STATE TAKES FIRST STEPS TO IMPLEMENT TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Today, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna praised the Idaho Legislature for taking the first, bold steps in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force for Improving Education, of which he was a member.

At the beginning of the legislative session, Superintendent Luna proposed a fiscal year 2015 budget aligned with the implementation of the first year of the Task Force recommendations. His budget proposal included funding for leadership awards, discretionary funding, advanced opportunities and classroom technology. The majority of his budget proposal was adopted this year.

“For the upcoming school year, the Legislature has not only increased overall funding for Idaho’s public schools to the highest levels since 2008, but the state also has provided critical investments to begin implementing the Task Force recommendations – reform efforts many of us have been talking about in education for years to make sure every student graduates from high school prepared for college or the workforce,” Superintendent Luna said.

He continued, “Through this budget and complementary pieces of legislation, we will improve the way we compensate Idaho’s teachers, provide more advanced opportunities for high school students, begin to restore discretionary funding to local school districts, strongly emphasize classroom technology, and continue to invest in professional development for Idaho’s teachers. Because of these steps, we will make sure every student graduates from high school prepared for college or the workforce.”

The FY2015 budget is $1.374 billion in general funds for Idaho public schools in fiscal year 2015, a 5.1 percent or $66.2 million increase over fiscal year 2014.

Here are highlights of the FY2015 Public Schools Budget, and how it works to implement the Task Force recommendations:

• Teacher Compensation: The budget includes a 3.8 percent total increase in ongoing funding for teacher compensation, which includes $15.8 million to fund the Leadership Awards portion of the Career Ladder Compensation Model for Idaho’s teachers developed by the Task Force, a 1 percent increase in the money that funds teacher salaries at the local level, and funds to increase minimum teacher salaries to $31,750. Through the Leadership Awards, local school districts will have the ability to award teachers annual bonuses of between $850 and $5,700, in addition to their salaries. See Task Force Recommendation #12: Career ladder Compensation Model.
• Discretionary Funding: The budget includes $35 million to help restore discretionary funding for local school districts and public charter schools. Districts use this funding to pay for utilities, health care and other costs at the district level. See Task Force Recommendation #11: Restoration of Operational Funding.
• Professional Development: The budget includes $12.15 million for continued professional development for Idaho’s teachers. Of this funding, $9.4 million will be distributed to local school districts to use for the implementation of Idaho Core Standards, gifted and talented, or counseling. The remaining $2.7 million will be used at the state level to provide professional development to Idaho’s teachers through Idaho Core Coaches in each region. See Task Force Recommendations #2: Idaho Core Standards and #16: Ongoing Job-embedded Professional Learning.
• Classroom Technology: The budget includes $13.4 million in continued funding for classroom technology. Of this funding, $8 million will be distributed to local school districts to spend on integrating technology in the classroom, $2.25 million will continue to be spent on wireless infrastructure for Idaho’s high schools, $3 million has been set aside for a second year of technology pilot projects in Idaho’s public schools, and $150,000 will be used for the online course portal. See Task Force Recommendation #9: High Speed Bandwidth and Wireless Infrastructure.
• Strategic Plans: The budget includes $326,000 to assist school districts and public charter schools in developing strategic plans. This legislation directs each school district and public charter school to develop a strategic plan that focuses on improving student performance. See Task Force Recommendation #7: Annual Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Continuous Focus on Improvement.
• School Safety and Security: The budget includes $2.2 million in funding to be distributed directly to local school districts to invest in Safe and Drug-Free School Programs at the local level.
• Content and Curriculum: The budget includes $4 million in one-time money that will be distributed to local school districts that they can use to purchase instructional content and curriculum that are in hard copy or digital formats. See Task Force Recommendations #2: Idaho Core Standards and #16: Ongoing Job-embedded Professional Learning.

The budget was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate. It now awaits the Governor’s signature. When approved, it will go into effect July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year.

In addition to the budget, the Legislature also approved key pieces of legislation to advance the Task Force recommendations, including a bill to increase advanced opportunities for Idaho’s high school students (SB 1233), the bill to create the Leadership Awards portion of the Career Ladder (HB 504), and the bill that directs local school districts to create strategic plans focused on student achievement (HB 521).

Celebrate the Importance of Reading This Week

This week, schools in Idaho and across the country are celebrating the importance of reading through Read Across America!

If you haven’t heard of it, contact your local school and find out what they are doing to celebrate reading.

Started by the National Education Association, Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading in recognition. It is always planned for March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss, but is typically a week full of activities related to reading.

At schools across Idaho, students are engaged in reading Dr. Seuss books or hearing from guest readers invited to speak with them during the school day.

Superintendent Luna visited two schools this week:

He was at Lowell Elementary School in Boise on Monday, reading with 2nd grade students in Mrs. Schumacher’s class.

On Tuesday night, Superintendent Luna stopped by the book fair at Willow Creek Elementary School in Nampa to read the Cat in the Hat Comes Back to students and parents.

Reading is just as critical as ever. The Task Force for Improving Education has recommended all Idaho students demonstrate mastery of literacy before moving on to significant content learning.

According to the Task Force report, research shows students should be reading on grade level by the time they leave third grade or it could have a negative impact on the rest of their academic career. Students must learn to read before they can read to learn content in other subject areas.

To learn more about how you can help your child improve their reading skills, talk to your child’s teacher or check out the Department’s Parent Guide to Reading.

SUPERINTENDENT LUNA APPLAUDS 5.1% INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Legislature’s budget-setting committee today approved a 5.1 percent increase in funding for Idaho’s K-12 public schools for fiscal year 2015, which would bring state general funds for Idaho’s public schools to higher than fiscal year 2008 levels for the first time since the recession.

“I am proud of the public schools budget this year because it represents a capstone of what we have been working toward as a state since 2007,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said. “The budget improves the way we compensate Idaho’s teachers, provides more advanced opportunities for high school students, takes critical steps to restore discretionary funding to local school districts, strongly emphasizes classroom technology, and more. With this budget, we are taking the necessary steps toward implementing the Task Force for Improving Education recommendations and making sure every student graduates from high school prepared for college or the workforce.”

The budget approved today will now go to the full House of Representatives and Senate for approval. If passed, it will need the Governor’s signature before it can take effect July 1, 2014 for the 2014-2015 school year.

Here are highlights of the FY2015 Public Schools Budget approved in the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today:

• The budget is $1.374 million in general funds for Idaho public schools in fiscal year 2015, a 5.1 percent or $66.2 million increase over fiscal year 2014.
• Teacher Compensation: The budget includes a 3.8 percent total increase in ongoing funding for teacher compensation, which includes $15.8 million to fund the Leadership Awards portion of the Career Ladder Compensation Model for Idaho’s teachers developed by the Task Force, a 1 percent increase in the money that funds teacher salaries at the local level, and funds to increase minimum teacher salaries to $31,750.
• Discretionary Funding: The budget includes $35 million in discretionary funding for local school districts and public charter schools. Districts use this funding to pay for utilities, health care and other costs at the district level.
• Professional Development: The budget includes $12.15 million for continued professional development for Idaho’s teachers. Of this funding, $9.4 million will be distributed to local school districts to use for the implementation of Idaho Core Standards, gifted and talented, or counseling. The remaining $2.7 million will be used at the state level to provide professional development to Idaho’s teachers through Idaho Core Coaches in each region.
•  Classroom Technology: The budget includes $13.4 million in continued funding for classroom technology. Of this funding, $8 million will be distributed to local school districts to spend on integrating technology in the classroom, $2.25 million will continue to be spent on wireless infrastructure for Idaho’s high schools, $3 million has been set aside for a second year of technology pilot projects in Idaho’s public schools, and $150,000 will be used for the online course portal.
• School Safety and Security: The budget includes $2.2 million in funding to be distributed directly to local school districts to invest in Safe and Drug-Free School Programs at the local level.
• Content and Curriculum: The budget includes $4 million in one-time money that will be distributed to local school districts that they can use to purchase instructional content and curriculum that are in hard copy or digital formats.

SUPERINTENDENT LUNA SUPPORTS FIRST STEP TOWARD CAREER LADDER

The House Education Committee on Monday passed House Bill 504, a bill that works to implement the first portion of the Career Ladder Compensation Model recommended by the Task Force for Improving Education.

Specifically, this legislation would provide $15.9 million in funding that Idaho’s school districts can use to pay leadership awards to Idaho teachers serving in leadership capacities. This is just one portion of the Career Ladder that the Task Force recommended to change the way Idaho’s teachers are compensated.

“Today, the House Education Committee took an important first step toward improving compensation for all Idaho’s teachers,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said. “The Task Force for Improving Education developed a framework for implementing a Career Ladder Compensation Model to create fiscal stability and help recruit and retain the best and the brightest in the teaching profession. By approving the leadership awards portion of the Career Ladder this year, the Legislature will take an important first step this year that allows us as a state to take the critical second step next year and implement the full Career Ladder.”

Superintendent Luna supports the $15.9 million in funding for leadership awards along with a 1 percent increase in funding for base salaries for Idaho’s teachers in fiscal year 2015 until the Career Ladder can be fully implemented in fiscal year 2016.

House Bill 504 will now head to the full House for approval.

DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES SCHOOL SAFETY, SECURITY ASSESSMENT

As part of Idaho’s effort to improve school safety and security, the Idaho State Department of Education has published the results of a comprehensive school safety assessment, administered among a representative sample 74 schools last year.

“While this report identifies several challenges in the area of school safety, it also recognizes many successes in Idaho’s schools that we can build upon going forward,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna said. “Based on this assessment, we now have baseline information that we as a state will use to support schools as they improve safety and security for every child. This is essential because we know no child will be free to learn until they are truly free from intimidation and fear.”

In December 2012, as a result of the tragic school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Superintendent Luna called on the state to take a renewed look at school safety and security. He established the Safe and Secure Schools Task Force, made up of educators and first responders as well as a liaison with the Governor’s office. Among its recommendations, the Task Force decided to conduct a comprehensive assessment to collect an objective, statewide snapshot of how prepared schools are to prevent and respond to crisis situations and to build local capacity to implement school safety improvements.

This comprehensive assessment provides important data to guide the state’s work going forward. Here are a few highlights from the report:

• In 68 of the 74 schools, they have published and/or promote statements regarding anti-bullying, anti-harassment, or anti-violence.
• In 68 of the 74 schools, they have alternatives to suspension and/or expulsion, which are effective disciplinary measures that continue to engage students rather than excluding them from the school setting entirely.
• In 60 of the 74 schools, they have a policy to lock classroom doors at the end of the day.
• In 71 of 74 schools, unauthorized entrance to the school was achieved through some way other than the designated main entrance.

Specifically, these results will inform future professional development opportunities, technical assistance, guidance and resources for Idaho schools. For fiscal year 2015, Superintendent Luna has requested $2.2 million in funding that will flow directly to Idaho’s schools and districts as well as an additional $500,000 to be used at the state level to provide guidance and technical assistance.

The full results of the comprehensive assessment are posted on our website.

REGISTER NOW FOR CHARTER START 101 WORKSHOP

The Idaho State Department of Education is hosting a Charter Start 101 workshop for parents, educators and others interested in learning more about what it takes to start a public charter school in Idaho on February 27-28, 2014 in Boise.

Public charters schools are free public schools that are open to all students. A public charter school gives parents the choice of sending their children to a school that uses innovative methods to provide a quality education in a smaller, more responsive learning environment.

Recently, Idaho jumped from 32 to 20 in national rankings of charter-friendly laws across the country after the Legislature improved Idaho’s public charter school law last year. The changes strengthened accountability for charter schools and provided funding for facilities.

Charter Start 101 is a two-day workshop that provides technical assistance for all new charter developers and any individual or group interested in a public school conversion. The workshop is designed to support public charter school developers at all stages – from vision to implementation. 

Workshop attendance is a statutory requirement for all charter developers. This free workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the State Department of Education offices in the Barbara Morgan Conference Room, 650 West State Street, 2nd floor, Boise. Registration starts at 7:45 a.m. All participants will receive a charter start resource guide.

The deadline to register is Thursday, February 20, 2014. No late registrants will be accepted. Space is limited so please go to our website and fill out the registration form today! If you have any questions, please contact School Choice Coordinator Michelle Clement Taylor at mtaylor@sde.idaho.gov.

Idaho Teen GameLab

Is your son or daughter an aspiring “gamer” or computer programmer?  The Idaho Digital Learning Academy and GoGo Labs have teamed up to offer a six-week, online camp called Idaho Teen GameLab.  The camp promotes exploration of the digital game design career path for middle and high school students of all skills levels.

Idaho Teen GameLab engages students in their own realm—a virtual, quest-based platform.  Students will collaborate in virtual worlds to plan and build civilizations, create personalized games, and test and provide feedback on fellow developers’ games.

“Ninety-nine percent of teens play video games,” said Lisa Dawley, GoGo Labs CEO and Founder.  “GoGo Labs is focused on engaging students and inspiring teachers through gamified learning opportunities, and what could be more interesting than designing the games themselves?”

Space is limited to 200 students, so don’t delay!  Registration opens February 5, 2014.  For more information, visit http://idahoteengamelab.org/.