1992.

-The average mathematics score for grade 8 nationally was higher in 2007 than in any previous assessment. This is also true for the percentages of students at or above Basic, those at or above Proficient, and those at Advanced.

-The White-Black score gap at grade 8 was narrower in 2007 than in 2005, but was not significantly different from 1990.

-Average scores for students eligible for free school lunches and reduced-price lunches increased since 2003. Students not eligible for this program also scored higher than in 2003.

-State-level comparisons of eighth-grade mathematics performance in 2007 show that 26 states had higher scores compared to 2005, while none experienced a decline. Fifteen states had increased scores for both the fourth and eighth grades since 2005. Over the long term, all 38 states that participated in the 1990 state NAEP assessment had higher scores in 2007 than in 1990.

Results for Ohio

According to a press release issued by the Ohio Department of Education, "Ohio students again performed better than the national average on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in both fourth-and eighth-grade reading and mathematics this year. Ohio's overall scores increased in each of the four assessments. Black and Hispanic students achieved the largest gains, thus narrowing the gaps with white students."

-The average scale score in mathematics for Ohio students in the fourth grade was 245 compared to the national average of 239. The average scale scores for Indiana - 245; Michigan - 238; Kentucky - 235; Pennsylvania - 244.

-The average scale score in mathematics for Ohio students in the eighth grade was 285 compared to the national average of 280. The average scale scores for Indiana - 285; Michigan - 277; Kentucky - 279; Pennsylvania - 286.

-The average scale score in reading for Ohio students in the fourth grade was 226 compared to the national average of 220. Only students in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and New Jersey scored higher.

-The average scale score in reading for Ohio eighth grade students was 268 compared to the national average of 261. Only students in Massachusetts and Vermont scored higher.

For more information about NAEP results please visit http://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/commissioner/remarks2007/9_25_2007.asp For more information about NAEP results for Ohio please visit https://webapp1.ode.state.oh.us/cncs/

4) Show Support for Public Education: The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign and ProgressOhio.org are sponsoring a billboard contest called "We Support Public Education" to show support for public education and promote the positive aspects and achievements of public schools. Students, parents, educators, administrators, and community members are encouraged to submit billboard slogans that celebrate the good things happening in their public schools, which strive every day to educate all of our children. The deadline is October 4, 2007. For more information please visit http://www.progressohio.org/page/petition/ofsbillboard

5) Upcoming Events:

Leadership Conference: A one-day conference focusing on leadership called "A Gathering of Leaders" will be held on November 28, 2007 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM at the Columbus State Community College's Center for Workforce Development. The conference will explore the topic of leadership from a variety of perspectives, and cover issues such as personal and professional leadership skills, ethics and authenticity, and the impact of leadership on making policy decisions. Special guests include Dr. Margaret Wheatley, who specializes in understanding organizational behavior and is president of The Berkana Institute, a charitable leadership foundation.

The conference is presented jointly by Columbus State Community College and the Academy for Leadership & Governance, with support from Fifth Third Bank. For more information please call 614.228.7444, or visit www.TheJeffersonCenter.org

6) Bills Introduced:

HB326 (Gerberry) Higher Education: Requires state institutions of higher education to include coursework in government as a condition of awarding an undergraduate degree.

SB223 (Miller) Property Tax Rollback: Requires county auditors to make reasonable efforts to identify property owners wrongfully receiving the 2.5% property tax rollback.

FYI ARTS

*Ohio Educational Theatre Association is working with Educational Theatre Association and the Arts Education Partnership to sponsor a two-year project called "Ohio Critical Links Pilot Project." The goal of the project is to create local learning communities of educators who will actively measure the effectiveness of specific instructional practices and share these results with each other.

Twelve theatre teachers selected from throughout Ohio will meet during the 2007-08 school year to form a learning community, participate in the Critical Links process, and receive training on adapting and facilitating the inquiry process within their school district or region. During the second year of the project, the trained teacher-facilitators will form their own learning communities comprising educators from other arts fields within their school or district. Training will be conducted by Dr. Pamela Paulson and Cheryll Ostrom, the creators of the Critical Links Inquiry Process.

Additional funding and in-kind support are provided by the Ohio Arts Council and the University of Cincinnati. For more information please visit http://www.edta.org/connections/news/Default.aspx#critical

*Keep Arts in Schools features on its website an interview with Tony Sias, Executive Director of Arts Education, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), about CMSD's new initiative called "Art is Education". This program was developed by the Cleveland Integrated Arts Collaborative, a consortium of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and over 30 arts and cultural organizations spearheaded by Young Audiences of Northwest Ohio. This program establishes the arts as an essential component of the school district's standards-based literacy instruction in order to help students reach their fullest academic potential and foster learning in and through the arts.

To read this interview please visit http://www.keepartsinschools.org/Programs/Cleveland/AdvocateProfile.php

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Monday, 10-08-07 BACK
Arts On Line - 10-08-2007

SPECIAL NOTE: The deadline to register to vote for the November 6, 2007 general election is October 9, 2007. Applications for absentee ballots may be requested online from your board of elections, by phoning your board of elections, or may be picked-up at local libraries. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Saturday, November 3, 2007 at noon. An absentee ballot must be returned to your board of elections by 7:30 PM on the date of the election. A ballot postmarked by that date, but not delivered to the board of elections until after that date, will not be counted.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

4) EDUCATION NEWS BRIEF

5) NEW STUDY ON CHARTER SCHOOLS

6) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SUBMCOMMITTEES MEET

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will be holding sessions and committee hearings this week.

*The Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Cates, will meet on October 9, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the South Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on several bills, including sponsor testimony on SCR9 (Stivers) - Community Theatre Month, which would proclaim April as Community Theatre Month, to recognize the importance of community theatre in our society.

*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan, will meet on October 9, 2007 a 1:00 PM in room 313. The committee will hear testimony on several bills, including sponsor testimony on HB133 (Hughes) - Business Internships, which would grant tax credits to businesses that provide internships to students in Ohio colleges.

*The House Education Committee chaired by Representative Setzer will meet on October 9, 2007 at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-Pending referral - legislation regarding the Praxis III exam.

-HB271 (Patton) - Remedial coursework, which requires school districts to guarantee institution of higher education that their graduates will not require remedial coursework in specified subjects, or the district will cover the cost for remediation.

-HB254 (Peterson) Student nutrition, which establishes the Ohio Child Wellness Advisory Council, to establish nutritional standards for certain foods and beverages sold in public and chartered nonpublic schools.

*The Senate Education Committee chaired by Senator Padgett will meet on October 9, 2007 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear a presentation on the Achieve Report from the superintendent of public instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman. The committee will also hear testimony on SCR 18 (Padgett) - changes for Ohio's school accountability system - pending referral, and HB190

(Hite) - elementary achievement tests, which would provide additional time for school districts and charter schools to administer state achievement tests. A vote on a substitute bill is possible.

*The Capitol Square Review Advisory Board (CSRAB), William Carleton executive director and Gregg Dodd deputy director for communications, education, and events, unveiled this past week a new website for the Ohio Statehouse called "Come into the People's House." The new site features enhanced educational components for the general public, media, teachers, and students; an events calendar; improved navigability; and information about services, events, history, and the operations of the Ohio General Assembly. The updated website is available at www.ohiostatehouse.org.

2) 110th Congress: President Bush vetoed on October 3, 2007 the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act - HR 976 (SCHIP). SCHIP provides eligible families health coverage for their children. The bipartisan legislation increases funding to expand health coverage to more children. Advocates for the legislation expect that there will be a vote to override the veto. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override a veto, but the House may be short.

In the meantime, several states are taking legal action against the Bush administration's new rules for SCHIP. The rules were released in August 2007 by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and affect the ability of states to expand the program to cover more children. Joining in the lawsuit so far are New York, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, California and New Hampshire.

Ohio lawmakers recently expanded eligibility under SCHIP in the current budget (Am. Sub. HB 119 - Dolan) by proposing an amendment, which must be approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

3) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on October 8-9, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The State Board's Quality Middle and High Schools and School Funding subcommittees, met on October 7, 2007.

The Executive Committee, chaired by Jennifer Sheets, will begin its meeting at 8:30 AM on October 8, 2007.

The Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, will meet at 9:00 AM.

The Capacity Committee will discuss Rule 3301-23-44 (Temporary Licenses); Rule 3301-24-09 (Performance Based Licensure for Administrators); Rule 3301-44-09 (Post Secondary Enrollment Options); Rules 3301-48-01 and 02 (Open Enrollment); and discuss principal evaluation system, definition and criteria for Master Teacher, and hear an update on Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World - Class Education System.

The Achievement Committee will discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-04-01, (State Board Meeting Notice), a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-51 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities), discuss Rule 3301-51-15 (Gifted Education); discuss Chapter 3301-17 (accurate reporting of data), and receive an update on Physical Education Standards and Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World Class Education System.

The full Board will convene at 10:45 AM in the Conference Center to hear a presentation on Rules 3301-51 - Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities, and a System for School Leadership. The Board will break for lunch at noon.

The Board will convene at 1:00 PM to hear an update on initiatives in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). At 2:00 PM the Board will discuss HB9 - Model Public Records Policy. Legislative liaisons, John Bender and Carl Wick, will then provide an update on State and Federal legislation, and the chairs of the Executive, Achievement, and Capacity Committees will provide an update of their work to the full Board. The Board will then review two written reports - Ohio School for the Blind/Ohio School for the Deaf New Facility Status Report, and the Quarterly Budget Report, and resolutions to be considered during their business meeting on October 9, 2007.

At 3:45 PM Board members will provide updates on committee and subcommittee work. The Board will then adjourn at 4:30 PM.

The subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, will meet from 4:45 to 6:30 PM.

On October 9, 2007 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:30 AM with a policy discussion "Higher Achievement for All Students." The business meeting will begin at 10:45 AM, and the Board will immediately convene into executive session.

Following lunch at noon, the Board will reconvene its business meeting at 1:00 PM. The Board will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, public participation on agenda items, and take action on 13 personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then accept public participation on non-agenda items and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is November 12-13, 2007.

State Board of Education Agenda for October 9, 2007.

- Resolution of Intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules 3301-02-01-03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information Systems) and adopt Rules 3301-02-13 (Contact if Unauthorized Access of Personal Information Occurs).

- Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01, (Notice of Meeting).

- Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure).

- Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt new OAC Rules 3301-51-01 and 3301-51-09 and rescind and adopt new Rule 3301-51-11 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities).

- Resolution to adopt Master Teacher Definition of Section 3319.61 (F) (5) of the Revised Code.

- Resolution to adopt a recommendation to the General Assembly to eliminate the January 1, 1997 deadline for city/county educational service centers' contracts to be in effect, thereby allowing funding for agreements that have been in place since that date.

- Resolution to approve the 2002 EHOVE Joint Vocational District Board of Education's Resolution modifying its plan to reflect the merger of the Erie, Huron, and Ottawa County Boards of Education into the Erie, Huron, Ottawa Educational Service Center, and reallocate the seats on the EHOVE Board of Education.

- Resolution to adopt a Public Records Policy pursuant to Section 149.43(E)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code.

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

4) Education News Briefs:

*The October 1, 2007 issue of "State Budgeting Matters" by Dick Sheridan discusses higher education funding and the changes in the recently approved FY08-09 state budget (Am. Sub. HB 119 - Dolan) that affect institutions of higher education. Visit http://www.communitysolutions.com/ for more information.

*The Ohio Department of Education, Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education, in collaboration with the Ohio Board of Regents, will hold hearings in October on a draft of Ohio's five year plan for career-technical education. All states are required by the federal Carl D. Perkins Act of 2006 to develop plans in five areas for career-technical education: Program Administration, Special Populations, Accountability/Evaluation, Tech Prep and Financial Requirements. A draft of Ohio's plan will be shared and public comment taken during the hearings. The hearings will be held from 9:00 AM to noon at the following locations:

Oct. 22 - Barberton High School (Theatre), 555 Barber Road, Barberton; Oct. 23 - Vanguard-Sentinel Technology Center (W. David Carr Auditorium/Lecture lab), 1220 Cedar Street, Fremont; Oct. 24 - Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (Conference Center, third floor of main building), 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati; Oct. 25 - Delaware Area Career Center, South Campus (LGIA Room), 4565 Columbus Pike, Delaware; and Oct. 26 - Shawnee State University (Clark Memorial Library, Flohr Lecture Hall, first floor), 940 Second Street, Portsmouth.

For more information and directions to the hearings, please visit www.ode.state.oh.us and keyword search: Perkins IV.

*Included in the state's biennial budget (Am. Sub. HB 119) was a requirement for school districts, community schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to complete a survey regarding the provision of physical education in grades kindergarten through eighth grade for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years. This survey has been distributed to Ohio's schools and must be completed by October 31, 2007. The results will be shared with the Ohio General Assembly to inform policies regarding physical education instruction.

*The eighth annual Ohio School Improvement Institute will be held November 15-16, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. This year the institute will focus on middle and high school transformation. Scheduled speakers include First Lady Frances Strickland; Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of public instruction; Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents; and representatives of the KnowledgeWorks and Hope Foundations. The institute will feature more than 60 breakout sessions and 30 roundtable discussions. The registration deadline is November 2, 2007. For more information please visit the Ohio Department of Education's website at www.ode.state.oh.us.

*The Ohio Department of Education announced on October 5, 2007 that 194 schools will be recognized this year as Schools of Promise. These are schools that met or exceeded state standards in either reading, mathematics, or both for all groups of students, and also had a poverty rate of more than 40 percent. There was an increase in the number of schools that qualified this year for this recognition, from 117 in 2006 to 194 in 2007. The number of districts represented also increased from 71 districts to 116.

5) New Study on Charter Schools Released: "Achievement and Behavior in Charter Schools: Drawing a More Complete Picture" by Scott A. Imberman (September 2007) includes the results of a study of the impact of charter schools in a large urban school district on student discipline, attendance, and retentions compared to test scores. According to the abstract of the study, "Using individual fixed-effects analyses I find that charter schools generate improvements in student behavior and attendance but the effects on test scores differ by subject. While I find evidence of selection into charter schools based on changes in outcomes, these results change little after applying interrupted panel strategies. Using Kyriazidou's (1997) estimator, I also find that the results are robust to adjustments for endogenous attrition. Finally, I find little evidence that charter schools generate long-term benefits if students return to non-charter schools."

To read this study please visit http://www.ncspe.org/list-papers.php

6) SBE Subcommittees meet:

*The State Board of Education's School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, met on October 2, 2007 at the State Library in Columbus. The subcommittee has been reviewing the historical and current methods for financing Ohio's public schools, and reviewing "options" that the State Board of Education may select to address specific school funding issues. The subcommittee expects to complete its work in time to include its school funding recommendation in the State Board of Education's legislative and budget recommendations for FY10-11.

At the October 2, 2007 meeting Kelly Weir, Paolo DeMaria, and Barbara Mattei-Smith led a discussion of the history of the state base cost amount, and how it is currently being determined, including an explanation of the Building Blocks methodology. In the afternoon the subcommittee discussed how much the state spends for education compared to other state budget responsibilities, the rate of growth in state funding, revenue options, and how Ohio's tax policies compare with other states.

During the morning discussion the subcommittee reviewed the history of the base cost amount starting in FY94 when the base cost amount was $1835. The base cost is the amount of state and local revenue that is available to educate the typical student. School districts and charter schools receive additional funds to support special education, gifted education, transportation, poverty based assistance, etc. Currently the base cost is $5,565 and will increase to $5,732 in FY09. The subcommittee then reviewed the following options A-G regarding base cost:

A - Make no changes in the current system regarding the base cost, but provide some sort of inflationary increase.

B - Conduct a new study utilizing one or a combination of methodologies, such as professional judgment, successful schools, and evidence based.

C - Modify the current method by changing the building blocks or adding to the building blocks.

D - Add or modify features that impact the total base cost determination by analyzing district characteristics such as cost of doing business or enrollment.

E - Eliminate the base cost and adopt a unit-based formula or a school funding formula based on the needs of each district.

F - Establish an incremental method of increased funding based and see if performance improves.

G- Tie increases in the base cost to increases in statewide or district performance.

Other options may be proposed as the subcommittee continues its discussion. One interesting discussion centered around how state funds would be determined and distributed if the base cost was eliminated, and school districts and schools received state funds based on individualized formulas.

The subcommittee also reviewed the percentage of state funds allocated for education, the rate of growth in state funds, tax policies and education, and how Ohio's tax policies compare with other states. In recent years the percentage of the state budget dedicated to education has remained stable, although the amount of funds raised through the lottery has decreased from sixteen percent in the 1990s to eight percent in 2006-07. The subcommittee then reviewed and discussed the following options A-K regarding the percentage of state revenue and sources of state revenue for education:

A - Make no change. Leave the current system alone. The state would provide funding through computed formulas from a combination of General Revenue and Lottery funds.

B - Fund education 100 percent with state funds. This option could lead to a statewide property tax in order to capture the capacity of the property tax to raise funds.

C - Earmark certain taxes or the percentage of revenue raised through certain taxes for education. This option is included in a school funding proposal developed by Ohio Senator Schuring.

D - Increase the income tax and direct the increased revenues to education. The General Assembly has consistently reduced the income tax over recent years. In FY08 the income tax will generate $9.1 billion. It would require an increase of over 10 percent to raise another $1 billion.

E - Increase the sales tax and direct the increased revenue to education. Ohio's current state rate is 5.5 percent. A one cent increase in the sales tax generates over $1 billion.

F - Enact a statewide property tax. This option could reduce the inequity in the distribution of property wealth and revenue raised through property wealth.

G - Tax only new business property at the state level to equalize the distribution of property wealth in the state.

H - Develop other specialized sources of revenue, such as gambling. This option has a problem because specialized sources typically raise a small amount of revenue, raise constitutional questions, and are politically charged.

I - Increase the CAT tax for education. The Commercial Activity Tax is being phased in to replace the Corporate Franchise Tax. In the recently approved budget (HB 119 - Dolan) 70 percent of the CAT was earmarked for education starting in FY 2019 to compensate for the phase-out of the tangible personal property tax.

J - Adopt a tax package that would increase in response to some trigger, such as performance.

K - Adopt a triggered percentage increase or growth increase in base cost or other funding component.

Again, there may be other options or combinations of options that the subcommittee eventually develops. At this time subcommittee members agreed to continue discussions, and think about eliminating certain options.

*The State Board of Education's Subcommittee on Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, also met on October 2, 2007. Dr. Steve Millett explained that the subcommittee has adopted the acronym EDGE, which stands for Education in the New Global Economy. The subcommittee agreed to the following charge:

"The task of the Subcommittee is to engage industry, businesses of all sizes, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, government, institutions of post-secondary education, and the general public to identify the knowledge and skills required by Ohio students to be better prepared and more productive in the highly competitive environment of the new global economy from the present to 2020. The subcommittee shall provide the State Board of Education with policy recommendations and an implementation plan addressing standards, assessment and student achievement designed to improve the economic competitiveness of Ohio students."

The subcommittee agreed that it would make an interim report to the State Board in June 2008 and final recommendations by December 2008.

During the discussion members of the subcommittee agreed to clarify and define terms, such as global economy and globalization, and identify economic and demographic trends and issues that will impact student preparation for the future. Members also recommended involving the Ohio School Boards Association, Career-Technical Advisory Councils, business advisory councils, the Ohio Department of Development, Business Roundtable, economists, and others to help gather primary data on Ohio employment needs for the future. During the discussion subcommittee members also cautioned about not forgetting the importance of creativity, innovation, and cultural understanding in developing the knowledge and skills for the future, and making sure that creative endeavors such as the arts and music are not eliminated.

The EDGE subcommittee will meet next on October 8, 2007 at 4:45 PM at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

7) Bills Introduced:

-HB336 (Dyer) Absentee Voter's Ballots. Permits absentee voter's ballots and armed service absentee voter's ballots contained in envelopes that are postmarked prior to election day to be counted if received within ten days after election.

-HB341 (Dodd) Nutritional/agricultural education. Establishes the healthy farms and healthy school grant program for the purpose of providing grants to schools to establish nutrition education and agricultural education programs for kindergartners.

-HB342 (Peterson) Child Care. Revises the law governing child care.

FYI ARTS

*OhioDance Annual Conference - Dance Matters: Speaking of Moves: Celebrate dance in Ohio at OhioDance's 31st Annual OhioDance Festival called "Dance Matters: Speaking of Moves" with guest speaker Claire Porter. The OhioDance Festival will be held Friday, March 7, 2008 through Sunday, March 9, 2008 in Columbus, OH. The Festival is co-sponsored by the Ohio State University Dance Department.

OhioDance Festival classes, workshops, panel discussions, and auditions will be held at the OSU Dance Department located at 1813 High Street, in Sullivant Hall. Classes will be held from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM on March 7, 2008 and all day Saturday, March 8, 2008. An audition will be held Sunday, March 9, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Showcase will be held on Saturday evening, October 8, 2008 at 7:30 PM, in Sullivant Theater; 1813 High Street.

The annual OhioDance Awards will be presented at the Luncheon on Saturday, March 8, 2008 from 11:45 PM - 1:00 PM. This year the OhioDance award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of the Dance Artform will be presented to Kevin Ward, Artistic Director with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. The award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Dance Education will go to Louise Guthman, Associate Professor Emerita, OSU's Department of Dance.

Registration information is available on the web at www.ohiodance.org/festival.html.

*A study released in March 2007 by the Texas Coalition for Quality Arts Education and the Texas Music Educators Association found that schools in which students have a higher participation rate in fine arts receive higher academic ratings and have lower dropout rates. The study also found that schools with the lowest dropout rates had on average 52 percent of their students enrolled in fine arts class, and schools with higher student enrollment in fine arts reported higher attendance rates. According to a press release, "Fine arts education helps students develop necessary creative skills that can prove to be the cornerstone of success in a variety of professions. Creativity will prove as essential as literacy in preparing students to succeed in the 21st century workforce." A press release and more details of the study are available at http://music-for-all.org/WME/documents/TexasArtsStudy.pdf

*The Airborne Teacher Trust Fund provides grants for elementary and middle school teachers to sponsor programs in the arts and music in schools that are unable to support them. The maximum grant is $10,000. The deadline to submit a proposal is October 31, 2007. For information please visit http://www.airbournetrust.com/index.asp.

# # #

Monday, 10-15-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 10-15-2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) THIS WEEK AT THE STATEHOUSE

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

4) NEW POLL RELEASED ON VOTER ATTITUDES TOWARD SCHOOL

5) PRIVATE V�S PUBLIC EDUCATION

6) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions and committee meetings this week.

Last week Bill Seitz took the oath of office in the Ohio Senate to become the representative of the 8th Senate District, replacing Senator Patricia Clancy who resigned from the Senate on October 9, 2007. The Senate also approved SCR 19 (Niehaus) - State Children's Health Insurance Program, which urges Congress to reauthorize the SCHIP program in a way that enables Ohio to expand its program, per HB 119 (Dolan).

In the Ohio House, Cincinnati attorney Robert Mecklenborg took the oath of office to become State Representative of the 30th House District, replacing Bill Seitz.

2) This Week at the Statehouse:

*The Ohio Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Cates, will meet on October 16, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the South Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on several bills, including SCR9 (Stivers) - Community Theatre Month, which would proclaim April as Community Theatre Month, to recognize the importance of community theatre in our society.

*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Dolan, will meet on October 16, 2007 a 1:00 PM in room 313. The committee will hear testimony on several bills, including testimony on HB133 (Hughes) - Business Internships. This bill grants tax credits to businesses that provide internships to students in Ohio colleges.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will meet on October 16, 2007 at 2:30 PM or after session in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The Committee will consider the appointment by Governor Strickland of Tom Fries, Sr., Dublin, to the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board and Barbara Gould, Cincinnati, to the Ohio Arts Council.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on October 16, 2007 at 4:00 PM in room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB 348 (Peterson) - Special Education Scholarship Pilot. Creates a pilot voucher program for certain students who participate in special education programs.

-HB 347 (Setzer) Professional Educator License. Replaces the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license.

-HB326 (Gerberry) Higher Education. Requires state institutions of higher education to include coursework in government as a condition of awarding an undergraduate degree.

*The Senate Education Committee chaired by Senator Padgett will meet on October 16, 2007 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SCR 18 (Padgett) - changes for Ohio's school accountability system, and HB190 (Hite) - elementary achievement tests, which would provide additional time for school districts and charter schools to administer state achievement tests.

A vote on a substitute bill is possible.

SCR 18 (Padgett) includes a recommendation of the Ohio Department of Education to change Ohio's accountability system for public schools. It allows districts and schools to apply a growth model of targeted proficiency to the standards for meeting federal adequate yearly progress (AYP), and establish a standard minimum subgroup of 30 students for calculating the proficiency rate component of AYP.

*The Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Grendell will meet on October 17, 2007 at 10:15 AM in the North Hearing Room to hear testimony on HB142 (Batchelder) - School Threat -- requires the Highway Patrol to provide emergency assistance to schools confronted with a bomb threat, and HB181 (Setzer) - School Records -- requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children, and notify law enforcement of requests for those records.

*The Senate Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee, chaired by Senator Coughlin, will meet on October 17, 2007 at 2:30 PM in the South Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SB232 (Stivers) Child Care - Revises the law governing child care.

3) State Board of Education (SBE): The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, met on October 8-9, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The State Board's Quality Middle and High Schools and School Funding subcommittees, met on October 7, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.

*The Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee, chaired by Carl Wick, discussed the following topics:

-Non-test indicators for high school on the Local Report Card (LRC). The non-test indicators that are now being reported on the LRC provide some additional information about the rigor of the high school education program. According to the 2006-07 data, 39.1 percent of schools have no students participating in Advanced Placement courses and 14 high schools have between 1-30 students taking the ACT exam.

-Proposed new rule for nonpublic student participation in the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program. This draft rule - Ohio Administrative Code 3301-44-09 - outlines the process that students attending nonpublic schools would follow to participate in the Post Secondary Enrollments Options Program.

-Ohio Schools to Watch, Reaching for the Stars program. This is a recognition program for middle grade schools. Applicants must meet Adequate Yearly Progress requirements and contain at least one of the grades 6, 7, or 8. Fourteen schools have been recognized in Ohio to date. For more information please visit www.ode.state.oh.us and search "Ohio Schools to Watch."

*The School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, discussed the components of the SF-3 Report in addition to base cost, such as poverty based assistance, parity aid, special education and career tech weights, gifted education, transportation, etc. The committee also discussed options for determining the state and local shares of funding schools in Ohio. The following options were discussed:

A. Make no change in the system. Keep the charge-off at 23 mills.

B. Eliminate shared responsibility. Send the same amount per pupil in state funds to every district. (100 percent state funded.) A state-wide property tax may need to be implemented to replace local property taxes.

C. Use income as the measure of local fiscal capacity rather than property valuation. The wealth of business, industry, etc. would need to be considered.

D. Adjust property value by income.

E. Divide the chargeoff into a business component and residential component.

F. Tier the chargeoff so that higher wealth districts contribute more.

G. Incorporate multiple factors into the chargeoff. These factors could include property valuation, income capacity, tax effort, or other variables to make the calculation of the local contribution fairer.

H. Fix the dollar amount of the chargeoff for each district and increase the amount by an inflator.

On October 8, 2007 the State Board of Education's Executive Committee, Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, met at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

*The Capacity Committee discussed Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-23-44 (Temporary Licenses); Rule 3301-24-09 (Performance Based Licensure for Administrators); Rule 3301-44-09 (Non-Public Schools - Post Secondary Enrollment Options); Rules 3301-48-01 and 02 (Open Enrollment). The committee also discussed an evaluation system for principals, the definition and criteria for Master Teacher, and heard an update on Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World - Class Education System.

*The Achievement Committee discussed and approved a resolution of intent to adopt Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-04-01, (State Board Meeting Notice), a resolution of intent to adopt Rule 3301-51 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities), discussed Rule 3301-51-15 (Gifted Education); discussed Chapter 3301-17 (accurate reporting of data), and received an update on Physical Education Standards and Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World Class Education System. The following are highlights of the discussion:

-The full Board will have a discussion about the proposed changes in the Rules for Gifted Education at their November 2007 meeting.

-During the discussion about the proposed Special Education rules, Mr. Greg Maloney explained that paragraph (I)(2)(g)(iii) of rule 3301-51-09 - Delivery of Services had been removed. This paragraph describes the disability categories that may be served by an intervention specialist serving multiple categories of children with disabilities. The proposed language in this paragraph had raised some concern among stakeholders, and so it was removed. This issue will be included in a working group that will also look at case loads and ratios.

-New rules are also being proposed for reporting data: Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapter 3301-17. These rules are required through division (L) of section 3301.0714 of the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) in Am. Sub. HB 119. These rules outline a sanctioning process for districts and entities, such as community schools, that fail to report required educational data to the ODE. The progressive sanctions, including fiscal sanctions, can be applied for those that report incomplete or inaccurate data; report data that do not conform to data requirements and descriptions published by the Department; fail to report data in a timely manner; or otherwise do not make a good faith effort to report the required data. The burden of proof shall be on the school district or educational reporting entity to demonstrate that it made a good faith effort to report data as required by section 3301.0714 of the ORC.

These rules will be presented on November 2, 2007 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Bethel United Methodist Church, 1220 Bethel Rd. in Columbus, and are available at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us./gd/templates/pages/ODE/ODEGoogleSearch.aspx?page=221&query=proposed%20data%20integrity%20rule&start=0&OriginatingURL=/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?Page=1

-Dr. Stan Heffner, Association Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update to the committee about the development of an end-of-course Algebra II exam. Ohio has joined fourteen states in developing a common core of learning objectives for Algebra II and developing an exam. The exam was field tested last week in Ohio among 36,974 students from 203 districts, and participants from the other fourteen states. The next step includes the development of a standard and cut score for the exam. An operational version of the exam will be available for use in 2008.

*The State Board also heard a presentation on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) presented by David Burns, Director of Secondary School Reform; Stan Heffner, Associate Superintendent; Bradford Findell, Director of Mathematics Initiative; and Constance Barsky, Director of Science Initiative. The presentation included information about the following:

-Policy considerations: Some of the policy decision discussed included equity and access for all students to learning opportunities in STEM; improved curriculum; economic and workforce development; and informed citizenry. One of the issues to be debated is how Ohio's standards compare with international standards.

According to David Burns, STEM needs to be open and accessible to all students, and there must be multiple pathways to access STEM. This "...opens the door for the arts to be a part of the education process."

-Funding for STEM initiatives at the state and federal levels: The America COMPETES Act, recently approved by Congress, provides $33.6 billion for STEM research and education programs; $22 billion is available nationally from the National Science Foundation; and $2.7 billion from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

At the state level funding for STEM is available through STEM Programs of Excellence ($3.2 million); STEM Grants ($3 million); Mathematics Initiatives ($2.6 million), and other initiatives. Also available are foundation grants (Gates-Battelle); private grants (National Governors Association STEM grant); and 3rd Frontier cluster grants.

-Performance of Ohio students in math and science: 38 percent of first year college students took remedial courses in math or English in FY2003-2004.

-Student enrollment in math and science courses: More than 20 percent of Ohio high school seniors do not take a math course. In 2005-2006 30 percent of high school students took biology; 15 percent chemistry; 6 percent physics; and 3 percent Advanced Placement.

-Strategies for improving student achievement in math: Analyze the challenges, clarify the standards, and emphasize access for all students; improve the curriculum through the program models; provide professional development; and improve assessments, such as the Algebra II end of course exam. Examine, for example, the 5th grade dip in student scores on the Ohio Achievement Test in math, and look at instruction, the content of 5th grade standards, and the difficulty of the exam.

-Strategies for improving student achievement in science: Enhance teacher competence; improve classroom instruction through the Instructional Management System, a toolkit, and science program models; and promote inquiry-based science. The complexity of the science disciplines, which include distinct content areas of biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, etc., adds to the challenge to improve student results in science. Partnerships have been developed with institutions of higher education to help improve teacher content knowledge and classroom instruction, especially in inquiry based instruction.

-Critical Transition: National Governors Association grant to create STEM centers in Ohio; and an application of the federal Perkins Act, which includes incentives for secondary schools to redesign curriculum to provide students with skills for the 21st Century.

*Legislative liaison Carl Wick provided an update on state and federal legislation. The ODE legislative staff shared with the SBE fourteen legislative recommendations that address certain accountability issues regarding community schools. These recommendations could become part of SB 141 (Padgett) which focuses on community school accountability. The State Board also discussed a legislative recommendation regarding tuition payments for all day Kindergarten; adding the growth model and minimum class size to Ohio's accountability system (SCR 18 - Padgett); and adjusting Ohio's current system of ranking districts, which could be included in HB 190 (Hite) - Achievement Tests.

*The subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, discussed their workplan and next steps to gather information about the knowledge and skills that Ohio students will need to be competitive in the 21st Century. The subcommittee also began a discussion about the definition of global economy, globalization, and competitiveness for the global economy.

On October 9, 2007 the State Board participated in a policy discussion on the topic, "Higher Achievement for All Students" led by Mitch Chester, Senior Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability; Stephen Barr, Associate Superintendent, Center for School Improvement; and Mary Lou Rush, Executive Director, Center for Students, Families and Communities.

Also participating in the presentation were Don Washburn and Bob Reece, who provided information about "Measure Up", which is an online web site, that provides a more in-depth analysis of data included on the Local Report Card for school buildings and districts. "Measure Up" was developed by the Ohio State Center for Special Needs Populations in collaboration with the ODE, Office for Exceptional Children; the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators; and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.

The presentation was divided into three parts: a review and analysis of the data; research-based effective intervention initiatives, tools, and strategies; and personalized education plans.

Mitch Chester provided an overview of student achievement in Ohio starting in 2004 for math and reading at the 3rd and 8th grade levels. Even though the data shows some stagnation, progress is being made in closing the achievement gaps for subgroups of students. However, 429 districts did not meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) in 2006-2007 school year, compared to 417 districts in 2005-2006. This may be due to an increase in the number of tests that now count toward AYP.

Two studies have recently been published that analyze and compare state accountability systems for education. "The Proficiency Illusion" published in October 2007 by the Fordham Foundation, concludes that Ohio's proficiency standards are among the lowest of 26 states studied. According to Mitch Chester, there are some concerns regarding the methodology that was used to make the comparisons, because it is based on the results of a test that few school districts in Ohio use.

The other study published in June 2007 by the National Center for Educational Statistics, "Comparing State Proficiency Standards Using NAEP", places Ohio in the middle of comparisons of state standards compared to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) standards in 4th and 8th grade reading and math. This analysis of state standards in reading and math compared to state results showed that state standards are not related to students' performance on NAEP.

The results for the NAEP in 4th and 8th grade reading and mathematics were released on September 25, 2007. Ohio students performed better than the national average on the NAEP in both fourth-and eighth-grade reading and mathematics, and Ohio's overall scores increased in each of the four assessments.

Stephen Barr presented information about the strategies and resources that are available to Ohio schools and districts to increase student achievement. A Tri-Tier Model of School Improvement Support is currently used by the ODE to provide school districts with supports to improve student achievement based on their report card status, such as academic emergency, watch, school improvement, effective or excellent. All districts receive Tier 3 supports and resources, such as Data Driven Decisions for Academic Achievement (D3A2), Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plans (CCIP), Comprehensive System of Learning Supports, Measure Up, and more. Additional supports and resources are provided to districts and schools through Tier 2 targeted services, such as assistance to build leadership capacity, professional development, and technical assistance. Intensive services through Tier 1 are provided to schools and districts in "school improvement status". These services include frequent onsite technical assistance focusing on data analysis, planning, research-based practices, resource management, professional development, and monitoring progress.

Mary Lou Rush provided more information about the guidelines for a Comprehensive System of Learning Supports (CSLS), which were adopted by the State Board in July 2007, and help schools and districts focus services and resources on individual students who are not making progress. These voluntary guidelines call for the development of individual learning plans based on value-added data for students. The Akron Public Schools are using these guidelines to develop individual plans for students. Academic and nonacademic barriers are to be addressed in the individual student plans, and schools and districts are encouraged to engage social service and health agencies in their communities to help address individual student needs. A model system that links academic and nonacademic services to help students achieve in school has been developed in Scotland.

State Board members expressed a variety of opinions and suggestions during the two and a half hour presentation. One discussion focused on whether or not the Comprehensive System of Learning Supports addresses the needs of students who are already performing above proficient. A component must be included in the overall framework in order for schools and districts to pay attention to students who are already proficient, and should be accelerated.

Some members expressed opinions supporting the personalized learning plan for students, while others expressed caution before going forward. The State Board has embraced this concept already through its priorities, but the concept needs to be discussed in the community, and schools and districts must have the capacity -- resources, personnel, and professional development -- to make it work. In addition, in order for the plans to be successful, schools and communities must work together to link social and health services to families when needed. This will take a new way of doing business for agencies and their funders. Concerns were raised about privacy and intrusiveness, and the harm that could happen if students are categorized.

Future Board policy discussions have been scheduled for November - Value Added; December - Early Childhood Education; January - community schools; February - educator quality and effectiveness; March - high achieving middle and high schools; April-modernization of school funding and resource management; May - education in the new global economy.

The Board convened its business in the afternoon. After hearing the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Board took action on 13 personnel items and the resolutions included below.

State Board of Education Agenda for October 9, 2007.

Approved #4 - Resolution of Intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules 3301-02-01-03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information

Systems) and adopt Rules 3301-02-13 (Contact if Unauthorized Access of Personal Information Occurs).

Approved #5 - Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01, (Notice of Meeting).

Approved #6 - Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure).

Approved #7 - Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt new OAC Rules 3301-51-01 and 3301-51-09 and rescind and adopt new Rule 3301-51-11 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities).

Approved #8 - Resolution to adopt Master Teacher Definition of Section 3319.61 (F) (5) of the Revised Code.

Approved #9 - Resolution to adopt a recommendation to the General Assembly to eliminate the January 1, 1997 deadline for city/county educational service centers' contracts to be in effect, thereby allowing funding for agreements that have been in place since that date.

Approved #17 - Resolution to approve the 2002 EHOVE Joint Vocational District Board of Education's Resolution modifying its plan to reflect the merger of the Erie, Huron, and Ottawa County Boards of Education into the Erie, Huron, Ottawa Educational Service Center, and reallocate the seats on the EHOVE Board of Education.

Approved #18 - Resolution to adopt a Public Records Policy pursuant to Section 149.43(E)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code.

The next State Board of Education meeting is November 12-13, 2007. For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

4) New Poll Released on Voter Attitudes toward Schools:

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Ken Kay president, released on October 10, 2007 the findings of a new poll on the attitudes of registered voters regarding education. This national poll was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Association on September 10-12, 2007, and included responses from 800 registered voters.

Researchers found that most of the respondents believed that their schools deserve an A or B grade. 12 percent give their local schools a grade of "D" or "F". 50 percent believe that schools are headed in the wrong direction when it comes to preparing students to complete in the global economy. 80 percent believe that students need to learn different skills to be prepared for the future. In fact, 66 percent believe that students need more than basic skills in reading, writing, and math. 29 percent believe that there should be a stronger focus on the basics.

Respondents were also asked to rate the importance of 14 skills that have been identified by researchers as important to the future success of students, and rate how well schools are preparing students in those skill areas. Computer and tech skills were rated the highest (87 percent) and science the lowest (66 percent) among the 14. Creativity and innovation were rated important by 73 percent of respondents.

The results of this latest poll are similar to a study released in 2006 called "Are They Really Ready to Work", which was conducted by The Conference Board, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Corporate Voices for Working Families, and the Society for Human Resource Management.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills will launch on November 7, 2007 a new feature on its web site called Route 21, which will provide skills-related information, resources, and tools to support learning environments for the 21st century.

This poll was supported by Blackboard Inc., KnowledgeWorks Foundation, National Education Association, Pearson and SAP. For more information and a summary of the results, please visit

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=369&Itemid=64

5) Private vs Public Education Compared: The Center on Education Policy, Jack Jennings, president, published on October 10, 2007 a study called "Are Private High Schools Better Academically than Public High Schools?" by Harold Wenglinsky.

The study is based on an analysis of the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988-2000. Researchers found that once family background characteristics were taken into account, "... low-income students attending public urban high schools generally performed as well academically as students attending private high schools. The study also found that students attending traditional public high schools were just as likely to attend college as those attending private high schools. In addition, the report also finds that young adults who had attended any type of private high school were not more likely to enjoy job satisfaction or to be engaged in civic activities at age 26 than those who had attended traditional public high schools."

According to the press release, "Parents assume that private schools will improve the academic preparation of their children," said Harold Wenglinsky, author of the study. "But the higher performance at private schools is more likely a reflection of the collective resources and support that these parents bring to the school than to factors intrinsic to the school setting."

The overall results of the study contradict long held assumptions by supporters of vouchers for low income students. "In fact, private school students were no more likely to go to college or be satisfied with their jobs by age 26. The study also seems to signal that forcing public and private schools to compete for taxpayer-financed vouchers is merely a "diversion" from a more substantial education debate."

"These findings suggest a need to maintain the focus on improving schools while also bolstering supports for low-income families, such as providing adequate health care and preventive care, better wages, and high-quality child care and preschool programs. Although families do make a considerable difference, the good news is that concerned parents are not unique to any race, religion, geographic region, or social class, and there are as many of them in urban areas as suburban areas. But families need a combination of economic and social supports, as well as high-quality public education, to ensure that their children can take advantage of the social contract our society makes through the institution of public schools-to give every child a chance to rise higher than his or her parents." p. 21 of the report.

This study also includes background information on previous studies of voucher programs and private schools. The study is available at

http://www.cep-dc.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=document.showDocumentByID&nodeID=1&DocumentID=226

6) Bills Introduced

SCR 19 (Niehaus) Urges Congress to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program in a manner that enables Ohio to implement an expansion authorized by Am. Sub. HB 119 of the 127th General Assembly and the President of the United States to sign the reauthorization into law.

SCR 20 (Boccieri) Urges Congress to override President Bush's veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007.

HB 350 (Wolpert) Permits a student at an Ohio institution of higher education to serve as a precinct election official in the county where they attend schools, and to permit up to two high school seniors to service as precinct officers at a polling place with six or more precinct officers.

HCR 29 (Beatty) Urges Congress to override the President's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007.

HB 347 (Setzer) Replaces the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license with assessment systems developed by school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools.

HB 348 (Peterson) Creates the Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program to amend the version of section 109.57 of the Ohio Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2008, to continue the provisions of this act on and after that effective date.

FYI ARTS

*Educating Children in the New Millennium: Dr. Steve Webb, Deputy Superintendent, Vancouver School District, WA, provides an excellent overview of the importance of an education in the arts in an article entitled "Educating Children in the New Millennium: Child's Play". This article was published in the October 10, 2007 issue of Education Week, but a more extensive version is found online at http://portalsso.vands.org/portal/page?_pageid=153,1944989&_dad=portal&_scema=PORTAL.

The article cites the many reasons for supporting arts education as a way to prepare students for life and work in the 21st Century. According to the author, "Increasingly, a significant body of neuroscience research suggests that the arts (and play) significantly impacts students' cognitive, social, and emotional development." The following quotes are also from the article:

-"Play, the arts, and physical education have inherent value, yet new technologies demonstrate a significant link between artistic and cognitive development."

-"Much of what young children do as play -- singing, dancing, painting, drawing, acting -- are natural forms of art."

"As Dr. Bob Sylwester, professor emeritus at the University of Oregon writes, 'The arts are not just expressive and affective, they are deeply cognitive. They develop critical thinking skills--pattern recognition and development; mental representations of what is observed or imagined; symbolic, allegorical, and metaphorical representations; careful observation of the world; and abstraction from complexity.'"

"What type of worker will thrive in the new economy? According to Pink and other leading authors, the most successful workers will be members of the 'Creative Class.'"

*Ohio Arts Council News Briefs: The October 2007 issue of News Briefs from the Ohio Arts Council, Office of Arts Learning features information about "Poetry Out Loud," a national recitation contest for high school students. Ohio schools and students are invited to participate at the local level. Winners from each participating school will advance to the state finals in Columbus, which will be held on March 15, 2008. The winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship on April 29, 2008.

The Ohio Arts Council will be hosting a free teachers' workshop on November 10, 2007 for schools interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud. The workshop will be led by local poets and current judges, and will prepare teachers to implement the Poetry Out Loud program in their classrooms by discussing memorization methods, performance techniques, and evaluation. The workshop will be held in Columbus at the Vern Riffe Center for Government & the Arts at 77 South High Street, 31st Floor at 1:00 PM. For more information please visit http://www.maildogmanager.com/page.html?p=0000015Fu8vj4XAzwu0wSGi+ArqMbLKe5iZEf7YrwuCgTh

*Workshops for Artists/Teachers: Basic Art Support In The Curriculum

(B.A.S.I.C.) is sponsoring professional studio workshops for artists/teachers in grades K-12 on Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 8:30 - 4:00 PM at The Cleveland Institute of Art. Studio workshops are available in drawing, enameling, jewelry, mixed media, printmaking, sculpture, and silk painting. B.A.S.I.C is an outgrowth of The Cleveland Institute of Art, and provides workshops, seminars, and special events designed to provide personal enrichment opportunities for art education professionals in Ohio's primary and secondary schools. This project is supported by The Martha Holden Jennings Foundation. For more information please contact Ben Blount, Director of Extended Studies + Community Outreach at bblount@cia.edu or 216.421.7460.

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Monday, 10-22-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 10-22-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for October 22, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS

3) 110^TH CONGRESS

4) NEWS FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

5) NEW EPRU STUDY EXAMINES BUCKEYE INSTITUTE REPORT

6) STATE BUDGETING MATTERS

7) UPDATE FROM SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HEALTH CARE BOARD

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold committee hearings and sessions this week. Lawmakers are focusing on several issues, including energy policies/electric price regulation (SB 221 - Schuler); gambling (HB 177 - Blessing); foreclosures and consumer credit (SB 6 - Niehaus); and access to public records.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on October 23, 2007 at 3:00 PM and October 24, 2007 at 2:00 PM (or after session) in the Finance Committee Hearing Room - 313. The committee will hold hearings on how Ohio laws and rules address teacher misconduct, and what provisions are needed, through the enactment of new laws or through better implementation of current rules and law, to ensure that all teachers meet conduct standards. These hearings are in response to a series of articles published last week by the Columbus Dispatch.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will not meet this week.

*The Senate Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee, chaired by Senator Coughlin, will meet on October 24, 2007 at 2:30 PM in the South Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SB232 (Stivers) Child Care - Revises the law governing child care.

2) Update on Legislative Hearings:

*The Senate and House Education committees met last week. The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, had two bills on their agenda, SCR 18 (Padgett) Academic Accountability, and HB 190 (Hite) Administrative Dates for the Elementary Achievement Tests. No testimony was presented on either bill.

SCR 18 (Padgett) includes a recommendation of the Ohio Department of Education to change Ohio's accountability system for public schools. It allows districts and schools to apply a growth model of targeted proficiency to the standards for meeting federal adequate yearly progress (AYP), and establishes a standard minimum subgroup of 30 students for calculating the proficiency rate component of AYP.

HB 190 (Hite) changes dates for the administration of achievement tests at the elementary level. A substitute bill is being drafted. Discussions continue on two issues: tuition payments for all-day kindergarten, and changes in how schools are rated under Ohio's accountability system.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, heard sponsor testimony on the following three bills:

-HB348 (Peterson) Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program: HB 348 creates the Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program, which would allow students in special education programs (those students with an established IEP) to receive special education services through another school district or entity using scholarships or vouchers funded with public dollars. The scholarships would be capped at $20,000. This program was included in Am. Sub. HB 119 (Dolan), but was vetoed by Governor Strickland.

-HB347 (Setzer) Professional Educators' License: HB 347 changes the requirements for those seeking an educator's license in Ohio, by replacing the Praxis III assessment of teaching skills with a district/school developed, two - year structured entry year and mentoring program, aligned with the standards for the teaching profession recommended by the Ohio Education Standards Board.

Currently only two states, Ohio and Arkansas, use the Praxis III to assess classroom teaching skills. The bill includes up to $4.2 million in FY09 from the Educator Training appropriation line item in the ODE budget to support the new program for entry year teachers.

-HB326 (Gerberry) Higher Education: HB 326 requires students attending public colleges and universities in Ohio to successfully complete at least six semester hours or the equivalent in government and political science courses, with an emphasis on the U.S. Constitution, in order to graduate. The bill is in response to studies that show how college and university graduates lack knowledge in civic literacy, including American history, government, economics, and international studies.

3) 110th Congress:

*Appropriations: The deadline for Congress to approve appropriations for FY08 was September 30, 2007. Congress approved and President Bush signed a temporary continuing resolution to fund government departments and agencies at current levels until November 16, 2007. The U.S. House has approved all of the twelve appropriations measures for FY08, but the Senate has approved only five. Work on the Senate version of appropriations for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHSE) continued last week in committee, and a vote is possible this week. The Senate LHHSE bill (S. 1710), provides less funding overall for education than the House version (H.R. 3043).

*SCHIP Veto Holds: The U.S. House of Representatives failed on October 18, 2007 to override President Bush's veto of H.R. 976 - the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). 286 votes, two-thirds, were needed to override President Bush's veto, but the override failed by 13 votes. President Bush vetoed H.R. 976 on October 3, 2007, saying that the legislation expanded its original intent. SCHIP was created ten years ago as a bi-partisan state-federal partnership to provide health care coverage for children from low-income families not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid. 6.6 million children are currently being served. The SCHIP reauthorization, as approved by the U.S. House and Senate, would have increased annual funding for SCHIP from about $5 billion to $12 billion for the next five years, by increasing taxes on cigarettes. This increase would help the program serve four million more children. Funding for the program at the current level will continue until the reauthorization legislation is approved and signed by the President. Lawmakers are now working on compromise legislation.

4) News from the ODE: The October issue of "The Ides of ODE" published by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), Offices of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Judy Feil and Debbie Roshto, includes the following information:

*The Ohio Department of Education, Office of Curriculum and Instruction is publishing a series of short articles that offer tips for preparing students to perform well on the OAT and OGT. These articles will include information about alignment of the exams with Ohio's Academic Content Standards, test taking strategies, understanding key concepts, and effective ways to use released test items for test preparation. The first article is entitled "Focusing instruction on key concepts in the benchmarks is critical to student success". It is available at https://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ODE/IMS/OATToolkit/default.asp

*State Arts Committee to Meet: The Committee for the Arts and Innovative Thinking (CAIT) will meet on October 23, 2007 at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 East Broad Street, Columbus from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The purpose of the CAIT is to promote and advance the arts in the lives of all Ohio students through strategic actions, communications, and policy recommendations. The meeting will include a welcome from Karen Gallagher, the Arts Education Partnership; a presentation from Mary Sheridan on building communities through the arts; a presentation on the state level focus on the arts; and a presentation on the global focus on the arts presented by Val Marmillion.

*The Foreign Language Advisory Council was created through SB 311 to propose a statewide P-16 foreign language implementation plan for the2014-2015 school year. Input is being sought on the draft recommendations that have been developed. The proposed recommendations can be found at:

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=337&ContentID=37515&Content=37641

Please send comments by October 31, 2007, to Deborah Robinson at (614) 995-0232 or debbie.robinson@ode.state.oh.us or Ryan Wertz at (614) 728-4630 or ryan.wertz@ode.state.oh.us.

5) New EPRU Study Examines Buckeye Institute Report: The Think Tank Review Project, a collaboration of the Education Policy Research Unit (EPRU) at Arizona State University and the Education and Public Interest Center (EPIC) at University of Colorado at Boulder, released on October 17, 2007 a review of a study conducted by the Buckeye Institute called "Shortchanging Disadvantaged Students: An Analysis of Intra-district Spending Patterns in Ohio" by Matthew Carr, Nathan Gray and Marc Holley. (Released on October 10, 2007 and available at http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/docs/Shortchanging_Disadvantaged_Students.pdf.)

According to the press release, the review, which was conducted by Bruce D. Baker and Kevin Welner, found no basis for the central assumption made in the report that school districts in Ohio are adequately funded, and that "....district-level policies are responsible for continued spending and achievement gaps."

The review also found that the authors of the Buckeye Institute report ignored existing research on the subject; failed to take into account the cost associated with education programs at different grade levels, such as elementary, middle, and high school; made conclusions based on small sample sizes; and ignored research regarding the problems with a weighted system for allocating funds, which the Buckeye Institute report cites as a solution to the problem.

The review also includes an analysis by Dr. Bruce Baker of Ohio data, which demonstrates that the state's funding approach provides only modest poverty-based support across districts, and "...within-district equity and poverty supports to be no worse and no better than state efforts across districts."

To read this review please visit http://epsl.asu.edu/epru/ttreviews/EPSL-0710-245-EPRU.pdf.

6) State Budgeting Matters: The most recent issue of State Budgeting Matters by Richard Sheridan, Financial Consultant, The Center for Community Solutions, is entitled "Paying for K-12 Education, FY2008-FY2009 (October 15, 2007). The report examines appropriations for K-12 allocated through HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 budget, including base cost; property tax reimbursements; early childhood education; nonpublic school support; decreased spending; state response to Ohio Supreme Court rulings, 1997-2007; and the impact of the No Child Left Behind. The report is available at http://www.CommunitySolutions.com.

7) Update from the SEHCB: The School Employees Health Care Board released on October 17, 2007 a plan and timeline for developing "value-based best practices" for purchasing health care based on access, cost-containment, and quality. Stakeholder input and regional meetings are being planned to discuss the recommendations, which will be finalized in June 2008. The twelve member board was created to study the feasibility of pooling health care coverage for public school employees. However, after studying the data and issues, the Board recommended establishing best practice standards to improve health benefits for school employees and save money for school districts. The Board works with an advisory committee, the Public Schools Health Care Advisory Committee, which includes experts and stakeholders. For more information about the mission and work of the Board please visit http://sehcb.ohio.gov/

FYI ARTS

*Professional Development Opportunities in Fine Arts: The October issue of the "Ides of ODE" provides information for schools and school districts that are interested in professional development workshops in the fine arts for visual and performing arts teachers through full- and half-day sessions. These workshops can be designed to respond to educational priorities and various time structures. For more information please contact Nancy Pistone, 614-466-7908, nancy.pistone@ode.state.oh.us or Amy Chivington, 614-387 0544, amy.chivington@ode.state.oh.us.

*Plans for New Statehouse Museum Released: Last week the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB), William Carleton Executive Director, approved the plans for a new Ohio Statehouse Museum. The plan calls for the museum exhibits to be updated with DVD and flat screen projection systems, and include interactive hands-on exhibits that will recreate historical events. Plans are also being made to complete the Ladies' Gallery, a room honoring Ohio's first female legislators, and the George Washington Williams Memorial Room, a room to pay tribute to Ohio's first African-American legislators. The new Ohio Statehouse Museum is scheduled to open on March 1, 2009, Ohio Statehood Day. For more information please visit http://www.ohiochannel.org/your_state/ohio_statehouse/education/ohio_statehouse_museum.cfm

*Holiday Events at the Statehouse: The 92nd Annual Statehouse Tree Lighting and Holiday Festival will be held at 5:30 PM on November 14, 2007 at the West Plaza. The ceremony will be led by Governor Ted Strickland and First Lady Frances Strickland, Speaker of the Ohio House Jon Husted, and President of the Ohio Senate Bill Harris. A reception will follow in the Statehouse Rotunda. This event is FREE and open to the public. For more information please contact Gregg Dodd at GDodd@CSRAB.state.oh.us

*AEP Publication: The Arts Education Partnership released in April 2007 a publication called "Arts Integration Frameworks, Research and Practice: A Literature Review" by Gail Burnaford, Ph.D with Sally Brown, James Doherty and H. James McLaughlin. This historical overview of the arts integration between 1995 and 2007 provides definitions, theoretical frameworks, research and evaluation studies, and methods and practices for arts integration of each art form. For more information please visit http://www.aep-arts.org/publications.

*Grants available: The Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship Program provides grants of up to $6,500 to enable teachers to reconnect with artists and professionals in their disciplines and stay current with new practices and resources. All permanently assigned full- and part-time arts faculty in specialized, public arts high schools are eligible to apply. The deadline is November 16, 2007. For information please visit http://www.surdna.org/programs/programs_show.htm-doc_id=326426&attrib_id=12040

*Changes in IRS Tax Exempt Status: Changes will soon occur in IRS Form 990 regarding tax exempt status. The IRS Exempt Organizations office will be presenting a series of one-day workshops on basic tax compliance issues for small and mid-sized exempt organizations in selected cities around the country in late 2007 and early 2008. These workshops are designed for board members, officers, and staff of small and mid-sized tax-exempt organizations and the practitioners who work with them. They will cover the procedures tax-exempt organizations must follow to maintain their tax-exempt status and comply with their tax obligations. The events, held on three separate days at each location, will be conducted in the following

cities:

Salt Lake City (11/13-11/15); Columbia, SC (12/4-12/6); Sacramento, CA (12/18-12/20); Arlington, VA (4/1-4/3); Austin, TX (5/6-5/8); and Columbus, OH (5/20-5/22). For more information please visit http://www.irsworkshops.eventsdesigner.com/

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Tuesday, 10-23-07 BACK
Turn STEM to STEAM ... Add the Arts!

How do you turn STEM into STEAM? Add the Arts!

October 2007

By Joan Platz, Information Coordinator, Ohio Alliance for Arts Education

You may have noticed in the media the increased use of the acronym STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There is a frenzy of activity at the national and state levels to increase student involvement and achievement in the STEM content areas. Educators, businessmen, economists, politicians, and pundits are driving these activities, because they believe that American students are not adequately prepared in science and mathematics to be competitive in the �global economy�. Accordingly, in order for the U.S. to maintain and expand its economy, America�s schools must encourage more students to pursue careers in STEM, and better prepare all students in the STEM content areas. (Atkinson, 2007)

Ohio lawmakers are also concerned about STEM preparation and participation. Included in the FY08-09 state budget (Am. Sub. HB 119-Dolan) are funds for institutions of higher education and school districts to provide incentives for students to pursue STEM careers, develop STEM schools, and improve teacher preparation and instruction in STEM content.

The FY08-09 state budget also allows certain partnerships to create independent STEM public schools for any grades 6-12, and provides grants to support existing STEM programs in grades K-8. A subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning, which is chaired by Governor Strickland, will select the schools and award the grants based on a request for proposals (RFP) process. Eligibility to participate in the STEM grant program is limited to partnerships of public and private entities that consist of at least a school district or Joint Vocational School, institutions of higher education, and business organizations. The criteria for creating a STEM school also requires the school to offer �a rigorous, diverse, integrated, and project-based curriculum� that includes the arts and humanities. (For more details on the requirements for STEM schools please see Ohio Revised Code Section 3326.01, which is on page 646 of HB 119.)

So...what is the role of music and arts education in STEM initiatives?

Music and the arts are essential educational components for all students to learn, including students who are pursuing careers in the STEM areas. Educational opportunities in music and the arts first and foremost prepare students for competitive careers in the $316 billion communication, entertainment, and technology industries as musicians, artists, dancers, actors, directors, choreographers, videographers, graphic designers, architects, photographers, designers, film makers, arts administrators, and other professions. The growth of the visual technologies alone, from computer graphics to digital video, has had a tremendous impact on our nation�s economy and the global economy. According to �The Creative Industries Report�, published by Americans for the Arts, more than 548,000 businesses nationwide are related to the arts and employ 2.99 million people. In Ohio there are 16,000 arts-related industries that employ 89,000 people. Many of these arts-related jobs require employees to understand and apply higher order concepts in the STEM content areas in addition to having a preparation in the arts.

In addition, the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors students acquire from studying the arts have been identified by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and other organizations as the skills needed to be successful in the global economy. These skills include creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; communication and collaboration; flexibility and adaptability; and social and cross cultural skills. (Partnership: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=254&Itemid=120)

According to a February 25, 2007 article published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette by Kate Pielemeier called �Human resource experts say workers could benefit more from art than from math and science�, artists have unique ways of solving business problems, because they are not hindered by conventional business practices and rules. (Post Gazette) The article also refers to Daniel Pink�s book, �A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future�, in which the author argues that the master�s in fine arts is the new MBA.

Researchers have also found a strong relationship between instruction in the arts and learning mathematical skills and improving student observational skills in science. According to one study, students who studied music showed improved spatial temporal-reasoning skills, which helped them later learn math concepts. (Graziano, Critical Links) In another study researchers found that students who studied art were able to apply the observational skills that they had learned to critically view a painting to observing a science experiment. (Tishman,

Critical Links)

A meta-analysis of ten years of SAT scores has confirmed the relationship between the study of music and student performance on standardized mathematics tests. And, another study has shown that students involved in orchestra and band through grade 12 performed better in math than peers not involved in music. (Catteral, Critical Links)

Students who participate in the arts also consistently outperform non-arts peers on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, according to the 2006 SAT results published by the College Board. (2006 CollegeBoard)

There currently exist a number of STEM schools in Ohio and other states that also include a focus on the arts.

Career-Technical schools in Ohio connect technology with the arts through the career field of �Arts and Communication�, which includes programs for students to pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, graphics, performing arts and visual arts technologies.

Approximately one hundred math and science high schools have been established across the nation enrolling approximately 47,000 students. These schools provide motivated students with intense college level instruction in the STEM areas usually in grades eleven and twelve. In addition to a focus on math and science, several of these schools also include a focus on the arts. Highly recognized STEAM schools include the Louisiana School for Mathematics, Science, and the Arts; the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts; Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities; the Macomb Academy of Arts and Science (Michigan); and the Appomattox Regional Governor�s School for the Arts and Technology (Virginia). (National Association of Schools of Math and Science: http://www.ncsssmst.org/)

There are also a number of studies and resources available that provide examples of how the arts and STEM can be integrated throughout the curriculum of any school. Teachers in Ohio have developed lesson plans that integrate the arts with technology, math, science, social studies, and language arts. Samples of these integrated lessons, based on Ohio�s academic content standards, are available through Ohio�s Instructional Management System. Integrated lessons are also available through ArtsEdge, the National Arts and Education Network. ArtsEdge is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and a partner of MarcoPolo, a consortium of national arts education organizations, state education agencies, and the MarcoPolo Education Foundation. (ArtsEdge: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/teach/les.cfm)

The Arts Education Partnership has recently made available a publication called �Arts Integration Frameworks, Research & Practice: A Literature Review.� This review provides information about research, theories, methods and practices pertaining to arts integration between 1995 and 2007. (Arts Education Partnership: http://www.aep-arts.org/resources/integration.htm)

AND....there are hundreds of examples of community based initiatives and partnerships that provide schools with ways to integrate music and the arts with STEM. For example, the Art Institute in Chicago has worked with the Chicago Public Schools for several years on a project called Science, Art, and Technology, which provides science teachers and students with information about ways to use the resources of the museum to augment and enrich sciences classes. (The Art Institute: http://www.artic.edu/aic/education/sciarttech/index/html)

There are also examples of individual and organized initiatives that have increased communication and collaborations among those working in the arts and sciences. The Bridges Corporation is a nonprofit organization that hosts an annual conference called Bridges: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science. The objective of the conference is to exhibit innovative and integrative techniques that promote interdisciplinary work in the fields of mathematics and the arts. According to a Bridges publication, �The field of mathematics and art is healthy and growing, as evidenced by a series of major conferences in the past few years...� An offshoot of the Bridges Conference is the continuing work of artists, educators, scientists, and mathematicians to develop innovative artistic or educational tools and software to disseminate information about the connections between the arts and mathematics and sciences. (Bridges: http://www.bridgesmathart.org)

Institutions of higher education are also looking at the arts to stimulate creative thinking and innovative ideas. A major initiative to integrate arts education into all areas of learning was recently begun at Stanford University. In January 2006 a new cross-disciplinary institute was created called the Stanford Institute for Creativity and the Arts (SICA). Another initiative, Arts, Sciences and Technologies, links the arts with fields such as engineering and natural sciences using design thinking to help students use multiple perspectives to solve problems. According to Stanford President John L. Hennessy in a speech made on April 26, 2006, �In the last several years, we have asked how Stanford�s research and educational programs can contribute to addressing the great challenges of this century. In that same way, the university is beginning to look to the arts, not only as a key part of our cultural lives, but also as an integral component in the university�s educational mission.� (Hennessy: 2006)

Next Steps - Advocate for STEAM Schools!

This overview of STEM plus the arts just touches the surface of what is already happening nationally to connect the STEM areas with music and the arts. Please use the sources listed below to find more information about this topic.

Over the next few months more information will be available from the Partnership for Continued Learning about the STEM RFP process. Now is the time for music and arts education advocates to find out what STEM initiatives are being planned in your school district, assess the interest to transform STEM into STEAM schools by adding the arts, and plan with your own arts network ways to support student learning in music and the arts in all schools.

For example, your school district or school may be working already on plans to create partnerships with higher education institutions and businesses in your community to open a STEM school.

You can help turn STEM into STEAM by sharing with these planners the academic, economic, social, and personal advantages of including high quality music and arts education programs in STEM schools.

If your community is not planning a STEM school at this time, then step up to the plate! Open up a dialogue with your colleagues, school district, higher education, arts organizations, and businesses in your community to explore the creation of a STEAM school in your area. Build on the arts network in your community to link like-minded individuals and organizations together to discuss what a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math school could look like in your community. Including the arts in a STEM school proposal through the state�s RFP process, could be the innovative component that sets your proposal apart from the rest, and helps your proposal to be selected for the grant award.

Advocates for music and arts education cannot sit back and let STEM schools be developed without input from arts education advocates! It is up to us to promote quality music and arts education programs for STEM schools and for all students in Ohio. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate your colleagues and community about how an education in the arts prepares students for citizenship, continuing their education, work, and living in the 21st Century, and how music and the arts can be an integral component of a successful STEM school.

Sources

Americans for the Arts, �The Creative Industries Report�. Web site: www.artsusa.org.

Ariniello, Leah. Brain Briefing. �Music Training and the Brain,� Society for Neuroscience, March 15, 2006.

ArtsEdge, the National Arts and Education Network. Web site: http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/teach/les.cfm

Arts Education Partnership, �Arts Integration Frameworks, Research & Practice: A Literature Review.� Web site:

http://www.aep-arts.org/resources/integration.htm

Atkinson, Robert D., and Janet Hugo, Dennis Lundgren, Martin J. Shapiro, and Jerald Thomas, �Addressing the STEM Challenge by Expanding Specialty Math and Science High Schools�, The Information Technology and Innovation
Foundation, March 2007. Web site: http://www.ncsssmst.org/CMFiles/Docs/STEM%20Final_03_20_07.pdf

Bridges Corporation, Bridges: Mathematical Connections in Art, Music, and Science. Web site: http://www.bridgesmathart.org.

Catteral, James S. �Involvement in the Arts and Success in Secondary School�. In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

Catteral, James S. �The Arts and the Transfer of Learning�. In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

Champions of Change, The Impact of the Arts on Learning, Arts Education Partnership, 1999.

CollegeBoard, 2006 SAT, �Academic Information. Students who complete courses in the arts.� Tables 11,16, and 19. Web site: http://www.collegeboard.com.

Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons From School Districts that Value Arts Education, President�s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and Arts Education Partnership, 1999.

Graziano, Amy B, Matthew Peterson, and Gordon L Shaw, �Enhanced Learning of Proportional Math Through Music Training and Spatial-Temporal Training�, In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

Hennessy, John L. �The Role of the Creativity and the Arts in a 21st Century Education.� The Stanford Report, April 26, 2006. Web site:

http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2006/april26/hentext-042606.html

Minton, Sandra �Assessment of High School Students Creative Thinking Skills: A Comparison of the Effects of Dance and Non Dance Class.� In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

National Association of Schools of Math and Science

Web sites: http://www.ncsssmst.org/ and http://www.ncsssmst.org/CMFiles/Docs/STEM%20Final_03_20_07.pdf)

North Central Regional Education Laboratory, EnGauge 21st Century Skills: Literacy in the Digital Age - Creativity, 2003

Web site: http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/skills/invent4.htm

Ohio�s Instructional Management System

Web site: http://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ode/ims/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Partnership for 21st Century Skills, Overview of Framework.

Web site: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Pielemeier, Kate, �Human resource experts say workers could benefit more from art than from math and science�. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 25, 2007.

Web site: http://www.postgazette.com/pg07038/759915-28.stm)

Pink, Daniel, �A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future�, Riverhead Books, 2006.

Society for Neuroscience News Release, �New studies show factors responsible for enhanced response to music; effects of growing up in a musical environment; and how music may be used as therapy.� November 9, 2005.

Sturrock, Carrie. �Playing Music Can be Good for Your Brain�, SF Chronicle, November 17, 2005.

The Art Institute, Science Art and Technology,

Web site: http://www.artic.edu/aic/education/sciarttech/index/html

The Arts Beyond the School Day: Extending the Power, Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, 2000.

Tishman, Shari, Dorothy MacGillivray, and Patricia Palmer. �Investigating the Educational Impact and Potential of the Museum of Modern Art�s Visual Thinking Curriculum: Final Report�. In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

Vaughn, Kathryn �Music and Mathematics: Modest Support for the Oft-Claimed Relationship.� In R. Deasy (Ed.), Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, Arts Education Partnership, Washington, D.C., June 2002.

For more information about the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education visit www.OAAE.net

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Monday, 10-29-07 BACK
Arts On Line - Update 10/29/2007

Arts on Line Education Update for October 29, 2007

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold
committee hearings and sessions this week.

*Governor Strickland signed into law on October 25, 2007 HB 177
(Blessing), which bans cash prizes worth more than $10 won from
playing skilled gaming devices. Lawmakers continue to debate in the
Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee SB 221 (Schuler),
legislation pertaining to energy policy and regulation.

*Last week the Ohio Senate approved SB148 (Faber), which revises
retirement eligibility requirements and benefit calculations for new
members of the School Employees Retirement System (SERS). Currently
SERS provides benefits and access to heath care for approximately
185,000 active and retired public school employees. The bill bases
eligibility for retirement benefits on years of service and age. The
change is expected to save the retirement system million of dollars.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer,
heard last week two days of testimony on teacher misconduct in
response to articles published in the Columbus Dispatch. Testifying
on the issue were Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan
Tave Zelman, members of the State Board of Education, and
representatives from the Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Education
Association, Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio
Federation of Teachers, parents, and citizens. It is expected that
legislation will be drafted to tighten current law regarding teacher
misconduct, although it was stated that Ohio has 155,000 licensed
educators, and "....99.9 percent of these individuals never have a
disciplinary issue." (Virgil Brown, member of the State Board of
Education, testimony October 23, 2007 before the House Education
Committee.)

In his testimony before the Education Committee, Virgil Brown, member
of the State Board of Education, requested that lawmakers revise
current law in the following ways:
-Automatically deny a teaching license to a person convicted of
murder, rape, or kidnapping, including currently licensed teachers.
-Immediately remove from the classroom teachers charged with murder,
rape, or kidnapping.
-Charge the Educator Standards Board with developing a "Code of
Ethics for Ohio Educators". This code should be specific and used as
a foundation for disciplinary actions.
-Require the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation to
provide instant reports of arrests to the Ohio Department of
Education (ODE).
-Provide the ODE access to LEADS - Law Enforcement Automated Data -
to access more complete information regarding a person's criminal
history and arrest.
-Require all applicants for licensure to obtain both a state and
federal fingerprint background check.
-Require clerks of court and law enforcement agencies to report
arrest and conviction information to the ODE.
-Impose a penalty on those who are required but fail to report
disciplinary actions, arrests, and conviction, etc. information
pertaining to educators to the ODE.

2) Hearings and Meetings this Week:

*School Funding: The State Board of Education School Funding
Subcommittee, chaired by Virgin Brown, will meet from 10:00 AM - 2:00
PM on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 at the Medina County ESC, 124 W.
Washington St. in Medina.

*The House Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities
Committee, chaired by Representative Widener will meet on Tuesday,
October 30, 2007 at 8:30 AM in hearing room 121. The Committee will
hear testimony on HB270 (Schneider), State Retirees - which would
prohibit a member of the State Retirement System who retires and
returns to public employment in the same position to receive a
pension while earning a salary for that employment. The Committee
will also hear testimony on HB240 (Goodwin) - regarding changes to
the Public Employees Retirement System, School Employees Retirement
System, State Teachers Retirement System, and Ohio Police and Fire
Pension Fund.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer,
will meet on October 30, 2007 at 4:00 PM in hearing room 116. The
Committee will hear testimony on teacher misconduct (no bill as yet);
HB347 (Setzer) Professional Educator License -- which replaces the
Praxis III exam with a mentoring program; and HB348 (Peterson) --
Special Education Scholarship Program.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will
meet on October 30, 2007 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The
committee will hear testimony on SCR 18 (Padgett) - changes for
Ohio's school accountability system, and SB 151 (Roberts) - Textbook
Pricing. The Committee will also consider a substitute bill for
HB190 (Hite) - elementary achievement tests.

*The Senate Judiciary - Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by
Senator Grendell, will meet on October 31, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the
North Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on several
bills, including testimony on HB142 (Batchelder) - School Threat -
which permits the Highway Patrol to provide emergency assistance to
schools under a bomb threat.

3) 110th Congress:

*Appropriations: The U.S. Senate approved last week S. 1710, FY08
appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health, Human Services,
and Education (LHHSE). The bill includes over $600 billion, and
increases spending more than President Bush outlined in the
administration's FY08 budget. The U.S. House approved its
appropriations recommendations for LHHSE, H.R. 3043, on July 19,
2007. The House and Senate versions differ in several areas, and a
compromise bill will need to be developed. Congress passed a
continuing resolution after failing to approve FY08 appropriations by
an October 1, 2007 deadline. That resolution expires November 16,
2007. President Bush has stated that he will veto appropriations
that exceed his budget recommendations.

*New SCHIP Legislation Introduced: The U.S. House of Representatives
failed on October 18, 2007 to override President Bush's veto of H.R.
976 - the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP). A "compromise" version of SCHIP legislation, H.R.
3963 was approved by the U.S. House on October 25, 2007, but was not
approved by a veto-proof majority. President Bush has announced that
this new version still does not meet the requirements that he
supports, and has threatened a veto.

4) Update - Ohio Fair Schools Campaign (OFSC): The OFSC is
sponsoring a bill board campaign called "We Support Public Education"
to promote the positive aspects of Ohio's public education system.
Public schools welcome all students and prepare them for citizenship,
work, continuing education, and living in the 21st Century. Public
schools are the best economic investment we can make for the future.

Several billboard slogans have been proposed, and the OFSC is
inviting Ohioans to vote for their favorite slogan. In the coming
weeks OFSC will ask students, parents, teachers, and community
members to propose billboard designs that illustrate the winning
slogan.

The mission of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign is to organize and
advocate for high-quality public education opportunities for all Ohio
children wherever they live, whatever their race and whatever their
family background. For more information about the "We Support Public
Education" campaign, please visit: www.ohiofairschools.org.

5) New Study Released on Public School Choice: The Wisconsin Policy
Research Institute, James Miller president, released on October 25.
2007 a study called "Fixing the Milwaukee Public Schools, The Limits
of Parent-Driven Reform" by David Dodenhoff. The study used a
national data base to examine the impact of parental choice and
parental involvement in the Milwaukee Public School district. The
Milwaukee voucher program was not included in this study.

The study found that few parents (10 percent) in the Milwaukee Public
Schools chose a school for their child based on the school's academic
performance, and one-fourth of parents are actively involved at the
school site, and moderately involved at home in their children's
schools.

According to George Lightbourn, author of the introduction to this report,

"Policy makers and policy analysts, including WPRI, have pinned high
expectations on increased parental choice and parental involvement.
It was thought that by giving urban parents more tools, they would be
able to bring pressure to reform the educational marketplace."

"What Dr. Dodenhoff details in this report is a dose of reality that
has been missing from the discussion of education reform in
Milwaukee. He discovered that there are realistic limits on the
degree to which parental involvement can drive market-based reform in
Milwaukee. There are simply limits on how much Milwaukee parents will
use the tools that have been made available to them. While many
parents have taken full advantage of choosing either an MPS or
another school for their children, only 10 percent have been the
active consumers that would exert market- based influence to the
school system."

"The message from this study is that educational leaders and policy
makers must continue to strive to increase parental choice and
parental involvement. However, we must all have realistic
expectations about the impact on MPS. Focusing on parental choice
and parental involvement cannot be seen as a substitute for
substantive reforms in the hierarchy of MPS and in the classrooms
throughout Milwaukee."

The author of the report writes, "This may be just as well. Relying
on public school choice and parental involvement to reclaim MPS may
be a distraction from the hard work of fixing the district's schools."

The report is available at
http://www.wpri.org/Reports/Volume%2020/Vol20no8/vol20no8.pdf

FYI ARTS

*VSA Arts Symposium: VSA Arts is convening its third research
symposium called "The Contours of Inclusion: Arts Learning Outcomes
and Evaluation Strategies" on November 7, 2007 at the France-Merrick
Performing Arts Center in Baltimore, MD.

The symposium will focus on the latest developments in educational
research and evaluation procedures to build inclusive arts education
programs. VSA Arts research programs investigate how the arts
benefit students with disabilities and various learning styles.
Participants include Richard Deasy - Arts Education Partnership;
Dennis Palmer Wolf -- Annenberg Institute for School Reform; Rob
Horowitz -- Teachers College, Columbia University; Donna Mertens --
Gallaudet University; and Stephen Yaffe -- Arts and Education
Consultant. For information please visit http://www.vsarts.org.

*Funding for Arts Education Included in Senate Bill: The U.S. Senate
approved last week S. 1710, FY08 appropriations for the departments
of Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education (LHHSE). The bill
includes over $600 billion for domestic programs, including funds for
the Arts in Education program at the U.S. Department of Education;
the Institute of Museum and Library Services; and the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting. The Senate approved version includes $36.3
million for Arts in Education, compared to $39 million in the House
version -- H.R. 3043, which was approved by the House on July 19,
2007. The House and Senate versions differ in several other areas,
and a compromise bill will need to be developed. Congress passed a
continuing resolution after failing to approve FY08 appropriations by
an October 1, 2007 deadline. That resolution expires November 16,
2007. President Bush has stated that he will veto appropriations
that exceed his budget recommendations.

*Plan Promotes Interest in the Arts: According to an article
published in the San Francisco Examiner on October 27, 2007, "Plan to
Move School of Arts" by Alexandria Rocha, the San Francisco school
district's new Arts Education Master Plan is responsible for the
surge in interest in arts education in the city. There is renewed
effort to move the School of the Arts closer to the Civic Center hub,
two dozen certified art teacher positions have been developed, and a
pilot art coordinator program has been implemented at each school.
The article is available at http://www.examiner.com/.

*Perfect Pitch: New On-line Resource About Instruments of the
Orchestra: The Education Department at the Kennedy Center announced
recently the launch of Perfect Pitch, a new online learning tool
designed to introduce middle-school students to the instruments of
the orchestra using a baseball analogy. This interactive online tool
includes music clips and important "stats" about different musical
instruments, and allows students to create a winning orchestral team.
The "players" are famous musicians who have brought orchestral music
to audiences since the Baroque period. To view Perfect Pitch, please
visit http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/perfectpitch/

*Using Music to Spark Student Learning: An article in the October
23, 2007 issue of the Washington Post called "In This Class, Math
Comes With Music" by Michael Alison Chandler, provides an overview
about how music is being used to improve student memory and support
learning in all subject areas. The article focuses on how second
grade teacher Eric Chandler creates songs to make the curriculum more
fun and more memorable, and also provides information about music's
effect on memory; information about the web site
http://SongsforTeaching.com; and other web sites that specialize in
math and science songs, such as the Science Songwriters' Association
and The Chromatics.

According to the article, Chandler has written an album of songs
about spelling, including "Short Vowel Rock"; greatest hits about
math, including "Fact Family," set to the tune of "We Are Family" by
Sister Sledge; and has also produced a rap song about Virginia's
Founding Fathers called "Document Dudes."

To read this article please go to
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR2007102202243.html?nav=rss_education

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This report brought to you in partnership by the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education, Ohio Music Education Association, Ohio Art Education Association, OhioDance, and the Ohio Educational Theatre Assocation.

Monday, 11-05-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 11-5-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for November 5, 2007

***November 6, 2007 Election Day: According to the web site of Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, voters will decide on November 6, 2007 38 bond issues, 154 tax issues, and 36 income tax issues for schools, including repeals of current income taxes for schools. To view the school issues on the November ballot please visit http://www.sos.state.oh.us:80/SOS/ElectionsVoter/Results2007.aspx?Section=2952

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) STATE BOARD OF FUNDING EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE

4) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT

5) EARLY CHILDHOOD LOGITUDINAL STUDY

6) EDUCATION TESTING SERVICES STUDY ON FAMILIES

7) FAMILY SCHOOL SUMMIT

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House will hold session on November 7, 2007. The other "as needed" House sessions in November have been canceled. The Ohio Senate has canceled its November 6 & 7, 2007 "as needed" sessions. The House and Senate Education Committees are not meeting this week.

*Governor Ted Strickland announced on October 29, 2007 that the State of Ohio had received net proceeds of $5.05 billion from the sale of tobacco bonds. The bond sale allows the state to provide approximately 566,000 additional homeowners tax cuts through the Homestead Tax Exemption program, and allows Ohio to build 250 more schools by October 2010. According to the Governor's press release, "This investment will also move Ohio from the 40th percentile to the 60th percentile on the school equity list, allowing 438,359 students to attend school in new, state-of-the-art facilities." The sale will also lower the state's debt burden and create a more stable financial future for Ohio.

*The Ohio Senate approved the following bills last week:

-SB 221 (Schuler) Revises energy policy in Ohio to address electric service price regulation and provides for new bonding authority for advanced energy projects, advanced (including sustainable resource) energy portfolio standards, energy efficiency standards, and greenhouse gas emission reporting and carbon control planning requirements.

-HB 166 (Schindel) Creates an Office of Internal Auditing within the Office of Budget and Management, establishes the State Audit Committee, and prescribes their respective and interrelated functions.

-Am. Sub. 190 (Hite) was amended to address several issues, and was approved as emergency legislation by the Senate. As introduced the bill revises the scheduling of the spring administration of the elementary achievement tests from no earlier than the week containing May 1, as under current law, to no earlier than the week containing April 24; provides for the elementary achievement tests to be administered over a two-week period, instead of five consecutive days; and clarifies that the elementary achievement tests must be submitted to the scoring company after all of the tests have been administered for the designated testing period.

The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Joy Padgett, amended the bill on October 30, 2007 to address other issues that have recently been brought to the attention of lawmakers. According to the analysis prepared by the Legislative Service Commission (LSC), HB 190 was amended to permit school districts that are not eligible for state payments for all-day kindergarten to charge tuition on a sliding scale for all-day kindergarten classes; requires the Department of Education (ODE) to issue an annual report on tuition charged by school districts for all-day kindergarten; requires the ODE by April 30, 2008 to issue a report on fees charged by school districts for (1) classes or programs that are offered during the regular school day or after school and for which students earn credit or are assigned grades, (2) instructional materials, and (3) summer school.

Several amendments were also added by the Senate Education Committee to address teacher misconduct, in response to recent reports in the Columbus Dispatch. These include the following, also from the LSC analysis: -requires school districts, educational service centers, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to request criminal records checks for all job applicants and employees, not merely those whose duties entail the care of children; -requires private contractors hired by those employers to request criminal records checks for job applicants and employees who will work in schools; -requires subsequent criminal records checks every five years for all school employees who are not subject to periodic post-employment records checks under other laws; -requires that the initial and periodic criminal records checks of school employees, including State Board of Education licensees, include checks of FBI records as well as state records; -permits the State Board of Education to revoke an expired educator license for misconduct; -requires the Educator Standards Board to make recommendations for a code of conduct for educators; and -directs the ODE by December 31, 2007 to recommend penalties for failure to report to the Department or the State Board of Education information about educators who have committed an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or that makes them a threat to students' safety;

The bill also permits the Superintendent of Public Instruction to waive the minimum number of school days in the 2006-2007 school year for a certain joint vocational school district that experienced delays in a state-assisted construction project; extends to July 1, 2008, the deadline for issuance of recommendations by the public-private collaborative commission studying the promotion of student success in conjunction with the Ohio Core curriculum; and removes the Directors of Natural Resources and Job and Family Services from the Ohio Community Service Council, and adds two members appointed by the Governor.

The bill now goes to the Ohio House for concurrence.

*The Senate Judiciary - Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Grendell, met on October 31, 2007 and reported out favorably HB142 (Batchelder), which authorizes the state highway patrol to provide emergency assistance to a school district confronted with a bomb threat or a similar threat of imminent and catastrophic harm, and increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school is involved.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, met on October 30, 2007 and heard testimony on teacher misconduct (no bill); HB 347 (Setzer) eliminate Praxis III; and HB 348 (Peterson) Special Education Scholarship Program.

-HB 347 (Setzer) replaces the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license with assessment systems developed by school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools. Interim Dean Ann Converse Shelly from Ashland University spoke on behalf of the Ohio Association of Private Colleges for Teacher Education as an opponent of the bill. She said that the Praxis III was closely aligned to the Ohio Standards for Teachers, and eliminating the Praxis III would place a burden on school districts. The Praxis III is currently administered by an experienced teacher engaged and trained by the Ohio Department of Education.

Colleen Grady, a member of the State Board of Education, presented to the committee her personal views of HB 347 and not the position of the State Board of Education, which has not taken a position on the bill. Mrs. Grady presented testimony in support of the bill, which she said aligns teacher assessment with the seven standards outlined in the Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession, which were adopted by the State Board of Education.

-HB348 (Peterson) Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program:

Several parents and a student testified in favor of the bill, saying that HB348 would allow parents to have choices regarding the education of their children with special needs. These parents shared their frustrations about working with some school districts that refuse to implement IEPs, and explained how they were able to find private schools that could better serve their children.

Providing joint testimony in opposition to HB 348 were Michelle Francis of the Ohio School Boards Association, Barbara Shaner of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, Robert Davis of the Ohio Education Association, Ann Brennan of the Ohio School Psychologists Association, Sandy Nekoloff of the Ohio Parent Teacher Association, Darold Johnson of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Joan Platz of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, and Randy Weston of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

According to their testimony, approving HB 348 would have negative consequences for students, parents, and schools. HB 348 would eliminate certain rights of special education students and parents (least restrictive environment and due process); provide less accountability for services delivered to students with special needs and tax payers; eliminate the accountability requirements of NCLB for students using vouchers (highly qualified teachers and adequate yearly progress); and, undermine current contracts that school districts have negotiated to provide services to students with special needs in their school district.

A memo submitted by Ann Brennan accompanied the testimony. This memo outlined the procedures available to parents to resolve disputes regarding special education services and education. It also included statistics on special education services from 2005-2006 and complaints filed by parents. The total number of students with IEPs in Ohio was 220,051 in traditional public schools; 7,917 in community schools, and 22,000 in preschools. "Of that total number of students served, in the 2005-2006 school year ODE received only 300 complaints, which represents .0012% of the total students served." Of those complaints, 85 percent were resolved amicably through a variety of ways, and very few of the remaining 15 percent were resolved through litigation.

Also testifying against the bill were Greg Goodlander, Ann Gibson, and Rebecca Meske, teachers from the Columbus City Schools who work with special needs students.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, reported out favorably on October 30, 2007 SCR18 (Padgett), which approves the Department of Education's proposed changes to the state academic accountability system for public schools; reported out favorably an amended substitute bill for HB 190 (Hite), Elementary Achievement Test; and heard testimony on SB151 (Roberts), textbook pricing at state institutions of higher education.

2) 110th Congress:

*New SCHIP Approved by the U.S. Senate: The U.S. House of Representatives failed on October 18, 2007 to override President Bush's veto of H.R. 976 - the reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). A "compromise" version of SCHIP legislation, H.R. 3963, was approved by the U.S. House on October 25, 2007, but was not approved by a veto-proof majority. The U.S. Senate approved H.R. 3963 last week. President Bush has announced that this new version still does not meet the requirements that he supports, and has threatened a veto.

*Appropriations: The U.S. House Rules Committee will review a conference report on H.R. 3043 this week. H.R. 3043 includes FY08 appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education (LHHSE). The U.S. Senate approved its FY08 appropriations for LHHSE S. 1710 in October 2007. Both bills exceed President Bush's budget recommendations, and face a veto if passed. Congress passed a continuing resolution after failing to approve FY08 appropriations by an October 1, 2007 deadline. That resolution expires November 16, 2007. Lawmakers are expected to work on the conference report this week.

*Higher Education Reauthorization: The U.S. House approved H.R. 3927 on October 23, 2007, another extension of the Higher Ed Act. This Act first came up for reauthorization in 2003, and has been extended several times. The U.S. Senate has already approved its reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (S. 1642). This House action will temporarily extend the program, which expires on October 31, 2007, until April 30, 2008. The Senate is expected to approve an extension also.

3) SBE School Funding Subcommittee: The State Board of Education's School Funding Subcommittee, Virgil Brown chair, met on October 30, 2007 in Medina, OH. The subcommittee has identified six components of a state school funding system, and has been reviewing data and information based on the components. The six components are 1) How much is needed? For what? By Whom? 2) How should the fiscal responsibility be divided? 3) What tools should local districts have available to them to raise the local share of funding and what rules apply? 4) What are the tools and rules to generate the state contribution? 5) What incentives (rewards and consequences) should there be? 6) How do we ensure that all money is being used to achieve the best results?

Components five and six were the topics for the October 30th meeting. Paolo A. DeMaria, Associate Superintendent - Ohio Department of Education's Center for School Options and Finance, led the discussion on incentives (rewards or consequences) that could be built into a comprehensive school funding system to promote best practices and results, and the collection and use of financial data to promote more effective and efficient practices in schools to improve student achievement.

The subcommittee discussed the following options as they apply to incentives (rewards or consequences):

A. No changes: Leave the current system alone and not develop more explicit financial incentives or consequences.

B. Identify district-level financial rewards/penalties: Provide either financial rewards or penalties based on some district-level measures, such as value-added measures, effective/efficient use of resources measures, or other measures. This could also be targeted at certain groups of districts for which there was a greater need to motivate change.

C. Identify building-level financial rewards/penalties.

D. Identify individual level financial rewards/penalties: Compensate individual teachers, principals, superintendents, school staff, etc. for performance.

E. Flow any funding increases based on performance improvements:

Structure a system that allows districts to earn increased funding in some set of increments tied to performance benchmarks.

F. Determine criteria for which the state would stop funding for certain failing or non-improving buildings.

G. Restrict funding uses as a financial lever to focus resources on solving certain problems.

H. Explore more non-financial incentives, such as competition, accountability (individual, building, district), etc.

The subcommittee also reviewed a paper entitled "Project Proposal:

Improving the Collection and Use of Financial Data by School Districts" (August 20, 2007). The Ohio Department of Education was directed in HB 119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 budget, to "....develop and deploy analytical tools that allow districts and other stakeholders to analyze more thoroughly district spending patterns to promote more effective and efficient use of resources."

This paper outlines a plan for improving the collection and use of financial data by school districts to promote "....effective and efficient use of resources in the pursuit of improving student achievement." Ultimately, Ohio would become a national leader in the use of resources to drive education improvement.

Phase I of the project includes an analysis of the current state of fiscal data reporting and utilization, and will be completed by December 31, 2007. This information will be shared with stakeholders through outreach forums. Phase II of the project will identify gaps in the current system and propose recommendations by June 30, 2008. It is also possible that certain measures and evaluation tools will be developed.

The paper identifies five components that would be needed to make an effective and efficient school funding system:

*Improve financial reporting including better and more accurate data at the building level that attempts to, as much as possible, focus on those activities and functions that are important for achieving academic success; *Develop measures for identifying varying levels of effectiveness and efficiency in the use of funds; *Develop decision support and evaluation tools for understanding the impact of different resource choices to improve the effective and efficient use of funds; *Develop strategies for assisting districts and schools with improving effective and efficient use of funds.

*Provide information for Ohio's policymakers and taxpayers to better understand what our education system is paying for, and whether it is working to achieve certain goals.

Currently several initiatives are underway at the ODE that relate to this project. These include the following:

*The development of a measure to help districts improve the efficiency of their transportation system; *The development of a School Improvement Diagnostic Tool to assess certain qualitative information about a district's capacity for school improvement and assess resource management capacity; *Integrating finance and school improvement data, such as the superintendent's spending order rules, expenditure patterns for Poverty Based Assistance, the guide for learning supports, and future information from the Academic Distress Commissions; *The development of standards for professional development and learning support and assessment tools to guide districts in evaluating their practices.

*A pilot project called District Resource Allocation Modeler (DREAM) Tool, which has been developed to help school districts find alternative ways to allocate resources based on research-based practices to improve schools.

*The development of Staffing and Financial Analyses Services for school districts.

*School District Performance Audits conducted by the Auditor of State, that focus on operational aspects of the school district and include cost-saving recommendations.

*School Employees Health Care Board, which is engaged in analyzing health care benefits costs for school employees and making recommendations to reduce costs.

The SBE's School Funding Subcommittee will meet next at the November 2007 meeting of the SBE in Columbus. The project paper and other information related to the work of the SBE's School Funding Subcommittee are available on the ODE's website at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=574&ContentID=39201&Content=39596

Information about the State Board of Education's Education in the Global Economy Subcommittee is also on the ODE available at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=574&ContentID=37927&Content=39576

4) GAO Report on the D.C. Voucher Program: The Government Accounting Office (GAO) released on November 1, 2007 a report called "District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program, Additional Policies and Procedures Would Improve Internal Controls and Program Operations." The District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program was approved by Congress in 2004, and is operated by the Washington Scholarship Fund (WSF). The program provides low-income families the option of using $7,500 toward private school tuition.

According to the report the GAO was directed by Congress to review and make recommendations regarding the program. After assessing financial, program, and evaluation data, the GAO found a general lack of accountability for the use of the funds, and concluded that the WSF:

-lacked accountability mechanisms to oversee the use of funds; -lacked sufficient time to design and implement the needed accountability systems, procedures and internal controls to manage its operations; -had a high rate of turnover in staff; -lacked fiscal policies which weakened accountability; -did not adhere to its own procedures for making scholarship payments; -payed tuition to schools that did not charge tuition; -did not document appropriately the use of before and after school care funds for academic support; -faced challenges regarding the recruitment of students, ensuring private school quality, and providing parents with accurate information about private schools; and -failed to ensure that participating schools met basic requirements outlined in law.

The report makes the following recommendations:

-Directs the WSF to improve internal controls, continue to integrate its financial systems, improve monitoring, and provide accurate information to parents.

-Directs the Secretary of Education and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to ensure that participating schools are in compliance with District requirements.

-Directs the Secretary of Education to ensure that programs are implemented in accordance with any required evaluation.

The report is available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d089.pdf

5) The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: The National Center for Education Statistics, released on October 30, 2007 the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), a national study of a representative sample of children born in 2001. This report, which looks at the children when they were about four years old, provides a variety of information about the children who participated in the study. Some of the information reported include language skills, literacy, mathematics literacy, fine motor skills, care, experiences, and socioeconomic status and family characteristics.

For example, according to the report, 40 percent of children from low SES families were proficient in the recognition of certain numbers and shapes compared to 87 percent of children from high SES families. The study is available at http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008025

6) ETS Study on Families: Education Testing Services released in September 2007 a report called "The Family: America's Smallest School" by Paul Barton and Richard Coley. The report examines factors that influence child development and learning, such as parent-pupil ratio; family finance; literacy development; child care disparities; the home as an educational resource; and the parent-school relationship.

According to the highlights of the report, single-parent families, parents reading to children, hours spent watching television, and school absences account for about two-thirds of the large differences among states in the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading scores. Creating home and community environments that support education are critical to increasing student achievement. The report is available at http://www.ets.org/Media/Education_Topics/pdf/5678_PERCReport_School.pdf

7) Family-School Summit: The Ohio Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio PTA, invite parents and educators to form a team and attend the Family-School Partnership Link and Learn Summit. This summit will be held on December 8, 2007 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), 333 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215.

The purpose of this FREE summit is to provide school teams with information and strategies to create and sustain effective family-school partnerships that support student learning. School Teams may consist of parents and a school principal or other administrative person, such as an assistant principal or resource coordinator, etc. School teams will receive ongoing technical support as well as resources to help implement their school action plans throughout the year.

Karen Mapp, Ed.D, Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and nationally known for her research and practice in educational partnerships among schools, families, and community members, will assist school teams in building effective family-school partnerships focused on increasing student achievement.

Participating agencies in this Summit include the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, United Way 211, the Columbus Urban League, Parents for Public Schools, and many other organizations. Participants will leave with tools to implement a year-long action plan to address a major need in their respective schools as well as an Ohio PIRC resource bag with a number of additional resources. The deadline to submit an application for your School Team is November 16, 2007. For more information, or to apply, please call 1-888-OHPIRC9 or email: www.ohiopirc.org. Contact Deby Davis at 513-762-7146 for more information.

8) Bill Introduced:

HCR32 (Setzer) Approves the Department of Education's proposed changes to the state academic accountability system for public schools.

FYI ARTS

*Keep Arts in Schools Website: The Ford Foundation is funding the website Keep Arts in Schools to support the role of arts education in the public schools and in the lives of students. The website highlights the efforts of arts educators, researchers, and arts organizations, and provides information that enables parents, teachers, and arts education advocates to promote the arts. To stay informed please visit http://www.keepartsinschools.org/

*An Associate Press article on Cleveland.com (October 26, 2007) called "Symphony program nurtures young black musicians" details how the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is sponsoring the Nouveau Chamber Players, an ensemble of black high school musicians, to encourage students to become musicians and supporters of the symphony. The program was designed by Anne Cushing-Reid, CSO's manager of educational activities, and provides students with information about careers in classical music and history of African-American composers. The young musicians receive free lessons and perform concerts with the symphony. The initiative is funded by a $5 million endowment. To read the article please visit http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/11934215548720.xml&storylist=cleveland

*Americans for the Arts invites advocates for the arts and arts education to attend the National Arts Action Summit, which will be held March 31-April 1, 2008 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. This annual event includes an Arts Advocacy Training, Congressional Arts Breakfast on Capitol Hill, and an opportunity to meet with members of Congress. The annual Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy will be held on March 31, 2008 at the Concert Hall, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Daniel Pink, author of "A Whole New Mind", is the guest lecturer. For more information please visit http://www.artsusa.org/events/2008/aad/default.asp

* Governor Ted Strickland has named Mary Lazarus, of Columbus, a co-founder and member of the board of trustees for the Women's Fund of Central Ohio as an appointee to the Ohio Arts Council. The council was established to foster and encourage the development of the arts in Ohio and to preserve Ohio's cultural heritage. The council operates various grant funding programs to provide support to artists and broaden the availability of arts activities in Ohio.

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Monday, 11-12-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 11/12/2007

Arts on Line Education Update for November 12, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) ELECTION RESULTS FOR SCHOOL ISSUES

2) 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

3) FEDERAL UPDATE ON EDUCATION ISSUES

4) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

5) NEW RESOURCES FOR 21^ST CENTURY SKILLS

6) CREATIVITY AT RISK

7) UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF OHIO

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) November 6, 2007 Election Results for School Issues: There were 200 taxing issues for Ohio school districts on the November 6, 2007 ballot. These include new and renewed property tax levies, replacement levies, income tax levies, and capital issues. 108 (54 percent) were approved, and 92 (46 percent) failed.

There were fewer taxing issues for school districts on the November ballot this year compared to the past five years, but the approval rate was basically the same at around 50 percent. In 2006 there were 206 issues and 109 passed; in 2005 there were 222 issues and 124 passed; in 2004 there were 286 issues and 143 passed; and in 2003 there were 216 issues and 103 passed. this information is available on the web site of the Ohio Department of Education at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1216&ContentID=4198&Content=40108

*Nationally, voters in Utah rejected through a referendum on the November 6, 2007 ballot, a statewide voucher program approved by the Utah legislature in February 2007. 62 percent of the voters opposed the program that provided from $500 to $3000 per student, depending on income level, to attend private school.

According to the National School Boards Association, voters in several states have rejected vouchers (public funds to pay for students to attend nonpublic schools) eleven times since 1972, including California and Michigan in 2000.

2) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold some committee meetings this week, and the Ohio Senate will hold session on November 14, 2007. The Senate also announced this past week that it was canceling Senate sessions on December 4 & 5, 2007. Senate sessions on December 11 & 12 are still scheduled.

*Last week the Ohio House concurred with Senate amendments to two bills, HB166 (Schindel), which creates the Office of Internal Auditing and establishes the State Audit Committee, and Am. Sub. HB190 (Hite).

As introduced Am. Sub. HB 190 revises the scheduling of the spring administration of the elementary achievement tests from no earlier than the week containing May 1, as under current law, to no earlier than the week containing April 24; provides for the elementary achievement tests to be administered over a two-week period, instead of five consecutive days; and clarifies that the elementary achievement tests must be submitted to the scoring company after all of the tests have been administered for the designated testing period.

-requires school districts, educational service centers, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools to request criminal records checks for all job applicants and employees, not merely those whose duties entail the care of children; -requires private contractors hired by those employers to request criminal records checks for job applicants and employees who will work in schools; -requires subsequent criminal records checks every five years for all school employees who are not subject to periodic post-employment records checks under other laws; -requires that the initial and periodic criminal records checks of school employees, including State Board of Education licensees, include checks of FBI records as well as state records; -permits the State Board of Education to revoke an expired educator license for misconduct; -requires the Educator Standards Board to make recommendations for a code of conduct for educators; and -directs the ODE by December 31, 2007 to recommend penalties for failure to report to the Department or the State Board of Education information about educators who have committed an act unbecoming to the teaching profession or that makes them a threat to students' safety.

*House Republicans selected last week Representative Michelle Schneider as majority whip and Representative Shannon Jones as assistant majority whip.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Joy Padgett, will meet on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 2:30 PM (or after session), in the Senate Finance hearing room. The committee will see the video "Shift Happens", if available, and consider a substitute bill for SB141 (Padgett), regarding community school sponsors.

3) Federal Update on Education Issues:

*FY2008 Appropriations Bill Approved: Both the U.S. House and Senate approved a conference report on H.R. 3043, which includes funding for the departments of Labor, Health, Human Services and Education. The legislation provides a total of $150.7 billion in discretionary spending for FY 08, including $60.7 billion for education programs. President Bush has threatened to veto this legislation.

*The U.S. Senate considered on November 5, 2007 the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, H.R. 2419 (the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007). Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, brought the bill to the Senate floor. The bill would increase the availability of fresh fruits and vegetable for low income children in schools. An amendment may be added that would establish regulations for food and beverages sold in schools, including food and beverages sold through vending machines.

*President Bush signed this week the Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2007, S. 2258, which extends the program until March 31, 2008. The U.S. Senate approved on its own version of the Higher Education Act, S. 1642, but the House has not moved forward on its own bill. The Higher Education Act first came up for reauthorization in 2003, and has been extended several times.

4) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education, Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on November 12 & 13, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The State Board's Quality Middle and High Schools and School Funding subcommittees, met on November 11, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.

The Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, will meet at 8:00 AM.

The Capacity Committee will discuss Rule 3301-44-09 (Post Secondary Enrollment Options); discuss the intent to adopt Rules 3301-48-01 and 02 (Open Enrollment); discuss the intent to amend Rule 3301-52-01 (screening and assessment); discuss the intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-11 & 12 (Head Start); discuss the Praxis II Test for Intervention Specialists regarding adding new Praxis II Tests and the Praxis II cut scores review process; and hear an update on Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World - Class Education System pertaining to end of course exams.

Ohio Treasurer of State, Richard Cordray, will meet with the Achievement Committee to discuss financial literacy in school. The Achievement Committee will also discuss and approve a resolution of intent to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools; discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt recommendations regarding information to be submitted to the eTech Clearinghouse; discuss and approve a resolution of intent to adopt physical education standards; discuss and approve a resolution to refile Rule 3301-13-11 (assessment); discuss Rule 3301-51-15 (Gifted Education); discuss Rules 3301-35-05 & 06 (Operating Standards); and hear an update on Board Approved Priority 7 - Creating a World Class Education System pertaining to end of course exams.

The full Board will convene at 9:30 AM in the Conference Center to hear a presentation regarding the recommendations of the Foreign Language Advisory Council. Jennifer Stewart and Lou Ann Harrold are co-chairs of the Council.

The Board will hear an update on legislative issues from legislative liaisons John Bender and Carl Wick starting at 10:45 AM. The Board will discuss the Federal Legislative Platform and legislative recommendations regarding teacher misconduct.

The full Board will convene at 1:15 PM to participate in a policy discussion about creating a positive school climate in schools. The discussion will be led by Mitch Chester, Senior Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability, Mary Lou Rush, Executive Director, Center for Students, Families, and Communities, Dr. Zelman, Superintendent for Public Instruction, and guests Reid Caryer, Ohio Attorney General's Office and Bill Wilcox from the Ohio School Boards Association.

At 2:45 PM the Board will discuss the proposed revision of rules for Gifted Education led by Jane Wiechel, Associate Superintendent, Center for Students, Families, and Communities.

At 4:00 PM the Board will hold a Chapter 119 Hearing on the following rules:

-Rule 3301-07-01 Ethical Use of Tests

-Amend Rules 3301-13-01 through 06, 08, 09, and 11 State Testing -Rule 3301-13-07 Fairness and Sensitivity -Amend Rules 3301-91-01 and 04 Standards for School Lunch and Breakfast Programs

The Board will reconvene at 4:15 PM to review written reports and items that will be addressed during their business meeting on Tuesday, and hear an overview regarding the proposed standards for physical education. The Board will adjourn at 4:45 PM

The subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, will meet from 4:45 to 6:30 PM.

On November 13, 2007 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:00 AM with a presentation from the Capacity Committee regarding the following Rules:

-Rule 3301-23-44 Temporary Teaching Licensure -Rule 3301-24-09 Performance Based Licensure for Administrators -Rules 3301-48-01 & 02 Open Enrollment

The Board will participate in ethics training starting at 8:30 AM and begin their business meeting at 10:45 AM. The Board will immediately convene into Executive Session.

Following lunch at noon, the Board will reconvene its business meeting at 1:00 PM. The Board will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, public participation on agenda items, and take action on 12 personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then hear reports from Board members, accept public participation on non-agenda items, and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is December 10-11, 2007.

State Board of Education Agenda for November 13, 2007

-6-Resolution to refile Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-13-11 (LEP Students)

-7-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-23-44 (Temporary Teaching Licenses) -8-Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rule 3301-24-09 (Performance Based Licensure for Administrators) -9-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-48-01 & 02 (Open Enrollment) -10-Resolution to adopt recommendations for Physical Education Standards -11-Resolution of Intent to adopt recommendations for the eTech Ohio Clearinghouse -12-Resolution of Intent to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools -15-Resolution to accept the determination of the hearing officer that the Watkins Christian Academy should not be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3310 -16-Resolution to confirm the Norwood City School district's determination of impractical the transportation of certain students attending St. Nicolas Academy, Cincinnati, a charter nonpublic school, Hamilton County -17-Motion to adopt legislative recommendations regarding teacher misconduct

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE

ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

5) New Resources for 21st Century Skills: The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has launched a web site called "Route 21", which provides a one stop center for information, resources, and tools related to workforce preparation for the 21st Century. The web site will provide an online forum, and will be updated frequently to include user experiences. The site is available at http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/route21

6) Creativity at Risk: The British House of Commons Education and Skills Committee issued a report on October 24, 2007 called "Creative Partnerships and the Curriculum." The report highlights an initiative called Creative Partnerships launched in schools in the United Kingdom in 2002. This initiative links creative practitioners with schools, and is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The report recommends that more approaches to teaching creativity be implemented through the curriculum; evidence of the positive effects of teaching creativity be systematically collected and analyzed; professional development of educators include the importance of embedding more creative approaches throughout the curriculum; mentorship programs in which creative professionals work with teachers be increased; and the research of the National Foundation for Educational Research on creativity be widely disseminated, in a form accessible to school staff.

According to the committee, "We believe that the best education has creativity at its very heart. We recommend that the DCSF reviews policies such as Every Child Matters and personalized learning to ensure that creativity is established as a core principle in learning and development."

The report is available at

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmselect/cmeduski/1034/1034.pdf

7) University System of Ohio: The Ohio General Assembly directed Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, to develop a 10-year master plan to chart the course of higher education in Ohio (HB 119 - Biennial Budget). According to the web site of the Ohio Board of Regents, throughout November the Chancellor will release each primary goal of the master plan along with the measurements that have been proposed to gauge the success of the University System of Ohio. The public is invited to respond to the proposed recommendations by visiting the Master Plan Forum at http://universitysystem.ohio.gov/master-plan/

The University System of Ohio is Ohio's network of public colleges and universities, including 13 universities with 24 branches; a public medical school; and 23 two-year technical and community colleges, "working in collaborative, cooperative environment across the state." The University System of Ohio's mission is to provide affordable, high quality higher education opportunities for all Ohioans, and programs and curricula to meet Ohioans needs for the 21st Century.

So far two goals of the ten year master plan have been released for public comment. They are Educational Attainment and Quality.

Additional goals will be released on November 16 & 26, 2007.

Goal 1, Educational Attainment, states that the University System of Ohio will lead the development of a highly educated workforce capable of meeting the needs of existing enterprises and creatively leading the development and growth of new enterprises.

Achievement of this goal will be measured by the total number of students enrolled in postsecondary education; the total number of degrees and certificates awarded; the number of non-traditional students enrolled; and the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to first-generation college students.

Goal 2, Quality, states that the University System of Ohio will be a flexible and efficient higher education provider known for the excellence of the teaching and learning of its faculty and students, and acknowledged by Ohio's taxpayers, business leaders, and national and international experts as a successful model for multi-institution systems.

Achievement of this goal will be measured by the graduation rate of students compared to expected graduation rate, which is predicted by characteristics of the student body, such as ACT/SAT scores; the number of students and faculty receiving major national and international awards; the number of students in the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class or the top 20 percent on the ACT/SAT tests; and the percent of facilities coded as satisfactory or needing minor rehabilitation.

8) Bills Introduced:

*HB379 (Fessler) Requires study of specified historical documents be included in the high school American history and government curriculum.

*HB380 (Coley) Requires commercial or public entity to maintain records regarding each worker who performs services for that entity, and establishes penalties for failure to maintain those records.

*HB381 (Webster) Increases funds available for Ohio Research Scholars Program, and permits a nonpublic four-year Ohio university to submit a proposal for the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

FYI Arts

*2008 OhioDance Festival: OhioDance will co-host the OhioDance Festival on March 7-9, 2008 with The Ohio State University Department of Dance, Columbus, Ohio. The festival this year is "Dance Matters: Speaking of Moves." On Saturday, March 8, 2008 the Festival will host the annual OhioDance Showcase at OSU's Sullivant Theatre, featuring Ohio's most sophisticated choreography and performances, representing the diversity and excellence of dance in Ohio. OhioDance is currently inviting those interested to submit their own work to perform in the Showcase this year. The deadline for submissions is December 10, 2007. Ohio-based high school students graduating in 2008 are also eligible to apply for the National City Scholarship. For more information about the OhioDance Festival and to download submission guidelines, please go to: http://ohiodance.org/festival.html or contact Jane D'Angelo at ohiodance@hotmail.com or 614/224-2913.

*Ohio Arts Council: Governor Strickland announced last week the appointment of Columbus resident Mary Lazarus to the Ohio Arts Council.

*Recent Speech Highlights the Importance of Arts Education: Senator Ted Kennedy, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, made an important speech in support of arts education on November 1, 2007 at the Arts in Education Symposium in Washington, D.C. sponsored by the Walnut Hill School, the second oldest secondary school for the arts in the U.S.

The U.S. House and Senate are currently considering the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, which has had a negative impact on arts education in schools, because of its emphasis on math and reading and its testing requirements. In this speech Senator Kennedy expressed support for a new program in the reauthorized law that would provide funding for states, districts, and schools to provide more instruction time for arts and music education.

Senator Kennedy stated, "As we move forward with the reauthorization of the Act, I hope we can further encourage and support arts education in the new iteration of the law. We will include a new program to provide funding for States, districts and schools to expand learning time for students - to provide more time for arts and music education and experiential learning, as well as reading and math. And we will ask States to keep track of how much time students are spending in arts and music, to ensure that all students receive a full and well-rounded education." To read the entire speech please visit http://kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom/press_release.cfm?id=c2791749-ba10-4962-b953-6f2635e6b102

*Presidential Candidates and Arts Education: Presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is a strong supporter of the arts and arts education, according to an article published in the Des Moines Register on November 8, 2007 by Jared Strong entitled "Mike Huckabee says school bores, so bring back the arts, music". At a presidential forum hosted by the University of Northern Iowa, former governor Huckabee stated that education should be tailored to each student's needs and include more emphasis on arts and music. He also stated that adding more graduation requirements at the expense of music and art is a "huge mistake." The article is available at http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS09/711080397/-1/archive

*Center Artes Helps At-Risk Students: An article published in the November 9, 2007 issue of the San Diego Union -Tribune entitled "Organization uses innovative methods to reach at-risk students" by Pat Sherman, describes the work of Dr. Merryl Goldberg, Associate Professor of Visual and performing arts at California State University, San Marcos. Dr. Goldberg is the author of "Arts and Learning: An Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning in Multicultural and Multilingual Settings," 2nd. Edition. In 2003 Dr. Goldberg formed the Center Artes organization, which helps at-risk students learn math, science, history, and language arts through art and theatre projects. The article is available at http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20071109-9999-lz1mc9artes.html To learn more about Center Artes please visit http://www.csusm.edu/centerartes/english/

*Leadership for Arts Education: An article published by the East Valley Tribune on November 5, 2007 called "State schools chief hits all the right notes" describes how Tom Horne, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction provides leadership for arts education in Arizona. Superintendent Horne is an accomplished pianist and a classical music enthusiast, and plays with the Phoenix Baroque Ensemble, a group he helped establish in 1992. His passion for music contributes to his work as state superintendent, because he understands how important it is for students to study the arts and music in school. According to the article, the Arizona Department of Education has a responsibility to make sure that the arts are a priority in Arizona schools. The Department also has developed assessments to gauge learning in arts classes. The article is available at http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/101264

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Monday, 11-19-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 11-19-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for November 19, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) STEM SUBCOMMITTEE TO MEET THIS WEEK

3) FEDERAL UPDATE

4) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

5) REPORT COMPARES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN MATH AND SCIENCE

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not meeting this week. The next sessions are scheduled for mid December, although some committee hearings may be held in the mean time.

*Governor Strickland signed several bills into law last week. HB166 (Schindel) creates an Office of Internal Auditing within the Office of Budget and Management, and establishes a State Audit Committee.

On November 14, 2007 Governor Strickland signed into law HB 190 (Hite), which includes several educational provisions and language strengthening laws regarding teacher misconduct. HB190 was approved as emergency legislation, and goes into effect immediately. Also signed into law was SB 116 (Padgett), which ends the reduction of unemployment compensation benefits by the amount of Social Security benefits for individuals participating in the same programs.

*The Ohio Senate completed work on several education-related bills last week. Senators adopted SCR 18 (Padgett), which approves a plan by the Ohio Department of Education to add a value added "growth model" to Ohio's accountability system for schools. This change will give districts and schools another way show adequate yearly progress. SCR 18 also establishes a minimum subgroup of 30 students for calculating adequate yearly progress. Senators also approved HB 142 (Batchelder), which increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school or an institution of higher education is involved, and permits school districts to make up calamity days (not caused by a bomb threat), and in excess of the total number of days specified in their contingency plans, by adding extra hours to the remaining days in the school year.

*The Senate State and Local Government and Veterans Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Cates, reported out favorably last week a resolution sponsored by Senator Stivers (SCR9) that proclaims April as Community Theatre Month, to recognize the importance of community theatre in our society.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, met on November 14, 2007. The committee accepted a substitute bill for SB141 (Padgett), which strengthens accountability requirements for community schools.

2) STEM Subcommittee to Meet this Week: The STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning will meet on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM in rooms South B&C, 31st floor of the Riffe Center, 77 S. High Street, Columbus, OH. Governor Strickland is the chair of the Partnership for Continued Learning; Dr. Julie Schaid is the Executive Director; and Mr. Gary Allen is the Director.

The STEM Subcommittee (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) of the Partnership for Continued Learning was established through Am Sub. HB 119 in June 2007. The charge of the subcommittee is threefold:

-Select an Ohio-based nonprofit enterprise to assist in supporting the strategic and operational coordination of the public and private STEM education initiatives and resources focused on curriculum development, instruction, assessment, teacher quality enhancement, leadership recruitment and training, and community engagement; -Authorize and award grants to establish up to five STEM schools beginning in July 2008 through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process; and -Award grants to support the operation of STEM programs of excellence to serve students in any grades kindergarten through eight, through a RFP process.

The members of the STEM Subcommittee are Eric D. Fingerhut, Chair - Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents; Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Director, Ohio Department of Development; Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. Neil Gupta, Ashland City Schools; Cynthia Hummel, Worthington City Schools; Ed Muransky, President, The Muransky Companies and Scott Sullivan, President, SelectTech Services Corporation.

According to the minutes posted on the Partnership's web site, the STEM subcommittee held its first meeting on October 30, 2007 and discussed the draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Ohio nonprofit enterprise, and the two draft RFPs for establishing STEM Schools and K-8 STEM Programs of Excellence. The subcommittee agreed that the RFQ and RFPs would be released on November 30, 2007; a bidders conference will be held on December 12, 2007; proposals for the RFQ will be due January 11, 2008 and for the RFPs on January 18, 2008; and selected proposals will be notified sometime in February 2008.

3) Federal Update:

-ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization: According to reports in the media, completion of the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2007 (H.R. 648-NCLB Improvements Act of 2007) is unlikely this year. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, chaired by Senator Kennedy, and the House Committee on Education and Labor, chaired by Representative George Miller, are currently working on drafts that make over 40 changes in the law.

-2008 Appropriations: President Bush vetoed on November 13, 2007 H.R. 3043, FY 08 appropriations for the departments of Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education. The bill includes a $3.2 billion increase over 2007 levels for K-12 programs, including special education, teacher quality grants, arts education, and school improvement grants. The House was not able to override the veto on November 15, 2007, which means that Congress will need to extend the current law at current funding levels until a new law takes effect.

-Head Start Reauthorization: Lawmakers approved the reauthorization of the Head Start Act - H.R. 1429 (Head Start for School Readiness Act) on November 14, 2007. Lawmakers have been working on this reauthorization since 2003. The reauthorization updates educational standards and requires alignment with early learning standards; eliminates the controversial National Reporting System; requires better coordination with elementary schools; expands eligibility for children from low income families with incomes of up to $26,800 to participate; and increases funding levels to $7.35 billion for fiscal year 2008, $7.65 billion for fiscal year 2009, and $7.99 billion for fiscal year 2010. The bill also sets a goal that all Head Start teachers have an associate's degree and half of all teachers nationwide have a bachelor's degree by 2013, and increases accountability for the fiscal management of the programs. President Bush is expected to sign this legislation. To read a summary of the legislation please visit http://edlabor.house.gov/publications/20071108HeadStartSummary.pdf

-Higher Education Act: The House Committee on Education and Labor approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007 (H.R. 4137) on November 15, 2007. The bill encourages colleges to keep tuition down; restores integrity and accountability to the student loan programs; simplifies the federal student aid application process; makes textbook costs more manageable; strengthens workforce competitiveness; expands college access and support for low income families; increases college aid and support for veterans and military families; ensures equal college opportunities for students with disabilities; and increases campus safety and disaster readiness plans. To read a summary of the legislation, please visit http://edlabor.house.gov/publications/20071109COAASummary.pdf

4) State Board of Education: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, met on November 12 & 13, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

SUBCOMMITTEES: The State Board's Quality Middle and High Schools subcommittee met on Sunday evening, November 11, 2007, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus, and heard a presentation about Ohio's Career and Information System. The SBE's School Funding subcommittee also met, and discussed how to develop recommendations regarding six questions pertaining to school funding. At the next meeting the subcommittee will focus their discussions on what programs and services are needed in an education system, and how much money is needed to support them.

The Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, met on November 12, 2007.

CAPACITY COMMITTEE: The Capacity Committee discussed and took action on the following:

-Approved an intent to amend Rule 3301-52-01 (screening and assessment). This rule was reviewed to comply with JCARR's five year review process, and technical changes were made.

-Discussed the recision of Rules 3301-69-11 & 12 (Head Start), which relate to subject matter that is no longer relevant due to changes in the law.

-Discussed an intent to adopt Rules 3301-48-01 and 02 (Open Enrollment), which will improve the monitoring of intra-district and inter-district open enrollment.

-Discussed Rule 3301-44-09 (Post Secondary Enrollment Options). HB

119 directs the SBE to adopt rules governing how Post Secondary Enrollment funds for chartered and non-chartered nonpublic schools are distributed. Stakeholder comments were shared with the committee.

-Adopted the Praxis II Test for Intervention Specialists. The current Praxis II test for intervention specialists is being replaced by a new assessment. The committee adopted this new test to be used beginning September 1, 2008. The committee adopted a cut score of 160, which will be the highest cut score in the nation, and adopted a passage rate of 82-83 percent.

-Discussed a plan to establish the Praxis II Test Score Review Panel to examine the Ohio's 40+ Praxis II cut scores. The Panel will make recommendations to the Educator Standards Board, which will then bring those recommendations to the SBE. The review of the Praxis cut scores will begin in January 2008, and a second round will be conducted in January 2009.

-Discussed a plan to conduct validation studies for Praxis subject area tests in 6-10 subjects that are not being used in Ohio, such as Drama/theatre, to determine whether or not a test would be an appropriate assessment for licensure in these areas.

ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE: Ohio Treasurer of State, Richard Cordray and Tom Rutan, ODE Associate Director, Center for Curriculum and Assessment, met with the Achievement Committee to discuss personal financial literacy in schools. Financial literacy was included as a requirement for students to learn in SB 311 as part of the Ohio Core legislation, adopted by the Ohio General Assembly in 2006. The ODE and the Treasurer's Office are making progress to make this requirement "substantial" for students, and are working with the Ohio Commission for Personal Finance Education, Financial Literacy Implementation Subcommittee, to develop flexible delivery models and options for school districts. Teacher academies have already been organized to provide professional development and resources to help teachers become better prepared to provide instruction in financial literacy through a variety of courses, such as business courses, Family and Consumer Science courses, social studies courses, and career-tech courses. Licensure requirements are also being examined to determine whether or not some teachers may need an endorsement to teach financial literacy. How student competency in financial literacy is assessed is also being discussed, and a new metric may be proposed. Local communities are also being engaged. An update on these efforts will be provided over the next few months.

The Achievement Committee also discussed and took action on the following:

-Approved a resolution of intent to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools.

-Approved a resolution of intent to adopt physical education standards to meet a December 31, 2007 deadline required in HB 119

(Dolan) - the biennial budget bill. The committee agreed to adopt the standards developed by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) at this time, and review those standards at a later date.

-Approved a resolution of intent to adopt recommendations regarding information to be submitted to the eTech Clearinghouse by districts that want to offer interactive distance learning courses.

-Approved a resolution to refile Rule 3301-13-11. This rule pertains to the assessment of students in Limited English Proficient Programs, and requires students to take Ohio's Test of English Language Acquisition, even after they have passed it, to monitor their progress in the language.

-Discussed Rule 3301-51-15 (Gifted Education). The committee will consider an intent to adopt these rules in December, and adopt the rules in March 2008.

-Discussed Rules 3301-35-05 & 06 (Operating Standards), which require technical changes that replace the term "disadvantaged pupil impact aid" with "poverty based assistance."

-Discussed end of course exams, which are recommended in the Achieve Report.

REPORT FROM THE FOREIGN LANGUAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL: The full Board heard a presentation regarding draft recommendations of the Foreign Language Advisory Council (FLAC). Jennifer Stewart and Lou Ann Harrold are co-chairs of the Council, and led the discussion about the Council's report, which will be available in December. FLAC was created through SB 311 - Ohio Core legislation, and is charged with developing a statewide P-16 world language implementation plan, including recommendations for legislation to implement the plan by the 2014-15 school year. The SBE is not required to take any action on this plan, which will be submitted to the Governor and leaders in the State and General Assembly.

According to background information included in the presentation, 19 countries require students to learn a second language in elementary school, but in Ohio three percent of students are learning another language in grades K-5. In grades 6-8, 19 percent of students are learning another language; in grade 9, 50 percent; grade 10, 61 percent; grade 11, 42 percent; and grade 12, 21 percent. The world languages most frequently taught in Ohio are Spanish, French, and German, but Latin, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, Italian, and American Sign Language are also taught. For additional information about the status of language acquisition in Ohio, please visit the Ohio Roadmap for the 21st Century web site at http://chineseflagship.osu.edu/ohiolanguagesummit/

The draft report makes the following recommendations:

-Provide access to a sequence of world language instruction across grades P-16, so that instruction at each level builds upon the proficiency that students have attained at an earlier level.

-Retain capacity in commonly taught languages such as French, Spanish, German, Latin, and American Sign Language, while building capacity in languages critical for economic and strategic importance such as Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese.

-Use proven programs with the goal of developing longer sequences of P-16 language learning and advanced levels of proficiency in adulthood.

-Use multiple means to deliver language instruction.

-Create a seamless system for granting world language credit based on demonstration of proficiency.

-Increase the number and build the capacity of qualified world language instructors in the state of Ohio.

The following legislative recommendations were included in the draft report:

-Include foreign language in the Ohio Core graduation requirements at or before high school level.

-Allow students to earn credit by demonstrating proficiency, and -Fund the administration of existing, recognized assessments to determine students' proficiency.

The report recommends the following changes in Administrative Code:

-Extend alternative licensure to elementary grades -Add a foreign language endorsement to teacher licenses

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Legislative liaisons John Bender and Carl Wick provided information regarding federal and state legislation, and led the Board in a discussion about the proposed recommendations regarding teacher misconduct and the 2008 Federal Funding and Legislative Platform.

The Federal Platform is approved by the SBE each year and includes the following topics: NCLB/ reauthorization; State Assessment Systems; Intervention and School Improvement; Data Systems and Technology; Students with Diverse Learning and Language Needs; Educator Quality and Effectiveness; Early Childhood Education/Head Start/ Literacy/Even Start; Middle and High Schools/STEM/Career Technical Education; Student Transportation; and School Safety. The SBE was asked to add to the draft Federal Platform a request to Congress to develop a data base on teacher misconduct to ensure that states have recent and accurate information available when considering the employment of teachers. The SBE will adopt the 2008 Federal Platform in December 2007.

The SBE also discussed HB 190 (Hite) - Administration of Achievement Tests, which was amended in the Senate Education committee to include several changes regarding teacher misconduct and funding for all day Kindergarten. The bill was signed into law by Governor Strickland on November 14, 2007. Additional recommendations regarding teacher misconduct were discussed by the Board during the meeting. The following amended recommendations were adopted by the SBE on November 13, 2007:

-Automatic revocation of an educator license for certain convictions, such as rape, child molestation, etc.

-Provide ODE with BCII 'wrap back" service for licensed educators.

-Require districts to remove teachers from the classroom upon arrest for specific offenses, such as murder, kidnapping, rape, etc.

-Require districts to notify ODE that a teacher has been removed from a classroom due to an arrest.

-Require educators who are arrested or convicted of an offense to notify their employer of the arrest, and require penalties for those who fail to notify an employer.

-Provide statutory permission that certain sealed convictions are a matter of public record, and that the sealing/expunction of conviction records shall have no effect on disciplinary actions.

-Give the Department of Education access to the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OLEG).

-Provide statutory permission for the State Board of Education to impose disciplinary actions based upon a judicial finding that a person holding a license or seeking to hold a license is eligible for an intervention in lieu of conviction program, diversion program, or fist time offender's program.

-Provide protection for persons reporting educator misconduct.

-Require increased access to Public Children Services Agencies (PSCA) information.

SCHOOL CLIMATE UPDATE: A policy discussion focusing on the initiatives and tools that Ohio has in place to support a positive school climate in schools was led by Mitch Chester, Senior Associate Superintendent for Policy and Accountability, Mary Lou Rush, Executive Director, Center for Students, Families, and Communities, and Dr. Zelman, Superintendent for Public Instruction. The SBE was provided with statewide data on student behavior, such as fighting, truancy, use/possession of drugs, etc.; vandalism/theft/threats; use/possession of fire arms; and harassment/intimidation; etc.

473,000 discipline occurrences were reported in Ohio's public schools during the 2006-2007 school year. Overall the number of student discipline incidents has dropped from 2006 to 2007 in the areas of fighting and truancy. There has been a slight increase in reports of harassment.

A positive school climate ensures that students have the right conditions and motivation for learning. Schools must have supportive educational environments in order for students to realize their full potential. According to research, policies that support positive school environments keep students and staff safe from internal and external threats; help students learn to behave in non-violent ways; identify students who exhibit warning signs early; and ensure identified students receive help.

Current SBE policies, initiatives, guidance, and tools provide schools with support to create positive school environments, but gaps have been identified, such as infrequent practice of emergency management plans; funding for school resource officers; addressing fighting and gang violence; teaching civic and social responsibility; providing education and support services for students who are no longer in school; supporting partnerships with law enforcement, health, and human service agencies; measuring school climate and 21st Century skills.

Over the last few years the SBE has developed the following reports, policies, and tools to help schools and school districts improve school climate:

-Sponsored Six Safe Schools Summits in Ohio -Piloted the School Climate Survey -Developed the Ohio Safe School Center at http://www.ebasedprevention.org -Developed an "Anti Harassment and Bullying Policy" (Adopted by SBE in October 2004) -Developed a "Social Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Policy" (Effective March 2006)

-Developed "A Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Guidelines" (Approved by the SBE in July 2007)

-Developed "A Safety and Violence Prevention Curriculum Overview" (Draft available in October 2007)

-Developed "Creating a Positive School Climate in Ohio's Schools: A Policy Analysis on School Safety" (October 2007)

GIFTED RULES: A proposed revision of the Ohio Administrative Code rules 3301-51-15 for gifted students called "Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students," was presented by Greg Maloney, Director, Office for Exceptional Children and Eric Calvert, Assistant Director, Office for Exceptional Children. These rules were adopted by the SBE under ORC Section 3324.01-10. An intent to adopt these revised rules will be presented to the SBE in December 2007, and the rules will be presented to the SBE for final approval in March 2008. The following are some of the issues raised in discussions with stakeholders regarding the proposed gifted standards:

-dilution of gifted coordinator services -requirements for the Written Education Plans -assignment of intervention specialists and related issues, such as class size; relaxed student caseload; delivery of services in general education classrooms; unit funding to support online delivery of instruction by an intervention specialist and the establishment of a minimum classroom size for online instruction -online gifted services -maximum number of students in self-contained classroom -contact time with intervention specialists

EDGE SUBCOMMITTEE: The subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, approved a workplan through June 2008. The subcommittee will develop a "top ten" list of knowledge, skills, and behaviors that Ohio students need to be able to know and do to be competitive in the global economy.

This top ten list will be based on the input of stakeholders through a survey, interviews, and outreach; include information obtained through research; and reflect what Ohio employers need. The top ten list will be presented to the SBE in June 2008.

BUSINESS MEETING ON NOVEMBER 13, 2007: Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, presented a monthly report to the Board, updating them about the following initiatives:

-Ohio has received a $1.25 million grant from the Gates Foundation to develop a new vision for assessment at the middle and high school levels. The grant will also be used to identify best international practices for intervention in low performing schools, including the development of a new generation of assessments and diagnostic tools using technology to improve the external and internal accountability systems in schools. It is hoped that this work will have an effect on assessment at the national level as well.

-The ODE is seeking additional funding to develop an assessment model in which teachers would generate their own assessments as part of a student portfolio system.

-The ODE is working with Chancellor Fingerhut to establish a seamless PK-16 education system that does not allow students to drop out, but provides a variety of education plans and supports to keep students in school.

-There are also discussions about a Mott Foundation initiative called "A New Day for Learning", and how to create a Learning Day, in which time is used differently to address the learning needs of students.

The Board took action on 12 personnel items and the resolutions included below during the business meeting. The next State Board of Education meeting is December 10-11, 2007.

State Board of Education Agenda for November 13, 2007

#6-Approved a resolution to refile Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-13-11 (LEP Students) #7-Approved a resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-23-44 (Temporary Teaching Licenses) #8-Approved a resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt OAC Rule 3301-24-09 (Performance Based Licensure for Administrators) #9-Approved a resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-48-01 & 02 (Open Enrollment) #10-Approved a resolution to adopt recommendations for Physical Education Standards #11-Approved a resolution of Intent to adopt recommendations for the eTech Ohio Clearinghouse #12-Approved a resolution of Intent to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools #15-Approved a resolution to accept the determination of the hearing officer that the Watkins Christian Academy should not be registered for the 2007-2008 school year as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3310

#16- Pulled from the Agenda. Resolution to confirm the Norwood City School district's determination of impractical the transportation of certain students attending St. Nicolas Academy, Cincinnati, a charter nonpublic school, Hamilton County #17-Approved a motion to adopt legislative recommendations regarding teacher misconduct. (These recommendations are included under the Legislative Report above.) There were nine recommendations presented to the Board in this resolution. The Board amended number three to add the words, "and specify penalties for superintendents of districts which fail to report."

#18 Approved a motion to revise and refile Rule 3301-13-02 (administering required assessments at designated grades)

#19 Approved the appointment of Cynthia Johnson as Interim Superintendent for the Ohio School for the Blind.

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

5) AIR Report Compares Student Achievement in Math and Science: The American Institutes for Research (AIR) released a report on November 14, 2007 called "Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators for Comparing States and Nations" by Gary Phillips. The report provides a comprehensive state by state statistical analysis of how 8th grade students are preforming in math and science based on data from the 2005 and 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) compared to data collected and statistically analyzed from 45 countries that participated in the 2003 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

According to the report, 8th grade students in most states are performing better in math and science than students in other countries, but overall the highest performing states still rate below the highest performing countries. The states in which students are achieving at high levels in math or science include Massachusetts (51 in math and 41 in science), Minnesota (43 in math and 39 in science), Montana (38 in math and 42 in science), New Hampshire (38 math and 41 science); New Jersey (40 math and 33 science); North Dakota (41 math and 43 science); South Dakota (39 math and 41 science); Vermont (41 math and 41 science); and Wisconsin (37 math and 39 science). The countries/cities in which students achieve the highest levels include Singapore (73 in math and 55 in science); Hong Kong (66 in math and 44 in science), South Korea (65 in math and 44 in science); Taiwan (61 in math and 52 in science); and Japan (57 in math and 42 in science).

Ohio's 8th grade students rated 35th in math results compared to top rated Singapore (73); Hong Kong (66); Korea (65); Taiwan (61); Japan (57); Belgium (40); Hungary (37); and Estonia (36).

Ohio's 8th grade students rated 35th in science results compared to top rated Singapore (55); Taiwan (52); Korea (45); Hong Kong (44); Japan (42); Estonia (41); England (38); and Hungary (38).

The report is available at http://www.air.org/news/default.aspx#8thGrader.

FYI ARTS

*Poll Links Music Education and Advanced Studies/Income Levels: MENC, the National Association for Music Education, released on November 12, 2007 the results of a new Harris Interactive Poll which "...shows the positive association of music with lifelong educational attainment and higher income."

According to the MENC press release, "Respondents of the Harris Poll cite skills they learned in music as helping them in their careers today. Seventy-two percent of adults with music education agree that it equips people to be better team players in their career and nearly six in ten agree that music education has influenced their creative problem solving skills. Many also agree music education provides a disciplined approach to problem solving, a sense of organization and prepares someone to manage the tasks of their job more successfully."

The poll, which was conducted by Harris Interactive among 2,565 adults in October 2007, found the following:

-37 percent of respondents say that music was extremely or very influential in contributing to their current level of personal fulfillment, while 33 percent say it was somewhat influential.

-Most respondents reported that music was extremely, very, or somewhat important in learning skills such as working toward common goals - 66 percent; striving for individual excellence in a group setting - 65 percent; disciplined approach to solving problems - 62 percent; creative problem solving - 59 percent, and flexibility in work situations - 58 percent.

MENC intends to use these results to advocate for music education during the reauthorization of the NCLB Act. Even though music education is recognized in NCLB as part of the core curriculum for students to learn, and research shows how music education helps increase student achievement, music and arts courses are often the first courses to be cut when school budgets are tight. MENC is requesting Congress to include in the reauthorization of NCLB the following:

-retain the arts in the definition of core academic subjects of learning -require annual state reports on student access to core academic subjects -improve national data collection and research in arts education -reauthorize the arts in education programs of the U.S. Department of Education

For more information about MENC's legislative agenda, please visit http://www.menc.org/

To read more about the Harris Interactive Poll results, please visit http://www.menc.org/unlinked/HarrisPollSummaryMemo.pdf

MENC also includes on its web site information about how the 2008 presidential candidates view the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act, and the role of music education in our schools. To view these responses please visit http://www.menc.org/information/legislationpolicy/statements.html

*Bluffton High School Arts Program Recognized: The Coalition for Public Education honored last week at the Ohio School Board Association's annual Convention in Columbus three public school districts for their innovative programs that support student achievement. The schools recognized were Bluffton High School, Bluffton Exempted Village Schools; Licking Heights Local Schools; and Cincinnati Public Schools' Taft High School. Bluffton High School (teacher Vickie Garmon) was recognized for improving school climate through its arts program. Bluffton High School offers a large variety of classes and a flexible schedule to meet the needs of art students. Art students also take pride in their school by creating murals and paintings throughout the building. The art beautifies the school and instills pride among the rest of the student body, fostering a better environment for all students to learn.

The Bluffton program began 15 years ago with students creating original artwork for the cabinets and walls of the art classroom. With those surfaces full of art, the project expanded to other areas of the school, including hallways, the office and locker rooms. There are 145 students enrolled in both classroom and independent study art courses this year.

*The Great Ohioan Award: The Capitol Square Foundation's "Great Ohioan Award" is presented to an individual Ohioan or group of Ohioans, who have made a significant or lasting contribution to World, American, or Ohio history. To be considered for the award the nominee must have been born in Ohio or lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years; at least 25 years must have passed since the event being commemorated took place; and a compelling reason must exist to commemorate this event or individual at the Ohio Statehouse, rather than some other location in the state. Nominations for this award are being accepted through December 1, 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.capitolsquarefoundation.org.

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Monday, 11-26-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 11-26-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for November 26, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) NEW PROVISIONS INCLUDED IN COMMUNITY SCHOOL BILL

3) STEM COMMITTEE MEETS

4) ASCD WHOLE CHILD INITIATIVE

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: Members of the Ohio House Alternative Energy Committee, chaired by Representative McGregor, and the House Public Utilities Committee, chaired by Representative Hagan, will be debating this week energy policy, efficiency, supply, development, service, and regulation, outlined in two bills, SB 221 (Schuler) and HB 357 (McGregor). In the Ohio Senate, members of the Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Grendell, will consider HB181 (Setzer), which requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children, and notify law enforcement of requests for those records. The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to hold sessions until mid December.

2) New Provisions Included in Community School Bill: The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, accepted on November 14, 2007 a substitute bill for SB 141 (Padgett). SB 141 includes provisions that increase accountability requirements for community schools. These provisions have been recommended by the State Board of Education for several years. According to a summary prepared by the ODE, the bill now includes the following provisions:

-Removes language that requires the development and issuance of a model report card for community schools. Currently community schools and traditional schools use the same report card format, and so this language is no longer necessary.

-Clarifies that the board of directors of a nonprofit or public benefit corporation under which the community school is established is the governing authority of that school. This provision will end confusion about what entity is the responsible governing authority for a community school.

-Clarifies that no employee or board member of the community school's sponsor may serve on the governing authority of the community school.

This provision clarifies that the members of a governing authority may not be employed by the sponsor of the school, even if the sponsor is a traditional public school.

-Requires a community school to withdraw a student who fails to participate in 21 days or 105 consecutive hours of learning opportunities (whichever comes first) without excuse, and prohibits the student from enrolling in this or any other community school for the duration of the school year. Current law does not take into account variations in the length of the school day or online education. The law only requires community schools to adopt an attendance policy that includes a procedure for automatically withdrawing a student if the student fails to participate without excuse in 105 hours of learning opportunities offered to the student.

-Requires community schools to provide 1001 hours of learning opportunities for students in grades 7-12, and 910 hours of learning opportunities in grades K-6. This provision will align the number of hours of instruction that community schools are required to provide with the number of hours of instruction that traditional schools are required to provide. Current law requires community schools to provide at a minimum 920 hours of instruction.

-Provides for the ODE to directly fund sponsors out of the total amount of state funding calculated for the school for that fiscal year. Sponsors are funded through an agreement between the sponsor and the school, and can be paid up to three percent of the state funds that the school receives. This provision will lessen the financial incentive for sponsors to keep poor performing community schools open.

-Prohibits a sponsor or its affiliate from selling services to any school it operates. This provision will lessen the financial involvement between community schools and their sponsors.

-Clarifies that no person shall be employed by both the governing board and the school's sponsor. Some sponsors have allowed their employees to be employed by the schools that they sponsor, so that these employees can enroll in SERS or STRS to receive benefits.

-Clarifies that sponsors have the authority in law to close a school that they are sponsoring. Sponsors can close a school or not renew its contract due to the school's performance, and/or if the school fails to meet certain academic criteria outlined in law (126-HB 79).

- Clarifies that no right to appeal exists when a school is closed due to academic performance outlined in HB 79. However, the school can appeal if closed due to other performance reasons.

-Requires that any corrective action plan submitted by the school be signed by the sponsor, and that progressive sanctions could be assessed against the sponsor if the plan is not followed or completed.

-Authorizes sponsors to review student records.

-Makes the mishandling of student records a misdemeanor of the third degree.

-Prohibits a sponsor from sponsoring a new school for three years if a school that it sponsors closes and owes money to the state.

-Requires a minimum number of students for a startup community school, and provides the ODE with the ability to waive this requirement in special circumstances. A startup community school would be required to have 50 students in its first year; 75 students in its second year; and 100 students in each subsequent year. An analysis of community schools has shown that 100 students generate the revenue necessary to sustain a school over time.

-Removes from current law a provision that allowed a community school operator the right to appeal to a school's sponsor or the State Board of Education, a decision by the governing board of the school to terminate or not renew an operator's contract.

The following provisions were included in the bill as introduced:

-Clarifies that the Department of Education's authority to oversee and monitor community school sponsors applies to all sponsors, regardless of whether they must initially be approved by the Department for sponsorship.

-Permits the Department of Education to place a sponsor in probationary status or to suspend or restrict the sponsor's authority to sponsor community schools for failure to intervene to correct problems at a school.

-Requires that for an entity that sponsors or operates out-of-state schools to be approved to sponsor community schools in Ohio, at least one of those out-of-state schools must perform as well as Ohio schools in continuous improvement (rather than academic watch, as under current law).

-Requires the sponsor of each community school to provide annual assurances to the Department of Education regarding the school's compliance with certain laws and the preparedness of the school's staff and facilities for the upcoming school year.

-Requires the Department of Education's annual report on community schools to include the performance of community school sponsors.

3) STEM Subcommittee Meets: The STEM Subcommittee (Chancellor Eric Fingerhut chair) of the Partnership for Continued Learning (Governor Strickland chair) met on November 21, 2007. The STEM Subcommittee (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) discussed public responses to a draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select an Ohio-based nonprofit enterprise to assist in supporting the strategic and operational coordination of the public and private STEM education initiatives and resources, and two draft Request for Proposals (RFPs) for establishing up to five STEM Schools and K-8 STEM Programs of Excellence. The discussion was led by Dr. Julie Schaid, Executive Director for the Partnership for Continued Learning. The subcommittee also reviewed a rubric for scoring the RFQ and RFPs presented by Dr. Schaid.

Dr. Schaid reported that 89 parties have been included on the interested parties list regarding the STEM schools/K-8 Program of Excellence initiatives. The subcommittee agreed with the changes made to the drafts, and accepted the scoring rubrics, which will also be posted online. The subcommittee set November 30, 2007 as the release date for the RFQ and two RFPs. An RFQ and RFP bidder's conference will be held on December 12, 2007, and interested parties will be asked to submit a letter of intent by December 20, 2007. Proposals for the RFQ will be due January 11, 2008, and proposals for establishing STEM high schools and K-8 Programs of Excellence will be due January 18, 2008. The subcommittee will meet the week of January 21st, and selected proposals will be notified some time in mid February 2008.

For more information please visit the STEM subcommittee web site at http://www.pcl.ohio.gov/jcore/pcl/HomeContent.jsp?node=D676EB47-8397-4427-B393-73645554EC80

4) ASCD Whole Child Initiative: The American Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's Whole Child Campaign "...promotes a comprehensive approach to learning that recognizes that successful young people are knowledgeable, emotionally and physically healthy, civically inspired, engaged in the arts, prepared for work and economic self-sufficiency, and ready for the world beyond their own borders." The Campaign has been involved in several education and child welfare issues this fall, including the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act; the reauthorization of the Head Start Act; and approval of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The campaign has created a clearinghouse for information, and frequently updates its web site with new information and research. Twenty-one organizations have now joined the campaign. For information please visit http://www.wholechildeducation.org/

FYI ARTS

*Creativity Matters Campaign Launched: More than160 state leaders, business leaders, and educators met on October 30, 2007 in Tacoma, Washington for a summit to address the importance of creativity and imagination in the education of Washington's students. The summit was chaired by Eric Liu, member of the Washington State Board of Education, and sponsored by Governor Chris Gregoire, business organizations including Boeing and Microsoft, education organizations, arts organizations and institutions, and state agencies. The summit, which was an outgrowth of Governor Gregoire's Washington Learns Commission, focused on how students need to develop creativity to be better prepared to meet the challenges of the future, and how creativity can be taught across the curriculum. As an outcome of the summit, organizers launched the Creativity Matters campaign to encourage leaders in all communities and in the corporate, education, government and philanthropic sectors to promote creativity and imagination in the education of children.

One of the first initiatives of Creativity Matters is to establish an Imagination Award in partnership with the New York City Lincoln Center Institute, which annually presents an Imagination Award to a NYC public school that demonstrates the spirit of imagination and creativity. Other activities are listed on the Creativity Matters website at http://creativitymatters.net/index.php

*NEA Education Leaders Institute: The National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Gioia chairman, announced on November 14, 2007 the first round of grant recipients to participate in the Education Leaders Institute. The grants will support five multidisciplinary teams from Alaska, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wisconsin to come together in March 2008 in Chicago, and discuss the challenges facing arts education, and policies, programs, and strategies that can strengthen arts education in their states. The teams include school leaders, legislators, policymakers, educators, professional artists, consultants and scholars. The topics that will be covered include assessment, leadership in arts education, curriculum development, and access to arts learning. Emphasis will be placed on developing strategies that include innovative partnerships and programs. A second Institute will be held in the summer 2008. To learn more about this institute please contact Sally Gifford at 202-682-5606 or giffords@arts.gov.

*Column on Arts Education: Janet Eilber, artistic director of the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, wrote a column for the Dana Foundation's Arts Education in the News on November 19, 2007 entitled "A Child's First Method of Learning Is Still the Best". In this article Ms. Eilber urges arts education advocates to work to change the No Child Left Behind Act, which has had a negative impact on arts education nationally.

According to the article, arts education advocates are focusing on the importance of an education in the arts to help students become more creative and competitive in the business community. However, an even more fundamental reason for supporting arts education is noted by Mel Levine, founder of "All Kinds of Minds". Dr. Levine has found through his research that early learning is physical, experiential, aural, visual, and tactile. Ms. Eilber writes, "In this way, we all start out as fledgling dancers, actors, musicians and artists." She goes no to say, "The argument that arts learning must take place only after basic academic skills have been mastered ignores the fact that we are already masters at gaining skills in ways that are the essence of learning through the arts. Doesn't it make sense to build on that successful model of learning rather than insisting on a completely different approach?" To read the column please visit http://www.dana.org/news/artseducationinthenews/detail.aspx?id=10102

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Monday, 12-03-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update 12-03-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for December 3, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) YOUTH AGENDA CONFERENCE TO MEET

3) PREPARING STUDENTS FOR GLOBAL DEMOCRACY

4) UPDATES ON SCHOOL FUNDING

5) EDUCATIONAL DATA SYSTEMS RATED

6) NCES REPORT ON READING LITERACY

7) UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF OHIO

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House will meet in session on December 4, 2007. The Ohio Senate has canceled its "as needed" sessions set for Dec. 4 and 5, 2007.

-The Ohio Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Grendell, will meet on December 5, 2007 at 10:00 AM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on HB181 (Setzer), which requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and notify law enforcement of requests for those records.

-The House Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee, chaired by Representative Widener, will meet on December 5, 2007 at 9:00 AM in Hearing Room 116. The Committee will hear testimony on SB 148 (Faber), which revises retirement eligibility requirements for members of the School Employees Retirement System, and HB 270 (Schneider), which states that a member of the STRS who retires and then returns to public employment in the same position can not receive a pension while earning a salary for that employment.

-The Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, chaired by Senator Coughlin, will meet on December 5, 2007 at 2:30 PM, South Hearing Room. The Committee will hear testimony on SB232 (Stivers), which revises the law governing child care.

2) Youth Agenda Conference to Meet: The Plain Dealer reports in a December 2, 2007 article by Scott Stephens that the Ohio Youth Agenda Conference will meet on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at the Columbus YWCA, 65 South Fourth Street from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM to develop a 2008 Agenda. The Ohio Youth Agenda represents over 100 students from thirty school districts in Ohio. These students began meeting last year to discuss issues affecting the future of Ohio and Ohio's youth. From these discussions students developed an agenda to improve education in Ohio, and last spring members of the Ohio Youth Agenda presented testimony on the biennial budget, HB 119-Dolan, and visited lawmakers and First Lady Frances Strickland to urge them to support their 2007 Agenda. That agenda called for the following:

-Courses that include high-level academics as well as vocational, art, music and computer classes. Classes should have no more than 25 students.

-The teaching of basic financial skills, and internships that connect to careers.

-An accountability system that measures progress and doesn't base graduation on one test.

-Dropout prevention programs that include peer counseling, tutoring and smaller classes.

-School counselors to help with social and mental health issues, not just schedules.

-Better access to college, an equal number of college recruiters and military recruiters, and reduced tuition.

-Youth centers with peer leaders to provide after-school activities and programs designed to reduce violence and teen pregnancy.

-More nurses in schools to give students regular access to medical care.

-A school funding system that is not grounded in increased local property taxes.

For more information about the Ohio Youth Agenda Conference, please contact Michael Charney, Director, Youth Voices for Economic Justice at 216-548-4059.

3) Preparing Students for Global Democracy: The Fifth Annual Partnership Conference will be held on Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University from 8:30 - 2:00 PM. This conference will bring together representatives of K-16 education, professional practice, and history/social science agencies to focus on ways in which "....university-community collaborations may foster a more democratically and globally literate citizenry." The morning keynote speaker will be Dr. James Loewen, professor at the University of Vermont and author of "Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your High School History Textbook Got Wrong", and "Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong." The keynote speaker during lunch is John Bul Dau, who is a native of Sudan and currently works to resolve the conflict in Dafur. The conference will also feature 10 workshops on history, religion, conflict resolution, world affairs, cultural studies, etc. For more information please visit www.csuohio.edu/coehs/partnershipconference.

4) Updates on School Funding:

*According to a November 21, 2007 article in the San Diego Union Times by Juliet Williams of the Associated Press, the California School Boards Association and several school districts in California have filed a lawsuit (California School Boards Association Educational Legal Alliance et al v. State of California) in the San Diego County Superior Court against the state, alleging that the state has failed to provide funding for mandatory programs costing over $1 billion in the last five state budgets. Some of the state mandated programs that school districts must pay for include pupil health screenings, estimated to cost districts nearly $4 million a year; meeting the state's graduation requirements, estimated to cost $66 million a year; and reporting attendance; estimated to cost districts about $3.8 million a year. The school districts participating in the lawsuit include the San Diego County Office of Education, Riverside Unified School District, San Jose Unified School District, and Clovis Unified School District. For more information please visit http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20071121-1641-ca-schoolmandates-lawsuit.html

*According to a November 30, 2007 article in the New York Times ("Corzine Is Set to Revamp School Aid Formula" by Winnie Hu and David W. Chen) New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine is expected to announce a plan to change the way school districts are funded in New Jersey. The plan will provide funding to meet the needs of low-income students, no matter what school district they attend, and may cost up to $400 -500 million a year more. The current system for funding schools in New Jersey was implemented after plaintiffs were successful in challenging the state's school funding system in a lawsuit called Abbott vs. Burke. Changing the current school funding system would require court approval. For more information please visit

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/nyregion/30jersey.html?ex=1354078800&en=8d3a65e80582060e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

5) Educational Data Systems Rated: A survey conducted by the Data Quality Campaign, an initiative of the Texas-based National Center for Educational Accountability (NCEA), shows that most states have data systems that collect student enrollment, demographic data, graduation rates, and dropout rates, but fewer states have the ability to track individual student's test scores from year to year - which is referred to as state-level longitudinal data systems. The Data Quality Campaign conducted a survey of state data systems in September 2007 with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and then analyzed the results based on ten criteria that the Campaign identified for longitudinal data systems. The ten criteria are 1) A unique statewide student identifier that connects student data across key databases across years; 2) Student-level enrollment, demographic and program participation information; 3) The ability to match individual students' test records from year to year to measure academic growth; 4) Information on untested students and the reasons they were not tested; 5) A teacher identifier system with the ability to match teachers to students; 6) Student-level transcript information, including information on courses completed and grades earned; 7) Student-level college readiness test scores; 8) Student-level graduation and dropout data; 9) The ability to match student records between the P-12 and higher education systems; 10) A state data audit system assessing data quality, validity and reliability. Four states (Florida, Utah, Arkansas, and Delaware) have data systems that meet the ten criteria. According to the survey report, Ohio has not met two of the elements, #6 and #9. Similar surveys have been conducted since 2003. The results of the surveys are posted on the web site http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org/survey_results/

6) NCES Report on Reading Literacy: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released on November 28, 2007 a report called "The Reading Literacy of U.S. Fourth-Grade Students in an International Context, Results From the 2001 and 2006; Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)". This report summarizes the performance of U.S. students on the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS); compares the scores of U.S. fourth-graders to the scores of their peers internationally in 2006 in 44 educational jurisdictions and countries; and examines how much student reading literacy rates have changed since the first administration of PIRLS in 2001.

According to a summary of the report, the average reading scores of fourth graders in the US is higher than the average reading scores of their peers internationally on the 2006 PIRLS. Overall US students scored higher than 22 other countries and educational jurisdictions; lower than 10; and about the same as 12. In 2001, US fourth grade students scored higher than 23 countries; lower than three, and about the same as eight on the PIRLS.

"In addition to framing the reading literacy of U.S. students within an international context, the report shows how the reading literacy of U.S. fourth-graders varies by student background characteristics and contextual factors that may be associated with reading proficiency."

To see the report please visit http://nces.ed.gov/ and http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008017.

7) University System of Ohio: The Ohio General Assembly directed Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, to develop a 10-year master plan to chart the course of higher education in Ohio (HB 119 - Biennial Budget). The plan is to be presented to Governor Strickland and the General Assembly by March 31, 2008.

Chancellor Fingerhut has released four draft primary goals of the master plan, along with the measurements that have been proposed to gauge the success of the University System of Ohio. The University System of Ohio is Ohio's network of public colleges and universities, including 13 universities with 24 branches; a public medical school; and 23 two-year technical and community colleges, "working in collaborative, cooperative environment across the state." The University System of Ohio's mission is to provide affordable, high quality higher education opportunities for all Ohioans, and programs and curricula to meet Ohioans needs for the 21st Century.

The four goals were posted on the web site of the University System of Ohio in November 2007, and were recently modified as a result of public comment. According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch on November 30, 2007 ("Chancellor Refines Goals for Ohio's Colleges" by Encarnacion Pyle) the first draft of goals, Educational Attainment, Quality, Affordability, and Economic Leadership, have been changed to the following:

Goal - Access. Achievement of this goal will be measured by post-secondary enrollment; degrees and certificates awarded; enrollment of undergraduates who are age 25 or older; and undergraduate degrees to first-generation college students.

Goal - Quality and Accountability. Achievement of this goal will be measured by graduation rate compared with expected rate; students in the top 20 percent of their class or top 20 percent ACT/SAT; percentage of facilities in satisfactory condition or needing only minor rehabilitation; improvement in students' knowledge during their college careers; and degrees awarded per every 100 full-time students

Goal - Affordability. Achievement of this goal will be measured by the percentage of students whose net cost is equal to or less than their expected family contribution, as calculated on their federal financial-aid form; total non-tuition revenue; and national rank for weighted tuition and fees.

Goal - Quality of Life. Achievement of this goal will be measured by national rank for annual federal and industrially financed research spending per capita; percentage of graduates who stay in Ohio after graduation; international students and Ohio students studying abroad each year; invention disclosures filed, the first step in seeking patent protection; and measuring the business community's satisfaction with graduates, research and new technology developed.

To view the draft goals and measures, please visit the University System of Ohio web site at http://universitysystem.ohio.gov/master-plan/index.php

FYI ARTS

*National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute applications are now available for Ohio students from the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education. Program Description: The Kennedy Center/National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute is a 4-week summer music program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, for student instrumentalists. The program is designed for serious music students. Each student accepted into the Program attends on full scholarship, which includes the following benefits: round-trip air transportation to and from Washington, DC, housing, food allowance, and local transportation during their stay in our Nation's Capital.

� Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra

� Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians

� Master classes and seminars

� Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO

� Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Schulze

� Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area

� Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

Eligibility: The Program is open, by recorded audition, to students ages 15-20 (as of June 30, 2008) who are seriously considering orchestral music as a career and willing to devote themselves to a musical education, as follows: Instruments: National Trustees� fellowships may be awarded to students who play any of the following: violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and harp (not eligible: guitar, saxophone, percussion, and piano) Standards of Acceptance: The program is intended for serious music students with the primary acceptance standard being musical talent. Ethnic minorities are encouraged to apply. Deadline for Applications: Materials must be submitted to the sponsoring organization in your state (Ohio Alliance for Arts Education) by Friday, February 8, 2008. Students will be notified of the results by March 21, 2008 by the Kennedy Center. To obtain an application email dcollins@oaae.net an application will be sent to you via email. You may also call 614.224.1060 and request a copy of the application be mailed to you vis US mail.

*The FY08 Appropriations: Arts education advocates are still urging support for FY08 federal appropriations outlined in HR 3034 for the departments of Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education. This legislation was approved by Congress, but vetoed by President Bush on November 13, 2007. It includes a $3.2 billion increase over 2007 levels for K-12 programs, including $38 million for arts in education programs, which is a 14 percent increase over current levels. Included in funding for the arts are $2.2 million for the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) to collect data on Arts in Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools during the upcoming 2008-2009 school year; $8.365 million for Very Special Arts; $6. 293 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; $14.134 million for model arts programs; $8.755 million for model professional development programs for music, drama, dance, and visual arts educators; and $494,000 for evaluation . For more information about this legislation, please visit http://www.menc.org.

*ArtsVote 2008: ArtsVote is a national campaign sponsored by the Americans for the Arts Action Fund that encourages candidates competing in the 2008 presidential and congressional campaigns to develop policies that support the arts, arts education, and the creative economy in America. The ArtsVote website includes information for advocates and campaign staff to promote the arts and arts education throughout the 2008 campaign. ArtsVote is also helping to train, mobilize, and educate voters, who will in turn urge candidates to take strong positions in support of the arts and arts education, and implement those positions once elected. To learn more about ArtsVote please visit http://www.artsactionfund.org/artsvote/.

*MassCore Includes the Arts: An article in the Boston Globe on November 28, 2007 called "Schools are urged to toughen curriculum; State adopts college preparatory guidelines" by Tracy Jan, describes the new MassCore graduation requirements that the Massachusetts State Board of Education recently adopted. According to this article, students in Massachusetts will be encouraged (not required) to take a rigorous, college preparatory program, that includes four years of English and math, with Algebra II; three years of science and history; two years of a foreign language; one year of arts; five electives that could include business, health, technology, vocational courses; and Advanced Placement, college courses, and an internship. Currently students are only required to pass the 10th grade MCAS tests in math and English, and an exam in science and history in 2010. Other graduation requirements are set by local school districts.

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Monday, 12-10-07 BACK
Arts on Line Update - 12-10-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for December 10, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 100^TH CONGRESS

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

4) OSU RESEARCHERS RELEASE REPORT ON ELECTION LAWS

5) FISCAL SURVEY OF THE STATES 2007 RELEASED

6) PISA SCIENCE RESULTS RELEASED

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet in session this week and hold committee hearings. The House and Senate education committees are not meeting.

-The House Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Daniels, will meet on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 11:00 AM in hearing room 116. The Committee will hear testimony on HB 350 (Wolpert), which permits students in college to serve as precinct election officials in a county where they attend school, and permits up to two high school seniors to serve as precinct officers at polling places with six or more precinct officers. The Committee will also hear testimony on HJR3 (Stewart), which requires initiative or referendum to be placed on the ballot at the first regular or general election conducted more than one hundred twenty-five days after the petition is filed, and revises deadlines for filing petitions.

-The House Financial Institutions and Real Estate and Securities Committee, chaired by Representative Widener, will meet on December 12, 2007 at 8:30 AM in hearing room 121. The Committee will hear testimony on SB148 (Faber), which revises eligibility requirements for members of the School Employees Retirement System.

-Last week (December 4, 2007) the Ohio House concurred with Senate amendments to HB142 (Batchelder), which allows the Highway Patrol to provide emergency assistance to schools confronted with a bomb threat. On December 5, 2007 the Senate Judiciary-Criminal Justice Committee, chaired by Senator Grendell, amended and reported out favorably HB 181 (Setzer), which requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and notify law enforcement of requests for those records. Representative Robert Otterman (45th House District) also announced that he would be resigning from the Ohio House. There were also some changes announced regarding leadership in the Ohio House Democratic caucus. Representative Strahorn (40th House District) was selected as House minority whip, replacing Representative Steve Driehaus, and Representative Foley (14th House District), was selected as assistant minority whip.

-The Partnership for Continued Learning, chaired by Governor Strickland, is required through 126-HB 79 to conduct a study of the operation and oversight of Ohio's community/charter schools and the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Pilot Program. The Partnership released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on December 5, 2007 to solicit proposals from those interested in conducting this study, which is scheduled to be completed by March 30, 2008. The deadline to submit a proposal is December 28, 2007. Information about the RFQ is available at http://www.pcl.ohio.gov/jcore/pcl/HomeContent.jsp

2) 110th Congress: Lawmakers returned to Washington last week to continue work on several bills including 2008 appropriation measures, which are past their October 1, 2007 deadline. President Bush vetoed on November 13, 2007 H.R. 3043, a funding bill for the departments of Health, Human Services, Education, and Labor. If a compromise bill is not approved, lawmakers will need to approve another continuing resolution, which will maintain funding for these departments at 2007 levels.

3) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on December 10 & 11, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH.

The State Board's Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE) and School Funding subcommittees, met on December 9, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.

The SBE's Coordination Committee, chaired by Eric Okerson and Carl Wick, will meet on December 10, 2007 at 8:00 AM to discuss the alignment of committee work. Following this discussion members of the Achievement and Capacity committee workgroups will meet at 10:15 AM to outline next steps, and then report back at 11:45 AM to the full Board. A presentation of the Pioneer in Education Award will take place at 12:30 PM.

After lunch (1:30 PM) the SBE's Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, will meet.

The Capacity Committee will discuss the intent to adopt Rule 3301-44-09 entitled Postsecondary Enrollment Options; the proposed draft of the Educator Code of Conduct; proposed educator licensure fees; Rules 3301-102-02 through -06 regarding Community School Sponsorship Rules; Rules 3301-104-01 and -02 entitled E-School Expenditure Rules; the development of legislative recommendations for Performance Standards for Dropout Recovery Schools; and the school safety policy discussion from the November meeting.

The Achievement Committee will discuss and approve the resolution of intent to amend Rules 3301-35-05 and -06 regarding Operating Standards; the resolution to refile new Rule 3301-51-05 entitled Procedural Safeguards; the resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15 entitled Gifted Services; and discuss proposed Chapter 3301-17 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding Accurate Reporting of Data.

At 3:30 PM the Board will review the agenda for the business meeting and hear reports from subcommittees. At 4:00 PM the Board will hold a Chapter 119 Hearing on the following rules:

-Resolution of Intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules 3301-02-01-03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information Systems) -Adopt OAC Rule 3301-02-13 (Contact if Unauthorized Access of Personal Information Occurs).

-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01, (Notice of Meeting).

-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure).

-Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt new OAC Rules 3301-51-01 and 3301-51-09 and rescind and adopt new Rule 3301-51-11 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities).

Following the 911 hearing, the Board will also recognize National Blue Ribbon Schools, and then adjourn for the evening.

On December 11, 2007 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:30 AM with a presentation about OAC Rule 3301-51-05 (Procedural Safeguards); Rule 3301-51-15, Gifted Services; Rule 3301-52-01, Screening and Assessment; Rule 3301-69-11 and 12, Head Start; Rule 3301-44-09, Postsecondary Enrollment Options; and the New Praxis II Subject Assessment Test and Passing Score for Licensure in Intervention Specialist.

At 10:45 AM the Board will hear reports on State and Federal legislative activities and discuss the Federal legislative platform for 2008, led by John Bender and Carl Wick. The Board will convene its business meeting at 11:30 AM, and immediately proceed into executive session.

The Board will reconvene its business meeting at 1:30 PM. The Board will hear the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, public participation on agenda items, and take action on personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then hear reports from Board members, accept public participation on non-agenda items, and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is January 6-8, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for December 11, 2007

-Resolution of intent to amend rules 3301-35-05 and 06, Operating Standards for Ohio Schools -Resolution to refile proposed new Rule 3301-51-05, Procedural Safeguards -Resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15, Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students -Resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-52-01, Screening and Assessment Information -Resolution of intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-11 and 12, Title IV -A head Start and Title IV-A Head Start Plus -Resolution of intent to amend rule 3301-44-09, Participation by nonpublic schools -Resolution to adopt new Praxis II Subject assessment test and passing score for licensure in intervention specialist:

Mild/Moderate; Intervention specialist: Moderate/Intensive; and Early Childhood Intervention Specialist -Resolution to rescind and adopt Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-7-01, Standards for Ethical Use of Tests -Resolution to rescind and adopt OAC Rules 3301-13-01 to 06; and 08, 10, and 11, Assessments -Resolution to adopt OAC Rule 3301-13-07, Fairness Sensitivity Review Committees -Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-19-01 and 3301-91-04 - National School Lunch and Breakfast Program -Resolution to adopt Physical Education Standards -Resolution to adopt recommendations regarding the types of information that schools should submit to the eTech Ohio Clearinghouse -Resolution to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools -Resolution regarding the appointment to the State Library Board -Resolution to deny the registration of the Ramah Junior Academy as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 school year -Resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and revoke the charter of the Community of Faith Christian School, and deny the registration of the Community of Faith Christian School as a participant in the Ohio Education Choice Scholarship Program for the

2007-2008 School Year -Resolution of appointment to the Educator Standards Board -Motion to adopt the federal legislative platform

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

4) OSU Researchers Release Report on Election Laws: Researchers at Ohio State University, Election Law @ Moritz College of Law, released on December 4, 2007 the results of a study of election administration in five states called "From Registration to Recounts". The researchers, Steven Huefner, Dan Tokaji, and Edward B. Foley, examined how elections were administered in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and found significant structural problems and noncompliance with federal election laws.

The most significant problems were identified for Ohio in a chapter entitled, "Ohio Election Ecosystem, A Poster Child for Election Reform". According to the report, Ohio exhibits "a variety of moderate to serious difficulties" in election administration. These include several problems in Cuyahoga County; the partisan and political activities of the secretary of state's office; confusion about voter identification requirements and provisional balloting rules; misallocation of election equipment; third-party voter registration groups; and overuse of provisional ballots.

"Indeed, in the 2004 presidential election, problems in virtually all of these areas of election administration occurred in Ohio. Perhaps as a result, almost 160,000 Ohio voters, or about 2.8% of those who made it to the voting booth, cast a provisional ballot in 2004, a rate well above the national average of about 1.6%. In the 2006 election, while most states were reducing their proportion of provisional ballots, Ohio saw this percentage grow to 3%."

The report then provides an extensive review of the history and laws pertaining to election administration in Ohio, and examines in specific detail five particular areas of concern: The Role of the Secretary of State; The Functioning of Ohio's Statewide Voter Database; Rapid Changes in Voting Equipment and Processes; Troubles in Cuyahoga County; and Election Litigation.

In a chapter called "Recommendations for Nine Areas of Election Administration," the researchers provide specific examples to improve election administration in the five states in the following areas:

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

-State election authorities must establish clear lines of communication with local officials.

-State legislatures must give their election officials the tools to enforce consistency in the application of state law across counties and municipalities.

-States should regularly audit their laws and consult with officials from peer states to keep pace with a rapidly changing election environment.

VOTER REGISTRATION

-States should work to improve both access and accuracy by relaxing barriers to registration and complying with existing federal laws governing registration.

CHALLENGES TO VOTER ELIGIBILITY

-If states allow challenges, they should implement procedures that protect individual voters and prevent bottlenecks at the polls.

PROVISIONAL VOTING

-States should provide clear guidance to local officials and poll workers on the circumstances under which provisional ballots should be issued and counted.

EARLY & ABSENTEE VOTING

-States seeking to promote voter convenience should consider in-person early voting instead of no-excuse mail-in absentee voting.

VOTING TECHNOLOGY

-States must ensure that localities provide an adequate number of ballots or machines, that equipment is thoroughly tested before Election Day, and that poll workers are properly trained.

POLLING PLACE OPERATIONS

-State and local officials must experiment with ways of recruiting qualified poll workers and training them to perform the difficult tasks that we expect of them.

BALLOT SECURITY

-State election integrity efforts should focus on "insider" fraud.

POST-ELECTION PROCESSES

-States should re-examine their post election procedures to ensure the evenhanded and prompt resolution of disputes.

-Congress should revisit the federal law governing the resolution of presidential election disputes to allow states more time to complete their recount and contest processes.

The report is available at http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/electionlaw/joyce/index.php

5) Fiscal Survey of the States 2007 Released: The National Governors Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers released last week (December 4, 2007) the biannual "Fiscal Survey of the States 2007". This survey started in 1979 and provides information about the general revenue fund expenditures, receipts, and balances as reported by state budget officers in fifty states.

According to the report 38 states exceeded budget projections, four states met their projections, and eight states were below budget predictions. The growth in state revenue has slowed and some states may experience a significant deterioration in their fiscal conditions. One area for concern is the cost of health care and the uncertainty of federal funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. The full report is available online at http://www.nasbo.org/Publications/PDFs/Fiscal%20Survey%20of%20the%20States%20December%202007.pdf

6) PISA Science Results Released: The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) released on December 4, 2007 the "PISA 2006 Science Competencies for Tomorrow's World". This report includes the results of an assessment of the knowledge and skills in science of over 400,000 fifteen year old students from 57 countries, and also provides information about student performance in mathematics and reading. This survey provides an analysis and data set for science learning, and also includes information about student interest and awareness in science; relates the performance of students, schools, and countries in the "context" of their social backgrounds; and identifies educational policies and practices that are associated with educational success.

According to the report Finland was the highest-performing country on the PISA 2006 science scale (563 points) followed by Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Hong Kong-China, Chinese Taipei, and Estonia. Scoring above average were Australia, the Netherlands, Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Ireland, Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Macao-China. Students in the United States scored below the OECD average with 489 points, but the percentage of U.S. students scoring at Level 6, the highest level, was the same as Korea, which scored 522 points overall. The survey also found that students' socio-economic factors accounted for differences between school performance variations in the United States, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Slovak Republic, Germany, Greece and New Zealand, and the partner countries Bulgaria, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. A summary of the results is available online at http://www.pisa.oecd.org/dataoecd/15/13/39725224.pdf

7) Bills Introduced:

*HB406 (Peterson and Williams B.) Corporal Punishment - Prohibits corporal punishment in all public schools.

*SJR4 (Schuring) Lottery Profits - Requires all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education.

FYI ARTS

*The Arts are More than Electives: The December 2007 issue of District Administrator includes an article by Gary Stager entitled "Arts Should Be for All! There should be nothing elective about "arts" education". The article describes the important concepts and skills that students learn through the arts, including the courage to perform in public and respond to criticism. According to the author, students who participate in the arts, "...experience what it feels like to succeed while struggling to improve upon their personal best.

They develop discipline while gaining self-awareness, precision, attention to detail and setting personal goals. Students immersed in the arts develop a healthy respect for the contributions and accomplishments of others and the majesty of culture, while they themselves add to that artistic continuum. That builds a bridge between generations and inspires a more fluid reciprocal relationship between mentor and apprentice, teacher and student." The article is available at

http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1343

*Art Work On Line: The December 2007 issue of District Administrator also incudes an article by Kurt Dryli entitled "The Art of the Web".

According to the author, several school districts, including the San Diego Unified School District, have created online galleries to display photos of student art work. These online galleries allow more student work to be displayed over a longer period of time, allow a broader audience to view the art, and show how the curriculum in the arts is supporting student achievement in the arts. The article also refers to online web sites that help districts organize and display student artwork, such as Crayola and Artsonia. For information about this article please visit http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1340

� Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra

� Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians

� Master classes and seminars

� Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO

� Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Schulze

� Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area

� Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

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Monday, 12-17-07 BACK
Arts on Line Update - 12-17-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for December 17, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) FEDERAL EDUCATION UPDATE

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

4) UPDATE FROM OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

5) NEA RELEASES COMPREHENSIVE STATISTICAL REPORT

6) CHARTER SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY

7) EDUCATION COMMISSION OF THE STATES

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to meet until January 9, 2008. Governor Strickland announced last week that he would present the annual State of the State Address on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at noon in the Ohio House Chambers.

*Ohio lawmakers will soon be selecting new members to replace three members who recently resigned. Resigning from the Ohio House are Representative Robert Otterman (45th House District), who will be taking a job in Summit County; Representative William Healy II (52nd House District), who was elected Mayor of Canton; and Representative Bob Latta (6th House District), who was elected last week in a special election to the vacant 5th Congressional District seat formerly held by Congressman Paul Gillmor, who recently died.

Members of the Ohio House will select and approve replacements to complete the terms of office for these individuals.

*Lawmakers in the House concurred with Senate amendments to HB142 (Batchelder), which authorizes the state highway patrol to provide emergency assistance to a school district under a threat, and increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school is involved. Work was also completed on HB181 (Setzer), which requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children, and notify law enforcement of requests for those records. Both of these bills now go to Governor Strickland to sign into law.

*The Office of Budget and Management's monthly report shows that General Revenue receipts were lower than estimates and spending was over estimates. Governor Strickland's Council of Economic Advisors is also forecasting lower growth in the economy than first predicted for the first quarter of 2008. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services also released on November 23, 2007 a report called "State of Ohio Workforce Third Quarter", which includes information on Ohio employment. According to the analysis in this report, Ohio's unemployment rate has increased higher than the national average, with loses especially in the housing and automotive industries. These reports are available at http://obm.ohio.gov/ and http://lmi.state.oh.us/wf_quarterly/archive/OhioWorkforceQuarterly.pdf.

2) Federal Education Update:

*President Bush signed HJR 69 on December 14, 2007 extending current spending levels for federal departments and agencies until December 21, 2007. Lawmakers have been unable to agree upon FY08 appropriations levels with the President, who has threatened to veto bills that are over his budget recommendations. An omnibus spending bill that includes all remaining appropriations bills, is now expected to be introduced in the House.

*U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings, announced on December 7, 2007 that the U.S. DOE would expand participation in the growth model program to other states, with approval. Currently Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee have been approved by the U.S. DOE to include a measure of student academic growth in calculating Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. These states have developed state models that allow schools to measure individual student academic achievement over time and also meet No Child Left Behind adequate progress requirements.

3) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, met on December 10 & 11, 2007 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus

SUBCOMMITTEES: The State Board's Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE) and School Funding subcommittees, met on December 9, 2007 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.

The EDGE subcommittee, chaired by Steve Millett and Colleen Grady, is charged with identifying the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students will need to be successful in the global economy. The subcommittee has developed a process and timeline for gathering data, vetting the results with stakeholders, and developing recommendations. At this meeting Dr. Millett led the subcommittee in a review of the survey tool, the survey contact list, and the interview protocol that will be used to gather information from the private business sector in Ohio regarding student preparation for work and continuing education. The members suggested changes to the survey, and identified several individuals and categories of businesses to interview. There was a discussion about the need to focus on the educational and workforce needs of the different regions in Ohio, and how to reach out to boards of education and leadership teams for input. The survey will be sent electronically to the contacts in early January 2008, with a follow-up survey to be mailed. The interviews will also begin in January. The subcommittee will share the results with stakeholders in March, and prepare a report about the results for the SBE in May. This report will be discussed at the June 2008 SBE retreat.

The SBE's School Funding subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, also met, and discussed local revenue tools and rules. The subcommittee reviewed the document "Compilation of Options" (11-2-07) prepared by the ODE, and commented upon options that pertain to policies involving tax base, tax rate, and tax liabilities. There is a great variation among school districts in Ohio in their capacity to raise local revenue through different types of taxes. This fact complicates efforts to develop school funding solutions that address the concerns of each school district. After identifying specific concerns regarding the options, the subcommittee discussed how to develop a school funding system in which there would be an increase in state aid coupled with a cap on local revenue, and an ease on the current restrictions in revenue growth, with incentives for regional coordination. The next meeting of the School Funding subcommittee is scheduled for December 18, 2007.

SBE MEETING ON DECEMBER 10, 2007: State Board of Education President, Jennifer Sheets, began the December 2007 meeting of the State Board of Education by outlining the work of the Board over the next few months. The Board will be focusing on the development a comprehensive set of legislative and budget recommendations for FY09-10 to support a world class education system, and will present those recommendations to Governor Strickland and the Office of Budget and Management in October 2008. In February 2008 each SBE committee and subcommittee will identify emerging policy, legislative, and budget concepts; in March and April these concepts will be refined; and in May draft recommendations will be prepared. These recommendations will be discussed at a two day workshop that the Board will hold in June. In July stakeholders will be asked to provide feedback on the recommendations, and the final recommendations will be approved by the Board in October.

To begin the work of identifying the policies, legislation, and budget recommendations for FY09-10, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, led the SBE in a discussion about how Ohio's current education programs can be transformed into an aligned and coherent seamless PreK-16 system of education. She described five essential subsystems of the education system (instruction, human resources, student support, fiscal resources, and accountability), and how they are inter-connected and designed to improve instruction, which includes academic content standards, curriculum, and assessments. This information was outlined in a paper entitled "Transforming the System of Education". This paper also includes, for discussion purposes, several legislative and policy changes related to Board goals and priorities, and organized under the subsystems.

Board members then reviewed the paper and the recommendations; suggested changes and modifications; and identified missing components. Several Board members suggested focusing on improved communications, urban school districts, regionalization, and changes in licensure. A Coordinating Committee, led by Eric Okerson and Carl Wick, will ensure that the work of the Achievement and Capacity committees and the subcommittees will align to the Board priorities, and not overlap with other committee work.

After lunch (1:30 PM) the SBE's Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, and the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, met.

CAPACITY COMMITTEE: The Capacity Committee took the following actions:

-Approved an intent to adopt Rule 3301-44-09 entitled Postsecondary Enrollment Options. HB 119 (Dolan) directs the SBE to adopt rules governing how Post Secondary Enrollment Options funds for chartered and non-chartered nonpublic schools are distributed. This rule applies to students attending nonpublic schools who want to participate in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Program. It establishes a procedure that will allow more students to participate in the program.

-Discussed the proposed draft of the Educator Code of Conduct, which is required to be developed by February 2008 -Discussed the proposed raise in educator licensure fees -Approved the changes in Rules 3301-102-02 through -06 regarding Community School Sponsorship Rules and Rules 3301-104-01 and -02 entitled E-School Expenditure Rules -Discussed the development of legislative recommendations for Performance Standards for Dropout Recovery Schools -Discussed issues that were identified at the November 2007 meeting regarding safe school environments.

ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE: The Achievement Committee took the following actions:

-Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rules 3301-35-05 and -06 - Operating Standards, by replacing the phrase "disadvantaged pupil impact aid" with poverty based assistance. Final adoption of this amendment is March 2008.

-Approved a resolution to refile new Rule 3301-51-05 entitled Procedural Safeguards to implement a federal settlement agreement pertaining to special education hearings. This rule affects the duties and responsibilities of the hearing officer. Final adoption of this rule is set for February 2008.

-Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15 entitled Gifted Services. The Ohio General Assembly requires rules to be reviewed every five years. The revisions to this rule, as a result of the five year review process, will facilitate continued progress in meeting the needs of students who are gifted, and promote a continuum of service options for students. The changes in this rule improve the wording and language; promote differentiated instruction; include guidance as its own section; clarify definitions; modify case load requirements; require academic goals to be included in the written education plans; specify that "trained individual" is a person who is qualified to perform the prescribed activity. A copy of the proposed rules is available at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=962&ContentID=7642&Content=41694.

Final adoption of this rule will be in February 2008.

-Discussed proposed Chapter 3301-17 of the Ohio Administrative Code regarding Accurate Reporting of Data. This rule allows the ODE to implement progressive sanctions on schools and districts that fail to accurately report data. The Board will consider an intent to adopt this resolution in January 2008.

CHAPTER 119 HEARING: At 4:00 PM the Board held a Chapter 119 Hearing on the following rules:

-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01, (Notice of Meeting).

-Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure).

-Resolution of Intent to rescind and adopt new OAC Rules 3301-51-01 and 3301-51-09 and rescind and adopt new Rule 3301-51-11 (Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities).

BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS: Before adjourning for the evening, the Board recognized the following Ohio schools for receiving national recognition as Blue Ribbon Schools:

-Parkside Elementary School, Solon City School District -St. Michael School, Cuyahoga County -Grandview Heights High School, Grandview Heights City School District -Addaville Elementary School, Gallia County Local School District -Elm Avenue Elementary School, Wyoming City School District -Guardian Angels Elementary School, Hamilton County -Hilltop Elementary School, Wyoming City School District -Indian Hill High School, Indian Hill Exempted Village School District -Our Lady of the Visitation School, Hamilton County -St. James - White Oak, Hamilton County -Burlington Elementary School, South Point Local School District -Ellsworth Elementary School, Western Reserve Local School District- Oakwood High School, Oakwood City School District - Aurora High School, Aurora Local School District -Longcoy Elementary School, Kent City School District -Eastport Avenue Elementary School, Claymont City School District -Dalton Local High School, Dalton Local School District -Parkview Elementary School, Wooster City School District

SBE MEETING DECEMBER 11, 2007/LEGISLATIVE REPORTS: The SBE meeting began its meeting on Tuesday with a review of the resolutions on the Board's agenda. John Bender then presented reports on federal and state legislative activities. According to the report on federal activities, Congress continues to debate appropriations bills and reauthorization bills for Higher Education and No Child Left Behind. The ODE is working with contacts in Washington to develop federal legislation regarding professional conduct.

Information was also presented about current legislation at the state level, including HB 379 (Fessler) - Historical Documents; HB 406 (Peterson and Williams B) - Prohibit Corporal Punishment; SR 4

(Schuring) - Earmark Revenue for Primary, Secondary, and Higher Education; SB 264 (Carey) - Teacher Strikes; HB 254 (Peterson)-Ohio Wellness Advisory Council; and HB 347 (Setzer)-Professional Educator License. Board members raised some concerns regarding HB 347, especially the provision related to licensure. An advisory team for the Center for the Teaching Profession and the Educator Standards Board are now examining teacher induction, credentialing, and the Praxis III. The ODE is currently working with Representative Setzer to clarify the bill's requirements. Board members agreed to invite Representative Setzer to discuss HB 347 at the January 2008 State Board Meeting.

Board members were also briefed on Am. Sub. HB 141 (Padgett), a bill the includes several legislative recommendations to improve the accountability of charter schools. The Board agreed to endorse this bill, and add a motion to that effect on their business agenda.

The Board also heard an update on the progress that the ODE is making regarding three directives included in HB 190 (Hite), including developing recommendations for Educator Code of Conduct; developing penalties for failure to report misconduct; and setting a deadline for current employees to obtain a BCI and FBI background check.

BUSINESS MEETING: The Board convened its business meeting around 11:00 AM and immediately went into executive session, and then recessed for lunch. During lunch the Board presented the Pioneer in Education Award to former State Board member Martha Wise of Avon. The Pioneer in Education Award was initiated in 1999 by the Ohio Department of Education and State Board of Education to recognize Ohio educators and policymakers who have significantly advanced education practices in the state.

After the Board reconvened (1:15 PM) Marilyn Troyer, Senior Associate Superintendent of Educational Programs, presented the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The ODE has created a new Office of Development and appointed Dr. Linda Nussbaum as its director. This office will coordinate and streamline grants and foundation monies, and ensure alignment with SBE goals and priorities. The ODE has also received a grant of $1,750,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop the next generation of student assessments. New diagnostic tools and intervention practices for low performing schools are also being developed. The ODE will be partnering with the Ohio State University Foundation on this project. The ODE is also looking at several student assessment models, including Envision from Stanford University, the Cambridge Model, and Project Spectrum. A small group of school districts will be selected

to implement these models and assess their effectiveness. If these models are successful, the ODE will ask for additional funds in the next state budget to scale-up these programs.

There was no public participation on agenda items. The Board took action on six personnel items and the resolutions included below; accepted public participation from one individual regarding operating standards; and adjourned. The next State Board of Education meeting is January 6-8, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for December 11, 2007

#4 Approved a resolution of intent to amend rules 3301-35-05 and 06, Operating Standards for Ohio Schools

#5 Approved a resolution to refile proposed new Rule 3301-51-05, Procedural Safeguards

#6 Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-51-15, Operating Standards for Identifying and Serving Gifted Students

#7 Approved a resolution of intent to amend Rule 3301-52-01, Screening and Assessment Information

#8 Approved a resolution of intent to rescind Rules 3301-69-11 and 12, Title IV-A, Head Start, and Title IV-A, Head Start Plus

#9 Approved a resolution of intent to amend rule 3301-44-09, Participation by Nonpublic Schools in Post Secondary Enrollment Options

#10 Approved a resolution to adopt new Praxis II Subject assessment test and passing score for licensure in intervention specialist: Mild/Moderate; Intervention specialist: Moderate/Intensive; and Early Childhood Intervention Specialist

#14 Approved a resolution to rescind and adopt Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rule 3301-7-01, Standards for Ethical Use of Tests

#15 Approved a resolution to rescind and adopt OAC Rules 3301-13-01, 02, 03, 05, 06; and 08, 10, and 11, Assessments

#16 Approved a resolution to adopt OAC Rule 3301-13-07, Fairness Sensitivity Review Committees

#17 Approved a resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-19-01 and 3301-91-04 - National School Lunch and Breakfast Program

#18 Approved a resolution to adopt Physical Education Standards

#19 Approved a resolution to adopt recommendations regarding the types of information that schools should submit to the eTech Ohio Clearinghouse

#20 Approved a resolution to transfer the Northwest Local School Career-Technical Programs and Services to the Butler Technology & Career Development Schools

#21 Approved a resolution regarding the appointment of Ward Murray to the State Library Board

#22 Approved a resolution to deny the registration of the Ramah Junior Academy as a participant in the Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 school year

#23 Approved a resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and revoke the charter of the Community of Faith Christian School, and deny the registration of the Community of Faith Christian School as a participant in the Ohio Education Choice Scholarship Program for the 2007-2008 School Year

#24 Approved a resolution of appointment of Dr. Renee Middleton to the Educator Standards Board

#25 Approved a motion to adopt the federal legislative platform

#26 Approved a motion to endorse SB 141 (Padgett) regarding charter school accountability.

-Recognized Clay Cormany for his dedication and work at the Ohio Department of Education.

For more information about the State Board of Education meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=57

4) Update from the ODE:

*The Ohio Department of Education announced on December 12, 2007 the selection of Deborah Wickerman, a science teacher from Chamberlin Hill Elementary School in the Findlay City Schools, as the 2008 Ohio Teacher of the Year. Ms. Wickerman has received several recognitions, including National Board Certification, the Presidential Award for Elementary Science Excellence, the Vernier National Science Teacher of the Year, the Rotary Golden Apple award, the Jaycee Teacher of the Year; and the VFW Regional Teacher of the Year. Ms. Wickerman is also an adjunct professor in middle childhood science at the University of Findlay, and serves on the Ohio Resource Center Science Review Board and the McGraw-Hill National/State Science Advisory Board. Ms. Wickerman takes over for the 2007 Teacher of the Year, George Edge, who is a music teacher from the South-Western City Schools District.

*The Educator Standards Board, Mickie Sebenoler chair and Julia Simmerer director, has drafted a code for professional conduct for teachers per HB 190 (Hite). This draft code of conduct is designed to ensure that Ohio teachers and administrators follow high standards for professional conduct throughout their teaching careers. The most recent draft is available at the ODE website at http://esb.ode.state.oh.us. The public is urged to respond to the draft by January 2, 2008, and participate in public meetings at the end of January. The code of conduct will be presented to the State Board of Education for action at its February 11-12, 2008 meeting.

5) NEA Releases Comprehensive Statistical Report: The National Education Association publishes annually a comprehensive report on local, state, and federal education statistics, which can be used to examine public education programs, services, and support, and economic, political, and social trends overtime. The statistics are included in two reports, "Rankings of the States 2006" and "Estimates of School Statistics 2007". The Rankings report provides state level data on a variety of topics, such as population, enrollment, classroom teachers, salaries, financial resources, and expenditures, and shows how states compare with each other and with a national average. The Estimates 2007 report provides projections of public school enrollment, employment, staff salaries, and sources of school funding and expenditures, and finances, as reported by individual state departments of education. Some highlights from these reports are included below:

"-Public school enrollment is expected to increase by 165,000 students from 2006 to 20_07. Increases in the elementary grades are estimated to be 51,958, whereas secondary classes are expected to enroll about 113,079 more students. Levels of public school enrollment anticipated during the 2006-_07 school year represent the 22nd consecutive increase since 1985-86. Of course, changes in enrollment vary across the country, with considerable differences predicted from state to state and district to district.

-To meet the increasing and changing enrollment demands of local school districts, state education departments expect the number of public school classroom teachers to increase by 53,000, from 2005-07.

Implications for local school district finances are varied. But clearly they may present serious challenges to existing school finance relationships at the state and local levels as districts prepare to meet needs generated by increased enrollment and additional school personnel.

-Based on trends, the NEA estimates that the average classroom teacher salary for 2006_-07 will increase by 3.7 percent over 2005-06, from $49,026 to $50,816. The national average salary, although useful as a benchmark statistic, hides vast differences among states, with statewide averages likewise clouding significant local variations.

-Expenditures per pupil in fall enrollment should increase by 5.0 percent to $9,557 in 2006-07, up from $9,100 in 1985-86. This compares with a 5.4 percent increase in total current expenditures.

-State governments still provide the largest share of public school financial support_ - 47.6 percent estimated for 2006-07, _up 0.3 percent from the revised figure of 47.3 percent in 2005-06. Once again, differences between states are considerable, reflecting differences in state and local revenue systems, demographic characteristics, and program priorities, to name but a few factors.

-For 2006-07, the federal government's contribution to public elementary and secondary school revenues is expected to decrease slightly to 8.9 percent from the revised figure of 9.0 percent in 2005-06."

6) Charter School Accountability: An editorial published on December 9, 2007 in the Orlando Sentinel (Editorial Our Position: The regulation of the state's charter schools is way too loose.

December 9, 2007) calls upon Florida lawmakers to tighten charter school regulations. The editorial was in response to a report issued by the Florida Senate Education Committee, which identified state oversight of charter schools as weak. The report found, for example, that many charter schools were overpaying administrators, cutting sweetheart deals with board members, had budget deficits, and were not being evaluated under Florida's grading system because of low enrollment. The article is available at http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/orl-ed09107dec09,0,7332053,full.story

7) ECS Provides a Variety of Quality Data Bases and Reports on Education Policy: The Education Commission of the States (ECS) is a nonprofit interstate compact of 49 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia, created in 1965 to improve public education by facilitating the exchange of information, ideas, and experiences among state policymakers and education leaders. ESC recently posted on its website "Setting the '08 Education Agenda", which includes three briefing memos on Aligning Early Learning, K-12, and Postsecondary Systems; Benchmarking to International Standards While Protecting the Public's Traditional Commitment to a Comprehensive Education; and Education as an Engine for Regional Economic and Workforce Development. For more information please visit http://www.ecs.org/html/newsMedia/ECSNewsRoom.asp

The ESC website also includes data bases and reports on the following:

-High School Online Database: Includes information about state graduation requirements, college readiness standards, advanced placement, graduation rates, assessments, International Baccalaureate, student accountability, and more. http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/educationissues/HighSchool/HighSchoolDB1_intro.asp

-The Progress of Education Reform: Includes reports on Evaluating Teacher Effectiveness, Student Engagement, Economic and Workforce Development, Dropout Prevention, Same Sex Schooling, Mentoring, School Facilities, Technology in Education, After School Programs, and more. http://www.ecs.org/ecsmain.asp?page=/html/educationIssues/ProgressofReform.asp

-Research Studies Database: Includes reports and studies on dropout prevention, high school curriculum, ninth grade transition, etc. http://www.ecs.org/rs/

-No Child Left Behind Reauthorization Database: Includes reports on NCLB recommendations from a variety of organizations. http://www.ecs.org/html/educationIssues/NCLBreauthorization/NCLB_parapro_DB_intro.asp

8) Bills Introduced:

-SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes - Prohibits classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking and instead requires binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes, and makes an appropriation.

-SCR21 (Kearney) Life Skills Curriculum - Encourages the State Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive life skills curriculum.

FYI ARTS:

*The Ohio Arts Council announced on December 10, 2007 the recipients of the 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts in Ohio. 69 nominations from individuals and organizations were submitted for this prestigious award this year. The following individuals and organizations will receive awards this year: -Arts Administration, Marcie Goodman, Cleveland International Film Festival, (Cleveland) -Arts in Education, Michael Huffman, Lima City Schools (Lima) -Arts Patron, Susan Reams (Perrysburg) -Business Support of the Arts, Limited Brands (Columbus) -Community Development & Participation, Dr. Catherine Roma, MUSE, Cincinnati Women's Choir, Umoja Men's Chorus and Voices of Freedom Choir (Cincinnati) -Individual Artist, Dr. Burton Beerman, composer/musician (Bowling

Green) and Steve Free, singer/songwriter (McDermott)

The Governor's Awards for the Arts in Ohio will be presented at a luncheon ceremony honoring winners and members of the Ohio Legislature hosted by the Ohio Arts Council and Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation at noon on April 16, 2008 at the Columbus Athenaeum in downtown Columbus. The recipients will also receive an original piece of art work by Ohio painter Betsy DeFusco. For more information please visit http://www.oac.state.oh.us/News/NewsArticle.asp?intArticleId=327

For more information about the Ohio Arts Council and other current projects please visit the OAC Web site at www.oac.state.oh.us.

*Arts Council News Brief Available: The December 2007 News Brief from the Ohio Arts Council, Office of Arts Learning features an article about an outreach program with schools sponsored by the Columbus Museum of Art. The news brief is available at http://www.maildogmanager.com/page.html?p=0000015Fu8vj5DXDA/LdAHhYjjKKvFyCrtYWdE+GG/LQkH4g==

*"The Coming Up Taller Awards": The Coming Up Taller Awards recognizes and rewards outstanding after-school and out-of-school arts and humanities programs for underserved children and youth. The maximum award is $10,000. Programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses and eligible government entities are eligible to submit proposals by January 31, 2008. For more information please visit http://www.cominguptaller.org/.

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Monday, 12-24-07 BACK
Arts on Line Update - 12-24-2007

From all of us at the Ohio Alliance for Arts Education we wish you and yours the happiest of holiday seasons!

In this issue:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) STATE BUDGETING MATTERS

4) PEW CHARITABLE TRUST

5) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to meet until January 2008.

*Last week Governor Strickland signed into law several bills, including HB142 (Batchelder), which allows the Highway Patrol to provide emergency assistance to a school confronted with a bomb threat.

*Also last week two committees, which will influence state education policy, were scheduled to meet in Columbus. They are the Partnership for Continued Learning and the Public-Private Collaborative Commission.

The Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL), Governor Strickland chair, was scheduled to meet on December 21, 2007. The PCL is a statewide council of representatives from government, economic development, education, business, and industry, which was formed to facilitate collaboration among providers of preschool through postsecondary education, and maintain a high-quality work force in the state. Dr. Julie Schaid is the executive director.

According to the agenda, which was posted on the PCL's web site, the PCL was scheduled to discuss the following: legislative charges for the PCL; and draft recommendations regarding the dual enrollment; conditions for admitting high school students, who have not taken the Ohio Core, to colleges and universities; and college and work readiness assessment. Information regarding the work of the STEM subcommittee and a request for qualifications to conduct a study on community schools and the educational choice scholarship programs were also on the agenda. For more information please visit http://www.pcl.ohio.gov.

The Public-Private Collaborative Commission was scheduled to meet on December 20, 2007. This commission was established through 126-SB

311 (December, 2006), and is charged with making recommendations to promote student success regarding the Ohio Core, and prepare recommendations by June 30, 2008 to present to the Governor, the Senate and House, State Board of Education, Board of Regents, and the Partnership for Continued Learning. Information about this commission is available at http://universitysystem.ohio.gov/news.php

2) 110th Congress: Congress completed work on HR 2764 - the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 - on December 19, 2007, and recessed until 2008. HR 2764 is a $555 billion spending bill, which includes appropriations for fifteen government agencies and departments, and $70 billion for the war in Iraq. Division G of the Act includes approximately $68 billion in funds, including $59 billion in discretionary funds, for the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Although President Bush is expected to sign this bill into law, Congress also approved another extension of current funding levels until December 31, 2007.

The following information about funding levels was prepared from two sources: an overview of the major amendment from the Rules Committee available at http://www.rules.house.gov/110_fy08_omni.htm, and funding levels compiled by the U.S. Department of Education and made available on their website, http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/news.html. This information reflects funding levels after a 1.74 percent across the board reduction was implemented.

Highlights of Appropriations for Head Start and Education (Division G of the bill)

*Head Start: $6.9 billion

*Education for the Disadvantaged: Total $15.4 billion

-Even Start: $66 million

*Impact Aid: Total $1.2 billion

*School Improvement Programs: Total $5.3 billion over FY08-09 -Improving Teacher Quality, Mathematics and Science Partnerships:

$178.9 million

-Foreign Language Assistance: $25.6 million, including $2.4 million for five year grants to local education agencies.

-State Assessments: $408.7 million for enhanced assessments and instructions to improve implementation of NCLB -Javitts Gifted and Talented Education: $7.4 million *Innovation and Improvement: $985 million -Troops to Teachers: $14 million; Teaching of Traditional American

History: $117 million; School Choice and Flexibility: $341 million -Advanced Placement $43 million and $10 million for test fee program.

-Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE) - $121.9 million.

Included are the following earmarks: Canton Symphony Orchestra Association and NE Ohio Arts Education Collaborative - $97,000; Akron Public Schools, Middle School Technology Community Learning Center - $243,000; Cuyahoga County Board of Education Early Childhood Initiative - $438,000; I Know I Can Columbus - $97,000; Tri County ESC in Wooster, Olweus Bullying Prevention Program - $146,000; Trumbull Count ESC robotics program - $180,000; University of Akron to promote a STEM regional network - $146,000; Youngstown City Schools/Warren City Schools, Pathway to Building Trades $219,000; and Youngstown State University, K-12 Learning Project - $97,000.

-Arts in Education: $37.5 million, which includes $8.095 million for Very Special Arts; $6.293 million for John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; $13.158 million for model arts programs; $7.96 million model professional development programs for music drama, dance, and visual arts educators; $494,000 for evaluation activities; and $2.2 million for the Fast Response Survey System, administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, to collect data for the report of Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools for 2008-2009 -Parental Information and Resource Centers $38.9 million *Safe Schools and Citizenship Education: $693 million. This includes funds to support Civic Education: $31 million, which includes funding for We the People; and Character Education: $23.8 million *English Language Acquisition: $700 million *Special Education $11.9 billion over FY08-09 *Career, Technical, and Adult Education $1.94 billion over FY08-09. This includes $80 million in grants for Smaller Learning Communities *Student Financial Assistance: $16 billion in discretionary and $2 billion mandated (including rescissions) including $14 billion for Pell Grants

*Higher Education: $2.39 billion

-Federal Trio: $828 million

-GEAR Up: $303 million

-Byrd Honors Scholarships: $40 million

-Funds for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education - $120 million including the following earmarks for Ohio: Kent State University (New

Philadelphia) $148,000 - upgrade technology; Lorain County Community College -$341,000 in Elyria for the Library; Owens Community College $148,000 for first responder training; Paul and Anthony Rich Center for the Study and Treatment of Autism, Youngstown - $429,000 for distance learning; and Wittenberg University, $390,000 for teacher training.

Appropriations for the Department of the Interior/Environment (Division F of the bill): $26.6 billion National Endowment for the Arts: $144.7 million National Endowment for the Humanities: $144.7 million Corporation for Public Broadcasting: $420 million Institute of Museums and Library Services: $268.19 million including $31.27 for the Office of Museum Services, and $243,000 for the Cincinnati Museum Center.

3) State Budgeting Matters: The latest issue (November/December 2007) of the Center for Community Solution's publication State Budgeting Matters by Richard Sheridan entitled "A Compilation of Budget Issues for November and December" examines the budgetary problems that several states are facing, and opines what may happen in Ohio over the next few months.

According to this report, California, Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Maryland, and Arizona, are all facing shortfalls in revenue and are experiencing or projecting budget deficits. Ohio's budget is also "at risk of going out of balance for a number of reasons," but is not in as bad a shape as some states. Economists have predicted a national recession in 2008 as a result of several factors, including the cost of the war in Iraq, the cost of energy, the housing crisis, rising health care costs, and credit crisis. But Ohio's FY08-09 budget included an end of year cash surplus as a contingency, and Ohio's Budget Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund) will provide a $1 billion cushion if the state's budget becomes unbalanced. However, recently the Ohio Office of Budget and Management has reported that there has been an increase in Medicaid case loads, and Ohio's tax structure, which relies on tax revenue from sources that are very susceptible to recessions, may not be able to recover from an extended recession. This means that Governor Strickland and members of the Ohio General Assembly will be facing some tough decisions over the next few months, and may need to take additional legislative actions to ensure a balanced state budget. To read the full report please visit: http://www.communitysolutions.com/images/upload/resources/sbmv3n33.pdf

4) Pew Charitable Trust Examines Retirement Systems: On December 18, 2007 the Pew Charitable Trust's Center on States released a report called "Promises with a Price" by Katherine Barret and Richard Greene. This study, a first of its kind, examined 50 state pension systems, health care coverage, and other retirement benefits. Overall the study found "..states already have set aside about $2 trillion to meet their long-term obligations. But they still need to come up with about $731 billion -- a conservative figure that does not include all costs for teachers and local government employees."

According to the Fact Sheet for Ohio, "Ohio has done a very good job keeping up with required contributions for its public employee pension system." However, Ohio's system has not kept up with health care and other nonpension benefits, which is estimated to cost about $32 billion. "But the state is a national leader in setting aside money to cover these costs. It started saving back in the 1970s, and today it is one of only six states on track to fully fund its non-pension obligations." The full report is available on the Pew website at http://www.pewtrusts.org/news_room_ektid32368.aspx

5) Bills Introduced:

SB267 (Faber) PERS - Regarding the Public Employees Retirement System law enforcement division.

HB420 (Brinkman) State Spending - Promotes transparency with respect to state spending by requiring that certain information on state awards and earmarks, state real property management, state agency management, and state program effectiveness be collected and made available on-line.

FYI ARTS

*Changes for NCLB???: An article published in the Washington Post on December 16, 2007 called "Calls Grow for a Broader Yardstick for Schools" by Maria Glod, describes some of the "multiple measures" that are being proposed to define school success in a reauthorized No Child Left Behind Act. Currently the federal law has defined school success based on student scores on state reading and math tests. But some educators, policy makers, and lawmakers believe that student learning is too complex to be measured in just two areas. The focus on math and reading has limited instruction in other content areas as well. Some want to assess learning in science, history, and the arts, or count how well students are doing on Advanced Placement exams and in physical education. The use of local plus state assessments could provide a more comprehensive overview of student performance in a school.

According to the article, "'There ought to be more in determining students' success than just one test score," said Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association, the largest teachers union. "Preparing a child for the 21st century means reading and math. But it also means science; it means civics; it means art.'"

"The fear is you have this narrowing of the breadth and depth" of the curriculum, said Elizabeth Burmaster, Wisconsin's state superintendent. Burmaster, president of the Council of Chief State School Officers and a former music and drama teacher, supports using local assessments together with state tests. "It's much more complicated," she said. "But it's more accurate."

The article is available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501747.html

###

Monday, 12-31-07 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 12-31-2007

Arts on Line Education Update for December 31, 2007

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th General Assembly

2) 110^th Congress

3) Update on Proposed Legislation (Senate) (House)

FYI Arts

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not scheduled to meet until January 9, 2008 for sessions and committee hearings. The next meeting of the State Board of Education will be on January 7 & 8, 2008.

2) 110th Congress:

*President George W. Bush signed into law on December 26, 2007 H.R. 2764, which includes appropriations for federal government departments and agencies for FY 2008, starting October 1, 2007. The law increases federal spending for education by 2.9 percent to $59.2 billion. For information about specific funding levels for various federal programs please visit http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/news.html.

*President Bush also signed into law on December 29, 2007 an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health insurance for children from eligible families. The extension will provide coverage for approximately 6.6 million children through March 31, 2009. The President has vetoed two bills recently approved by Congress to reauthorize and expand this program, thus requiring this extension.

3) Update on Proposed Legislation: Approximately seventy-six bills related to education were introduced in the first half of the 127th Ohio General Assembly. Of those bills four became law, including HB119 (Dolan), the FY08-09 budget bill, which includes major policy changes for education, and was signed into law in June 2007. In some cases education provisions from certain stand alone bills have been combined with other education legislation, and have then become law. The education bills that have become law in 2007 are listed below:

- HB 2 (Webster) - Board of Regents: Transfers the appointment of the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents to the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; makes the Board of Regents an advisory board to the Chancellor; and transfers the Board's duties and powers to the Chancellor. Signed into law May 2007.

-HB 142 (Batchelder) - School Threats: Authorizes the state highway patrol to provide emergency assistance to a school district under a threat, and increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school is involved. Signed into law December 2007.

-HB 190 (Hite) Achievement Tests: Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests; allows public schools to charge tuition for all-day kindergarten; requires the Department of Education to conduct a survey of the fees charged by school districts; revises the requirements regarding criminal records checks of school employees; requires the Educator Standards Board to recommend a code of conduct for educators; requires the Department of Education to recommend penalties for failure to report educator misconduct; permits the State Board of Education to revoke an expired license; permits waivers from the minimum number of school days in the 2006-2007 school year for certain joint vocational school districts that experienced delays in a state-assisted construction project; extends the deadline for the commission studying student success with the Ohio Core curriculum to issue its recommendations; and alters the membership of the Ohio Community Service Council. Signed into law in November 2007.

The following is a summary of the status of education related bills introduced in the first half of the 127th General Assembly. Bills that have ** have become law; bills with * include provisions that have been added to other bills that have become law; and bills that have *** are those that are expected to be considered by lawmakers in 2008.

Senate

***SB1 (Padgett) School Funding. See also HB1 (Setzer). Reserves bill number for Governor's school funding reform plan, which has not been introduced as yet. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB2 (Cates) Chancellor of the Board of Regents. See HB 2 (Webster) - signed into law. February 20, 2007 Introduced; March 27, 2007 Third Hearing

SB8 (Coughlin) College Tuition Tax Deduction. Restores the income tax deduction for college tuition and fees. This legislation restores a provision regarding income taxes that allows individuals to deduct higher education tuition costs based on certain eligibility requirements. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB11 (Roberts) Educational Opportunities. Directs the General Assembly to reform the state's public education systems in a manner that promotes educational opportunities and economic prosperity for all Ohioans. Directs the General Assembly to deliberate on the following:

(A) Adopting stable, adequate, fair, and predictable funding mechanisms for all Ohio public education systems; (B) Establishing a system of transparency and accountability for community schools; (C) Examining methods by which to reduce the reliance upon and frequency of property tax levies to fund educational purposes; (D) Other matters the General Assembly considers relevant to the enhancement of the State's public education system. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB49 (Schaffer) School Facilities Expedited Local Partnership Program. Prohibits ranking a school district participating in the Expedited Local Partnership Program in a higher percentile on the eligibility list for state classroom facilities assistance after the district's electors have approved a bond issue for the district's portion of the basic project cost. February 20, 2007 Introduced; March 20, 2007 First hearing.

SB51 (Schaffer) Deduction for Teaching Instructional Materials. Allows a tax credit for amounts spent by teachers for instructional materials. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***Sub. SB 57 (Coughlin) Special Education Voucher. Enacts sections 3310.51 to 3310.63 of the Revised Code to establish the Special Education Scholarship Program and requires the Department of Education every two years to prepare an analysis of the special education funding weights. February 20, 2007 Introduced; October 2, 2007 Substitute Bill Accepted Senate Education Committee, Second Hearing

SB64 (Ray Miller) Trio Programs. Makes an appropriation ($4 million in FY08 and $4 million in FY09) for the provision of matching funds for federal TRIO programs at Ohio institutions of higher education for the FY 2008-2009 biennium. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB71 (Ray Miller) Corporal Punishment. Prohibits the use of corporal punishment on a child who is less than three or more than twelve years of age or by hitting a child about the face or head or with any object other than a bare hand and prohibits corporal punishment in schools. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB98 Autism Diagnosis (Schuring) Creates the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program. March 6, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB110 Dyslexia Testing (Boccieri) Requires schools to test students for dyslexia and related disorders. March 13, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

*SB 118 - Physical Education (Gardner) Requires daily physical education instruction in grades kindergarten to six, requires completion of one unit of physical education in grades seven to twelve, requires physical education teachers to be licensed in their subject area, and makes other changes relative to physical education. March 20, 2007 Introduced; May 15, 2007 Fourth Hearing; Some of these provisions were included in the budget bill, HB 119.

*SB 131 Physical Education (Fedor) Requires the State Board of Education to adopt instructional standards in physical education, nutrition and dental care; specifies physical education requirements for grades kindergarten through eight; requires physical education teachers to be licensed in their subject area and makes other changes relative to physical education. March 27, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings; Some of these provisions were included in HB 119 - Biennial Budget

SB 139 Prevailing Wage (Mumper) Permits state institutions of higher education to use either single or multiple prime bidding for public improvement projects; exempts from the Prevailing Wage Law projects constructed by state institutions of higher education and projects constructed by private, non-profit organizations that receive public moneys to construct those projects; and prohibits the Ohio School Facilities Commission from approving school district projects that specify the payment of prevailing wages. April 5, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***Sub. SB 141 Community Schools (Padgett) Makes changes in the law regarding the approval and monitoring by the Department of Education of community school sponsors. April 10, 2007 Introduced; November 14, 2007 Substitute Bill Accepted, Second Hearing.

***Sub. SB 148 SERS Eligibility (Faber) Revises retirement eligibility requirements for members of the School Employees Retirement System. April 19, 2007 Introduced; October 24, 2007 Passed in Senate; December 2007 Hearings in the House.

SB 187 Transportation (Cates) Requires school districts to provide transportation to the school of attendance for each resident student under sixteen years of age whose parent requests transportation. June 19, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SB223 Property Tax Rollback (Miller D.) Requires county auditors to make reasonable efforts to identify property owners wrongfully receiving the 2.5% property tax rollback. September 27, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***SB232 Child Care (Stivers) Revises the law governing child care. October 4, 2007 Introduced; October 24, 2007 First Hearing; December 2007 Hearings in the Senate.

***SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes - Prohibits classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking and instead requires binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes, and makes an appropriation. December 11, 2007 Introduced. No Hearings.

SJR2 (Coughlin) Real Property Taxes - Proposal to amend Section 2a of Article XII and to enact Section 2b of Article XII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to limit increases in the taxable value of real property to two per cent per year. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SJR4 (Schuring) Lottery Profits - Requires all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education. December 2007 Introduced. No Hearings

***SCR18 Academic Accountability (Padgett) Approves the Department of Education's proposed changes to the state academic accountability system for public schools. October 4, 2007 Introduced; November 14, 2007 Passed by Senate

SCR19 State Children's Health Insurance Program (Niehaus) - Urges Congress to reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program in a manner that enables Ohio to implement an expansion. October 10, 2007 Introduced; October 10, 2007 Passed by Senate

SCR20 SCHIP. (Boccieri) - Urges Congress to override President Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007. October 10, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

SCR21 (Kearney) Life Skills Curriculum - Encourages the State Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive life skills curriculum.

House

***HB1 (Setzer) School Funding Placeholder. See also SB 1 (Padgett). Placeholder legislation reserved for Governor Strickland's school funding proposal. (Finance and Appropriations.) February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

**HB2 (Webster) Higher Education. See also SB2 (Cates). Transfers appointment of the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents to the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, makes the Board of Regents an advisory board to the Chancellor, and transfers the Board's duties and powers to the Chancellor. This legislation changes the Board of Regents to an advisory committee, removing all of its policy making authority, unless that authority is granted to the board in law. February 20, 2007 Introduced; March 3, 2007 Passed the House; May 2, 2007 Passed the Senate; May 15, 2007 Signed by the Governor

HB6 (Stewart) State CHIP. Increases coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program. (Finance and Appropriations) February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

*HB14 (Hughes) Reimbursement for TPP. Extends full reimbursement to school districts for the phase-out of taxes on business tangible personal property. (Finance and Appropriations) February 20, 2007 Introduced; May 22, 2007 First Hearing. A provision was added to HB119 to address some of these concerns.

HB26 (Wolpert) Urban Homestead Zones. Permits the creation of urban homestead zones in cities to encourage the re-population of certain city cores, creates a state urban homestead scholarship program, and requires tax increment financing in urban homestead zones that participate in the scholarship program to help fund the program. This bill includes a voucher program which would provide public funds for eligible students to attend eligible private schools. February 20, 2007 Introduced; May 10, 2007 Third Hearing

***HB27 (Wolpert) Academic performance ratings. Revises the law regarding school district and school building academic performance ratings. (Education Committee) The current accountability rating system for schools and school districts is changed. Some schools that would receive lower ratings due to failure to meet adequate yearly progress measures would not receive those ratings until three years have passed. February 20, 2007 Introduced; April 17, 2007 Third Hearing

HB34 (Wolpert) Graduate School Student Loans. Establishes the Third Frontier Pilot Forgivable Loan Program for graduate students. (Finance and Appropriations) This legislation would forgive loans granted to certain graduate level students who meet very complicated requirements that are based on future employment in Ohio. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB36 (Wolpert) School Enrollment. Creates the Rapid Enrollment Growth School Facilities Assistance Program. (Finance and Appropriations) This legislation allows districts with growth of 100 pupils or more per year over the past five years to participate in the state school facilities commission school building program earlier than they would be able to through their state ranking in the program. The state would provide 25 percent of the building costs for projects in this programs. February 20, 2007 Introduced; May 22,

2007 First Hearing

HB42 (Stewart) School Funding. Establishes a bipartisan committee to recommend to the G.A. a system that provides state funds to pay one hundred per cent of the cost of education, and requires the Department of Education to report certain school funding information to the parents and taxpayers of each school district. (Finance and Appropriations) This legislation outlines a process to develop a new system in which the state would pay for the actual cost of educating students. A local contribution is not defined, but districts are

allowed to levy additional taxes. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB43 (Garrison) Funding for Kindergarten. Provides formula funding for all-day kindergarten for all school districts and community schools that offer it. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB44 (Garrison) State parity aid. Changes the formula for calculating state parity aid payments to primary and secondary schools. (Finance and Appropriations) Uses 9.7 mills rather than 7.5 mills to calculate parity aid. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

*HB59 (Combs) Property taxes. Defers increases in taxes on residences owned and occupied by individuals age 65 or older. February 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings. An expansion of the Homestead Exemption to all senior citizens, regardless of income, was included in HB 119 - the biennial budget law.

HB60 (Evans) Homestead Exemption Military Service. Authorizes boards of county commissioners to exempt from taxation the homesteads of qualifying members of the National Guard and reserve components of the Armed Forces who have been deployed outside the state, and exempts estates of members of the United States Armed Services who died while serving in a combat zone from various probate filing fees. This legislation is permissive, and also allows school districts to be exempt. February 21, 2007 Introduced; April 26, 2007 Fourth Hearing. An expansion of the Homestead Exemption to all senior citizens, regardless of income, was included in HB 119 - the biennial budget law.

HB66 (Collier) Minimum School Year. Base minimum school year on hours, rather than days, of instruction. February 22, 2007 Introduced; March 21, 2007 Substitute Bill Reported out of Education Committee.

HB81 HPV Vaccination (Brown) Requires that girls entering the sixth grade be vaccinated against HPV. February 20, 2007 Introduced; March 21, 2007 First Hearing

HB 82 School Buses (Chandler) Requires all school buses purchased, leased, or rented after January 1, 2010, to transport students to and from school to be equipped with a seat belt assembly for all passengers. February 28, 2007 Introduced; March 21, 2007 First Hearing

HB 93 Education Budget (Koziura) Requires that an appropriations bill for education agencies be enacted separately from and prior to any other operating appropriations bills. March 6, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 114 Prevailing Wage (Wachtmann) Requires the Ohio School Facilities Commission to reduce the state funds for a school district's classroom facilities project by twenty per cent if the district requires contractors to pay the prevailing rate of wages.

March 20, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 117 School Taxes (Raussen) Authorize school districts to enter into agreements with the Department of Taxation or other entities for the collection and administration of school district income taxes.

March 20, 2007 Introduced; May 9, 2007 Third Hearing

**HB119 Biennial Budget (Dolan) Make operating appropriations for the biennium. March 3, 2007 Introduced; May 1, 2007 Passed by House; June 13, 2007 Passed by Senate; June 30, 2007 Signed by Governor.

HB128 Autism Diagnosis (Bacon) Create the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program. March 27, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 136 School Buildings (Raussen) Permits high-wealth school districts to receive payments for district-directed classroom facilities projects in lieu of participating in other state programs.

March 28, 2007 Introduced; May 22, 2007 First Hearing

**HB142 School Threats (Batchelder) Authorizes the state highway patrol to provide emergency assistance to a school district confronted with a bomb threat or a similar threat of imminent and catastrophic harm, and increases the penalty for inducing panic to a felony of the second degree when a school is involved. April 3, 2007 Introduced; June 26, 2007 Passed in House; November 14, 2007 Passed in Senate; December 4, 2007 House Concurred with Senate Amendments; Governor Signed into law December 2007.

HB 143 School Health Care (Wagner) Eliminates certain requirements and prohibitions applying to school district boards of education, including the centralized procurement of employee health benefits contingently mandated by Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th General Assembly. April 5, 2007 Introduced; May 22, 2007 Second Hearing

HB 152 Retirement Plans (Widener) Requires school boards to establish alternative retirement plans for teachers and school employees. April 17, 2007 Introduced; June 28, 2007 Fourth Hearing

*HB 155 STEM Schools (Setzer) Directs the General Assembly's deliberations to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics School System. April 17, 2007 Introduced; June 5, 2007 Fourth Hearing. Several of these provisions were included in HB 119 (Dolan) - the Biennial budget bill.

HB 162- Teacher Tax Credits (Luckie) Allows a refundable credit against the personal income tax for taxpayers who teach in and reside in a big eight school district and allows an additional credit for such teachers who teach math, science, or technology. April 18, 2007 Introduced; May 22, 2007 First Hearing

HB170 Insurance Coverage for Autism (Celeste) Prohibit health insurers from excluding coverage for autism. April 24, 2007 Introduced; October 30, 2007 Second Hearing

HB 175 Calamity Days (Fessler) Permanently permits school districts to make up excess calamity days by adding hours to remaining days in the school year and to declare an emergency. April 24, 2007 Introduced; May 8, 2007 First Hearing

***HB 181 Missing Children (Setzer) Requires public and nonpublic schools to mark the records of students identified as missing children and to notify law enforcement of requests for those records.

April 24, 2007 Introduced; September 11, 2007 Passed by House. Passed by the Senate December 11, 2007. This bill is expected to be signed by Governor Strickland.

**HB 190 Achievement Tests (Hite) Specifies administration dates for the elementary achievement tests. April 26, 2007 Introduced; June 19, 2007 Reported out of committee; June 26, 2007 Passed in House; October 31, 2007 Passed in Senate; November 7, 2007 House concurs; November 14, 2007 Signed by Governor.

HB 197 School Assaults (Boyd) Provides for the reporting of assaults in public schools to school administrators and law enforcement authorities. May 3, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 204 School Security (Boyd) Permits the board of a school district or educational service center to employ school security personnel officers and authorizes training programs that qualify persons as school security personnel officers. May 3, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 216 School Construction (Collier) Grants priority for state classroom facilities assistance to school districts that consolidate or make joint use of their facilities. May 9, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 226 School Funding (Batchelder) Earmarks 88% of the personal income tax for primary and secondary education expenditures, in addition to all lottery profits, and creates a new method for distributing state aid among school districts. May 22, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 234 School Funding (Fessler) Includes revenue from all operating levies, including school district emergency levies, in the calculation determining whether a school district's effective tax rate is below the 20-mill floor, or, for joint vocational school districts, the 2-mill floor. May 23, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 240 Re-Employed Retirees (Goodwin) Regarding employment of retired members of the Public Employees Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System, and Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund. May 29, 2007 Introduced; October 30, 2007 Third Hearing

HB 245 School Funding (Strahorn) Modifies the method of adjusting the per-pupil formula amount for school districts from year to year. May 30, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***HB 254 Child Obesity (Peterson) Establishes the Ohio Child Wellness Advisory Council, establishes nutritional standards for certain foods and beverages sold in public and chartered nonpublic schools, requires public and chartered nonpublic schools to implement local wellness policies and makes other changes regarding student nutrition and physical activity. May 30, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 270 Pensioner Reemployment (Schneider) Provides that a member of the Public Employees Retirement System, Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund, State Teachers Retirement System, or School Employees Retirement System who retires and then returns to public employment in the same position will not receive a pension while earning a salary for that employment. June 19, 2007 Introduced; October 30, 2007 First Hearing; December 2007 Hearings in the House.

HB 271 Remedial Education (Patton) Permits a school district to establish a policy guaranteeing state institutions of higher education that its graduates will not require remedial coursework in specified subject areas or the district will cover the costs of remediation. June 21, 2007 Introduced; October 9, 2007 First Hearing

HB 315 STRS Laws (Oelslager) Creates the Health Care Fund in the State Teachers Retirement System and make other changes in STRS law. September 18, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

HB 341 Health Grants (Dodd) Establishes the healthy farms and healthy schools grant program for the purpose of providing grants to schools to establish nutrition education and agricultural education programs for kindergartners. October 3, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***HB 347 Educator Licensing (Setzer) Replaces the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license with assessment systems developed by school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools. October 9, 2007; October 30, 2007 Second Hearing. The Ohio Department of Education is working with Representative Setzer on the provisions of this bill.

***HB 348 Special Education Vouchers (Peterson) Creates the Special Education Scholarship Pilot Program and amends the version of section 109.57 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2008 to continue the provisions of this act on and after that effective date. October 9, 2007 Introduced; October 30, 2007 Second Hearing

HB 379 School Curriculum (Fessler) Requires the study of specified historical documents be included in the high school American history and government curriculum. November 7, 2007 - Introduced; No Hearings

***HB406 (Peterson and Williams B.) Corporal Punishment - Prohibits corporal punishment in all public schools. December 2007 Introduced. No Hearings

HCR9 No Child Left Behind (Skindell) Amends the No Child Left Behind Act to fully fund the appropriations. February 27, 2007 Introduced; May 8, 2007 First Hearing

HCR29 Children's Health Insurance Program (Beatty) Urges Congress to override the President's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007. October 11, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

***HCR32 Academic Accountability (Setzer) Approve the Department of Education's proposed changes to the state academic accountability system for public schools. October 30, 2007 Introduced; No Hearings

FYI ARTS

*What is the Children's Plan? According to a December 9, 2007 article in The Observer called "Schools are told to make artistic experience 'a key part of childhood'" by Vanessa Thorpe and Nicholas Watt, Great Britain's Parliament will launch a new ten year program called the Children's Plan, which will elevate the status of arts education and the importance of the arts in the holistic development of children. The Children's Plan calls for every child in Britain to experience five hours of cultural learning every week as part of their school curriculum. This will include participation in organized music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. The Children's Plan reflects the importance of the creative industries in the economy of the UK. For more information please visit http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,2224780,00.html.

*Book Links Art and Literacy: The National Art Education Association (NAEA) has available a new book called "The Impact of Early Art Experiences on Literacy Development" by Kathy Danko-McGhee and Ruslan Slutsky. This book examines the components of literacy development in children ages birth to grade three and alternative ways to teach young children early literacy and critical thinking skills through art experiences. According to a summary of the book, "....Danko-McGhee and Slutsky paint a vivid picture of the role that the visual arts play in early childhood development. The two examine the need for new thinking and a departure from traditional literacy exercises..." For more information please visit http://www.naea-reston.org/literacy.html.

� Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra

� Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians

� Master classes and seminars

� Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO

� Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Schulze

� Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area

� Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

###

Monday, 01-07-08 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 01-07-2008

Arts on Line Education Update for January 7, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) 110^TH CONGRESS

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

4) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

5) STUDY FROM NORTHEAST OHIO RELEASED

6) REPORT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RELEASED

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions and committee meetings this week. The House and Senate and Education Committees are not scheduled to meet.

The House State Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Daniels, will meet on January 10, 2008 at 11:00 AM in hearing room 122. The Committee will hear testimony on HB350

(Wolpert) Precinct Election Officers, which permits a higher education student to serve as a precinct election official in a county where they attend school, and permits up to two high school seniors to serve as precinct officers at polling places with six or more precinct officers. The committee will also hear testimony on HJR3 (Stewart) Initiatives/Referendums, which requires an initiative or referendum be placed on the ballot at the first regular or general election conducted more than one hundred twenty-five days after the petition is filed, and revises deadlines relative to filing petitions.

*Ohio Senator Randy Gardner (2nd Senate District) has been selected by a screening committee of House Republicans to complete the term of former Representative Bob Latta (6th Ohio House District), who was recently elected to Congress. The selection must be approved by the House. A process has been outlined by the Ohio Senate to select a replacement for Senator Gardner.

2) 110th Congress: The U.S. Senate held a pro forma session on January 3, 2008 to convene the second session of the 110th Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives also convened on January 3, 2008, and dispensed with organizational and legislative business. The House will be back in session on January 15, 2008, and the Senate on January 7, 2008.

3) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on January 6-8, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High Schools and School Funding subcommittees met on January 6, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus.

The State Board of Education will hold its meetings on January 7-8, 2008 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH. On January 7, 2008 the SBE's Coordination Committee, chaired by Eric Okerson and Carl Wick, will meet at 8:00 AM to discuss the committee's time table and goals.

Following this discussion at 10:15 AM, members of the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, and members of the Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, will meet. The Capacity Committee will discuss the recommendations from the Safe Schools Summit; educator license fees; Educator Code of Conduct draft; licensure grade bands; legislative recommendations for performance standards for dropout recovery schools; Ohio Administrative Code Rules (OAC) 3301-83-04, 09, 10, and 16 - Pupil Transportation; and OAC Rule 3301-8-01, Payment of Debt Service Charges. The Achievement Committee will discuss the five year federal Perkins IV Plan.

After lunch at 1:00 PM the Achievement Committee will present information about rules for the accurate reporting of data, Chapter 3301-17, and the Capacity Committee will discuss Rules 3301-102-02 through 06, Community School Sponsorship, and Rule 3301-104-02 Internet or Computer Based Community School Definitions. At 2:00 PM the full Board will discuss educator licensure fees and the draft recommendations for the Educator Code of Conduct. Three reports are included in this month's Board packet: The 2006-2007 Community Schools Annual Report, which is available online; The Ohio School for the Deaf and Ohio School for the Blind Quarterly Status Report; and the Quarterly Budget Report. At 3:45 PM the Board will review the agenda for the business meeting on Tuesday, and hear reports from subcommittees. At 4:00 PM the Board will hold a Chapter 119 Hearing on the following rules:

-Resolution to Amend Rule 3301-23-44 - Temporary Licenses -Resolution to Rescind and Adopt Rule 3301-24-10 - Performance-Based Licensure for Administrators -Resolution to adopt Rules 3301-48-01 and 02 - Regarding Open Enrollment.

The Board will adjourn at 4:45 PM. The State Board of Education's Subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE) will meet from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.

On January 8, 2008 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:30 AM with a policy discussion about value added and community schools. At 10:45 AM the Board will hear reports on state and federal legislative activities, led by John Bender and Carl Wick. The Board will convene its business meeting at 11:30 AM and immediately proceed into executive session. Following lunch at 1:30 PM the Board will reconvene its business meeting, which will include reports from Board subcommittees. The Board will continue its business meeting starting at 2:00 PM with the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and public participation on agenda items. The Board will take action on 7 personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then accept public participation on non-agenda items and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is February 11-12, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for January 8, 2008:

-Resolution of Intent to adopt new Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules 3301-17-01 through 3301-17-09 (Data Integrity) -Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-102-02 through 06 (Community School Sponsorship) -Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-104-02 (Internet or Computer-Based Community School Definitions) -Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-02-01; 02; 03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information Systems), and adopt Rule 3301-02-13 (Contact if unauthorized access of personal information occurs) -Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01 (Notice of Meeting) -Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure) -Resolution to decline confirmation of the Brookfield Local School District Board of Education's determination that it is impractical to transport students to John F. Kennedy High School, a chartered nonpublic school in Trumbull County, OH pursuant to Section 3327.01 of the Revised Code.

For more information about the State Board of Education's meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

4) NAS Book Releases Book on Evolution: The U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a book on January 3, 2008 called "Science, Evolution, and Creationism". According to the web site the book is "....designed to give the public a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the current scientific understanding of evolution and its importance in the science classroom. NAS and IOM strongly maintain that only scientifically based explanations for life should be included in public school science class." The book states that "intelligent design" and creationism are not science and should not be part of a science classroom. The book also states, "As SCIENCE, EVOLUTION, AND CREATIONISM makes clear, the evidence for evolution can be fully compatible with religious faith. Science and religion are different ways of understanding the world. Needlessly placing them in opposition reduces the potential of each to contribute to a better future." The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine advise policy makers the government on science, technology, and medical issues. This book updates a publication issued in 1984 and 1999, and was written by a committee headed by biology professor Francisco Ayala of UC Irvine. The book is available at http://www.nationalacademies.org/

5) Study from NE Ohio Released: The North East Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study Commission (NOUCISC), chaired by Ted Boyd, released on January 4, 2008 a report called "Collaborate. Innovate. Educate." The nineteen member commission was established through 126-HB699 to review opportunities for collaboration among state colleges and universities, and recommend strategies to promote economic efficiencies and economic development in northeast Ohio. The report includes eighteen recommendations that provide a model for northeast Ohio and other regions in the state to improve student access, affordability and success; educational quality and collaboration; and resource efficiency.

The recommendations in this report align with the work of Ohio Chancellor Eric Fingerhut, who is currently preparing a ten year Master Plan for Higher Education that will focus on greater efficiency, cooperation, and excellence among the state's colleges and universities. This plan is scheduled to be presented the Ohio General Assembly in March 2008. According to a press release by the Chancellor, "The fact that the commission has recommended its public higher education institutions collaborate more, compete with each other less, establish centers of excellence, and pool resources to save money-among other recommendations-shows that the conversation on higher education and the economy has fundamentally changed in the region and state." The report is available at http://www.neostudycommission.org/FinalReport.htm.

6) Report on Early Childhood Education Released: A new report from ZERO TO THREE and Pre-K Now called "Common Vision, Different Paths" provides an overview of how five states have implemented comprehensive prenatal to five education systems. The state systems profiled are California, North Carolina, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. According to the Introduction, "This report looks at strategies for effectively building the systems and providing the high quality programs infants, toddlers, and young children need to thrive and succeed. It builds on the work of other initiatives, early childhood professionals, and institutions. Yet, by distilling the wisdom and experience of some of our country's most innovative early childhood leaders, this report intends to offer a fresh point of view and to encourage more states to commit to this difficult but critical work. Through proven, real-world strategies, elements of a prenatal-to five system can be tackled incrementally without sacrificing a commitment to the broader vision." The report is available at http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Common_Vision__Different_Paths_Final.pdf?docID=4521

7) Bills Introduced:

SB269 (Schuler) Live Musical Performances - Prohibits advertising/conducting a live musical performance or production through use of a false, deceptive or misleading affiliation, connection, or association between a performing group and a recording group.

FYI ARTS

*Ford Foundation Grant Awarded: Arts for Academic Achievement (AAA) is an initiative of the Minneapolis Public Schools that connects classroom teachers, arts specialists, and arts partners from the community to improve student achievement. The program is now in its 10th year and has involved nearly 300 artists and arts organizations and over 10,000 students annually. AAA recently received an award for $500,000 from the Ford Foundation, and will join the Ford Foundation's Arts Education Initiative -- a broad-based coalition that includes organizations from Oakland; Baltimore; Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis; Cleveland; Dallas, and Washington, D.C. This 3-year grant will expand arts opportunities for students in Minneapolis Public Schools through a program called Arts Reach. For information about Arts for Academic Achievement please visit http://aaa.mpls.k12.mn.us/

*Project Success: A January 1, 2008 editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune called "Want to motivate students? Try theatre" describes Project SUCCESS, a nonprofit organization that serves 8,000 young people from middle to high school in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Project Success was founded by Adrienne Diercks fifteen years ago, and is comprised of school-based workshops, theater experiences, one-on-one assistance, and additional programming designed to help students gain confidence in creative thinking, decision making, goal setting, and resourcefulness, while developing the skills to plan their future. Experiences in drama/theater are an important component of Project SUCCESS, because they help students engage in self-discovery and career planning, and motivate students to stay in school and develop the discipline to tackle other academic subjects such as STEM. To read the article please visit http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/12960211.html. For more information about Project Success, please visit http://www.projectsuccess.org.

� Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra

� Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians

� Master classes and seminars

� Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO

� Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, conducted by Elizabeth Schulze

� Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area

� Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

###

Monday, 01-14-08 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 01-14-2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) UPDATE ON NCLB

3) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

4) 2008 QUALITY COUNTS

5) ODE SUMMIT

6) NEW REPORT ON CHOOSING SCHOOLS

7) REVIEW OF VOUCHER REPORTS

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold committee hearings and sessions this week.

*Last week (January 9, 2008) Senator Randy Gardner was sworn into office to replace former Representative Bob Latta in the Ohio House (6th Ohio House District), and John Otterman took the oath of office to replace his father Representative Robert J. Otterman (45th Ohio House District). Representatives Fred Strahorn and Mike Foley were sworn into new leadership positions as House minority whip and assistant minority whip, respectively.

*In the Ohio Senate Senator Tom Niehaus was selected as majority floor leader, replacing Randy Gardner, and a Republican screening committee announced that it had selected Representative Mark Wagoner (46th House District) to replace Randy Gardner in the 2nd Senate District. Of course this move now opens Representative Wagoner's seat in the Ohio House. Senate Democrats also made leadership changes: Senator Ray Miller replaced Senator Teresa Fodor as minority leader of the Ohio Senate; Senator Shirley Smith was selected as assistant minority leader; Senator Lance Mason was selected as minority whip; and Senator Capri Cafaro was selected as assistant minority whip.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will hold hearings on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SJR4 (Schuring) Lottery Profits, which requires all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 3:00 PM in hearing room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB341 (Dodd) Nutritional/Agricultural Education - Establishes the healthy farms and healthy school grant program for the purpose of providing grants to schools to establish nutrition education and agricultural education programs for kindergartners.

-HB406 (Peterson) Corporal Punishment - Prohibits corporal punishment in all public schools.

-HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct - Addresses school employee misconduct, reporting, and discipline.

-HB423 (Setzer) Teacher Compensation - Revise eligibility for state stipends to National Board certified teachers; permits school districts, educational service centers, and county MR/DD boards to pay wage rate differentials above their regulate salary for certain teachers.

-HB424 (Setzer) School Accountability and Options - Eliminates the performance index score as a factor in school district and building performance ratings, makes changes to the Post -Secondary Enrollment Options Program, and makes changes in the requirement that schools offer dual enrollment programs.

-HB347 (Setzer) Professional Educator License - Replaces Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will meet on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes, which prohibit classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking and requires binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes and to make an appropriation; SB270 (Cates) School Employee Misconduct, which addresses school employee misconduct, reporting, and discipline; and SB141 (Padgett) Community School Sponsors, which make changes in the law regarding the approval of community school sponsors.

2) Update on NCLB: As supporters of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) were getting ready to celebrate its 6th anniversary, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit Court (Cincinnati) reversed on January 7, 2008 a previous decision by a federal judge in Michigan, and revived a lawsuit filed on April 20, 2005 by school districts in three states and the National Education Association. This lawsuit, Pontiac vs. Spellings, challenges compliance with the unfunded mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. The school districts filing the lawsuit are from Michigan, Texas, and Vermont. The lawsuit states that school districts are required to spend their own local money in order to comply with the provisions of the law, which violates the "spending clause" of the U.S. Constitution. The 6th Circuit Court agreed, because NCLB is not clear about who bears the additional costs of compliance, and reinstated the lawsuit. For more information about this ruling please visit http://www.nea.org/lawsuit/index.html

On January 7, 2008 President Bush recognized the anniversary of NCLB, and promised to revive its reauthorization this year. The President also stated that he would support increased flexibility for states to adjust their accountability systems, but would oppose any changes that would weaken accountability. For more information please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080107-2.html

3) State Board of Education Meeting: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, met on January 6-8, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

QUALITY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SUBCOMMITTEE: The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee, chaired by Carl Wick, met on January 6, 2008. The subcommittee discussed designing a system of assessment and accountability that combines standardized assessment with teacher generated - curriculum embedded assessment. This new system would combine a measure of student achievement/school performance compared to a consistent set of expectations, and also reflect a deeper understanding of student learning, student progress, and the effectiveness of instruction through performance based assessments. Performance-based assessment(PBA) "... is a measure of assessment based on authentic tasks such as activities, exercises, or problems that require students to show what they can do." (ASCD definition) Examples include project based learning, internships, portfolios, collection of evidence, research projects, and presentations.

A combined standardized and teacher generated assessment system (balanced assessment system) would do the following: -provide teachers with an external benchmark to calibrate their own judgment of student performance -provide students and families with feedback on student performance relative to curricular expectations and skill levels -provide schools with data that could inform curricular decisions and professional development -provide data for the public and state to make judgments about the performance of schools and districts

The Collegiate Learning Assessment, Envision, Cambridge Exams, end of course exams, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate are examples of assessment programs that incorporate some, but not all, of the features of a balanced assessment system. A video about Envision High Schools was shared with the subcommittee. These charter schools in the San Francisco area provide students with a rigorous and relevant curriculum; personalized small learning environments; authentic accountability; adult world immersion (guest artists and mentors); and integrate arts and digital technology courses.

The subcommittee reviewed a timeline that includes four phases from December 2007 to July 2010 to pilot performance based assessment models. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is currently investigating existing PBA programs and prototypes, and will share that information with stakeholders to determine the most promising model (Phase 1 - completed by March 2008). In Phase 2 (completed by August 2008) two or three prototypes will be developed, and selected school districts will begin implementation to determine their feasibility for statewide use. The prototypes will be implemented in Phase 3 from October 2008 to December 31, 2009, and the results evaluated in Phase 4, which will be completed in July 2010. This work will be supported by a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

SCHOOL FUNDING SUBCOMMITTEE: The School Funding subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown also met on January 6, 2008. The subcommittee discussed a draft document entitled "Toward Recommendations for School Funding reform in Ohio, An Interim Report of Ideas Developed by the School Funding Subcommittee", presented by Paolo DeMaria, Associate Superintendent of the Center for School Finance. Subcommittee members suggested additional ideas and ways to clarify particular points in the draft. For example, some subcommittee members wanted more emphasis on transparency/accountability, and an emphasis on ways that districts can collaborate regionally to reduce their costs for transportation, insurance, food services, etc. The draft summarized, so far, the discussions of the subcommittee regarding the following six components of a school funding system:

-How much is needed, for what, and by whom? This component includes five "ideas" that the subcommittee may recommend about base cost, supplemental funding based on student needs, equity, guarantees, and protection mechanisms. For example, a "best buy" or modified successful schools analysis is being considered by the subcommittee to determine the base cost. The subcommittee is also considering a weighted formula to address the cost of educating students identified as economically disadvantaged, gifted, Limited English Proficient, and in Special Education. The criteria for identifying the successful schools that will be part of this new analysis of base cost is currently being developed.

-What tools should local districts have available to them to raise the local share of funding, and what rules apply? Two different ideas about local revenue are being considered, and include capping local revenue growth and allowing inflationary growth, parity aid, and a circuit-breaker feature.

-How should the fiscal responsibility be divided? The subcommittee is looking at strategies, including some using the chargeoff, that would ensure that the local share is computed fairly; phantom revenue is addressed; and disincentives for districts to raise local revenue, such as gap aid, are eliminated.

-What are the tools and rules to generate the state contribution? This component is not fully developed, but some of the ideas that have been discussed include increasing revenue through the income tax or sales tax; promoting regional or county taxes, such as the Medina County's sales tax for school construction; and reviewing legislative proposals, such as SJR 4 (Schuring), a constitutional amendment to require all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education.

-How do we ensure that all money is being used to achieve the best results? There are four ideas included under this component, such as develop measures to evaluate efficient and effective use of resources; provide technical assistance for resource management; ensure stability and predictability of funds; and align resources to improve student academic achievement and address the needs of students.

-What incentives, rewards and consequences should there be? One idea included under this component would link incremental increases in educational investments to student achievement.

Next steps: Another draft will be prepared for the February 2008 subcommittee meeting. Once the subcommittee has reviewed this draft it will be placed on the ODE website for public comment.

MONDAY SBE MEETING: The State Board of Education met on January 7-8, 2008 at the Ohio School for the Deaf.

COORDINATION COMMITTEE: The SBE's Coordination Committee, chaired by Eric Okerson and Carl Wick, met on January 7, 2008. The purpose of this committee is to coordinate the work of the SBE and develop by October 2008 a comprehensive and coordinated set of legislative and budget recommendations that support a world-class education system in Ohio. A timeline and chart with potential legislative/budget recommendations was presented. Committee members suggested additional topics to add to the chart, and identified overlaps and inconsistencies in how the topics were organized. Members also suggested that the ODE identify what programs, projects, etc. could be eliminated from the ODE budget. The following is a summary of some of the legislative/budget recommendations and emerging concepts included on the chart:

-The Achievement Committee will develop policies and legislative recommendations that refine Ohio's academic content standards, and benchmark them to international practices; develop performance based assessments and end of course exams; develop policies to support a personalized learning plan for all students; develop diagnostic measures for districts and schools; require all nonpublic schools that participate in voucher programs to participate in Ohio's accountability system for schools; develop performance-related entry requirements for community schools; disseminate sponsor performance data for community schools; implement an urban initiative for improving middle grade literacy; advocate for a longer school year (twenty days more); and integrate social services into the schools.

-The Capacity Committee will develop policies and legislative recommendations that support the teacher evaluation framework; promote use of the Ohio Principal Evaluation System; expand the career lattice model; redesign teacher Entry Year Program and align it to Ohio's Standards for Teachers; require school climate to be reported on the Local Report Card; promote collaboration among health, human services, and local law enforcement agencies to link students and families to community services; integrate ESCs and other regional entities to form an aligned education system; improve communications with stakeholders; examine teacher licensure and grade bands; develop a prototype for evaluating superintendents; develop an urban strategy; develop policy recommendations for dual enrollment and post secondary options; and support community and parent involvement.

-The Education in the New Global Economy Subcommittee will develop policies and legislative recommendations that ensure that Ohio students will graduate with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will make them successful in their future lives, and recommendations that inform curriculum, assessment, and instruction to accomplish that goal.

-The Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee will develop policies and recommendations regarding assessments, quality teaching, and a "bridge school" to support student success.

-The School Readiness Committee will develop policies and recommendations regarding a new early childhood teacher license; the early learning finance model pilot; funding for all day Kindergarten; and an accountability system for early learning.

-The School Funding Subcommittee will develop polices and recommendations regarding the work of the Fiscal Data Project and a new system of funding for Ohio's schools.

Board members agreed to continue discussing these recommendations in the committees. In February, March, and April these concepts will be refined further so that by the end of May the State Board will have a first draft of legislative and budget recommendations, which will be the focus of the June 2008 retreat.

CAPACITY AND ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEES:

The Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, discussed the proposed Perkins IV Plan. The federal Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 requires states to focus on the academic achievement of career and technical education students, strengthen connections between secondary and postsecondary education, and improve state and local accountability. A draft of the five-year (FY2009-FY2013) plan for Ohio is available online at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1060&ContentID=21500&Content=42552.

The Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, discussed the following topics:

-Safe Schools Summit: The findings of the School Safety Summit were included in the SBE's meeting packet. Governor Strickland is expected to hold another school safety summit. Mary Lou Rush, ODE Executive Director, Center for Students, Families, and Communities, presented information about the ways in which an indicator or measure for school climate/environment could be developed and included in Ohio's accountability system for schools and on the Local Report Card. Currently several school districts are participating in a pilot for assessing school climate, and the results have been encouraging. An options paper for how a measure for school climate could be included in Ohio's accountability system for schools will be prepared and shared with the committee.

-Educator License Fees: The committee approved a resolution that would increase educator license fees to $30. These fees support the Offices of Educator License, Professional Conduct, and Educator Preparation. The full Board will need to take action on this resolution. A recommendation to increase the fees to $40 was also discussed, but not recommended.

-Educator Code of Conduct draft: The committee reviewed the December 16, 2007 draft for "Principles for Professional Conduct for Ohio's Educators", and was provided a document with public comments on the draft proposal. This draft was developed by the Educator Standards Board as required by HB 190 (Hite). A new draft will be posted at the end of January 2008 on the ODE website, and will be considered by the Board in February 2008.

-Licensure grade bands: An advisory group of stakeholders is meeting with the ODE to examine teacher licensure grade bands and several options for a new teacher grade band system for Birth (Age 0) through grade 12. The current grade band system is almost a decade old and some problems have been identified with it. For example, there are too many teachers with the early childhood license, compared to the number of jobs available, and administrators are finding it difficult to match well-trained middle childhood teachers to building assignments. A new licensure structure is needed to increase the number of highly qualified teachers, employment opportunities, and provide administrators with more hiring flexibility.

According to the November 20, 2007 grade band proposal, the following changes for the grade bands are being considered: Early Learning License - Birth through grade 2; Early Childhood License - (available until the Early Learning License is in place) - PreK-Grade 3; Elementary Education License - Grade 1 through Grade 6; Secondary Education License - Grade 6 through Grade 12.

A survey will be posted on the ODE web site in January for public comment, and focus groups will be held in February to discuss the grade band recommendations. The Educator Standards Board will review the recommendations in March, and the SBE Capacity Committee will review the recommendations in April. A resolution for an intent to adopt new rules for grade bands will be considered by the State Board of Education in May, and a resolution for adoption will be considered by the full Board in September 2008.

-Dropout Prevention and Recovery: The SBE is directed by March 30, 2008 to develop legislative recommendations for performance standards for community schools that operate dropout prevention and recovery programs, and performance criteria for closing failing dropout prevention and recovery schools. (126-HB 79) Todd Hanes, ODE Executive Director for Community Schools, presented a proposal that includes seven indicators of performance for dropout and recovery schools in the following areas:

Academic achievement/growth - Student academic growth would be measured through the results of ODE approved, nationally normed tests administered in the fall and spring to students, and the SBE would set the cut scores. Sustained Student Enrollment - The SBE would set the expected threshold for attendance. School Completion - This component could be measured through student graduation rate; GED completion; industry credential; apprenticeship; or military enlistment. The SBE would set the cut scores. Data is currently not available. School Closure: Failure to meet any performance standards for two consecutive years, or failing to meet two of three performance standards in two of three consecutive years. Data Collection: Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, dropout prevention and recovery schools shall report data as determined by the ODE in order to pilot the new accountability system. The SBE will determine performance thresholds for each indicator. The performance thresholds shall become effective as school closure criteria at the end of 2011-2012 school year.

-Ohio Administrative Code Rules (OAC) 3301-83-04, 09, 10, and 16 - Pupil Transportation: The Capacity Committee approved these rules, which have been updated to comply with 127- HB 190 regarding federal background checks; federal requirements for safety briefings; updates for driver certification programs; and provisions that allow the use of school buses for emergency purposes.

-OAC Rule 3301-8-01, Payment of Debt Service Charges: The Capacity Committee approved amendments to this rule in accordance with the five year review process.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: John Bender and Carl Wick presented reports on state and federal legislative activities. Greg Dennis, ODE Legislative Liaison, presented information on HB 347 (Setzer), which eliminates the Praxis III assessment. An advisory committee has been convened by the ODE Center for the Teaching Profession to review the entry year for beginning teachers and assessments for licensure.

Meetings are also being held with Representative Setzer to develop recommendations that could be included in a future substitute bill.

Several members expressed support for a uniform statewide professional assessment for teacher licensure. An update of the conversations and recommendations will be presented to the SBE in February 2008, and at that time the SBE may be asked to take a position on HB 347.

Charles See presented information about the penalties that the ODE was required to develop though 127-HB 190. These penalties would be dispensed to individuals for failure to report to the ODE information about persons licensed by the SBE who have committed an act that is unbecoming to the teaching profession or that may make the person a threat to the safety of students. Seven recommendations developed by the ODE were sent to the Ohio General Assembly on December 28, 2007. Several SBE members expressed their concern regarding the recommended penalties, which they thought in certain cases were ambiguous, inconsistent, and outside the SBE's authority. These recommendations are now being considered for legislative actions by the General Assembly.

Jeannette Oxender, ODE Chief of Staff, and Pete Japikse, ODE Associate Director of Pupil Transportation, briefed the Board about a situation that has arisen that may force Ohio's schools and districts to enforce the use of child safety restraints on school buses for children under four years of age or 40 lbs. Compliance with the law would cost school districts at a minimum $77 million statewide, and research has shown that children are safe on a school bus without using seat belts. The law must be changed to keep the status quo, and the ODE is currently working with lawmakers to address this issue. The Board was assured that the safety of the children will be the top priority.

Matt DeTemple, ODE Chief Legal Counsel, updated the Board about the concerns expressed at the December SBE meeting by occupational therapists and physical therapists regarding the proposed Special Education Rules. The filing of the proposed rules with the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review was postponed this month. The ODE is meeting with stakeholders, and expects to address some of their concerns, and refile the rules with JCARR in February. Stakeholder concerns about student ratios will need to be addressed at a later time. The new rules need to be in place by July 2008 to meet a federal deadline.

At 4:00 PM the Board held a Chapter 119 hearing on rules for Temporary Licenses, Performance-Based Licensure for Administrators, and Open Enrollment. No one testified.

EDGE SUBCOMMITTEE: The State Board of Education's Subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, met following the 119 hearing, and discussed the survey and interview process that will be used to gather information about the knowledge, skills, and behaviors students need upon graduation to be competitive in the global economy. The survey, which is called "Education in the New Global Economy", was developed to obtain information from the public and private business sectors in Ohio regarding student preparation for work and continuing education in Ohio. The subcommittee has developed a process and timeline for gathering data, vetting the results with stakeholders, and developing legislative and policy recommendations for the FY2010-11 budget. The survey is located at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1

MEETING ON JANUARY 8, 2008: Superintendent Zelman, Mitch Chester, and Matt Cohen reviewed with the Board the results of incorporating value added data into Ohio's accountability system for school districts and schools this year, and discussed its effect on curriculum, assessment, instruction, and policy. The value added data provides a way for student growth to be measured each year, but the presentation emphasized that attention must be paid to what value added actually measures, so that informed decisions can be made from the data. For example, the value added data is only reported for students in grades 4-8 in two subjects, reading and mathematics.

Value Added data for students in high school and students in dropout and recovery schools are not available. Also, students who take alternative assessments are not included in the data, and the greater the amount of data analyzed, the more precise the results. In other words, the value added results for a school district are going to be more accurate than the results for a single school.

In the future the SBE will need to address several policy questions concerning value added, such as how does value-added change the way we interpret test results in reading and math or at each grade level; what kind of training is needed for teachers and administrators to understand and use the value added results; how should value added results be presented; how much access should there be to the statistics used as a basis for calculating value added; what are the implications for improving student achievement, etc.? Information about the value added measure is available at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=1&ContentID=41683&Content=41697

BUSINESS MEETING: The Board convened its business meeting and immediately proceeded into executive session. After reconvening the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, presented her monthly report, which focused on transforming Ohio's education system and examining the purpose of public education in a modern society. Dr. Zelman is currently meeting with a small group of stakeholders that include representatives from the Governor's office, First Lady Frances Strickland's office, the OEA, OFT, and the Knowledge Works Foundation, to discuss Ohio's accountability system; how to incorporate multiple ways to assess student achievement; and how to build the leadership capacity of Ohio's teachers, principals, and superintendents. Additional participants are expected to join future dialogues.

Following the Superintendent's Report, the Board took action on seven personnel items and the resolutions included below. There was no public participation on agenda or non-agenda items. The next State Board of Education meeting is February 11-12, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for January 8, 2008:

-Approved a Resolution of Intent to adopt new Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Rules 3301-17-01 through 3301-17-09 (Data Integrity) -Approved a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-102-02 through 06 (Community School Sponsorship) -Approved a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rules 3301-104-02 (Internet or Computer-Based Community School Definitions) -Approved a Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-02-01; 02; 03; 05; 09; and 11 (Personal Information Systems), and adopt Rule 3301-02-13 (Contact if unauthorized access of personal information occurs) -Approved a Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-04-01 (Notice of Meeting) -Approved Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3301-24-05 (Licensure) -Approved a Resolution to decline confirmation of the Brookfield Local School District Board of Education's determination that it is impractical to transport students to John F. Kennedy High School, a chartered nonpublic school in Trumbull County, OH pursuant to Section

3327.01 of the Revised Code.

For more information about the State Board of Education's meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODEODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

4) 2008 Quality Counts: The 12th edition of Education Week's annual report on the quality of education in the nation called Quality Counts 2008 (QC) was released on January 10, 2008. This year the focus is on the teaching profession - "Tapping into Teaching: Unlocking the Key to Student Success." Quality Counts rates the nation and the states on the following education indicators: Chance for Success; K-12 Achievement; Standards and Accountability; Transitions and Alignment; the Teaching Profession; and School Finance. States received this year overall grades. New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland received a "B", which was the highest score, and Ohio and nine other states received a "B-". Most states received a "C", along with the nation as a whole. To view the full report visit the Education Week Website.

Ohio is rated seven out of 51 states and the District of Columbia, and received an overall score of 80.6. New York, the highest rated state with a "B", earned a score of 84.9. Ohio achieved its highest score, an "A", for Standards, Assessment and Accountability, and its lowest score, a "C-", in K-12 Achievement. This indicator includes data on 18 state-achievement measures and considers progress toward closing achievement gaps among groups of students. Ohio received a "B-" in Chance for Success; a "C-" in K-12 Achievement; an "A" for Standards, Assessment, and Accountability; a "C+" for Transitions and Alignment; a "C+" for the Teaching Profession; and a "B-" for School Finance. To read an analysis of Ohio's progress in education reform please visit the ODE website at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRelationID=10&ContentID=42583&Content=42583

5) ODE Summit in February 2008: Information about registration for the 2008 Ohio Policy and Leadership Forum: Economic-Education Summit, "Vision to Reality" is available on the ODE website at

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDefaultPage.aspx?page=1

The Summit will be held in Columbus on February 19-20, 2008, and will bring together educators and business/industry representatives to discuss Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, economic clusters, entrepreneurship, the new career-technical education plan, and more. Registration will be limited to 500, and runs through January 31, 2008.

6) New Report on Choosing Schools: The Education Policy Research Unit at Arizona State University and Education and the Public Interest Center at Colorado University Boulder posted a new study on January 7, 2008 called "Who Chooses Schools, and Why" by Natalie Lacireno-Paquet (WestEd) and Charleen Brantley (University of Massachusetts). This study examines the reasons that families participate in school choice programs, such as charter schools, voucher programs, home schooling, and private schools. The study found that race and class have a strong influence on decisions to attend choice schools, rather than academic quality. According to a press release of the study, "Parents overwhelmingly say they are looking for a better education but much, though not all, of the research examined suggests that parents are paying more attention to the social and racial demographics of potential choice schools than they are to measures of academic quality". Parents who choose private schools are predominately white and non-poor; parents participating in voucher programs are means-tested, and so they are poorer and minority; parents who choose charter schools vary widely in race and income levels, depending on the school; parents who are homeschooling are predominately white, but are more likely to be low or moderate income. The report is available at http://epicpolicy.org/

7) Review of Voucher Reports: The Education Policy Research Unit at Arizona State University and Education and the Public Interest Center at Colorado University Boulder posted on January 9, 2008 a review by Sherman Dorn of five reports that promote private school voucher programs to increase student graduation rates and reform education, written by Brian Gottlob and published by the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation (2006-2007). The reports focus on Indiana, Missouri, Texas, South Carolina, and North Carolina. In the review of these reports, Sherman Dorn states that these reports "...ignored the relevant research literature in asserting that private-school voucher programs can reduce the social costs of dropping out while increasing graduation rates." "Further, each report does not provide sufficient information about how the author estimated the statistical claims made for each state, and the author fails to compare the alleged benefits of private-school vouchers with plausible alternatives, such as increasing public-school choice programs or improving graduation through other programs. State policymakers interested in increasing graduation would be better served by seeking our the available, well-researched scholarship on the topic." This report is available at http://epicpolicy.org/

8) Bills Introduced:

*HB423 (Setzer) Teacher Compensation - Revises the eligibility for state stipends to National Board certified teachers; permits school districts, educational service centers, and county MR/DD boards to pay wage rate differentials above their regular salary schedules for certain teachers; and specifies that teacher wage rate differentials, the length of the school year, and the length of the school day are not subjects for collective bargaining.

*HB424 (Setzer) School Accountability and Options - Eliminates the performance index score as a factor in school district and building performance ratings, makes changes in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, and makes changes in the requirement that schools offer dual enrollment programs.

*HB426 (DeBose) School Bus Drivers - Requires a person employed as a school bus driver of a school bus or motor van to maintain control of the pupils on that school bus or motor van, and provides an exception to political subdivision sovereign immunity if injury, death, or loss to person or property results from the failure of the driver of a school bus or motor van to maintain control of the pupils on that school bus or van.

*HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct - Addresses reporting and discipline for school employee misconduct.

*SB270 (Cates) School Employee Misconduct - Addresses reporting and discipline for school employee misconduct.

FYI ARTS:

*What are Envision Schools? The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee are discussing Ohio's accountability system and looking at ways to improve it. One of the strategies being examined is incorporating teacher generated assessment results and performance based assessment results into the state's accountability system. (Please see State Board of Education Report for January 6, 2008 under #3 above). The Ohio Department of Education is currently reviewing several national school models that use performance based assessments, including Envision Schools, which are chartered public schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ODE has developed a timeline for interested school districts to pilot performance based assessment models with the intent of expanding successful models statewide in the future. This work will be supported by funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The ODE's interest in the Envision Schools is very encouraging, because these schools provide students with a rigorous integrated curriculum, and personalized, project-based instruction. The arts and technology are essential learning experiences for students at Envision Schools. According to information about the schools, "All students have multiple art electives throughout their high school career, ranging from dance and drawing to filmmaking and photography. Well-crafted arts experiences produce positive academic and social effects including increased creativity, more student engagement, better attendance, higher-order thinking skills, positive school climate, and key habits of mind (e.g., persevering, self-initiation, collaboration, leadership)."

To learn more about Envision Schools please visit http://www.envisionschools.org/page.php?page_id=14

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Monday, 01-21-08 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 01-21-2008

FROM: Ohio Alliance for Arts Education

Donna Collins, Executive Director

Joan Platz, Information Coordinator

Arts on Line Education Update for January 21, 2008

TAKE ACTION: Please participate in a survey regarding teacher grade band licensure on the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) web site at http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=283.

An advisory group of stakeholders is meeting with the ODE to examine teacher licensure grade bands and several options for a new teacher grade band system for teaching children birth through grade 12. The current grade band system is almost a decade old, and some problems have been identified. For example, there are too many teachers with the early childhood license compared to the number of jobs available, and administrators are finding it difficult to match well-trained middle childhood teachers to building assignments. A new licensure structure is needed to increase the number of highly qualified teachers, employment opportunities, and provide administrators with more hiring flexibility.

According to a November 20, 2007 grade band proposal, the following changes for the grade bands are being considered: Early Learning License - Birth through grade 2; Early Childhood License - (available until the Early Learning License is in place) - PreK-Grade 3; Elementary Education License - Grade 1 through Grade 6; Secondary Education License - Grade 6 through Grade 12.

A survey has been posted on the ODE web site for public comment. Focus groups will be held in February to discuss the grade band recommendations. The Educator Standards Board will review the recommendations in March, and the State Board of Education's Capacity Committee will review the recommendations in April. A resolution for an intent to adopt new rules for grade bands will be considered by the State Board of Education in May 2008, and a resolution for adoption will be considered by the full Board in September 2008.

According to the ODE web site, "In re-examining the state's teacher licensure grade bands, it is critical that a diverse set of stakeholders - teachers, early child educators and administrators, school leaders and district administrators, school board members, teacher educators, community/civic leaders, business leaders, parents and students - have a voice in this important work. The purpose of this online survey is to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to this ongoing conversation."

PLEASE NOTE: THE PROPOSED OPTIONS DO NOT INCLUDE CHANGES FOR MULTI-AGE LICENSES, INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, CAREER TECHNICAL LICENSES, ENDORSEMENTS, PROFESSIONAL PUPIL SERVICES LICENSES, ADMINISTRATOR LICENSES, OR ASSOCIATE LICENSES.

The grade band survey will be available online until Feb. 4, 2008. Thank you.

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) MEETINGS AND HEARINGS FOR JANUARY 22-25

3) OHIO BOARD OF REGENTS

4) UNIVERSITY SYSTEM MASTER PLAN REVISED

5) REPORTS ON OHIO�S ECONOMY

6) NEWS FROM THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

7) EDUCATION TRUST RELEASES NEW STUDY

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions and committee hearings this week.

*Last week Mark Wagoner was sworn in as State Senator representing the 2nd Senate District, replacing Randy Gardner who is now the State Representative of the 6th House District. Senator Tom Niehaus was sworn in as majority floor leader. The Ohio Senate officially elected Senator Ray Miller as minority leader; Senator Shirley Smith as assistant minority leader; Senator Lance Mason as minority whip; and Senator Capri Cafaro as assistant minority whip.

*The Ohio House selected Barbara Sears to complete the term of Representative Wagoner for the 46th House District.

*Members of the House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, heard testimony on the following legislation on January 15, 2008:

-HB341 (Dodd D) Nutritional/Agricultural Education. Representative Dodd explained how this legislation, the Healthy Farms, Healthy Schools Act, supports nutrition and agriculture education programs through a grant program for schools. A similar program is operating in Pennsylvania.

-HB406 (Peterson and Brian Williams) Eliminate Corporal Punishment: Representatives Peterson and B. Williams presented joint sponsor testimony on this legislation, which would ban the use of corporal punishment in Ohio's public schools. According to their testimony, 17 school districts still use corporal punishment and reported 500 incidents to the Ohio Department of Education last year. 29 states have already banned corporal punishment in schools. There is no research that shows that using corporal punishment improves student behavior, but there is research that shows how a number of strategies can be used to positively influence student behavior and discipline in schools.

-HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct: Representative Setzer presented sponsor testimony. The following summary is prepared from the Legislative Service Commission analysis of the bill:

-Requires the State Board of Education to automatically revoke an educator license for conviction of certain convictions.

-Includes several provisions pertaining to intervention in lieu of conviction and pre-trial diversion program.

-Permits the State Board and the Department of Education to question a licensee or license applicant about an offense committed or alleged to have been committed by that person, the record of which has been sealed or expunged, without demonstrating that the question bears a "direct or substantial relationship" to the person's license or position, as otherwise required under current law.

-Requires the Department of Education to participate in receiving notifications through BCII's Retained Applicant Fingerprint Database of the arrest or conviction of licensed educators.

-Requires the Attorney General to grant access to the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (OLEG) to persons employed in the Department of Education's Office of Professional Conduct.

-Designates persons responsible under continuing law for reporting to the Department of Education specified misconduct by licensed educators employed by school districts, educational service centers (ESCs), chartered nonpublic schools, county MR/DD boards, community schools, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) schools.

-Requires the chief administrator of a community school to report specified misconduct by a licensed educator employed by the school's operator and working in the school.

-Grants immunity from civil liability to persons who make good-faith reports about misconduct by licensed educators.

-Specifies that if an employee of a school district, ESC, community school or its operator, STEM school, or chartered nonpublic school is arrested or indicted for certain offenses, the employee must be suspended from all duties involving the care, custody, or control of a child during the criminal action.

-HB423 (Setzer) Teacher Compensation: Representative Setzer explained that this bill adds additional requirements for National Board certified (NBC) teachers to receive stipends. If the bill passes, after July 1, 2008 NBC teachers would qualify for the stipends if they were employed full time in a school building under academic watch or emergency, or taught math, science, engineering, or technology in grades 9-12. NBC teachers currently receiving stipends would continue to receive the stipends, but not receive any increases in those stipends, unless they met the new criteria. The bill also permits school districts, educational service centers, and county MR/DD boards to pay different rates above the regular salary schedules to teachers who teach in certain areas designated by the school's board of education. Certain decisions regarding teacher wage differentials, the length of the school's instructional year, and the length of the school's instructional day are also removed from teacher contract negotiations.

-HB347 (Setzer) Educator Licenses Requirements: HB347 would make several changes to Ohio's requirements for granting teacher licenses. In her written testimony Jayne Burger, a member of the Educator Standards Board and a National Board Certified Teacher, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Burger said that the current process, which uses the nationally developed Praxis III exam, is research-based and effective, while the locally developed methods proposed in the bill would not be consistent or objective. The current process has led to an alignment of teacher preparation programs with the criteria used to grant a license. Judy Green, a retired teacher and Praxis assessor, also testified against the bill.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, met on January 15, 2008 and heard testimony on the following bills:

-SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes: Senator Carey presented sponsor testimony on this bill, which would prohibit classroom teachers from striking, and require binding arbitration to settle unresolved collective bargaining disputes. According to the testimony, Ohio is one of 13 states that allows teachers to strike. There have been 70 teacher strikes in Ohio since 1984, and these strikes disrupt student learning, schools, and communities. This legislation would require school employees to enter into the same kind of binding arbitration process as police officers and fire fighters.

-SB270 (Cates) School Employee Misconduct: Senator Cates explained that the bill was in response to articles published in the Columbus Dispatch regarding teacher misconduct. This bill builds on the provisions outlined in recently approved HB 190, and is a companion bill of HB 428 (Setzer). For more details please see HB428 above.

-SB141 (Padgett) Community School Accountability: Paolo De Maria, ODE Associate Superintendent for the Center for School Options and Finance, presented sponsor testimony and summarized the current status of community schools in Ohio. According to his testimony there are 65 sponsors who oversee 324 community schools educating more than 80,000 students. The Ohio Department of Education has authority over those sponsors approved after April 3, 2003. Among other provisions, this legislation would make clear the ODE's authority over all sponsors, and clarify other provisions in law regarding community schools.

2) Meetings and Hearings for January 22-25, 2008:

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 4:00 PM in hearing room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB379 (Fessler) Historical Document - Requires the study of specified historical documents in the high school American history and government curriculum.

-HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct - Addresses school employee misconduct, reporting, and discipline.

-HB347 (Setzer) Professional Educator License - Replaces Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license.

-HB423 (Setzer) Teacher Compensation - Revises eligibility for state stipends for National Board Certified Teachers; permits school districts, educational service centers, and county MR/DD boards to pay wage rate differentials above their regular salary for certain teachers; removes certain decisions regarding teacher wage differentials, the length of the school's instructional year, and the length of the school's instructional day from teacher contract negotiations.

-HB406 (Peterson) Corporal Punishment - Prohibits corporal punishment in all public schools.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will hold hearings on January 23, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the Finance Hearing Room. The committee will hear testimony on SJR4 (Schuring) Lottery Profits, which requires all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education. This joint resolution was scheduled to be heard last week, but was pulled from the agenda.

*The STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning will meet on January 24, 2008 at 3:00 PM in the Regents Main Conference Room, Rhodes State Office Tower at 30 E. Broad Street, 36th Floor. The subcommittee will review the request for qualifications submitted for an Ohio-based nonprofit enterprise to coordinate public and private STEM activities and resources, and hear an update on the review process for STEM Schools and K-8 STEM Programs of Excellence.

3) BOR Draft: The Ohio Board of Regents (BOR), Eric Fingerhut Chancellor, met on January 16, 2008 and reviewed a draft of a new report called "The Condition of Higher Education in Ohio: Meeting the State's Future Needs." The report is available online. The BOR is inviting the public to read the report and respond. (Visit http://regents.ohio.gov/board_meetings/report/index.php)

This new report, which is expected to be produced annually, includes the conclusions of the BOR concerning the condition of higher education in Ohio in the areas of Ohio's Economy and Its Relationship to Education; Educational Attainment and Degree Production; Participation; Preparation; Affordability; Institutional Context:

Breadth And Quality; Financial Condition and Productivity; and Economic Development - Workforce Training, Research and Technology Transfer. According to the summary and next steps of the report, the BOR will monitor the following ten challenges that Ohio faces:

-Projected declines in the State's youth and working age population.

-Enrolling and graduating more adults.

-Improving college-going rates directly from high school.

-Improving participation and graduation rates in educationally under served counties.

-Improving college and university retention, graduation and two-year to four-year transfer rates.

-Increasing the number of students taking more rigorous high school courses, including Advanced Placement and Postsecondary Education Opportunity courses.

-Making higher education more affordable -Equitable financial access to 2-year colleges.

-Increasing state, federal and private investments for education and research.

-Increasing degree production while maintaining high quality.

4) University System Master Plan Revised: Chancellor Eric Fingerhut presented another draft of Master Plan for the University System to the Ohio Board of Regents on January 16, 2008. This draft included changes to the benchmarks and several action steps. These benchmarks were released for public comment in October and November 2007. The Master Plan is scheduled to be presented to the Governor and General Assembly in March 31, 2008. The proposed benchmarks are listed below. The newest draft is available at http://universitysystem.ohio.gov.

-Access: The University System of Ohio will be a flexible, integrated higher education provider, making the widest range of educational opportunities available to, and raising the educational aspirations of, all Ohioans.

-Quality: The University System of Ohio will be known for the excellence of the teaching and learning of its faculty and students and the reputation of its institutions.

-Affordability and Efficiency: The University System of Ohio will enable all Ohioans to afford the education and training they need to succeed, and will compete for those students who are choosing between Ohio and other states or nations for their post-secondary education.

-Economic Leadership: The University System of Ohio will provide the intellectual and organizational infrastructure to measurably improve the economic outlook for all Ohioans.

5) Reports on Ohio's Economy: Several monthly reports are available online to track Ohio's economy and state budget. The Office of Budget and Management, J. Pari Sabety Director, publishes a "Monthly Financial Report" which is available in the middle of the month and tracks monthly revenues and spending at the state level. Dick Sheridan at the Center for Community Solutions authors "State Budgeting Matters", which features an informative analysis of state policies, including the budget. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Helen Jones-Kelley Director, also issues reports about employment and Leading Indicators each month. Policy Matters Ohio (http://www.policymattersohio.org/) publishes a variety of reports on economic policy, including recent studies on labor, Ohio's economy, and economic policy. The following are segments from these reports:

-The latest OBM's Monthly Financial Report (January 10, 2008) indicates that the total General Revenue Fund for the state of Ohio is down $106.8 million (0.9 percent) for the first half of FY08 due to lower tax collections than estimated for the corporate franchise tax, personal income tax, and auto sales tax. Revenue from the non-auto sales tax and cigarette tax are above estimates. State spending is also $81 million below estimates for the first half of the year. Spending for Medicaid is over estimate by $27.7 million (.5 percent), and caseloads are increasing.

-The latest issue of State Budgeting Matters by Dick Sheridan, financial consultant for the Center for Community Solutions, is called "State Budget Challenges in the New Year" (1/17/08). This issue provides information about the current status of the state and national economies and Ohio's state budget, and recommends ways for policy makers to address a potential budget shortfall for this biennium.

According to this report, "All of the national and state economic problems are translated into reduced retail sales because of reduced consumer spending, and reduced individual and corporate income taxes resulting from higher unemployment. Unfortunately, these three revenue sources account for 85 percent of state GRF revenues. The state's GRF is completely reactive to economic changes and has few components, such as property taxes, licenses and fees, to serve as economic insulators providing some stability during economic downturns. It is largely because of the economic volatility of the state's GRF that the Budget Stabilization Fund, or Rainy Day Fund, was created. Its current $1 billion-plus balance may not be adequate to deal with the anticipated future revenue as well as spending problems."

The report then goes on to suggest some options to promote the long-term fiscal health for Ohio through changes in the state's tax structure, elimination of state rotary funds, and elimination of spending when costs exceed their benefits.

The report is available at http://www.communitysolutions.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=1325&DEPARTMENT_ID=38

-ODJFS Reports: The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) released a report on Ohio's Leading Indicators for November 2007. The economic indicators are a composite of six measures of economic activity, and, according to this report, remained steady through November 2007 for the state. This report is available at http://lmi.state.oh.us/PROJ/Indicators/LI.pdf

An ODJFS news release dated January 18, 2008 reported a slight increase in unemployment and a decrease in new housing permits in Ohio over the last month. Ohio's unemployment rate increased from 5.6 percent in November 2007 to 6 percent in December 2007. This report is available at http://jfs.ohio.gov/releases/unemp/200801/UnempPressRelease.asp

6) News from the ODE:

-The Ohio Department of Education announced last week that Mitch Chester, ODE Senior Associate Superintendent, and Todd Hanes, Executive Director for the Office of Community Schools, would be leaving the ODE. Mitch Chester has been selected Education Commissioner for the State of Massachusetts. Todd Hanes has accepted a position as assistant superintendent of external relations for the Franklin County Educational Service Center.

-The Ohio Department of Education, Susan Zelman Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced on January 16, 2008 this year's Ohio's Schools of Distinction. This is the third year that these awards have been presented to qualifying schools, and this year 96 schools were selected. To be selected at least 75 percent of all students, including students with disabilities, must score proficient or above on achievement tests and the Ohio Graduation Test in reading and mathematics. For information about the recipients of awards in 2008 please visit

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=519&Content=43423

-The January 2008 issue of the Ides of ODE, published by the ODE Offices of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Judy Feil and Debbie Roshto directors, includes updates on the following:

Physical Education Writing Team Committee: A writing team is being assembled by the Ohio Department of Education to develop benchmarks and indicators for the standards in Physical Education recently adopted by the State Board of Education. The benchmarks and indicators are to be presented to the State Board of Education in December 2008 for approval. The application for the Physical Education Writing Team will be posted on the ODE Web site February 4, 2008. The deadline for submission is February 15.

The Big Read Grant Application: The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture, by providing an opportunity for citizens to read and discuss a single book within their communities. Libraries, municipalities, and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for one of approximately 300 grants that will be awarded for programming occurring between September 2008 and June 2009. The grant application instructions specify that community organizations develop program plans with school leaders, such as teachers, school librarians, English department chairs, principals, superintendents or curriculum specialists. The application deadline is February 12, 2008. Aside from a grant, communities will receive many resources, including guides for readers and teachers, and audio guides with commentary from artists, educators and public figures. Communities also receive publicity materials. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. For more information, visit http://www.neabigread.org/.

7) Education Trust Releases New Study: The Education Trust, Kati Haycock president, released on January 17, 2008 a report called "The Funding Gap" by Carmen Arroyo. This is the seventh annual report by the Education Trust on school funding equity. The report examines how state school funding systems support school districts with high levels of students from low-income families, minority students, and students who are learning English, based on an analysis of federal education statistics and census data.

Overall the study found, "The seventh funding gap report from The Education Trust documents continued injustice in state education funding patterns and for the first time shows how school districts serving high percentages of English Language Learners are shortchanged." Nation wide for 2005 high poverty school districts spend $938 less per pupil than low-poverty districts, and high-minority school districts spend $877 less per pupil than low-minority school districts. According to the report, "Illinois is joined by Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin at the top of the list of states in which the funding gap between high- and low-poverty districts grew between 1999 and 2005."

"From 1999 to 2005, 10 states increased funding equity by decreasing the gaps between their high- and low-poverty school districts. Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Wyoming each took important steps toward greater funding equity. Maryland, Ohio and Wyoming not only closed their low-income funding gaps, they reversed them and began providing more funding to their highest-poverty districts."

The study found that in 1999 Ohio's high-poverty school districts received $77 less per pupil than the state's wealthiest school districts. In 2005 the state's high poverty school districts received

$833 more per pupil than wealthy districts. The report is available at http://www2.edtrust.org/EdTrust/Press+Room/fundinggap07.htm

8) Bills Introduced:

SB273 (Niehaus) Classroom Facilities: Calculates an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 for purposes of determining school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.

HB433 (Zehringer) Retirement Benefit Exemptions: Exempts from the personal income tax up to $10,000 in state and federal government retirement benefits for taxable years beginning in 2010 and thereafter.

FYI ARTS:

*Update on Ohio Statehouse Museum: The Ohio Statehouse has launched a new section on its Web site which highlights plans of the interactive museum slated for the ground level of the state capitol building. The new Museum will create nearly 15,000 square feet of updated, high-tech, interactive exhibits to enrich the experience of school children and visitors. It will provide information about the history of Ohio and its people through interactive, hands-on exhibits. Historical artifacts and images will tell the stories of those who designed and built the Statehouse, and those who have come here to serve. Audiovisual media and theatrical effects will transport visitors to historical events, and invite them to imagine themselves governor, legislator or judge. Construction of the new Ohio Statehouse Museum is expected to begin in early 2008. The Museum is scheduled to open in March 2009.

The Ohio Statehouse Museum Web site portal is featured on the front page and under the education tab of the Statehouse Web site - <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org. The new section details plans of the future exhibits and a virtual tour of the new museum. It also includes exhibit images, highlights, walkthrough, and an animated fly-through video of the completed museum. In addition, the new portal features a section for businesses and individuals to support the "Enriching the Experience" capital campaign fundraising efforts of the Capitol Square Foundation. For more information please contact Gregg Dodd, Deputy Director for Communications, Education & Events, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board at 614.728.2130.

*Nominations for the Arts Education Award: The Americans for the Arts, Arts Education Network is seeking nominees for the annual Arts Education Award. This award is presented to a local arts agency that can demonstrate systemic and sustainable results in support of learning in the arts, or through the arts, for public school students for a minimum of five years. Other important criteria include the integration of work into school or district infrastructure, involvement of public school and discipline-based arts educators, effective partnerships, industry-recognized work, success in building capacity for the organization itself and for the community, and conscientious efforts to build the scale of the work. This annual award recognizes best education program design and execution, and leadership. For information please visit http://www.americansforthearts.org/ArtsEducation/Award

*Americans for the Arts Annual Conference: Americans for the Arts' annual conference, American Evolution: Arts in the New Civic Life, will be held in Philadelphia, PA on June 20-22, 2008. The conference will feature workshops highlighting research and coaching on systemic arts education change, including new creative workforce research and RAND research on systemic provision of arts education. For the first time ever, Americans for the Arts will host the Teaching Artist Strand at the National Convention-a program for and by teaching artists, in partnership with the Dana Foundation. There will also be a preconference training on nonprofit arts education program evaluation. For information please visit http://www.americansforthearts.org/ArtsEducation/Conference.

*2008 Best Communities for Music Education: The NAMM Foundation, Mary Luehrsen Executive Director, and advisory organizations are accepting applications for the ninth annual "Best Communities for Music Education" recognition. This award recognizes school districts that support music education as part of a complete education for all students, and is based on several criteria, including budget, staffing, variety of programs, instructor certification, etc. Applicants must complete by March 3, 2008 the "Best Communities for Music Education" (BCME) survey, which is available online at www.nammfoundation.org.

*U.S.D.E. Arts Education Grant: The U.S. Department of Education announced a new Professional Development for Arts Educators grant competition. Local education agencies are eligible to apply in partnership with local non-profits, museums, arts education associations, theaters, libraries, and community or faith-based organizations. For information please visit

http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html#chart5

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Monday, 01-28-08 BACK
Arts On Line - Update 01-28-2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^TH OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) MEETINGS AND HEARINGS THIS WEEK

3) GOVERNOR REACTS TO ECONOMIC NEWS

4) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL FUNDING PROPOSED

5) WHAT DOES EDUCATION NEED? IMAGINATION!

6) GIFTED EDUCATION ON BACK BURNER

7) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will hold sessions and committee hearings this week. The Ohio Senate approved on January 23, 2008 SB46 (Mumper) Youth Athletics. This bill requires the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association to develop a coach's conduct and ethics policy for volunteer coaches involved in recreational youth athletics. SB46 now moves to the House for consideration.

*Last week Speaker of the House Jon Husted announced several changes in committee assignments. Representative Matt Dolan resigned as chairman of the Finance and Appropriations Committee to work on the November 2008 election, and has been replaced by Representative Jay Hottinger. Representatives Wagoner and Webster have also been removed from the Finance and Appropriations Committee, and replaced by Representatives Sears, Gardner, and Mecklenborg. Representative Gardner was also appointed as chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee.

*House Democrats may wait until after the March 2008 Primary to select a replacement for Representative William J. Healy II (52nd House District), who resigned from the House after he was elected Mayor of Canton in November 2007.

*Changes in committee assignments were also made as a result of the leadership changes in the Senate Democratic caucus. Senators Dale Miller, Ray Miller, and Roberts were replaced on the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee by Senators Cafaro, Sawyer, and Wilson.

2) Meetings and Hearings Scheduled for January 28 through February 1, 2008:

*The Ohio Educator Standards Board will meet on Monday, January 28 at 6:00 PM and Tuesday, January 29 at 8:30 AM at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 2700 Corporate Drive, Capitol Room in Columbus, OH.

*The House Finance and Appropriations Committee will meet on January 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM in room 313, and hear testimony on HB381 Ohio Research Scholars Program (Webster), which increases funds available for Ohio Research Scholars Program, and permits a nonpublic four-year Ohio university to submit a proposal for the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

*The Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will meet on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The Committee will hear testimony on SB273 (Niehaus) Classroom Facilities Assistance, which will calculate an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 to determine school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.

*The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 4:00 PM in hearing room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB379 (Fessler) Historical Document - Requires the study of specified historical documents in the high school American history and government curriculum.

-HB424 (Setzer) - Eliminates the performance index score and makes changes to Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program.

-HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct - Addresses school employee misconduct, reporting, and discipline.

*The Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will meet on January 29, 2008 and hear testimony on the following bills:

-SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes: Prohibits classroom teachers from striking, and requires binding arbitration to settle unresolved collective bargaining disputes.

-SB270 (Cates) School Employee Misconduct: Regarding the reporting of and discipline for school employee misconduct.

-SB141 (Padgett) Community School Accountability: Clarifies the responsibilities and oversight of sponsors of community schools.

3) Governor Reacts to Economic News: Several news organizations reported last week about a budget briefing that Governor Strickland held with legislative leaders on January 23, 2008. The briefing focused on the status of Ohio's FY08 and 09 budgets, and included three scenarios for projecting the fiscal year fund balance based on economic projections for low growth in the economy, zero growth in the economy, and a recession.

According to the briefing document entitled "Council of Economic Advisors, Economic Forecast Update" (OBM 1/23/08) the continued decline in the economy will have a negative impact on Ohio's economy and tax revenue. The state budget approved by the Ohio General Assembly in June 2007 (HB119-Dolan) was based on an assumption that the economy would show slight growth in mid 2008 and stronger growth in 2009. However, recent analyses of the state and national economies project a weaker economy and lower than estimated revenue. Under the low growth, zero growth, or recession scenarios, the state's fiscal year fund balance could be respectively $733 million; $1.2 billion, or $1.884 billion below estimates.

Governor Strickland is expected to address the budget issues in the annual State of the State Address on February 6, 2008. In the meantime, the governor has directed state agencies to identify areas to cut. The Office of Budget and Management also reports that approximately $1 billion is available in the budget stabilization fund (rainy day fund).

A link to the briefing document is available through the article in the Columbus Dispatch at http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2008/01/massive_budget_shortfall_possi.shtml

4) Constitutional Amendment on School Funding Proposed: Senator Kirk Shuring has proposed a constitutional amendment (SJR 4) that would direct all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to fund primary, secondary, and higher education. The proposal, if approved by the Ohio General Assembly and the voters of Ohio, would amend Section 6 of Article XV and enact Section 2a of Article VI of the Constitution. To be on the November 4, 2008 ballot this resolution must be approved by the General Assembly before the first week in August.

The proposed constitutional amendment calls for the General Assembly to create an education stabilization fund in the state treasury, and dedicate a certain percentage of the income tax, sales tax, and "other taxes" exclusively to fund primary, secondary, and higher education. In addition, all net proceeds of the Ohio Lottery would be expended exclusively for primary and secondary education.

Senator Shuring presented his proposal before the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, on January 23, 2008.

5) What Does Education Need? Imagination!!: A national poll called "The Imagine Nation: Findings from a Nationwide Survey of 1000 Likely Voters" was released on January 15, 2008 by Lake Research Partners, Celinda Lake president. The poll identified a set of public values and a specific group of voters (coined in the survey as the "imagine nation") who believe that students need to develop creativity and imagination to be successful in the 21st century.

These voters also believe that creativity and imagination are currently missing from the curriculum of most schools.

The powerpoint document describing the results of this poll also provides an analysis of all the questions and responses. The findings of this poll could be used by school districts to fine tune messages to the public about why schools need to change instruction and learning to better prepare students. The following are some highlights from the poll: (Available at

http://www.namm.org/press-room/news/news-releases/2008January24/view.)

*Most voters say it is extremely or very important to them personally to have good public schools (94 percent important, 64 percent extremely important).

*Fifty six percent of the electorate believe that public education in the United States is behind what is offered to students in other parts of the world, like Europe and China (21 percent very far behind).

*Voters split on the issue of schools teaching students the skills they need to be competitive in the workforce (47 percent agree to 49 percent disagree).

*More than half of voters think that it is extremely or very critical to incorporate building capacities of the imagination that leads to innovation into core courses (62 percent, mean 7.9). Upon re-ask, the electorate is slightly more likely to say this, with 66 percent thinking that it is extremely or very critical (mean 8.1).

*While almost two thirds of voters think that is extremely or very important to have imagination and creative skills taught in school, most do not think that these skills are being taught extremely or very well.

*The majority of the electorate see a decline in teaching skills of the imagination over the past ten years (56 percent decreased, 31 percent decreased a lot).

*Voters, especially parents, believe that standardized testing discourages developing the imagination and creative skills in students (total: 56 percent discourages; parents: 61 percent).

*Voters see imagination as contributing to the demands of the 21st century workforce, both when framed as focusing on the arts and building capacities.

*More than half of voters say they strongly favor the statements that blend technology and the basics with an education in the arts, or one that encourages developing the imagination.

*Nine in ten agree that using the imagination is important to innovation and one's success in a global knowledge-based economy (89 percent agree, 59 percent strongly) and essential to success in the 21st Century (86 percent agree, 58 percent strongly).

*Eighty-eight percent of respondents strongly agree that an education in and through the arts provides students with the opportunity to develop their imagination.

*Fifty seven percent of voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who came out in support of more funding (29 percent much more likely) for building capacities of the imagination among students in public schools.

*Sixty three percent of respondents believe that building capacities of imagination are just as important as the "basics".

*Ninety one percent believe that an education in the arts help to substantiate imagination learning, and should be considered part of the basics.

6) Gifted Education on the Back Burner: According to an article in the Plain Dealer, "Thousands of Ohio's gifted students not receiving adequate education" by Jennifer Gonalez (January 23, 2008), most students who are gifted in Ohio are being neglected due to a lack of commitment, resources, laws, and policies. 31 states require school districts to offer special services to gifted students, but there is no federal or state law that mandates schools to identify or serve gifted students, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Act. If policy makers truly believed in meeting the individual learning needs of all students, then more gifted students would be identified and served.

Currently under Ohio law school districts are only required to identify gifted students, but are not required to provide education services to meet their learning needs. Approximately sixteen percent of students in Ohio have been identified as gifted, but only twenty-six percent of those students received full or partial services last year. Without gifted education services research shows that these students often become disengaged, can develop behavior problems, and lose their academic or creative advantage.

The state allocated approximately $47 million last year for gifted education for schools, but state funding has been flat for the past several years. Changes in the standards for gifted education are also being considered by the State Board of Education.

The article is available at http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/jBoMeChEgmcPyAahcfcNMoyN?format=standard>

7) Bills Introduced:

-HB445 (Schlichter) School District State Aid: Adjusts school district state education aid and Classroom Facilities Assistance Program rankings to correct certification of tax-exempt property erroneously treated as taxable property.

-HB439 (Hagan) School Suicide Prevention: Requires each school district and each community school to provide suicide prevention services for students in grades five to twelve.

-HB443 (Peterson) Public Notice Web Site: Establishes the State-Sanctioned Public Notice web site, to permit any notice required to be published by statute or rule to be published on the web site.

FYI ARTS

*ASCD January 26, 2008 Column: The January 2008 column "Is it Good for Kids?" by Executive Director Gene R. Carter is entitled "Making the Grade in a Global Economy". The column notes that there are several school reform efforts underway to prepare students with 21st Century skills and knowledge. According to the article, "ASCD believes that a 21st century education should be built on a foundation of personalized relevant learning that is meaningful and engaging for each students. But such learning won't flourish within the confines of a watered down or narrow curriculum."

Gene Carter goes on to write that The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has identified the skills students need to be competitive, and "....rigorous opportunities in the arts, foreign languages, and social studies are uniquely positioned to develop students' 21st century skills and global awareness."

The ASCD supports educating the whole child in the whole world, and creating more opportunities for students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through performance based assessments. To read the column please visit http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/menuitem.e904532af52fde8cbfb3ffdb62108a0c/

*Ohio Academy of Science Believes that Students Need the Arts: The Hannah Report for January 25, 2008 includes an article entitled "Elfner Links STEM Program to 'Innovation' in Arts and Humanities".

This article provides information about the Ohio Academy of Science's (OAS) STEM teachers and student scholars initiative. According to OAS CEO Lynn Elfner, the new Buckeye STEM Scholars Program is an afterschool program that will support the education of the "whole child". Nine program sites have been selected in Ohio to provide 5th and 6th grade students with opportunities to learn more about scientific inquiry, technological design, teamwork, communications, and leadership development.

But that is not all. The article quotes Lynn Elfner in saying that, "STEM education is a bridge to the future." "The middle spans of technology and engineering rest on the bedrocks of science and mathematics. However, more than science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are needed to build a bridge that will not only stand the test of time but also be aesthetically acceptable. The best bridges in the world are also works of art and design."

The article goes on to say that the Buckeye STEM Scholars Program integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a problem-based curriculum linked to other subjects such as communications, and to "creativity and innovation" often associated with the arts and humanities. For more information about this program please visit http://www.ohiosci.org.

*Integrating the Arts in Arizona: An article in the Arizona Daily Sun entitled "Teachers merging music, dance with math, science" by Rebecca Schubert (Associated Press 1-22-08) describes how students in 20 Flagstaff schools are learning all subjects through the arts.

According to the article, teachers in these schools are participating in the Keeping Score workshops with the San Francisco Symphony, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, and local artists. These workshops show teachers how to incorporate music, dance, drama, poetry, and art into lessons on mathematics, history, science, and more. To read the article visit Arizona Daily Sun, http://www.azdailysun.com/Copyright 2007.

*Documentary on Arts Education: The Seattle Arts Education Consortium has created a documentary on arts learning called "Powerful Learning Through the Arts". This video by Brian Quist and Karen Hirsch and six arts education organizations in King County, Washington, features students in classroom settings and interviews with students and experts on arts education, and shows how the arts engage and inspire these students. This documentary is available on DVD. For more information please visit http://www.artscorps.org/Gallery/video.html.

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Monday, 02-04-08 BACK
Arts On Line Update - 02-04-2008

IN THIS ISSUE:
1) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES BUDGET CUTS

3) FEDERAL UPDATE

4) LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS

5) SENATE EDUCATION TESTIMONY

6) HOUSE EDUCATION TESTIMONY

7) STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

8) BILLS INTRODUCED

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate will meet this week and hold committee hearings and sessions. On Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Governor Strickland will present the annual State of the State Address at noon to a joint session of the Ohio House and Senate in the Ohio House Chambers.

*On January 30, 2008 state leaders joined with Battelle, Carl Kohrt CEO, and its partners to launch the Ohio STEM Learning Network to promote student learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in Ohio. The Ohio General Assembly included in the biennial budget (HB119) funds to support STEM schools and STEM programs of excellence in Ohio. The STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning will be selecting schools and programs in mid February 2008 to receive funding. Battelle has been selected to provide support for these STEM schools and programs, and recently received $12 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support STEM initiatives. The Ohio STEM Learning Network is available at http://stemohio.org/doc/ohio-stem-learning-network.

2) Governor Announces Budget Cuts: Governor Strickland issued on January 31, 2008 an Executive Order to implement expenditure reductions and spending controls to balance the state's budget in

FY08 and FY09. The state budget approved by the Ohio General Assembly in June 2007 (HB119-Dolan) was based on an assumption that the economy would show slight growth in mid 2008 and stronger growth in 2009. However, recent reports project a weaker economy and lower than estimated revenue for the remainder of the fiscal year. According to the National Governor's Association, 18 states are projecting budget deficits for FY08.

As a result of the low revenue projections the Governor ordered agencies and departments to reduce spending by $733.4 million and take other steps to control spending, and proposed a new game for the Ohio Lottery to raise approximately $73 million. Protected from the budget cuts are debt service payments, pension payments, tax relief programs such as the homestead exemption, the higher education tuition freeze, state school funding foundation program, and Medicaid entitlement programs. The Ohio Department of Education will reduce spending by $51.8 million in FY08 and $49.6 million in FY09, and the Ohio Board of Regents will reduce spending by $90 million in FY08. Some of the proposed cost savings strategies will require legislative changes, which will be included in a future budget corrections or capital appropriations bill. There is also approximately $1 billion available in the budget stabilization fund (rainy day fund), that could also be used to reduce a budget deficit.

3) Federal Update: Members of Congress returned to Washington in January to resume work on an economic stimulus package, new budget and appropriations recommendations, and a variety of education initiatives, including the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and NCLB.

*The U.S. House of Representatives was unable to override on January 23, 2008 President Bush's veto of the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program Act (H.R. 3963). This bill would have expanded the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to more children. Lawmakers are expected to continue efforts to approve a bill satisfactory to all parties.

*President Bush presented the "State of the Union Address" on January 28, 2008. In his remarks pertaining to education, the President asked Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, and approve a $300 million voucher program called "Pell Grants for Kids". This program would provide public funds to low-income students in underperforming schools to pay tuition to attend other public schools or private and religious schools. A similar federally funded program, the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, has been operating since 2004, but a U.S. DOE report in June 2007 found no differences in test scores between students participating in the voucher program and students who did not. (http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/pubs/20074009/) To read the State of the Union Address please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/stateoftheunion/2008/index.html

*President Bush will submit his last budget request to Congress on February 4, 2008. The FY09 Budget is expected to exceed $3 trillion dollars and focus on reforms for the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The budget will be available for downloading from the Office of Management and Budget's web site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

4) Legislative Hearings Scheduled for the week of February 4-8, 2008:

*The Ohio House Finance and Appropriations Committee, Representative Hottinger chair, will meet on February 5, 2008 at 1:00 PM in room 313, and hear testimony on HB381 (Webster) - Ohio Research Scholars Program (Webster), which increases funds available for Ohio Research Scholars Program, and permits a nonpublic four-year Ohio university to submit a proposal for the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

*The Ohio Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will meet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 2:30 PM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The Committee will hear testimony on the following:

-SB139 (Mumper) Prevailing Wage Law: Permits state institutions of higher education to use single/multiple prime bidding for public improvement projects.

-SB273 (Niehaus) Classroom Facilities Assistance: Calculates an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 to determine school district eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.

-SJR4 (Schuring) Lottery Profits: Requires all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education. A substitute bill may be introduced.

*The Ohio House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Setzer, will meet on Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at 4:00 PM in hearing room 116. The committee will hear testimony on the following bills:

-HB421 (Miller E) Nuisance Properties: Permits nuisance properties around schools to be eradicated.

-HB347 (Setzer) Professional Educator's License: Replaces Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional license.

-HB428 (Setzer) School Employee Misconduct: Addresses school employee misconduct, reporting, and discipline.

-SCR 18 (Padgett) Academic Accountability: Approves the ODE's proposed changes to the state's academic accountability system for public schools.

*The Ohio Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator Padgett, will meet on January 29, 2008 at 4:00 PM in the North Hearing Room, and hear testimony on the following bills:

-SB264 (Carey) Teacher Strikes: Prohibits classroom teachers from striking, and requires binding arbitration to settle unresolved collective bargaining disputes.

-SB270 (Cates) School Employee Misconduct: Regarding the reporting of and discipline for school employee misconduct.

-SB141 (Padgett) Community School Accountability: Clarifies the responsibilities and oversight of sponsors of community schools.

*The Ohio House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Gibbs, will meet on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 2:30 PM in room 121, and hear testimony on HB396 (Hottinger) Tax -Exempt Organizations, which authorizes a board of county commissioners to appropriate funds to tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organizations that serve a community purpose.

*The Ohio House State Government and Elections Committee, chaired by Representative Daniels, will meet on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 9:30 AM in room 122 and hear testimony on HB420 (Brinkman) State Spending, which promotes transparency with respect to state spending by requiring that certain information on state awards and earmarks, state real property management, state agency management, and state program effectiveness be made available online; and HB350 (Wolpert) Precinct Election Officers, which permits higher education students to serve as precinct election officials in county where they attend school, and permits up to two high school seniors to serve as precinct officers at polling places with six or more precinct officers.

5) Senate Education Hears Testimony: Members of the Senate Education Committee heard testimony on three bills on January 29, 2008. Chairman Padgett was unable to attend the hearings due to an accident, but is expected to recover quickly. Senator Cates, as vice chairman, led the hearing on SB 264 (Carey), SB 270 (Cates), and SB141 (Padgett).

*SB 264 (Carey): Several individuals testified on SB 264 (Carey), which prohibits classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking, and instead requires binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes.

Mark Castro, Aaron Michael, and Brad Bapst testified in favor of the bill. They explained how a teachers' strike negatively affected their communities and students, and how binding arbitration would better balance the needs of the students, teachers, and communities. There are long term consequences to strikes, such as failed attempts to approve levies and loss of students. A 107 day strike in the Eastern Local School District in Pike County in 2003 cost the district $600,000 for security protection.

Matt Dotson from the Ohio Education Association and Darold Johnson from the Ohio Federation of Teachers testified against the bill. They believe that this bill will take away a right from both unions and school boards to resolve contract issues, and give authority to an outside party to make local decisions, which may lead to increases in taxes. Just the threat of a possible strike encourages resolution of difficult contract issues, that affect the quality of the learning environment and student learning.

*SB 270 (Cates): Lori Kelly, ODE Associate Director, Office of Professional Conduct, testified in support of this bill, which would tighten reporting and discipline procedures for school employee misconduct. Ms. Kelly noted that this bill would require school employees to comply with the same eligibility requirements as those seeking an education license, and ensure certain due process procedures to protect school employees.

*SB141 (Padgett) Andy Jewell from the Ohio Education Association and Joan Platz from the League of Women Voters of Ohio presented proponent testimony on SB 141, which makes changes in the law regarding the approval of community school sponsors. Andy Jewell noted that the bill makes some positive changes to improve oversight of community school sponsors, but more needs to be done. He also testified that two provisions of the bill could be barriers to the success of charter schools sponsored by elected boards of education.

The first prohibits employees or board members of sponsoring public schools from serving on the governing authority of the schools that they sponsor. The second provision requires the ODE to directly pay sponsors.

6) House Education Testimony: Chairman of the House Education Committee, Representative Arleen Setzer, presented sponsor testimony on HB 424 before the committee on January 29, 2008. HB 424 makes several changes in law regarding Post-Secondary Enrollment Options, dual enrollment programs, and eliminates the performance index score as a factor in school district and building performance ratings.

According to an analysis of the bill, SB424 does the following:

*States that the purpose of PSEO is "to provide post-secondary education opportunities, including career-technical and skills development courses, for secondary grade students who are ready to do college-level work and to help secondary grade students transition to college or the work force."

*Clarifies that a college course qualifies for state reimbursement under PSEO based on the content of the course and the credentials of the instructor.

*Adds an extra statement that the PSEO reimbursement paid to the institution and the corresponding deduction from the student's school district, community school, or STEM school, or from the state set-aside for a nonpublic school student, "shall cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, materials, and other fees directly related to that course."

*Requires that high schools determine the amount of high school credit to award for a college course by examining the course syllabus or instructional materials or both. The amount of high school credit must be "based on the level of difficulty and depth of and breadth of the course content, rather than on the amount of hours of classroom instruction included in the course."

*Provides that the student's high school must include in the student's record the grade achieved in the college course and must use that grade in computing not only the student's cumulative grade point average but also any weighted grade point average or class rank maintained for the student.

*Prohibits an institution from imposing on PSEO students entrance requirements that are more stringent than those imposed on other entering first-year undergraduate students.

*Specifies that an institution may not require a PSEO student to complete the entire Ohio Core high school curriculum as a prerequisite to enrolling in a college course. Nevertheless, the institution may require completion of a particular high school course as a prerequisite for a particular college course, if the institution determines that completion of the high school course is necessary for successful completion of the college course.

*Changes the date of application for student notification to their school to participate in PSEO from March 30 to May 31 of the prior school year beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

*Requires each regional advisory council of the Educational Regional Service System to design a strategy for participation in PSEO by students enrolled in public and nonpublic high schools located in its region.

*Requires the Department of Education and the Board of Regents by September 1, 2008, to develop and implement a data system regarding students participating in PSEO.

*Requires the Department of Education, by September 1, 2008, to report to the General Assembly on access to PSEO by high school students during college summer sessions. Each regional advisory council of the Educational Regional Service System must assist the Department by collecting data for its respective region and submitting it to the Department.

*Changes the definition of a dual enrollment program. Under the bill, a dual enrollment program is one that "enables a student to earn college credit while enrolled in high school as a result of participating in a college course offered at a college or university or at a high school or offered via distance learning arrangements, through which credit is recorded on the student's transcript upon completing the course." Under this definition, PSEO participation would still satisfy the requirement. But the bill removes the current statement that Advanced Placement courses satisfy the requirement.

*Defines an accelerated learning program as one that "enables a student to complete coursework while enrolled in high school for which the student earns high school credit and also may earn credit toward a degree from an institution of higher education upon the student's matriculation at that institution." Advanced Placement courses and International Baccalaureate programs would qualify as accelerated learning.

*Eliminates the performance index score as a factor in the school district and building performance ratings, and replaces it with the newly developed value-added progress dimension, which tracks the amount of a student's academic growth attributable to a district or building.

7) Student Essay Contest: The Governor's Office on Women's Initiatives and Outreach and the Ohio Interagency Council for Women and Girls are sponsoring the "2008 Women Making History Essay Contest" for students in the eighth grade. Participants in the contest should submit an essay between 400 and 600 words focusing on a particular woman's past or current achievements, and why the selected woman is a historic figure. Essays must be post marked by March 7, 2008. Winners will be recognized at the 2008 Women's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Kits containing contest details, guidelines and related materials will be mailed to public school principals and eighth-grade teachers. For more information please visit

http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=519&Content=43826

8) Bills Introduced:

HB457 (Evans) Nominating Petitions: Requires a board of elections that distributes an incorrect petition to a person seeking to become a candidate to accept that petition as though it were the proper petition and to verify the signatures.

HB452 (Book) Classroom Facilities Assistance: Calculates an alternate equity list for 2008 for purposes of determining school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in 2009.

HB454 (Brady) Community Schools: Establishes a moratorium on new "brick and mortar" community schools, requires school operators to be nonprofit entities, and to eliminate the requirement that districts offer property suitable for classroom space.

FYI ARTS

*Programs for People Living with Paralysis Funded: The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation's Quality of Life Grant Program, supports nonprofit organizations worldwide that work to improve the daily lives of people living with paralysis, particularly spinal cord injuries. Funding is provided in thirteen categories: accessibility, advocacy, arts, assistive technology, children, counseling, education, employment, independent living, practical services, sports and recreation, therapeutic riding, and health promotion. Grants have addressed such needs as scholarships to adaptive outdoor programs, websites that promote self esteem for children who use wheelchairs, and outreach programs. The application deadlines are March 1 and October 1, annually. For information about the online application, please visit http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.geIMLPOpGjF/b.1029295/

*Arts Education Included in Boston School Plan: According to an article in the Boston Globe on January 31, 2008 called "School Chief Lays Out Ambitious Plan" by Tracy Jim, Carol Johnson, Boston's school superintendent, will expand opportunities for students to learn art and music and popular programs such as Montessori Schools to increase enrollment in the district. A plan unveiled at the School Committee meeting also called for increasing accountability for programs that help struggling students. The article is available at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/31/school_chief_lays_out_ambitious_plan/

*Why Arts Education Matters: A Commentary in the January 29, 2008 online version of Education Week called "Why Arts Education Matters" by Stephanie Perrin urges policy makers to recognize how an education in the arts helps students to become creative, innovative, imaginative, and more competitive in the global economy.

According to Ms. Perrin, "As the country contemplates reauthorization of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, political and policy leaders must recognize that an education in and through the arts, as a central part of a total school program, allows schools to better address these challenges than a curriculum that defines success as aptitude in literacy and math only." She goes on to describe five challenges that demonstrate why learning in and through the arts will better equip students to thrive in this new century. The five challenges are included below. The full article is available at

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/01/30/21perrin.h27.html?print=1

Five Challenges:

"America continues to face declining social engagement and a culture of division. Arts education develops in students a capacity for empathy and collaborative work. The culture of schools where the arts are part of the core curriculum is engaging and positive. In such schools, one finds self-motivated students, greater parental involvement, intensified student and teacher engagement, strengthened collegiate aspirations, and respect for cultural differences."

"One of the greatest public-health issues in America, it could be argued, is the failure of the education system to provide direction and purpose to young people, particularly adolescents. This results in apathy at best and, at worst, youth violence. Intensive engagement in the arts actively supports the psychological, physical, and social development of preadolescent and adolescent students. Because training in the arts often engages the whole child, it is also effective in schools with student populations that have a wide variety of learning styles, experiences, and backgrounds. It has been shown, for example, to reduce the incidence of such problems as apathy and aggression among students in urban settings.

"The impact of the "globalization" of culture and commerce in an increasingly interdependent world is not yet being adequately addressed by American educators. Because the arts share a global language and a common culture of training and production, they can provide a ready pathway for global communication. The arts are a universal language, one that bridges cultures and articulates the highest aspirations of humankind."

"America is in danger of losing its competitive advantage to emerging nations that increasingly use arts education as a learning tool to help nurture an innovative and flexible workforce. The study of the arts promotes the development of such skills and capacities as risk-taking and creative thinking, which are important to success in a globally competitive marketplace. Most American high schools, though, still employ an educational model designed for a 19th-century industrial economy, limiting learning to discrete disciplines and focusing on the coverage of content, rather than the development of broader skills and understandings that apply to many contexts."

"The crisis of this American century is not material or intellectual, but spiritual. Unlike traditional academic disciplines, arts education can support an outcome greater than personal success, cultural advancement, or economic influence. The study of the arts asks young people to consider the meaning, both personal and communal, of the work in which they are engaged. Students working in the arts are by definition connected with their culture. The arts traditionally express and test the highest values of any culture, and are a response to people's longing for connection to a narrative greater than their own personal stories."

*Professional Development for Arts Educators Grant Program: MENC has been the lead advocate for the creation of this brand new grant program designed to provide funding to support the implementation of high-quality professional development model programs in music, dance, drama, media arts, and visual arts for arts educators and other instructional staff of K-12 students in high-poverty schools. The grants are intended to strengthen the capacity of teachers and schools to deliver standards-based arts education programs, raise student academic achievement in the arts, and ensure that all students meet challenging State academic content standards. The deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply is February 11, 2008, and the deadline for Transmittal of Applications is February 29, 2008.

For information about the grant please visit http://www.menc.org/information/grants/professionaldevelopmentreport.pdf.

Information on the grant application process is also available at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2008-1/011008a.html

*A January 24, 2008 Associated Press article called "Schools Get Creative to Squeeze in Arts" by Deanna Martin, Associated Press Writer, describes what is happening nationally to maintain arts education programs for students in school districts where they have been cut due to tight budgets or replaced by more math and reading courses to meet No Child Left Behind requirements.

According to this article, a survey conducted by the Center on Education Policy (2006) found that more than 40 percent of the districts surveyed have cut time in elementary schools for non-tested subjects, and 16 percent have reduced time for art and music. Schools in cities such as Indianapolis, Los Angeles, and Dallas are partnering with arts groups, nonprofit organizations, and universities to bring more cultural experiences to students. However, many feel that outside groups and after-school programs are not enough, and can not replace standard-based, sequential courses in the arts taught to all students by qualified teachers.

-The Los Angeles Unified School District uses community arts groups to work with teachers on professional development. The district is also working to put at least four arts teachers - in dance, music, visual arts and theater - in every elementary school.

-The Dallas Independent School District, with help from community partners, is creating arts "hubs" in libraries and other community facilities. The district also plans to hire 140 new music and arts teachers over three years, with a goal of providing elementary school students with 45 minutes of art and music in school each week. It will cost the district about $7 million out of its budget of more than $1 billion.

-In Indianapolis schools are partnering with universities to provide instruction in the arts.

To read this article please visit http://www.boston.com/news/education/continuing/articles/2008/01/24/schools_get_creative_to_squeeze_in_arts/

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Monday, 02-11-08 BACK
Arts On Line - Update 02-11-2008

Arts on Line Education Update for February 11, 2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS

2) RESPONSE FROM THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

3) 127^TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

4) PRESIDENT MAKES LAST BUDGET REQUEST

5) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MEET

6) DISCUSSION WITH FRIEDMAN AND PINK

7) INTERIM REPORT ON SCHOOL FINANCE RELEASED

FYI ARTS

1) State of the State Address: Governor Ted Strickland recalled the courage, ingenuity, and fortitude of those who first settled Ohio in his second "State of the State Address", presented to a joint session of Ohio House and Senate on February 6, 2008. In his address the Governor focused on the accomplishments of his administration in 2007, the challenges Ohio is facing, and proposed initiatives to complete work on the energy bill, serve veterans, create jobs, rebuild infrastructure, expand higher education opportunities, take authority for primary and secondary education, and more. The details of the proposed initiatives need to be worked out, but it is assumed that changes in law will be necessary to implement several of the proposed initiatives. Lawmakers could include these changes in separate legislation or through a budget corrections bill and/or a capital budget. The text of the State of the State speech is available at http://governor.ohio.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=799. A summary of some of the proposed initiatives follows:

*Create the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs as a cabinet-level agency to serve veterans more effectively.

*Propose a ballot initiative to support the "Building Ohio Jobs" program, a $1.7 billion jobs stimulus package.

*Include in the ten-year plan for the University System of Ohio a guarantee that students can complete an associate's and bachelor's degree within thirty miles of their homes.

*Create the "Seniors to Sophomores Program", which will enable a twelfth grade student who meets the academic requirements a choice of spending their senior year in their home high school, or spending it on a University System of Ohio campus -- starting the upcoming school year. Chancellor Fingerhut has been directed to develop this initiative, which will be built on the existing Post Secondary Enrollment Options Program. Participating seniors will graduate from high school ready to start their sophomore year in college without paying for tuition. Students will receive their high school diploma and one full year of college credits at the same time. The credits will transfer in full to public institutions, as well as many private colleges. According to Governor Strickland, "Its goal is to raise the aspirations of all students, to challenge students who might feel disengaged from their high school studies, and to help students who want to accelerate their college education. And, just think about the effect on a family's budget when they save the cost of an entire year of college tuition."

*Promote the following vision for our schools:

-Strengthen our commitment to public education.

-Link education directly to economic prosperity. World class schools will produce a talented workforce, and a talented workforce will attract and create jobs.

-Identify the great strengths of our schools such as fostering creativity and innovation. "Our schools must teach students to think past the limits of what's been done, and imagine what could be done."

-Support talented teachers who want to stay in the classroom.

Consult with our best teachers to show us what works best in the classroom -Strive to develop a specific, personalized education program that identifies how each individual student learns and uses the teaching methods appropriate to that student's needs and abilities.

-Use testing and assessment to guide personalized and individualized education through a comprehensive and ongoing understanding of a student's capabilities and weaknesses and growth in the educational process.

*Create the position of director of the Department of Education, appointed by the governor with the approval of the Senate. The director would have oversight over all Department of Education efforts.

"The existing structure, including the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Schools, would remain in place in advisory and additional roles as determined by the director."

"This change in organizational structure will ensure, like higher education, that there is a direct line of responsibility and accountability in K through 12 education."

"It will ensure that our elected and appointed leaders are working together to strengthen education in Ohio."

"Education is the central issue I face as governor. I am determined to bring real change and real results. But I am also determined to find the best answers. We are creating a blueprint for the future of our schools and our state. And we will take the time to get it right."

2) Response from the State Board of Education: On February 8, 2008 Jennifer Sheets, President of the State Board of Education, issued a letter to Governor Strickland responding to a proposal in the Governor's State of the State Address to create a Director of Education and turn the State Board and Superintendent of Public Instruction into advisors. In the letter President Sheets outlines the following reasons for supporting the current structure of the State Board of Education and Superintendency, and why changing the structure would limit participation by the public in education

decisions:

-The people of Ohio included in the Ohio Constitution an independent structure for State Board of Education and Superintendency to insulate decisions regarding education from politics; -The current structure of the State Board ensures that the geographic, rural, and urban diversity of the state are represented through eleven Board members who are directly elected by voters, and eight members who are appointed by the Governor; -Decisions regarding education are debated and made at public meetings ensuring transparency; -The structure of the Board ensures that changes in the political makeup of the Ohio General Assembly or Governor's Office do not disrupt the operations and programs that the State Board oversees; and -The State Board of Education is ready to work in partnership with the Governor's Office to "bring new ideas to the table", but cannot support "...any proposal that would reduce the importance of the board and state superintendent and thus take the "public" out of public education."

3) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House and Senate are not holding sessions this week. Some Ohio House and Senate Committees will be meeting, but not the education committees.

*The Ohio Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, chaired by Senator Carey, will meet on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 11:00 AM in the Senate Finance Hearing Room. The Committee will hear testimony on SB273 (Niehaus) Classroom Facilities Assistance, which calculates an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 to determine school district eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.

*The STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning will meet on February 13, 2008 at 1:00 PM at the Ohio Board of Regents, 30 E. Broad St., 36th Floor. At this meeting the Subcommittee will select the recipients of STEM school and STEM program of excellence grants, which will be available starting July 2008. To see an agenda of this meeting please visit http://www.pcl.ohio.gov/jcore/pcl/HomeContent.jsp?node=D676EB47-8397-4427-B393-73645554EC80.

4) President Makes Last Budget Request: President Bush submitted his 2009 budget to Congress on February 4, 2008. The $3.1 trillion budget request includes cuts in 151 government programs, including those in education, health care, the environment, the arts, and programs to help low income earners. It also extends the tax cuts of

2001 and 2003, and would increase the total federal deficit to $547 billion in FY 08-13, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (http://www.cbpp.org/2-4-08bud2.htm)

The budget for the U.S. Department of Education would total $59.2 billion, unchanged from FY08. A slight increase of 2.9 percent is proposed for Title 1 ($14.3 billion), which includes funds to support the No Child Left Behind Act. The budget also expands funding for school choice ($300 million); Reading First (restored to $1 billion); the Teacher Incentive Fund ($200 million increase); America's Competitiveness Initiative ($175 million, including an increase for Advanced Placement and IB); Individuals with Disabilities Act ($11.3 billion including an increase of $377 million); and almost $19 billion for the Pell Grant Program for low-income college students.

The proposed budget eliminates 47 programs, saving $3.3 billion, including Career and Technical Education Grants to states ($1.6 billion); Even Start ($66.5 million); Educational Technology State Grants ($267.5 million); Arts in Education ($37.5 million), and reduces spending for other programs, such as Safe and Drug Free Schools and 21st Century Learning Opportunities. The President's budget proposal is unlikely to be approved as introduced. The federal budget submitted by the executive provides an outline of expenditures, but Congress distributes funds to government agencies and departments through several appropriations bills. Congress is likely to approve a continuing resolution to fund federal programs past the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2008 until a new president takes office in 2009. For more information please visit these web sites: U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/budget09/index.html Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/fedbud.htm

5) State Board of Education to Meet: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, will meet on February 10-12, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High Schools and School Funding subcommittees met on February 10, 2008 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus. The State Board of Education will hold its meetings on February 11-12, 2008 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH. On February 11, 2008 the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, and Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, will meet at 8:30 AM.

The Capacity Committee will discuss Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-26-01, Educator Examinations; Rule 3301-71-01 Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid; approve an intent to amend Rule 3301-8-01 Payment of Debt Service Charges; discuss legislative recommendations for Performance Standards for Dropout Recovery Schools; discuss the Safe Schools Summit recommendations; and discuss the Educator Code of Conduct draft.

The Achievement Committee will approve an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-61-17 Emergency Service Telecommunicator Training; approve a resolution to refile revised Chapter 3301-51 regarding Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities; and approve a resolution of intent to adopt the Perkins IV Five-Year Plan.

The Legislative Report will be presented at 10:45 AM by Board members John Bender and Carl Wick. At 11:30 AM the full Board will discuss legislative recommendations for performance standards for Dropout Recovery Schools.

After lunch at 1:15 PM the Achievement Committee will present information about the Perkins IV Five Year Plan. At 2:15 PM the Board will discuss the draft Educator Code of Conduct, and then review the agenda for the business meeting on Tuesday, hear reports from subcommittees, and hear an update on financial literacy. Deborah Wickerham, the 2008 Ohio Teacher of the Year, will be recognized by the Board at 3:45 PM

At 4:00 PM the Board will hold a Chapter 119 Hearing on the following rules:

-Amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule (OAC) 3301-51-15 - Gifted Services -Amend OAC Rules 3301-35-05 and 06 Operating Standards -Amend OAC Rule 3301-44-09 Postsedondary Enrollment Options -Amend OAC Rule 3301-52-01, Screening and Assessment -Rescind Rules 3301-69-11 and 12, Head Start, Head Start Plus.

The Board will adjourn at 5:15 PM. The State Board of Education's Subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE) will meet from 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

On February 12, 2008 the State Board of Education's meeting will begin at 8:15 AM with a policy discussion about targeted efforts to improve achievement in Ohio's urban districts. At 9:45 PM Board members will discuss the alignment of the work of various subcommittees, and at 10:15 AM the Achievement Committee working group and Capacity Committee working group will meet to discuss transforming Ohio's system of education.

The Board will convene its business meeting at 11:15 AM and immediately proceed into executive session. Following lunch at 1:30 PM the Board will continue its business meeting starting with the report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and public participation on agenda items. The Board will take action on 12 school personnel items and the resolutions included below. The Board will then accept public participation on non-agenda items and adjourn. The next State Board of Education meeting is March 10-11, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for February 12, 2008:

-Approve a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-8-01 Payment of Debt Service Charges -Approve a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-61-17 Emergency Service Telecommunicator Training -Approve a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-83-04, 06, -09, -10, and 16 Pupil Transportation Operation and Safety -Approve a Resolution of Intent to adopt the Ohio Five Year Plan for the administration of Career Technical Education effective July 1,

2008 through June 30, 2013.

-Approve a resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and deny the transfer of school district territory from the Franklin City School District, Warren County, to the Middletown City School District, Butler County.

-Approve a Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-23-44 Temporary Licenses -Approve a Resolution to rescind and adopt new OAC Rule 3301-24-09 Performance Based Licensure for Administrators -Approve a Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3310-48-01-02 regarding open enrollment programs -Approve a Resolution to refile proposed new OAC Rules 3301-51-01, 09, and 11 regarding Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities -Approve a Resolution regarding the 2008 Ohio Teacher of the Year -Approve a Resolution to adopt a revised fee structure for all educator licenses, certificates, and permits issued by the ODE

For more information about the State Board of Education's meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE

ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

6) Discussion with Thomas Friedman and Daniel Pink: The February 2008 issue of The School Administrator includes a discussion between Thomas Friedman, author of "The World is Flat" and Daniel Pink, author of "The Whole New Mind". The authors discuss education and what students need to do to prepare themselves for living and working in a competitive and interconnected world.

Referring to the latest edition of his book, Thomas Friedman said, "In the latest edition, I added a whole section on why liberal arts are more important than ever. It's not that I don't think math and science are important. They still are.. but more than ever our secret sauce comes from our ability to integrate arts, science, music and literature with the hard sciences. That's what produces an iPod revolution or a Google." Daniel Pink then added, "It's the combination of the left brain and the right brain. Left-brain thinking --rule-based, linear, SAT-style thinking -- used to be enough. Now right-brain thinking --artistry, empathy, narrative, synthesis -- is the big differentiator." Friedman's learning foundation is CQ + PQ > IQ, which stands for curiosity quotient plus passion quotient is more important than intelligence quotient. Both authors believe that to produce innovative students the education system needs to have more team teaching, integrate the arts into the curriculum, support writing across the subject areas, and empower students to use their imagination. According to Friedman, "So the school, the state, the country that empowers, nurtures, enables imagination among its students and citizens, that's who's going to be the winner." The article is available at http://www.aasa.org/publications/saarticledetail.cfm?ItemNumber=9736&snItemNumber=950&tnItemNumber

7) Interim Report on School Finance Released: The University of Washington and the Center on Reinventing Public Education have issued an interim report written by Paul Hill on the work of the "School Finance Redesign Project". This project encompasses research, policy analysis, and public engagement activities that examine how K-12 finance can be redesigned to better support student performance. The project addresses the basic question, "How can resources help schools achieve the higher levels of student performance that state and national education standards now demand?" by researching the following questions:

Are public funds focused on student learning?

Are there good ideas about how to focus money on instruction?

Are there good ideas about attracting and rewarding quality educators?

Do we know enough now to say exactly how money should be spent?

How can policymakers spend the right among and ensure that funds are used effectively for student learning?

The project was initiated in 2002 and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It now encompasses more than 30 separate projects. The interim report provides an overview of the projects underway, who is doing the research, the research questions and strategies being used, and some of the preliminary findings. This report is available at http://www.schoolfinanceredesign.org/pub/pdf/sfrp_interim_07_web.pdf

FYI ARTS

*Budget Request for the Arts: President Bush's proposed FY09 budget request, introduced to Congress on February 4, 2008, includes the following totals for the arts:

-U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education - $35.3 million eliminated. This program makes non-competitive awards to VSA Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to support model arts program, teacher professional development, and programs for at-risk youth. According to a statement explaining this cut, the Administration believes that these funds can be replaced through donations and fund raising activities.

-National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - Total $128.4 million.

Includes a decrease of $16.3 million (FY08 level is $144.7 million).

-National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) - $143 million.

Includes a decrease of $1.7 million.

-Office of Museum Services (OMS) - $39.9 million for available grants, which is an increase of $8 million.

To learn more about the proposed budget's impact on arts education, and how you can respond, please visit http://www.americansforthearts.org/

*Grants Available for Arts Educators

The U.S. Department of Education's Professional Development for Arts Educator Program will award up to 30 grants to support high-quality professional development model programs in music, dance, drama, media arts, or visual arts, including folk arts, for arts educators and other instructional staff of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students in high-poverty schools. Grants are intended to strengthen the capacity of teachers and schools, deliver standards-based arts education programs, raise student academic achievement in the arts, and ensure that all students meet challenging State academic content standards. The application deadline is February 29, 2008. For more information please visit http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-217.pdf

The U.S. Department of Education's Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program (AEMDD) will award up to

14 grants for programs that enhance, expand, document, evaluate, and disseminate innovative, cohesive models that are based on research and have demonstrated that they effectively (1) integrate standards-based arts education into the core elementary and middle school curriculum; (2) strengthen standards-based arts instruction in these grades; and (3) improve students' academic performance, including their skills in creating, performing, and responding to the arts. Projects funded through the AEMDD program are intended to increase the amount of nationally available information on effective models for arts education that integrate the arts with standards-based education programs. The application deadline is March 14, 2008. For more information please visit http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-449.pdf

*The Imagine Nation: A coalition of education and arts advocacy groups has now launched a new website to support arts education. The Imagine Nation is a coalition that includes the National Education Association, NAMM, Arts Education Partnership, The George Gund Foundation, the Oklahoma Creativity Project, the Ohio Department of Education, Big Thought in Dallas, and the Educational Theatre Association. The web site includes resources, poll data, media alerts, etc. and supports the importance of an education in the arts to prepare students for work and life in the 21st Century. The web site is at http://www.theimaginenation.net.

*Sample Questions for NAEP Available: Questions for the 2008 National Assessment of Educational Progress in visual arts and music are available online. The U.S. Department of Education is currently administering the NAEP exams to eighth grade students in selected schools. The questions are included in the "2008 Grade 8 Sample Questions Booklet". The results of the last arts assessment conducted in 1997 are available at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/. The results of this year's assessment will be available in 2009. To view some sample questions please visit http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/demo_booklet/08-SQ-Arts.pdf

*Congratulations to the Ohio Music Education Association for a successful professional development conference last week in Cincinnati, Ohio. With more than ten thousand educators and students participating in the conference it was a fabulous opportunity for professional development and learning at all levels! Next year�s conference will be held in Columbus, Ohio January 15-17, 2009. Mark you calendars now!

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Monday, 02-18-08 BACK
Arts on Line - Update - 02-18-2008

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 127^th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

2) STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS

3) OAPCS RELEASES STUDY

FYI ARTS

1) 127th General Assembly: The Ohio House will hold committee meetings and session this week. The Ohio Senate will hold one committee meeting this week. The House and Senate Education committees are not meeting. The House Finance and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Hottinger, will meet on February 19, 2008 at 1:00 PM in hearing room 313 to hear testimony on HB 381 (Webster), which increases funds for the Ohio Research Scholars Program.

*On February 13, 2008 Governor Strickland signed into law SB148 (Faber), which revises eligibility requirements for members of the School Employees Retirement System.

*The STEM Subcommittee of the Partnership for Continued Learning (PCL), Chancellor Eric Fingerhut chair, met on February 13, 2008 and selected the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (and partners) and Wright State University (and partners) to receive the STEM High School award. The PCL also selected Westlake City School District, New Lebanon, Fort Recovery, Cincinnati, Worthington, Miller-North Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Canton to receive the K-8 STEM Program of Excellence awards.

These awards will support the creation of STEM high schools and STEM programs of excellence for the 2008-2009 school year. A total of $6 million in state funds will be allocated to these recipients.

Individual grants average approximately $700,000.

Information about the PCL and the STEM awards is available at the Partnership for Continued Learning website at http://www.pcl.ohio.gov.

2) State Board of Education Meets: The State Board of Education (SBE), Jennifer Sheets president, met on February 10-12, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio.

The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High School Subcommittee and School Funding Subcommittee met at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbus on February 10, 2008.

QUALITY HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS SUBCOMMITTEE The State Board of Education's Quality Middle and High Schools Subcommittee, chaired by Carl Wick, reviewed a matrix of proposed legislative and policy recommendations pertaining to high schools and middle schools. The matrix included recommendations for post secondary enrollment options; individual career and personal learning plans; early college; and the creation of an innovation fund. These are initiatives are currently underway, or will be proposed for the next state budget.

Subcommittee members also discussed how to better prepare students in middle school so that they are successful in high school, and suggested that the ODE increase the rigor of the middle school curriculum; better align the middle and high school curriculum; and provide more support for middle school students. It was also suggested that the subcommittee review the recommendations from the High School Task Force to see if the matrix aligns with those recommendations.

MaryLou Rush, Executive Director, Center for Students, Families, and Communities, shared some of the strategies and programs being implemented by the ODE to keep students in schools, improve school climate, develop an online personal planning tool, and implement alternative schools that provide intensive intervention. David Burns, Executive Director, Office of Career-Technical and Adult Education, presented information about "Bridge Schools", which are programs for students who have dropped out of school, and provide these students with high school, college, or career tech training.

Students who participate in a Bridge Program are usually provided a job as an incentive to complete the program. Several members of the subcommittee suggested that the ODE investigate how to design a Bridge School model for middle schools also.

There was also a discussion about the resources necessary to implement programs to address the needs of all students, and what kind of policies, tools, and models need to be developed by the ODE to implement a more aligned personal learning system for all students.

SCHOOL FUNDING SUBCOMMITTEE

The School Funding Subcommittee, chaired by Virgil Brown, discussed the latest draft of the subcommittee's school funding proposal called "Toward Recommendations for School Funding Reform in Ohio, An Interim Report of Ideas Developed by the School Funding Subcommittee of the Ohio State Board of Education" (Draft 2/4/08).

The subcommittee discussed several "next steps", and decided to ask staff to determine the "base cost" amount included in the proposed state school funding formula before releasing the draft for public feedback. Several Board members believe that the state has a responsibility to develop a school funding system that supports a high quality education system with high standards for all students, especially now that Ohio's students are expected to complete the Ohio Core in order to graduate. The subcommittee also decided to meet sometime before the next State Board of Education meeting in March to determine how to select the school districts that will be used in a study of base cost.

SBE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11, 2008

The State Board of Education met on February 11-12, 2008 at the Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Road, Columbus, OH. On February 11,

2008 the Achievement Committee, Michael Cochran and Ann Womer Benjamin co-chairs, and Capacity Committee, Rob Hovis and Jane Sonenshein co-chairs, met to discuss and approve several proposed rules.

CAPACITY COMMITTEE

The Capacity Committee approved changes to several rules, including an intent to amend Rule 3301-8-01, Payment of Debt Service Charges, and rescind and adopt Rule 3301-26-01, Educator Examinations. The committee also discussed Rule 3301-71-01 Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid, and legislative recommendations for Performance Standards for Dropout Recovery Schools. The committee also discussed the following:

School Climate Accountability System: MaryLou Rush, Executive Direction, ODE Center for Students, Families, and Communities, led a discussion of policy options regarding implementation of the recommendation of the Safe School Summit to create a School Climate Accountability System. The Safe Schools Summit recommended that the ODE/SBE 1) develop recommendations requiring schools to adopt comprehensive school climate standards; and 2) strengthen accountability for improving learning conditions that promote student achievement by reporting school climate measures on the local report card, and by embedding in future academic content standards a framework that schools and families can use to enhance social and civic responsibility among students. Research is clear that school climate correlates with staff retention, attendance, and student achievement. The ODE is piloting a school climate survey of 30,000 with several school districts.

Board members asked how school districts were implementing the recently approved anti-bullying guidelines; what would be the cost of the proposed Accountability System; and how the results of the Safe Schools Summit survey are being used.

Grade Band Configurations: Lou Staffilino, Associate Superintendent, ODE Center for the Teaching Profession, described to the committee the process being used to revise grade band licenses. The current grade band configurations were established in the mid 1990s, and are considered by some administrators to be rigid. 7000 stakeholders participated in an online survey to select grade band configurations from among the following choices:

-Early Learning License, birth through Grade 2 or 3; Elementary Education License, grade 1 through 6; Middle Childhood Education License, Grade 5 through 9; and Adolescence to Young Adult License, Grade 9 through 12. or Early Learning License, birth through grade 2; Elementary Education License, grade 1 through grade 6; and Secondary Education License, grade 6 through grade 12.

The survey results were split evenly between the two choices. This information will be used to fine tune other possible options. The committee did not have to take any action on this item, and will be kept informed of the progress.

Educator Code of Conduct: The committee reviewed and approved the latest draft of the Educator Code of Conduct. This draft has been developed over several months, and truly reflects the feedback from stakeholders.

ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE

The Achievement Committee approved an intent to amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3301-61-17 Emergency Service Telecommunicator Training; approved a resolution to refile revised Chapter 3301-51 regarding Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities; and approved a resolution of intent to adopt the Perkins IV Five-Year Plan. The committee also reviewed several legislative and policy recommendations that may become part of the Board's budget recommendations.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

Carl Wick presented an overview of federal legislative activity.

President Bush has introduced a proposed budget for FY09, which includes $52.9 billion for education. A bill reauthorizing the Higher Education Act is now in conference committee, and Senator Kennedy is expected to markup legislation reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act over the next few weeks.

John Bender reviewed the following legislation currently being considered by the Ohio House and Senate:

-HB 456 (Raussen) Requires the State Board of Education to adopt nutrition and pricing standards for foods and beverages sold in schools; -HB 464 (Gerberry) Requires a percentage of the lottery profits to be distributed annually on a per pupil basis to public and chartered nonpublic schools; -SB 264 (Carey) Prohibits classroom teachers employed by boards of education from striking, and instead requires binding arbitration to settle their unresolved collective bargaining disputes.

-SB273 (Niehaus) Calculates an alternate equity list for fiscal year 2008 for purposes of determining school districts' eligibility for assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program and their local shares in fiscal year 2009.

-SJR 4 (Schuring) Amends Section 6 of Article XV and enacts Section 2a of Article VI of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to require all lottery profits and a percentage of revenue from certain taxes to be devoted to funding primary, secondary, and higher education.

-SCR 18 (Padgett) Approves the Department of Education's proposed changes to the state academic accountability system for public schools.

-HB 428 (Setzer) Eliminates the performance index score as a factor in school district and building performance ratings, makes changes in the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program, and makes changes in the requirement that schools offer dual enrollment programs.

-HB 347 (Setzer) Replaces the Praxis III assessment as a condition for a professional educator license with assessment systems developed by school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and chartered nonpublic schools.

-SB 141 (Padgett) Makes changes in the law regarding the approval and monitoring by the Department of Education of community school sponsors.

PRAXIS III

The ODE staff has been meeting with Representative Setzer regarding HB 347, which would eliminate the Praxis III assessment. An Entry Year Teacher Review Committee has been meeting to review and make recommendations for the teacher induction system. This group and Representative Setzer have agreed to introduce a substitute bill that will preserve a statewide assessment to obtain a license; maintain the use of the Praxis III in the short term; and more closely align mentoring programs to the Ohio Teaching Standards.

SEAT BELTS ON SCHOOL BUSES

Jeannette Oxender and Pete Japikse from the ODE have been working with the Department of Public Safety to resolve a discrepancy between the Ohio Revised Code and Administrative Code rules regarding the mandatory use of child safety restraints on school buses. The ODE is recommending a legislative change so that school districts are not required to install child restraints on all school buses.

BUDGET CUTS

Jeannette Oxender and Kelly Weir from the ODE reviewed with the Board the cuts that will be made to the ODE's budget as a result of Governor Strickland's executive order to reduce the FY08 and FY09 budget for the state. The Office of Budget and Management requested that the ODE reduce spending by $51.8 million in FY08 and $49.6 million in FY09. The ODE's FY08-FY09 budget totals $15.84 billion. Approximately 98 percent of the GRF appropriations flows directly to schools and other education entities as subsidy payments, and $29 million supports ODE staff.

The ODE identified approximately $30 million in lapsed funds from the Foundation Funding Program, but was not able to use those funds as part of the reductions. Other lapsed and encumbered funds were capped by the OBM. The Office of Budget and Management also directed the ODE to reduce funding for Educational Service Centers by $5 million in FY08 and 09 and approximately $400,000 from performance audits. Other ODE line items that will be reduced include funds for professional development; assessment; bus purchase allowance, and more.

The ODE is also implementing spending controls on travel, equipment, etc; reviewing and renegotiating contracts; and reducing staff levels by 21-26 FTE through attrition and vacancies to cut costs. The ODE currently has 667 FTE employees, but its optimum staffing level is 773, according to a 2007 analysis of programs and responsibilities.

2008 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

After lunch the full Board discussed information regarding the Perkins IV Five Year Plan; discussed the draft Educator Code of Conduct; and reviewed the agenda for the business meeting on Tuesday.

The Board also recognized Deborah Wickerham, the 2008 Ohio Teacher of the Year. Governor Strickland was in attendance to present the Board's resolution. Deborah Wickerham is a fifth grade teacher at Chamberlain Hill Intermediate School in the Findlay City Schools, and has been teaching for 32 years. She received her National Board Certification in 2001, and has also received recognition from Ohio Energy as a Project Facilitator, and was selected as the 2007 Regional Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

CHAPTER 119 HEARING

The Board held a Chapter 119 hearing on the rules below, and then adjourned for the evening.

-Amend Ohio Administrative Code Rule (OAC) 3301-51-15 - Gifted Services -Amend OAC Rules 3301-35-05 and 06 Operating Standards -Amend OAC Rule 3301-44-09 Postsecondary Enrollment Options -Amend OAC Rule 3301-52-01, Screening and Assessment -Rescind Rules 3301-69-11 and 12, Head Start, Head Start Plus.

EDGE SUBCOMMITTEE

The State Board of Education's Subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy (EDGE), chaired by Colleen Grady and Steve Millett, met on Monday evening to discuss the preliminary results of a survey and interview process that the subcommittee initiated to learn more about the skills, behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes that Ohio employers recommend students possess upon graduating from high school. According to a draft summary of the survey and interview results, "....almost universally the participants listed the ability to communicate, good critical thinking and problems solving skills and the ability to be creative as being more important than a strong academic background."

Other themes that emerged from the interviews include the need for schools to do a better job in counseling students about careers and jobs; helping parents understand the skills students need for future careers; teaching students about diverse cultures and how to better relate to those from different backgrounds and cultures; teaching students foreign languages earlier; changing the social studies curriculum to stress world cultures, economics, anthropology, etc; and working with teachers so that they better understand what students need to know to succeed in a particular career. The interview process has not been completed, and so these results are preliminary.

STATE BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 13, 2008

POLICY DISCUSSION ON URBAN DISTRICTS

State Board of Education members participated in a policy discussion about urban education at their February 13, 2008 meeting. Adrian Allison, ODE Executive Director of Urban Policy, led the discussion which included a presentation about several initiatives that are underway to help urban districts improve student achievement and graduation rates.

According to the presentation Ohio's 21 urban centers educate 19 percent of Ohio's public school students; 67 percent of these students qualify for free and reduced lunch; and 17.2 percent are in special education programs.

Students in Ohio's urban districts have made significant academic progress over the past few years. In 1999-2000 18 of the urban 21 school districts were in academic emergency, but today none are in academic emergency, and half are in continuous improvement. These districts are also showing achievement through the value added component. However, many students in urban areas come to school with learning gaps, and urban districts must have support to accelerate learning for these students so that they can eventually reach grade level.

The ODE provides support for urban districts through the statewide system for school improvement, such as the Ohio Leadership Advisory Council; the State Action for Education Leadership Project; the Harvard Executive Leadership Program; the Urban Academy Administrator Preparation Programs; the Principal Evaluation pilot; the Medical Rounds Project; the Ohio Teacher Incentive Fund and the Teacher Advancement Program; the District Teacher Equity Project; and the New Teacher Project.

Regional teams also work directly with school districts to align resources, provide tools, information, professional development, and technical assistance. The ODE has also focused on efforts to support leadership development, resource allocation, curriculum and instruction, family and communities, and school options.

The presentation also included an overview about how resources can be better aligned to support urban school initiatives. The ODE is building the capacity of urban schools to target resources through tools that help districts make better decisions about resource allocation. Ohio's eight largest urban districts receive support from the state through Poverty Based Assistance, which provides $244 million for intervention, professional development, and dropout prevention programs. A new fiscal tool called DREAM (District Resource Allocation Modeler) is currently being piloted, and allows districts to develop and examine scenarios for how to allocate resources differently to meet specific education goals.

State Board of Education BUSINESS MEETING

The Board convened its business meeting and immediately proceeded into executive session. Following lunch the Board heard an update from the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, about the following initiatives: a collaboration with the Ohio State University and Sesame Street to teach preschool-aged children Chinese; other efforts by the ODE to recruit Chinese language teachers for Ohio's schools; the Ohio Leadership Policy Forum, which will be held on February 19-20, 2008; STEM school and program grants; and the Seniors to Sophomores initiative, proposed by Governor Strickland in the State of the State Address.

Chancellor Fingerhut has been designated as the lead person to develop the Seniors to Sophomore Program, which will allow eligible seniors to complete their senior year in high school on a college campus free of charge, and receive both high school and college credits. Although there is strong overall support for this concept, there will be an impact on some students, and an economic impact on school districts, which should have a voice in the planning and implementation of this initiative.

There was no public participation on agenda or nonagenda items. The Board took action on 12 school personnel items and the resolutions included below, and adjourned. The next State Board of Education meeting is March 10-11, 2008.

Agenda of the State Board of Education for February 12, 2008:

-Approved a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-8-01 Payment of Debt Service Charges -Approved a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-61-17 Emergency Service Telecommunicator Training -Approved a Resolution of Intent to amend OAC Rule 3301-83-04, 06, -09, -10, and 16 Pupil Transportation Operation and Safety -Approved a Resolution of Intent to adopt the Ohio Five Year Plan for the administration of Career Technical Education effective July 1,

2008 through June 30, 2013.

-Approved a resolution to accept the recommendation of the hearing officer and deny the transfer of school district territory from the Franklin City School District, Warren County, to the Middletown City School District, Butler County.

-Approved a Resolution to amend OAC Rule 3301-23-44 Temporary Licenses -Approved a Resolution to rescind and adopt new OAC Rule 3301-24-09 Performance Based Licensure for Administrators -Approved a Resolution to amend OAC Rules 3310-48-01-02 regarding open enrollment programs -Approved a Resolution to refile proposed new OAC Rules 3301-51-01, 09, and 11 regarding Operating Standards for Children with Disabilities -Approved a Resolution regarding the 2008 Ohio Teacher of the Year -Amended and then approved a Resolution to adopt a revised fee structure for all educator licenses, certificates, and permits issued by the ODE -Approved the following resolution: "Be it resolved that the state board supports the current system of an independent State Board of Education and an independent state superintendent as outlined in the letter of Feb 8, 2008 from President Jennifer L. Sheets."

For more information about the State Board of Education's meetings, please visit http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE

ODEPrimary.aspx?page=2&TopicRelationID=574

3) OAPCS Releases Study: The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OSPCS), Bill Sims, President and CEO, released on February 13, 2008 a study called "Shattering the Myth: An Analysis of the Impact of Charter and Voucher School Finances in Ohio's Big Eight Urban School Districts." The study was prepared by Bill Keip of Keip Government Solution, and is available at http://www.oapcs.org/pdf/SchoolChoiceFactbook.pdf

According to the study, the urban eight school districts have not been harmed financially by school choice programs, and actually, "....the opposite is true: School districts have far more resources available to educate students today than they did 12 years ago, even adjusting for inflation." The study goes on to say, "Traditional public schools historically have monopolized the expenditure

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