The following is taken from the February edition of the Citizen Reader, a newsletter published by Grassroots DC Education Contributor Sarah Livingston. Sarah Livingston is a native of Mississippi who ardently believes that democracy is the best thing we have going for us in America and that good, helpful information is essential to the most inclusive and most equal participation of *all* citizens in it. From that belief, Livingview Communications–A Citizens Information Service was born. *Citizen Reader* is LVC’s third project since 2004.
State Superintendent proposes dramatic changes to graduation requirements
In recent years, both the State Board of Education and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education have discussed alternate ways of awarding credit for courses taken toward high school graduation. Much of the discussion has centered on “competency-based” learning or CBL. The current method awards credit in Carnegie units that are based on time in class. CBL awards credit for demonstrated mastery of a subject regardless of time.
Last summer, the Board convened a task force to study “high school credit flexibility” and at its December 16, 2015 public meeting, unanimously adopted a Resolution approving four recommendations, based on the study, to change how credits toward graduation are awarded. It advised the State Superintendent “to initiate rulemaking to implement the recommendations endorsed in this resolution.” Below are the recommendations as stated in that resolution:
1. Create a waiver process for schools wishing to pursue competency-based learning;
2. Allow students to receive credit for demonstrated knowledge in world languages and mathematics;
3. Maintain Carnegie units as the default means for earning credit where neither of the two above conditions apply;
4. Consistent with the benefits of student self-based learning associated with competency-based models, remove the requirement that students enroll in Algebra 1 by 9th grade.
When OSSE published its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the DC Register of January 22, 2016 for the thirty-day public comment period, numbers 2 and 4 of the recommendations had been altered extensively from their original wording in the Resolution. The proposed rules would radically change the way students would be educated in the city’s high schools. The comment period, which closes on February 20, 2016, is the time for citizens to consider the proposed rules, what they would mean, and to have their say about them. • To find the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and submit comments online go to:
http://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Gateway/NoticeHome.aspx?noticeid=5833888
OR
• Pick up copies and mail or hand deliver comments to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), 810 First St. NE 9th Floor, WDC 20002 Attn: Jamai Deuberry re: Graduation Requirements and Diplomas or email: ossecomments.proposedregulations@dc.gov
To contact your Board of Education representative, use the list of members below:
Ward 2 & President: Jack Jacobson jack.jacobson@dc.gov
(202) 251-7644
Ward 7 & Vice President: Karen Williams karen.williams@dc.gov
(301) 641-1926
Ward 1: Laura Wilson Phelan – laura.wilson.phelan@dc.gov / (202) 421-4360
Ward 3: Ruth Wattenberg – ruth.wattenberg@dc.gov / (202) 320-7884
Ward 4: Kamili Anderson – kamili.anderson@dc.gov / (202) 355-3695
Ward 5: Mark Jones – mark.jones@dc.gov / (202) 304-7294
Ward 6: Joe Weedon – joe.weedon@dc.gov / (202) 277-9410
Ward 8: Tierra Jolly – tierra.jolly@dc.gov / (202) 812-1464
At-Large Member: Mary Lord – mary.lord@dc.gov / (205) 577-9939
State Board of Education (SBOE) Office:
John Paul Hayworth – John.Paul.Hayworth@dc.gov / (202) 741-0888
Who’s in charge now at the federal level?
The November Citizen Reader provided a list of all those in charge of public education in DC—the local level of officials. To complete the picture, here are the education decision makers at the federal government level.
Executive Branch: The President submits the budget every year to Congress including for education and he or she appoints the US Secretary of Education to direct the US Department of Education.
Legislative Branch: Congress has two Chambers and each of them has a committee that handles education matters.
In the Senate, it’s the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The current chair is Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and the Ranking Member is Patty Murray (D-WA).
In the House, it is the Committee on Education and the Workforce, currently chaired by John Kline (R-MN) and the Senior Democratic Member is Robert C. Scott (D-VA).
The Committee on Education and the Workforce has two subcommittees—The Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee. Its current chair is Todd Rokita (R-IN) and the Ranking Member is Marcia Fudge (D-OH).
The second one is the Higher Education and Work Force Training Subcommittee. It is chaired by Virginia Fox (R-NC) and its Ranking Member is Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX).
For more information about these committees, visit www.senate.gov and www.USHouse.gov.
Recent decisions at the federal level
President Obama’s Secretary of Education announced in early October 2015 his decision to retire at end of the year. The President chose John King as Acting Secretary until January 2017 when his second term in office expires. Mr. King had been serving at the DOE as deputy secretary and before that he was the Commissioner of Education for New York State.
On December 10, 2015, Congress passed and the President signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replacing the No Child Left Behind Act after an eight year delay.
ESSA puts some limits on the reach of the Secretary of Education, restores some of the state and local control but keeps much of the standardized testing of the NCLB, among other things. Most of its provisions will become effective August 1, 2016.
The complete Act and more information can be found at www.edwork.house.gov/k12-education.
The federal to DC education link
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) was established by the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007. In the words of that law: “The State Superintendent shall serve as the chief state school officer for the District of Columbia and shall represent the OSSE and the District of Columbia in all matters before the United States Department of Education and with other states and educational organizations.” The State Superintendent is appointed by the Mayor.
PERAA also established the State Board of Education. Its functions are to advise on and approve of state-level policy that is initiated or proposed by the Mayor or OSSE. Members are elected by the public.
The law can be read and/or printed at www.dccouncil.us Click LIMS and type Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 in the search box.
The Washington Teacher’s Union
Hosts a Free Community Education Conference:
Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education in the District of Columbia
Saturday • February 20, 2016 • 9a to 3p
Kellogg Conference Center Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. NE. Program includes
Dr. Linda Darling Hammond as Keynote Speaker, an Introduction to the
Every Student Succeeds Act & much more. Breakfast & Lunch provided
For more information and to Register go to
www.wtulocal6.org
More very important hearing dates can be found at www.dccouncil.us/calendar.
All hearings are held in the Wilson Building, Pennsylvania Ave. at 14th St. NW, 202-724-8000
Agency Performance Oversight Hearings
● Committee on Education:
To testify at any of the above: sign up online at http://bit.ly/EdOversight/16 or call 202-724-8061.
● Committee on Transportation and the Environment:
Department of General Services (DGS), Thursday, February 25, Room 500 beginning at Noon.
(Hearing includes Washington Aqueduct and DC Water.)
To testify: Contact Nicole Rentz, nrentz@dccouncil.us or call 202-724-8062.
● Committee of the Whole:
To testify: send an email to cow@dccouncil.us
● February 15 – President’s Day
● February 20, 2016 – Public comment period closes for OSSE’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
● April 4, 2016 through April 26, 2016 – Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Hearings
● June 14, 2016 – DC Primary Election Day, learn more at www.dcboee.org
Editor’s note: Many thanks to the Senior High Alliance of Parents, Principals and Educators (SHAPPE) for contributions to this edition. Their website is: http://sites.google.com/site/shappesite/ where you will find a letter from a teacher about the proposed rules, and much more information about the organization.
Hope that being posted on this site will give many more people the information needed to check out the Superintendent’s proposed rules and submit their comments.
Since this issue went out, a petition against the proposed rules has gone up on GoPetition. Here’s the link:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/don't-let-tests-be-a-substitute-for-a-strong-education.html
Many thanks Grassrootsdc!