Committee Report | April 2011

Report of the


JOINT MEETING OF THE REGENTS


P-12 EDUCATION COMMITTEE and HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE


to


The Board of Regents


April 5, 2011

            Your P-12 Education Committee and Higher Education Committee held a joint meeting on April 4, 2011.  All members were present.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Regents Task Force on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness

Members of the Regents Task Force on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness presented recommendations to the Board of Regents.  Each subcommittee provided a summary of recommendations followed by discussion with the Regents.

60% Other Measures for Teachers

Stacey Caruso-Sharpe, Mathematics Teacher, Amsterdam CSD

Michael Mendel, Secretary, UFT
Discussion

• Regulations and guidance should reflect flexibility in the choice of rubrics to assess teacher proficiency. 
• New York State should develop criteria for selection and development of local rubrics.
• District options should include classroom observations by trained peer reviewers or independent, trained observers.

60% Other Measures for Principals

Sonia Nieves, Council of Supervisors and Administrators

Terry Orr, Bank Street College and MCEAP
Discussion

• Regulations and guidance should reflect flexibility in the choice of rubrics to assess principal proficiency. 
• New York State should develop criteria for selection and development of local rubrics.
• School visits by superintendents are critical.

Locally-Selected Assessments

Jere Hochman, Superintendent, Bedford CSD

Karen Rock, ELA Instructor, Plattsburgh CSD

Don Nickson, Deputy Executive Director, SAANYS

Discussion

• “Other” means not using the state test for the locally selected 20% measure – reduces the potential for schools to become test-driven.
• Teacher created assessments – used to supplement material not covered on the NYS standardized tests.
• Multiple measures are necessary for principal evaluation; principal responsibilities vary district to district.

Student Growth in Non-Tested Grades and Subjects

John Mahony, CTE Teacher, Questar III BOCES

Kerry Flynn, Principal, Loudonville School
Discussion

• Accept use of new tests if state develops them.
• In other areas, allow districts to choose from district and regionally developed assessments.

Growth/Value-Added and Metrics

Jack Bierwirth, Superintendent, Herricks Public Schools

Paul Gasparini, Principal, Jamesville-Dewitt HS

Heather Adams, Assistant in Research and Education Services, NYSUT
Discussion

• Teacher of Record policy
• Commissioner should determine appropriate assessment for both non-tested and tested growth measures.

Following the discussions with the Regents Task Force on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness, Committee members discussed the Department’s recommendations (including scoring).

• Allow districts to use state assessments as part of the 20% locally selected measures of student achievement.  Districts may also choose to use local or teacher-created assessments.
• Issue RFP in spring 2011 for a provider or providers to develop the methodology to construct teacher and principal growth scores and, in the following year, teacher and principal value-added scores.
• Issue RFQ for student assessments that meet prescribed criteria for “growth in non-tested subjects” and/or “locally-selected student assessments”
• Issue RFQ to pre-approve rubrics that meet criteria closely aligned with those recommended by the Task Force.  Schools and districts need to use rubrics to assess teacher and principal practices for the “60% other measures” and to provide a framework for targeting professional development aimed at improving those practices.  The rubrics should count for at least half of the 60%.
• Develop draft regulations to be disseminated to the field for public comment.  Feedback from the field on the draft regulations will be presented to the Regents for discussion in May.