The Inside Scoop, Information, and Fast Facts for FEA Leaders
September 13, 2005
Oct. 2-8 is Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Week in Florida. Please recognize Florida's educators who have contributed to improved instructional leadership and higher student achievement through their dedication to Florida's ESE programs.
September 13, 2005
The US Department of Education released non-regulatory guidance regarding alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
This guidance is a supplement to the Department's regulations released on Dec. 9, 2003, and includes sections about alternate assessments, Individualized Education Program teams, alignment, the "one percent cap", the exception process, and reporting that provide clear explanations and examples.
For more information, please go to: http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/saa.html#guidance
Note: The guidance only addresses issues related to the Dec. 9, 2003, regulation. It does not address the recently proposed "two percent" policy or the issue of modified achievement standards. Proposed regulations to implement that policy have still not yet been issued.
September 13, 2005
IDEA 2004 became effective as of July 1. While districts are required to implement the requirements of IDEA 2004, in some instances there are existing Florida State Board of Education rules that are more stringent and therefore prevail over changes in federal law. The IDEA 2004 Implementation Summary is being provided to districts to use as a tool in implementing current requirements as well as in planning for additional changes that may be necessary in the future. Areas in which Florida's rules are more stringent than IDEA 2004 are noted, and current or pending technical assistance from the DOE is identified.
The Florida Department of Education has issued a memorandum regarding the IDEA 2004. The memorandum may be viewed at:
http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3221/k12_05_121att.pdf (Attachment A)
http://myfloridaeducation.com/commhome/pdf/safegrds.pdf (Attachment B)
If you have questions or concerns related to IDEA or ESE issues please contact the Public Policy and Advocacy Department call 850.224.2078.
August 22, 2005
It may take months, but Education Commissioner John Winn intends to change the administrative rule regarding performance pay. After a recent review of school district performance pay plans, Winn concludes that the plans are not complying with the intent of the law. He believes that a vast majority of the plans do not faithfully addressed both the 5 percent outstanding performance requirement and the requirement that every teacher's compensation must be based in part on the results of student achievement data.
August 22, 2005
Please send us your thoughts via email to ppainsider@floridaea.org. We'll summarize your thoughts in an upcoming edition of PPA Insider.
August 22, 2005
The Florida Department of Education released a memorandum earlier this month concerning provisional status and actions required of schools granted this status. It appears that negotiations have not been successful between Florida and Washington. There is no new flexibility granted for schools designated provisional status and all Florida Title I schools, who missed one or more of the 30 AYP criteria, will need to offer school choice and SES opportunities, including all other NCLB requirements. Commissioner John Winn stated at a recent Board of Education meeting that schools should use all implementation strategies available to move their students and schools to full AYP.
Winn indicated that Florida is continuing to work with the US DOE on AYP and a "gains" model.
For more information contact: michael.monroe@floridaea.org or kevin.watson@floridaea.org, or call PPA at 850.224.2078.
August 22, 2005
The first phase of Sunshine Connections, a collection of online tools for Florida's teachers was launched in Bay County last week. This tool was developed by the Florida Department of Education in collaboration with Microsoft U.S. Partners in Learning and Florida teachers. The web-based environment is said to provide teachers with quick and easy access to classroom-management tools, linking them to student data, curricular materials, and other educators around the state. Teachers will be able to follow student's progress on the FCAT from grade to grade even if they move from one school district to another. Bay County teachers will be among the first in the state to access the system as part of a phased rollout. The hope is this approach will free teachers of burdensome paperwork, allowing them to focus on teaching.
August 22, 2005
The Florida Department of Education announced that FCAT questions on older versions of the test will be available on the Department of Education's website, www.fldoe.org. Commissioner John Winn indicated that no formal timetable is set for the release and the state is "at least two to four weeks away" from posting the test copies. Next year, old reading and math exams for grades three, seven and nine will be released. In fall 2007, fifth-and sixth-grade tests and science exams will be released.
According to Winn, the release of the tests in future years depends on money budgeted by the Legislature to pay the cost of creating new questions to replace the ones that will be made public.
August 22, 2005
During Commissioner John Winn's report to the State Board of Education last week, he defended the Board's earlier decision and then invited acting chancellor Jeanine Blomberg to review the "numbers" on co-teaching. Her presentation was an analysis of the increase in use of co-teaching since the implementation of class size. She concluded that co-teaching has increased 260 percent since 2002-03.
Their stated belief is that the class size amendment's wording limits the number of students in classrooms. Winn was quoted saying, "I cannot imagine any voter or teacher who envisioned a regular classroom with 50 kids packed in with two teachers as a reasonable result of the amendment." It is interesting to note the same news article says that Kendrick Meek agrees, but that the solution is not to lash out at the amendment but to fund it.
The Department of Education has issued a technical assistance paper on the Jessica Lunsford Act, passed during the last legislative session. The Lunsford Act requires Level 2 background screenings for three categories of either non-instructional or contractual personnel, all of whom must meet Level 2 background screening requirements, including those who are permitted access on school grounds when students are present, those who have direct contact with students, or those who have access to or control of school funds.
There has been talk that further tweaking of the Act may occur during the predicted fall special session.
A very good Q&A section can be found on http://info.fldoe.org/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3151/k12_05-107a.pdf.
August 22, 2005
For more information email kevin.watson@floridaea.org or marshall.ogletree@floridaea.org. They also may be reached by calling PPA at 850.224.2078.
August 22, 2005
The Internal Revenue Service reminds teachers and other educators to save receipts for purchases of books and classroom supplies. These out-of-pocket expenses may lower their 2005 taxes. The deduction is available to eligible educators in public or private elementary or secondary schools who work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide. Educators may subtract up to $250 of qualified expenses when figuring their adjusted gross income for 2005. This deduction is available whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions on Schedule A.
The IRS suggests that educators keep records of qualifying expenses in a folder or envelope with a label such as, "Educator Expense Deduction," noting the date, amount and purpose of each purchase. This will help prevent a missed deduction at tax time. (Source: www.IRS.gov)
FEA Public Policy Advocacy
850.224.2078