The State Board of Education heard a report on RSG/RT3. DPI staff shared that the

largest percentage of funding in LEAs is in technology, while the largest percentage of

activities are around professional development. Roughly $14 million is set aside for

instructional coaches, and an additional $2 million is reserved for data coaches

throughout the state. Overall state progress is delayed in part due to several amend-

ments that must be made to North Carolina’s Race to the Top plan, including the NC

Teacher Core, which will be a cadre of teachers whose skills will be improved and

then deployed in hard-to-staff schools. The money available, however, has begun

moving into school districts across the state. Relatively few of them, however, have

submitted their detailed budgets, which DPI staff are working to collect. Webinars

have been conducted in February, and communication products are being created so

that all interested parties to public education understand what Race to the Top is, and

where the money is going. Work continues to develop the NC Education Cloud, an

online connectivity opportunity for educators across North Carolina.

On Thursday, March 3, the State

Board of Education recognized North

Carolina‟s 2010 Milken Education

Award recipient. Kimberly James, a

teacher at Triangle Lake Montessori

School in Guilford County, is this

year‟s winner. James is noted in her

school and system for being up to

date on research, using the best in-

structional practices available, and for

working collaboratively with her col-

leagues. She spearheaded the use of

Reading Mastery and SRA in her

school, first using it in her own class-

room, then introducing it to her col-

Ready Set Go! Race to the Top UpdateReady Set Go! Race to the Top Update

NCAE/GCAE Member Kimberly James NCAE/GCAE Member Kimberly James

Given Milken Educator AwardGiven Milken Educator Award

SBE Review SBE Review

From Consoli-From Consoli-

dated Report dated Report

on School Vio-on School Vio-

lence:lence:

Short Term Short Term

Suspensions Suspensions

decreased decreased

8%8%

Long Term Long Term

Suspensions Suspensions

decreased decreased

17%17%

Expulsions Expulsions

decreased decreased

from 116 to from 116 to

88 (71 of 88 (71 of

those in those in

high school)high school)

Dropout Dropout

rate de-rate de-

clined from clined from

4.27% to 4.27% to

3.75%3.75%

NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning SBE RevNCAE Center for Teaching and Learning SBE Reviewiew March 2011March 2011

NCAE President Sheri Strickland (l), NCAE/GCAE Mem-ber and 2010 Milken Award Winner Kimberly James (c), and NCAE/GCAE Member and Triangle Lake Mon-tessori Principal Cheri Keels (r) celebrate James’ recog-nition.

NCAE Center for

Teaching & Learning March 2011

Kimberly James, Continued

P a g e 2 N C A E C T L N C A E C T L

leagues, which has led to a marked improvement in reading scores, and decreases in retention rates. James‟ princi-

pal, NCAE/GCAE Member Cheri Keels, noted that James is “one of the hardest working people I have ever had the

privilege of working with. She is a truly dedicated teacher in every way.” James is a member of Phi Kappa Phi,

and is an alumnus of Wake Forest University and North Carolina A&T State University, and is currently pursuing a

Master‟s in Educational Leadership. Congratulations Kim!

Continuing work to develop and design

Common Core and Essential Standards

online modules

Working collaboratively to develop and

design Summer Institute Training Imple-

mentation Guide and presentation materi-

als

Working with SERVE to being Formative

Assessment evaluation work on NC FAL-

CON

Continuing work on Next Generation As-

sessments, developing online items

Partnering with NCAE to schedule state-

wide focus groups and working sessions

with teachers around Instructional Im-

provement System (IIS)

Presented a report from the Instructional

Technology Division regarding how tech-

nology is used in the classroom and can

be further used to maximize teaching and

instructional time

Overall project is on track

ACRE Update

NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning March 2011March 2011

403(b) — 4U?

North Carolina State Treasurer Janet Cow-

ell, a member of the State Board of Educa-

tion, shared a presentation regarding alter-

native savings plans to the North Carolina

Teachers and State Employee’s Retirement

System. The State Treasurer oversees the

401(k) and the 457 savings plans avail-

able. Currently, there is no oversight on

403(b) plans across our state, as they are

primarily managed by school districts

across the state. Through surveys of 403

(b) participants, the State Treasurer

shared that 84% of those responding

would prefer some type of State oversight

into available 403(b) plans, and is moving

to support such a system.

Items Discussed & Approved by the SBEItems Discussed & Approved by the SBE

P a g e 3 N C A E C T L N C A E C T L

Globally Competitive Students

Approved extended content standards for English Language Arts

Approved K-12 Healthful Living Standards

Approved English Language Arts and Reading textbook adoption. While funds may not be avail-

able, evaluated texts are now ready for when funds do become available

Business/Finance and Advocacy

Approved policy regarding preventive maintenance and vehicle placement manual updates

Approved character education initiative grants to Beverly Woods Elementary (CMS), Tyro Middle

(Davidson County), New Bridge Middle (Onslow County), Marvin Ridge Middle (Union County),

Johnson Street K-8 Global Studies Magnet (Guilford County) totaling just over $10,000

Heard wavier requests for repayment of the assessment fee for candidates for National Board

Certification; approved recommendations of appeals panel which included 69 approved, and 98

denied

Healthy Responsible Students

Approved alternative learning waiver requests from Catawba County, Newton-Conover City,

Jones and Tyrrell

Discussed the state funding model for Pre-K funding; noted that approximately $17.5 million

would be used for administrative costs statewide, and that while not all funds budgeted would be

used to pay salary because not all teachers would be licensed, those not licensed would have

those additional budgeted salary funds used to support their pursuit of licensure

Discussed and approved on first reading the new Driver‟s Education curriculum and standards.

Moved to action on first reading due to driver‟s educators conference in April so that standards

can be implemented in a timely fashion

Leadership and Innovation

Though all but one charter school seeking renewal had compliance issues, all were granted re-

newal status

Moved to action on first reading the approval of the Guilford Early College Program.

Approved calendar waivers for six schools in Richmond and Martin Counties

Opened for discussion the change of contract with Brevard Academy to incorporate a significant

grant from the Challenge Foundation, which will change the charter for Brevard Academy

Heard a request from the Academy of Moore to eliminate grades 6-8 and open an additional 20

slots for Kindergarten

NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning SBE Review March 2011SBE Review March 2011

P a g e 4 N C A E C T L N C A E C T L

In closed session, the Board reviewed recommendations from the Advisory Board on Re-

quests for Exception from Teacher Licensing Requirements.

Heard a report on the new standards for the NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Beginning in 2012, each area covered by the NC TWCS will have aligned standards and a rating rubric with the same continuum as the NC Teacher Evaluation Process. Based upon results of the survey, schools and school systems will be rated as Developing,

Proficient, Accomplished or Distinguished in each area of the NC TWCS.

Heard a panel discussion on teacher effectiveness. The panel included Teacher of the Year 2009 Jessica Garner, Teacher of the Year 2010 Jennifer Facciolini, Principal of the Year 2010 and NCAE member Jan King; and Laurie Calvert, a Teaching Fellow Ambas-sador appointed by President Obama. Garner spoke to the new Teacher Evaluation System, noting that while she had a great experience as an evaluated teacher this year, others have not had such an experience and that more training around the process and the rubric are needed. Facciolini spoke to defining teacher effectiveness, noting that we must move away „from the hand washing system—we put the soap on our hands, we wash it off; we bring the kids in, give them notes, take a test, wash it off.‟ Calvert shared issues around teacher retention, noting that she is at a personal crossroads due to incon-sistencies in how teachers are evaluated in her home school system in North Carolina. King shared that while there is no simple way to discuss any of these items due to high stakes accountability, quarterly assessments, etc.; that crucial to any effective administra-tor knows their relationship to all instructional professionals, including ESPs. She also

pointed out that this is a radical change from previous experiences on the TPAI.

21st Century Professionals21st Century Professionals

NCAE Center for Teaching and Learning SBE RevNCAE Center for Teaching and Learning SBE Reviewiew March 2011March 2011

Governor Bev Perdue receives a $24,000 check from

AT&T to begin work on her Governor’s Student Learn-

ing Conditions Survey initiative. The check was pre-

sented by Vanessa Harrison on behalf of AT&T. Ac-

cepting were Treasurer Janet Cowell, Superintendent of

Public Instruction June Atkinson, State Board of Educa-

tion Member Tricia Willoughby, Lieutenant Governor

Walter Dalton, and State Board of Education Chair Bill

Harrison.

Superintendent June Atkinson accepted a $40,000 grant from Verizon Thinkfinity (www.thinkfinity.org) to provide training to a cadre of profes-

sionals including NCDPI staff, K-12 teachers and representatives of higher

education who will teach educators how to use the website and its tools.