NOTES: Board Meeting, 10/14/08

The Board Meeting Tuesday, October 14th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session - 12 p.m.
Call to order - 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

REPORT - Superintendent's Update to the Board

• CISCO - telepresence
• 5th graders to visit CSM
• CSM Board of Trustees Meeting
• Parent@ School- looking for replacement

REPORT - Board Member Updates (no report available)

• Wise - Re-creation of rainforest
• Wise - Phone call from Connie Graves re: recycling
• Carrington - recommends CC Government to supply bins
• Pedersen - what counts results have been emailed
• Berringer - sporting events recycling
• Abell - Q & A Meeting. Than k you to Carrington and Wade for attending. Topics discussed included recycling, hand washing, school zones, school lunches
• Cook - Suggests all BOE members to conduct meetings
• Pedersen - great idea but more than one member at a time
• Carrington - visiting schools
• Wade - MABE committees

REPORT - Education Association of Charles County Update

• Read report
• Pedersen - will forward What Counts results
• (BTW, since these were mentioned throughout the board meeting, I have since requested they be posted for the public viewing...still waiting)

REPORT - Student Board Member Update

• Thanks to Wise and Cook for attending
• Safe driving

REPORT - Deputy Superintendent Update - School Recognitions (no report available)

• Enrollment 26,731 students...up 557 from last year
• 3,192 students new to Charles County
• Out of the 3,192 students new to Charles County, 1,436 are attending school for the first time
• Changes in County Recognition program - wants to change to one per semester instead of quarterly and hold one at each high school on all the same night..
• Abell - concern with parents no getting to see both children if at different high schools
• Richmond - trying to increase parent participation and attendance; no way not to conflict with some other event
• Wise - What if we did only three high schools
• Pedersen - Talked about personal experiences
• Abell - suggests six different dates
• Richmond - won't work; trying for one year

REPORT - Finance Update - FY2008 Audit Presentation; Audit Report; Budget Update

• Met 9/30 deadline
• All is good
• Read report

REPORT - Supporting Service Update - CIP update

• All schools have recycle dumpsters and blue bins but not enough for every classroom
• Read report
• Security system - remotely monitoring from all over the country regarding alarms. Not a physical body at the building monitoring systems on nights, weekends, and holidays.

REPORT - Instruction Update - Student Service Learning; PowerPoint

• See report and power point
• Abell - pointed out that an organization does NOT have to be a member of the United Way in order to qualify for this

REPORT - Instruction Update - Title I Parent Involvement Policy; CCPS Policy

• See report

REPORT - Instruction Update - Testing

• See report (all 8,455 pages; jk) ...covers MSA's, SAT''s, and AP's...lots of information
• Abell - Asked for numbers of graduating seniors "predicting" they will be attending universities, 2-year colleges, vocational, military, etc.
• Eichel - That information is in the graduation programs
• Abell - unfortunately didn't save them from all the graduations for the last three years
• Eichel - will compile data and forward
• Abell - asked for AP scores by high school, by course
• Eichel - already on the CCBOE website
• Abell - reason for not including in this report
• Eichel - didn't want to make the report to lengthy
• Abell - ROFLOL

REPORT - Instruction Update - New Health Curriculum - (Moved to November)

REPORT - Human Resources Update - Teacher Retention

• See report
• Abell - student teachers...o we still have; haven't seen any in my visits to schools over the last few years
• Hettel - not as many; University of Maryland students stay around campus; occasionally we will get some that live in this area

UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

• Carrington - National Conference, thinks we should go, it's in the budget
• Cook - agreed; most MABE members are going
• Wise - FEA sponsors can't go to their conference?
• Cunningham - Talking to the principals tomorrow about this. Also, parents have to fund their students. In this economic turmoil, there may not be as many attending anyway.

NEW BUSINESS - Contract Award for Full-Day Kindergarten

Motion by Wise; Second by Pedersen
Accept Superintendent's recommendation
Unanimous
PASSED

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -

• Wade - thank you to board members for participating and attending all that you do
• Wade - New high school briefing paper
• Wade - 10/27 forum; no work session this month
• Pedersen - what counts information; November work session
• Abell - school lunch program from start to finish; where do we get the food, who decides the food, which schools prepare on-site; nutritional value; costs, etc.

RECOGNITION - 4:30 p.m. - October Recognitions

PUBLIC FORUM - 6 p.m. (Rules)

• Male - "Drive to Survive"; teaches officers how to respond to emergencies safely. Program to minimize panic behind the wheel. Sheriff Coffey endorsement. Wants to offer to all students. Offer twice a month. Eight hour program for 15 students and awareness clinic for parents
• (I just wanted to add here...this gentleman brought the car simulator and I had a chance to try it out after the meeting...I was impressed. You wear goggles that has a video while your actually sitting in a car and using the pedals and steering wheels. Similar to a video game. I don't know how useful this would be in actually letting the students FEEL a car sliding across ice or how not to over correct when you drop of the edge of the road)

ACTION - Minutes September 9, 2008; Motions September 9; Minutes September 30, 2008

Motion by Carrington; Second by Wise
Accept the Minutes
Unanimous
PASSED

ACTION - Personnel

Motion by Wise; Second by Pedersen
Accept Superintendent's recommendation
Unanimous
PASSED

ACTION - FY 2009 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Motion by Wise; Second by Cook
Accept Superintendent's recommendation
Unanimous
PASSED

Experts question benefit of school time-out rooms

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB
Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- After failing to finish a reading assignment, 8-year-old Isabel Loeffler was sent to the school's time-out room - a converted storage area under a staircase - where she was left alone for three hours.

The autistic Iowa girl wet herself before she was finally allowed to leave.

Appalled, her parents removed her from the school district and filed a lawsuit.

Some educators say time-out rooms are being used with increased frequency to discipline children with behavioral disorders. And the time-outs are probably doing more harm than good, they add.

"It really is a form of abuse," said Ken Merrell, head of the Department for Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon. "It's going to do nothing to change the behavior. You're using it as an isolation booth."

Read more HERE

Md. school creates classes for Asperger's students

September 7, 2008 - 2:34pm

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) -When children who have behavioral quirks or who are lacking in social skills are also bright and capable, schools tend to assign them to regular classrooms.
But that can lead to student meltdowns when even little things go wrong.

Montgomery County has several programs to address one of the most vexing problems in special education: What to do with a child who is disabled, but capable of work at or above grade level?

At Diamond Elementary School, students with Asperger syndrome, a developmental disability on the autism spectrum, learn in special education classes the skills they need to successfully transition to mainstream classrooms. It's one of the few Asperger's education and development programs in the nation at a public school.

Robyne Barth's 10-year-old son, Alex, has Asperger's. But he is a sociable and accomplished student at Diamond.

"I couldn't see my child as anything. I couldn't imagine him having a normal life," said Barth, of North Potomac. "And now, my child has a personality. He's funny. I can see him as an engineer. I can see him as an architect. I can see his life."

Diamond's program educates 15 students each year to cope with their disorder and to help them move to regular classes. The school has two teachers and four assistants dedicated to the task.

Seven years ago, the school system wanted to help the more than 1,000 students affected by autism by offering assistance at Diamond, Sligo Creek Elementary School, and Tilden and Montgomery Village middle schools. The help is available to any of the 137,000 students in the system - and participation should rise since the autism population increases each year by more than 17 percent.

Anne Arundel County also has a program designed for students with Asperger's, or high-functioning autism. The county school system has teamed with a private special education school to help autism-spectrum children move into regular classes at two schools, Severn River Middle and Severna Park High.

James Ball, a behavior analyst in Cranbury, N.J., said Diamond's program "should be looked at as a model program" because children with Asperger's "are a unique breed of kids, and they do respond to a variety of unique teaching strategies."

Diamond challenges students with Asperger's to raise their hands, not scream, when they need something. And if a student's efforts to succeed in a normal class are met with a hectic day, the student can retreat to the books, board games and toys in the Asperger's classroom.

Children receive rewards for good behavior and even fill out a contract laying out the social skills each student will work to learn.

Staci Daddona of Gaithersburg has seen the change in her 7-year-old, Justin. Before entering Diamond's program, he obsessively opened and closed doors and repeatedly flushed the toilet at home. At school, he ignored his teacher and fellow students to play with a top - all day, every day.

But he's now in some regular classes and is beginning to recognize when he's anxious and unfocused on schoolwork and social skills.

"When he starts to stand up, he'll press on the desk, because he's trying to calm himself that way," his mother said. "And she'll say, 'It looks like you need a break.' And that happens before he throws a pencil, and all the things that happened last year."

---

Information from: The Washington Post,
http://www.washingtonpost.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP RESULTS!!!!!

Here they are, I haven't had time to open them and review yet and probably won't get to until the weekend. If someonegets the chance, please look over them and provide the skinny. Thanks

County AP Results - 2008 2007
Lackey AP Results - 2008 2007
La Plata AP Results - 2008 2007
McDonough AP Results - 2008 2007
North Point AP Results - 2008 2007
Thomas Stone AP Results - 2008 2007
Westlake AP Results - 2008 2007

What is the Problem with Education in America?

Highly qualified teachers in most CCPS classrooms

The percentage of certificated teachers in Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) for the 2007-08 school year was 95 percent, which is 9 percent higher than the state average.

The percentage of certificated teachers in CCPS increased 11 percent over the last five school years, as 84 percent of teachers were certificated in the 2003-04 school year, according to Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), 2008 Maryland Report Card statistics.

In CCPS, 95 percent of teachers hold either a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional certificate, and 5 percent have conditional licenses and are working toward full certification.

The percentage of classrooms taught by highly qualified teachers has also increased over the past five school years, from 51 percent during the 2003-04 school year, to 91 percent during the 2007-08 school year, which is 6 percent higher than the state average.

The school system attributes the increases to its focus on hiring highly qualified teacher applicants.

"Principals have made efforts at the school level to place highly qualified teachers in the subject areas of their certification and highly qualified status. This has increased the number of Charles County Public Schools' classes that are being taught by highly qualified teachers," said Keith Hettel, CCPS assistant superintendent of human resources.

Teachers are deemed as highly qualified if they meet minimum requirements outlined by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2002. The law requires teachers in core academic subject areas to be highly qualified in the subject area they teach.

Highly qualified teachers must have a bachelor's degree and full state certification, and be able to demonstrate content knowledge in their teaching subject area. These subjects are English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history and geography.

Highly qualified statistics reported by MSDE only include figures for teachers who teach core academic subject areas as defined by NCLB and do not reflect the percentage of teachers who are highly qualified, but are teaching in subject areas not considered core academic subject areas.

NCLB also requires that teachers newly hired in Title I schools be highly qualified, as they are partially paid with federal funds. Title I is a federal education program that provides services to at-risk students in high poverty elementary schools.

Classrooms not taught by highly qualified teachers are taught by teachers who are teaching outside of their certification subject areas or teachers with conditional certificates who are working toward full certification.

Teachers must meet certification requirements at the end of their conditional period. Conditional certificates are valid for two years and are issued to teachers employed in school systems that are not fully certified, but are working toward full certification.

"Human resources is not renewing teaching contracts for staff that have not made progress toward finishing their certification requirements. These vacancies are filled with fully certificated teachers," Hettel said.

NCLB allows parents to request the qualifications of their children's teachers and any paraprofessional that has direct contact with the student. Parents can request this information by putting their request in writing to their child's school principal. For more information, contact Hettel at 301-934-7230.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

REMINDER: Board Meeting, 10/14/08

Reminder... there is a Board Meeting Tuesday, October 14th. Can't attend...you can watch it live on Channel 96. It will also be re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

Executive session - 12 p.m.
Call to order - 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

REPORT - Superintendent's Update to the Board
REPORT - Board Member Updates (no report available)
REPORT - Education Association of Charles County Update
REPORT - Student Board Member Update
REPORT - Deputy Superintendent Update - School Recognitions (no report available)
REPORT - Finance Update - FY2008 Audit Presentation; Budget Update
REPORT - Supporting Service Update - CIP update
REPORT - Instruction Update - Student Service Learning; Powerpoint
REPORT - Instruction Update - Title I Parent Involvement Policy; CCPS Policy
REPORT - Instruction Update - Testing
REPORT - Instruction Update - New Health Curriculum - (Moved to November)
REPORT - Human Resources Update - Teacher Retention

UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

NEW BUSINESS - Contract Award for Full-Day Kindergarten

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -

RECOGNITION - 4:30 p.m. - October Recognitions

PUBLIC FORUM - 6 p.m. (Rules)

ACTION - Minutes September 9, 2008; Motions September 9; Minutes September 30, 2008
ACTION - Personnel
ACTION - FY 2009 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Notes from Q & A, October 9, 2008

The Q & A session this evening turned out just as planned. I had envisioned a very informal session, no set agenda, no specific topic, no presentation, come as you are, drop in and out; just a meeting of parents sitting around discussing education and school issues...and that was exactly what we had. I was a little surprised to see Chairman Wade in attendance. In addition, Charles Carrington stopped by, the new education reporter from the Indy and six parents total in differing shifts.

Topics discussed

• System-wide germ control such as hand washing or anti bacterial soap prior to lunch
• System-wide recycling program
• School lunches (this one was already on my list)
• Nanjemoy Enviromental Center and the wonderful programs they offer
• Procedures for out of zone requests for attendance
• Policy submission procedures (Policy 8210)

I look forward to next month, November 13th. Please forward any requests for information you would like to bring with me. Thank you for your support and attendance.

TONIGHT!!

Charles County Board of Education member Jennifer Abell will hold a question & answer session for interested residents the second Thursday of every month from 6:00-8:30 p.m. beginning October 9th at Unique Sports Academy, 109 Post Office Road, Waldorf.
Call Jennifer Abell 301-659-4112 or e-mail abell4edu@verizon.net .

Do you Believe?

Please watch this video. This little boy is speaking to 20,000 teachers, administrators, building service workers, etc in orientation in Dallas, Texas. He is definitely a future leader and this video actually gave me goosebumps. Let me know what you think.

Family Life Committee

I had the pleasure of attending the Charles County Public Schools Family Life Committee yesterday, as a parent. I had been invited to participate some time last spring. The discussion yesterday was on approving the new sex education unit in the Health curriculum for the 9th/11th grade use. I must say I was pleased with the outcome. The curriculum was unanimously approved with minor changes and still focuses on abstinence as the best method to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Sorry I don't have any links or electronic documents, yet...but the committee is suppose to be presenting it to the Board for approval in October/November.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

State looks at ways to train, retain more teachers

By Liz Bowie liz.bowie@baltsun.com
7:21 PM EDT, October 2, 2008

Each year, more Maryland teachers retire or leave the classroom than emerge from the state's schools of education.

That needs to change, a Maryland task force said in a new report outlining 26 actions that should be taken in the next several years to produce more teachers from state colleges and to provide incentives for teachers to stay in classrooms.

Today, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents education committee recommended that the board begin taking action to get more qualified teachers into classrooms.

Some recommendations are likely to need substantial state funding or a shift in the policies of the Maryland State Department of Education, but most of the state's education leaders have endorsed them, said Patricia Florestano, a member of the regents and co-chairman of the task force.

Read more HERE

State report on Highly Qualified Teachers/Classes

Maryland State Department of Education has posted the latest information on classes being taught by Highly Qualified Teachers. CCPS has improved to 91% of our classes being taught by Highly Qualified teachers. The state average is 85%. For the last five years we have continued to improve in this area. Also in the area of teacher certification, we have 95% of our teachers highly qualified and holding valid Maryland Certificates. Five percent hold conditional certificates and are working to become Highly Qualified through course work and Praxis testing.

Parent@School

Dear Parents:

We have permanently disabled Parent@School. Charles County Public Schools does not plan to restore this program, as we are unable to resolve the multiple problems, including security issues, that it has presented this school year. We are reviewing other programs in order to offer you a similar service in the future.

Since the beginning of the school year, we have worked with the software provider, Timpanogos Technologies, to fix problems that on occasion blocked parents from seeing grades or allowed some parents to access information of a child who is not their own. Immediately upon learning of a security breach in mid-September, we took the system down.

Charles County Public Schools conducted two weeks of extensive reprogramming and testing, and launched the site again on Monday after our technology department and Timpanogos thought we had fixed the problems. We did not encounter any glitches during testing involving selected parents, including school system employees with children enrolled in our schools.

On Monday evening after a successful afternoon, we discovered the same problems were occurring, and we immediately took the program off line. Despite our technology staff working with Timpanogos, we are unable to pinpoint the source of the problem, which occurs sporadically.

When Parent@School works, it works well. We understand the frustration of parents who have grown accustomed to using the program. We share that frustration because we think the use of technology can be a great communication tool for parents and teachers to use.

However, as a school system we must safeguard the security of student information, and we no longer have confidence that we are able to do so with Parent@School. We are sorry for the inconvenience, and we are working to provide an alternative.

Sincerely,

James E. Richmond
Superintendent of Schools

Economy Squeezes Education Budget

Washington Times
by Gary Emerling

School districts across the region are preparing to cut most nonessential classrooms needs - from bus routes to class trips - as a result of budget deficits created by the troubled national economy.
[...]
Parents in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County, like others across the country, are again this year being asked to provide schools with staples such as soap and tissue paper.

Read more HERE

Policy 1323

Below is Charles County Public School Policy 1323. It is currently up for revision. I have received several emaiols rergarding "Mr. Money" visiting the schools. Please provide your input on how best to revise.

Public Activities Involving Staff, Students or School Facilities: Activities Involving Students: Soliciting Funds From Students

Schools may educate pupils in the services performed by humanitarian agencies.

Fund-raising drives divert time, energy and attention of the staff from their educational tasks; therefore, the Board recommends that such drives be kept to a minimum and be approved by the principal.

Tickets for non-school affairs sponsored by outside agencies shall not be sold on school premises during regularly scheduled school hours.

Charles School Suspensions on the Decline

Interesting...this could be good or... it could mean that we just aren't suspending the problem students anymore. Hmmmmph...how to tell?

From the Baynet

Charles County Public Schools student suspensions decreased for the fourth consecutive year, according to a recent report sent to the Maryland State Department of Education. Suspensions dropped slightly from 5,662 in the 2006-07 school year to 5,490 in 2007-08, even with an increase in student population and the opening of a new school.

A key factor in the continued reduction of suspensions is the positive behavioral interventions and supports program used in most schools. While school suspensions have increased in Maryland, the number of suspensions and multiple suspensions in Charles County has declined. Charles County Public Schools successful PBIS program was recently recognized by Advocates for Children & Youth, which credits the school system’s commitment to positive reinforcement for the reduction.

Charles County Public Schools continues to work to reduce disruptions in schools and to keep students in class. “When students engage in negative behavior, it disrupts learning in the classroom. If students miss school due to suspension, they are not learning. It’s a cycle that we are working hard to prevent,” said Ronald Cunningham, deputy superintendent. Cunningham said the school system continues to distribute the Student Code of Conduct to all students at the beginning of each school year with the expectation they will read it with their parents, who will re-enforce the rules at home. Some offenses, such as possession of a weapon or illegal drugs, will always result in suspension, Cunningham said.

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Strong American Schools

Found this great site, ED in '08 check it out

Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America's leaders about the need for education reform.

This campaign seeks to unite all Americans around the crucial mission of improving our public schools by elevating the discussion to a national stage.

Their Focus

America’s students are losing out. The world is changing, jobs are evolving, and far too many students are simply not being prepared to be successful adults:

• Seventy percent of eighth graders are not proficient in reading—and most will never catch up.


• Every year, more than 1.2 million students drop out of high school.


• Compared to students in 30 industrialized countries, American 15 year olds ranked 25th in math and 21st in science. Even America's top math students rank 25th out of 30 when compared with top students across the globe.


• Many of those who do graduate are not ready for college, for the workplace and for life.

We have to act now to improve education before more American students lose out on the best jobs, hurting our economy and impacting each and every one of us.

Visit the site to read more.

CHECK OUT THIS REPORT - "Diplomas to Nowhere"

State won't release school test results until October

Delay could alter graduation requirement's effect on Class of 2009

By Liz Bowie
September 21, 2008

Maryland education officials said they will wait until late October to release detailed data on how many seniors in each county and school risk not graduating in June because they have not passed the High School Assessments.

The delay pushes back the time when the state school board can take up the issue of whether to adjust the test policy for the Class of 2009, the first graduating class that is being required to pass exams to graduate.

The data, which was expected this month, is not ready, state officials said, because local school districts have not given the state complete files on each student in the class and where he or she stands academically.

One school system, which the state would not identify, has "half a million errors in their files," said Leslie Wilson, who is in charge of testing programs at the state level.

Data showing a large percentage of students in a given school or district falling behind on the tests could add fu el to arguments that implementing the graduation requirement should be pushed back. The state is being cautious about releasing the data to make sure it doesn't include students who weren't on track to graduate anyway, because those cases might make the impact of the tests seem greater than it is.

"That is the reason you want accurate data, because it is an important year," said Nancy S. Grasmick, state superintendent of schools. "We are very strict about ensuring that information is correct before it is released."

Read more HERE.

The high cost of high school dropouts

Our view: Maryland loses millions of dollars a year when kids leave school without graduating

September 21, 2008

Last year, about 27,000 Maryland high school students dropped out of school before graduating. That was nearly a quarter of the state's Class of 2007, and Marylanders pay dearly for it. A study by the Maryland Public Policy Institute estimates that each class of high school dropouts costs the state about $50 million every year in lost tax revenues, higher Medicaid costs and the expenses of incarceration - dropouts are twice as likely as graduates to spend time in jail. Kids who drop out shortchange not only their own chances for success but also those of everyone around them.

That's why Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso has ordered high school principals to make every effort to get students who have dropped out back into the classroom. Baltimore's dropout rate, which has been estimated at between 40 percent and 60 percent, is among the highest in the state. More than 900 students have dropped out so f ar this year. There's no way a school system can ignore those numbers and call itself successful.

Mr. Alonso wants principals to track down every student who has left school and contact him or her at least three times, by phone or through personal visits, to try and lure the student back. That's a tough assignment for administrators whose hands during the first month of classes are already full just managing the students they have; in some schools, as many as a 100 kids have gone missing. But nobody ever said the kinds of changes Baltimore needs would come easy.

Read more HERE

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act

ACT NOW!!!

Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.

The PROTECT Our Children Act will:

• Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
• Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
• Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.

Act Now!
Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.
Go to http://www.senate.gov/ to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference!

Maryland Senators

Benjamin Cardin

Barbara Mikulski

Call Your Senators
If you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."

Write to Your Senators
If you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.

Dear Senator:

I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.

Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.

As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.

Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no
excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.

(Your name here)

Instructions for How to Copy and Paste the Letter
To copy and paste the letter into your senator's web form at http://www.senate.gov/ , point your mouse arrow at the beginning of the text that you want to copy. Click your left mouse button and hold it down. While holding the left mouse button, drag your arrow to the end of the text that you want to copy. Release the button. The text should be highlighted. Place your mouse arrow over the highlighted text, click your right mouse button once and let go. A new menu should appear. Select Copy from the drop down menu. When you get to the message form field for your senator at http://www.senate.gov/ , point your arrow at the beginning of the message field that you want to copy your text to and right click with your mouse. Click Paste from this menu. Submit your form and help our children!

Abell to hold Meetings

Charles County Board of Education member Jennifer Abell will hold a question & answer session for interested residents the second Thursday of every month from 6:00-8:30 p.m. beginning October 9th at Unique Sports Academy, 109 Post Office Road, Waldorf.
Call Jennifer Abell 301-659-4112 or e-mail abell4edu@verizon.net .

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Financial Resources for College

Financial resources are available to help pay the costs of a college or university education, but too many area students are missing out. To encourage more students to seek and obtain financial support for higher education, Universal Sports and Academics is hosting an "Understanding the Financial Aid Process" workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sep 26 at Unique Sports Academy, 109D Post Office Road, Waldorf, MD 20602.

Financial aid can be the only key that opens the door to higher education for deserving students, so efforts to help education parents and students about financial aid resources are essential. This support provides students with access to higher education, which ultimately helps them achieve career goals as well.

Both students and parents are encouraged to attend the workshops. The workshops are $15 per family. For more information about the Sep 26 workshop in Waldorf, please contact Kevin Wagner at (301) 609-0756 or by email at kevin@u-s-academics.org.

Other workshops that are currently planned:

"Scholarships 101: Where to Find the Money You Need" – Oct 10

"Athletes and Recruiting: How Do I Get Started" – Oct 24

School system to add intramural lacrosse program

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) plans on adding a varsity-level intramural instructional lacrosse program to its spring sports lineup.

Starting this spring, the school system plans to begin offering lacrosse at all six high schools. The sport will start as an instructional program and hopefully grow into a Southern Maryland Athletic Conference competitor after two years.

The first year, students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in the program, which will be limited to competition with other Charles County high schools. There will be both boys' and girls' lacrosse teams, and each team will have a 14-game schedule to include both home and away games. All games will be officiated by certified officials and the league will follow all criteria as set forth by the CCPS athletic handbook as well as the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. Criteria include eligibility, including academic requirements, number of contests played and sportsmanship rules.

The second year, the school system will evaluate the first-year program, and dependent upon participation and interest, will divide into a junior varsity and varsity intra-county, instructional program. If needed, the program will continue as a 9-12 varsity intramural program for the second year.

"The goal," said Jan Johnson, specialist in athletics and health for CCPS, "is that by 2011 Charles County Public Schools enters SMAC with a junior varsity and varsity team from each of our six high schools."

Lacrosse players will receive awards, recognition at spring sports awards ceremonies and earn school awards letters from the beginning of the program.

The next steps, said Johnson, include clinics for coaches, advertising in schools for potential players and securing officials for the upcoming season. Equipment for the sport was purchased at the end of last school year in anticipation of starting the program this year.

REMINDER: Board Meeting, 09/09/08

Reminder... there is a Board Meeting Tuesday, September 9th. Can't attend...you can watch it live on Channel 96. It will also be re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

Executive session - 12 p.m.
Call to order - 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Henry E. Lackey High School's JROTC unit

REPORT - Superintendent's Update to the Board
REPORT - Board Member Updates (no reports available)
REPORT - Education Association of Charles County update
REPORT - Student Board Member update (no report available)
REPORT - Opening of school - Oral Update
REPORT - CIP update
REPORT - FY 2009 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
REPORT - Early Childhood Title I; Video 1; Video 2
REPORT - Hiring - Oral Update
REPORT - Communications Update

UNFINISHED BUSINESS -

NEW BUSINESS - Budget intercategory transfers for FY 2008

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS -

RECOGNITION - 4:30 p.m.

• Resolution: Health Careers Month

PUBLIC FORUM - 6 p.m. (Rules)

ACTION - Minutes August 12, 2008; Motions August 12; Minutes August 25, 2008
ACTION - Personnel
ACTION - State 2010 CIP
ACTION - Recurring resolutions: Health Careers Month; American Education Week; American Freedom Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; African American History Month; Career and Technical Education Week; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals' Week; Salute to School Food and Nutrition Service Personnel; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees' Retirement
ACTION - Classified pension plan documents

Open Thread Sunday

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

SAT Scores

If you were to glance over the press release below, you might think we have done well. However, if you delve a little deeper...I for one am disappointed. Okay, big whooppee, we're above the state average. Hello!!! We couldn't surpass the NATIONAL AVERAGE!! And considering our location and the fact that we are one of the "wealthiest counties in the nation" I think it's down right disgusting. The number of students in the county taking the test went down. So is more of our students opting for good ole' CSM which doesn't require SAT scores? Or parents, teachers, counselors being more lax about supporting students to TRY and achieve the unthinkable? Okay, okay...the test is not mandatory, but maybe it should be. What do you think?

------------------------------------
CCPS PRESS RELEASE

SAT scores above state average

Charles County Public Schools average score on the SAT, a nationally known college entrance test, is 1511, which is above the state average and the same as the national average.

Students' average score in the mathematics section of the test is 505, the average score in the writing section is 500 and the average score on the critical reading portion is 506. SAT scores decreased 12 points from 1523 the previous year. SAT tests are designed to demonstrate a student's mastery of certain subjects to colleges. Many colleges use the test as a part of the admissions process.

Charles County's score is 13 points above the state average of 1498 and the same as the national average of 1511. Only scores for graduating seniors are included in the 2008 report. Students in the class of 2008 were offered more than $27 million in scholarships.

Maurice J. McDonough High School was the highest performing school with a score of 1613. La Plata High School students posted an average score of 1602 and Thomas Stone High School students posted a 1495 average. Westlake High School students' average score is 1483 and Henry E. Lackey High School students averaged 1427.

Charles County Public Schools provides all high school students access to the on-line SAT preparation, which can be used as a classroom teaching aid, a component of English and math courses, a test-preparation resource or an independent study tool. School staff will help students set up an account and profile this school year. Students may access the program from home after they have created their profile. The school system also offers other in-school preparation programs, summer and after-school preparation programs and in-class preparation by teachers.

A chart of SAT results for Charles County Public Schools 2007-2008 college-bound seniors

REMINDER: What Counts Forum Tomorrow Night

What do you think counts in education? The Board of Education wants to know.

"What Counts" is the topic for discussion at a community forum set for Thursday, Sept. 4, 7-9 p.m., in the Maurice J. McDonough High School cafeteria. McDonough is located in Pomfret.

Invitations have been sent out to a cross-section of county residents to ensure well-rounded participation, but the public is invited to attend and participate as well.

The goal of the forum is simple. Board members want to learn what Charles County residents think counts in education and explore how the effectiveness and quality of public schools should be measured. The Board hopes to engage participants in small round-table discussions about what the community wants from its public schools.

Col. Donald Wade, chairman of the Board of Education, said, "The forum is to hear everyone who has opinions on what their expectations of schools are, especially in these times of high accountability and state-mandated testing. Beyond high test scores, what do people think makes a good school system? Is it college matriculation, advanced courses, small classes, quality facilities or advanced technology? We hope to find out during this forum and to use this information as we set our direction for the next three to five years."

Participants will be asked to fill out a handout listing quality school characteristics and be placed in small groups of six to 10 people. After each person has made their individual selections, a facilitator will ask participants to share their rationale for their selections. Each group will have to decide on the top eight most important indicators, with a rational for each.

Following the forum, a summary report will be provided to each public school and each participant. Additionally, the Board will share the report with local leaders and business owners and post it on the Charles County Public Schools Web site.

Anyone who would like to participate in the forum should call or e-mail Kessandra Stubblefield, executive assistant to the Board, at 301-934-7224 or kstubblefield@ccboe.com.

"We hope people will join us and let us know what counts," Wade said.

D.C. Tries Cash as a Motivator In School

I know this is an older article, but I'd like to know your thoughts...

By V. Dion Haynes and Michael Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, August 22, 2008; Page A01

Initiative Is Aimed At Middle Grades

D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee announced plans yesterday to boost dismal achievement at half the city's middle schools by offering students an unusual incentive: cash.

For years, school officials have used detention, remedial classes, summer school and suspensions to turn around poorly behaved, underachieving middle school students, with little results. Now they are introducing a program that will pay students up to $100 per month for displaying good behavior.

Beginning in October, 3,000 students at 14 middle schools will be eligible to earn up to 50 points per month and be paid $2 per point for attending class regularly and on time, turning in homework, displaying manners and earning high marks. A maximum of $2.7 million has been set aside for the program, and the money students earn will be deposited every two weeks into bank accounts the system plans to open for them.

Read more HERE

Open Thread Sunday!!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

NOTES: Board Work Session, 08/25/08

The Board Work Session Monday, August 25th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

In my opinion, this meeting was very unproductive and a waste of not only our time but staff.

PUBLIC FORUM - Rules

• None

WORK SESSION - Board Priorities Sub-Committee

• Discussion and decision was made that these are the boards priorities and now its up to staff to address, provide details and progress in an ongoing manner

WORK SESSION - MABE Committees (no report available)

• In my opinion, most board members thought the Chair was looking for volunteers to serve on a MABE committee. However, it was determined that the Chair was actually looking for nominations for the MABE Charles W. Willis award. There was no paperwork or criteria provided and therefore we were unable to submit nominees. I tried searching the MABE web-site to know avail.

WORK SESSION - Review of Policies #8000 and #9336

• Abell - pointed out that it should be a review of the entire 8000 series, not just policy 8000.
• Discussion about how to proceed
• Wade - suggested Pedersen bring changes before the board.
• Abell - volunteered to serve on a committee as opposed to one person solely responsible
• Schwartz - advised the Chair to solicit volunteers outside of the meeting and appoint committee members
• Abell - asked Schwartz for clarification and reasoning in the different processes.
• Schwartz - explained if the Chair appointed them in the public meeting then the committee would be an "official" board committee as opposed to not.
• (side note - what Schwartz didn't say was...if the Chair appointed members during the public meeting and made the committee an "official" committee, then this committee would be subject to all the rules & regulations of the Open Meetings Act and the meetings would be open to the public.)
• (side note #2- didn't we decide during the August Board meeting that we would be going over these together because the Chair didn't want a committee)

WORK SESSION - Discussion on Public Forum at Work Sessions (no report available)

• Abell - reason for this item, uncertain the purpose or intention
• Wade - feels we have given staff conflicting information
• Pedersen - questions how public forum concerns are addressed. i.e. the Blue Ribbon Commission has asked for a meeting.
• Richmond - suggests we met with them during a work session
• Discussion
• Abell - no problem with public forums at work sessions; doesn't require extra time and provides another opportunity to hear from constituents
• Pedersen - agrees
• Wise - agrees
• Richmond - agrees
• O'Malley-Simpson - committee needs to modify Policy 8000

WORK SESSION - Draft minutes of the August 12, 2008, regular Board meeting; Motions

Open Thread Sunday!!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Despite Reduced Budgets, Many Students Will Return To New or Restored Facilities

Higher Test Scores Among Counties' Goals

By Jenna Johnson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 17, 2008; Page SM01

Even with tighter public school budgets, Southern Maryland students and their parents can anticipate new initiatives, construction projects and curriculum changes when schools reopen this week and next.

Students in St. Mary's and Calvert counties return to class Wednesday; Charles County students start Aug. 25. School officials in the three counties say they are working to increase state standardized test scores, launch safe-driving initiatives in high schools and offer intense science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) classes.

Some students will arrive for their first day at new or renovated schools. Charles is opening its 21st elementary school, Mary B. Neal Elementary on Piney Church Road in Waldorf. Students decided in the spring that the school's mascot should be a blue crab, so on Wednesday they will be greeted by Pinch, the furry blue mascot of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs baseball team.

"It's all ready to go," Charles School Superintendent James E. Richmond said of the new building, which can accommodate 760 students and will relieve crowding at other schools.

Charles is also building additions or renovating at four elementary schools that lost classroom space when the county implemented full-day kindergarten.

Calvert is finishing construction of Barstow Elementary School on Williams Road in Prince Frederick. The school's opening has been delayed until at least November, so Barstow students will temporarily attend classes in trailers at Calvert Elementary. Calvert is also starting construction of a Calvert Middle School building. Its students will not have to be relocated during the project because they'll continue to go to the existing school.

Read more HERE.

REMINDER: Board Work Session, 8/25/08

Reminder... there is a Board Work Session Monday, August 25th. Can't attend...you can watch it live on Channel 96. It will also be re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

6:00 pm - Board Meeting begins with Public Forum

PUBLIC FORUM - Rules
WORK SESSION - Board Priorities Sub-Committee
WORK SESSION - MABE Committees (no report available)
WORK SESSION - Review of Policies #8000 and #9336
WORK SESSION - Discussion on Public Forum at Work Sessions (no report available)
ACTION - Draft minutes of the August 12, 2008, regular Board meeting; Motions

School system plans eleventh annual College Fair

CCPS PRESS RELEASE

More than 130 colleges will participate in the eleventh annual Charles County College Fair on Sept. 15, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center on Crain Highway in Waldorf.

The fair is hosted by Charles County Public Schools. High school juniors and seniors attend the event during the school day as part of the system's career readiness goal in the five-year plan. Students are transported from school by bus and are able to speak with representatives and gather information from participating colleges.

The public is invited to attend the evening session of the fair from 6-8 p.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the fair. Additionally, two financial aid workshops will be held, one at 6 p.m. and one at 7 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

School System Sponsors Bus Hotline

CCPS PRESS RELEASE

Charles County Public Schools is sponsoring a bus hotline for parents to call with questions about school bus routes.

Call 301-932-6655 to access the hotline. The hotline is available on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Aug. 25 and Aug. 26 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All schools have mailed bus route schedules home to parents and should call their child's school if they have not received a schedule. Additionally, bus stops within established subdivisions are permanently placed at specific locations to ensure consistency and equity among riders and will not be changed.

For additional information call the department of transportation at 301-934-7262.

Exit Scramble

States that rushed to tie high school graduation to passing a high-stakes test now face pressure to come up with alternatives, even as critics warn against a dilution of standards.

By Michele McNeil

A decade-long push by states to make high school students pass an exit exam before getting their diplomas has stalled as politically sensitive student-failure rates contribute to a growing public backlash against high-stakes testing.

Though 26 states have adopted such mandates—most of them since 2000—that number has remained static since last year, according to a report scheduled for release this week by the Center on Education Policy, a Washington-based research and advocacy organization that has tracked the trend for the past seven years.

And for nearly a dozen states, compliance deadlines that once seemed far off have begun to bite, leading Arizona, Alabama, Maryland, and Washington, among others, to soften their mandates by offering alternative paths to a diploma, or by also weighing factors such as a student’s grade point average.

Read more HERE

More Md. schools meet federal 'No Child' standards

By Liz Bowie Sun reporter
7:32 PM EDT, August 14, 2008

A greater percentage of Maryland's elementary and middle schools met federal achievement standards than in recent years, even as the state raised the bar by requiring more students in each school to pass the yearly tests in reading and math.

Education officials Thursday released the state's annual report of school progress under the No Child Left Behind act, with about 84 percent meeting targets. Maryland put 169 of 1,129 elementary and middle schools on a list of schools that need improvement, compared with 176 the year before.

In seven school systems -- including Carroll County -- every school met the standards.

But the state's new way of categorizing schools also illuminated the entrenched failure at 59 of the state's troubled schools, many in Baltimore and Prince George's County. Those schools have failed to meet the standards for at least five years in a row and some for as much as a decade despite repeated attempts at reform.

Read more HERE

Open Thread Sunday!!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

403(b) Questions

I received some questions regarding the 403(b) plan and below are the answers provided by staff (thank you) after some tension ...

Q. What companies bid on the RFP (I assume there was an RFP that went out)?

A. Yes, an RFP was solicited to the public via CCPS bid board and the Maryland Independent Newspaper. Former 403b providers and vendors that were registered with CCPS via on-line registration received automatic notifications. Eight (8) firms responded:
ING
Horace Mann
Hartford
Great West
Felder Group
AXA Equitable
AIG Valic
MetLife

Q. What companies assisted the BOE in the decision making process (consultants or other financial companies)?

A. Goldberg, Yolles and Lepore Consulting Group Wachovia Securities, LLC. This firm manages the MABE insurance funds, the MABE OPEB investment fund, and the CCBOE classified pension plan investments. Their review was independent. In addition, there was an internal review committee consisting of senior staff from the Finance and Human Resources divisions which made final recommendations.

Q. What were the deciding factors that led to the successful bid by MetLife?
A. Each firm was evaluated based on the following criterion which was included in the RFP:
Market Position- Ranked by Experience w/segments
Fund Selection
Fund Cost Ranking
Implementation
Asset Based Cost Ranking
Administration Services
Education
Surrender Schedule and fees
Local Presence/ Capability
Responsiveness of Respondents
Website/ Employee Communication
Trend Line for Business Growth
Current CCBOE market penetration

Schools achieve AYP on state tests

Well maybe...at first look the press release from CCPS is a little deceiving. Actually all elementary schools met AYP and all but one middle school met AYP. (High school not released yet.) See the actual press release below.

CCPS PRESS RELEASE
All Charles County Public Schools elementary schools and seven middle schools met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), according to Maryland State Department of Education data released today. No county schools are on the state watch list. The state has not released high school or system AYP results.

AYP is determined by student results on the Maryland School Assessments (MSA) taken by students in grades 3-8 in April. AYP is the gain that schools must make each year in proportion to students achieving proficiency in reading and math. Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), schools must show progress across all grade levels and in all race/ethnicity and special services categories--special education, limited English proficient, and economically disadvantaged students.

If a school is unable to make progress in all areas, including attendance, for two consecutive years, it is identified for School Improvement status and faces a variety of requirements designed to bring about improvements. Schools unable to make progress in all areas for one year are named as needing local attention, but do not face any state mandates or intervention. No Charles County schools are on the school improvement list. Charles County is one of the few counties in the state that has never had a school on the state school improvement list.

One school, Mattawoman Middle School, was identified as needing local attention, meaning they achieved their Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) last year, but fell short this year. Mattawoman did not achieve AMO in three subgroup areas: African American math, free and reduced meals (FARMS) math, and special education math. This is the first year since 2003, when the state mandated the exams, that Mattawoman has missed its targets. Last year, seven schools were identified as needing local attention, but each of those schools made significant progress this year and met AYP.

"Most of our schools and students are making the progress required by the state, but we continue to focus our efforts to ensure that all children are succeeding. We have reviewed the results from each school and we are addressing areas where the testing shows we need improvement," said James E. Richmond, superintendent of schools.

Statewide, system and local school data are now available on the Maryland State Department of Education's report card, http://www.mdreportcard.org.

The MSA exams are given in the spring to third through eighth grade students in reading and mathematics.

In the coming months, the Maryland State Department of Education will release High School Assessment scores, and graduation numbers. High school students take High School Assessments, and starting with this year's graduating seniors - the class of 2009 - students must pass four tests - English II, biology, local, state and national government (LSN) and algebra - in order to graduate.

Charles County Public Schools Maryland State Assessment Facts (AYP and MSA)

• The state defines AYP as the cornerstone of Maryland's new accountability system and replaces the School Performance Index as the method by which Maryland tracks academic progress. Schools and school systems must show that students are making AYP in reading, mathematics, attendance (elementary and middle schools) and graduation rate (high schools)
• No Charles County middle or elementary public schools are on the state's school improvement list, which includes schools that have not met standards for two consecutive years and are not improving. One school has been identified as needing local attention, a designation given to schools that miss making adequate improvement in any area for one year. Information on high school scores and AYP will not be available until the fall.
• AYP requirements include scores for reading and mathematics for all students as well as subgroups of students. Student achievement is reported in the aggregate (all students) as well as eight subgroups of students. Subgroups are: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American, White (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic, students receiving free and reduced meals, special education and Limited English Proficient.

Candidates’ K-12 Views Take Shape

Education Week
McCain and Obama Tussle On Choice, Teacher Issues
By Alyson Klein

As their education plans begin to crystallize, sharper differences are emerging between John McCain and Barack Obama on school choice, teacher preparation, and tutoring, even as neither presidential candidate has released a detailed proposal on revising the No Child Left Behind Act.

Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., has pledged to direct federal money to alternative teacher-certification programs, give parents more direct access to supplemental educational services, and expand private school choice, specifically through online education and by expanding the federally funded voucher experiment in Washington.

Read more HERE

Model Plan of Merit Pay in Ferment

Education Week
Union Objects to Proposal to Modify Pact in Denver
By Vaishali Honawar

Denver’s performance-pay system for teachers has long been hailed as a model, in good part because it was jointly conceived and implemented by the school district and the local teachers’ union. But that collaborative spirit is now in jeopardy, with union and district leaders engaged in a protracted battle over proposed changes to the system.

The two sides are expected to go to the negotiating table Aug. 20 to sort out their differences, and have been meeting separately with mediators in the interim. But the rift is wide enough that the union, in a recent newsletter, called on teachers to prepare for a strike if negotiations fall through.

The district says the time is right for a change: ProComp, or the Professional Compensation Plan for teachers, as it is formally known, was ushered in by Denver voters in 2004, and the agreement calls for negotiations every three years, school officials say.

“ProComp was never intended to become a static plan like a traditional master salary schedule. Over time it needed to be adjusted based on the needs of teachers and the district and the window called for the negotiations is right now,” said schools Superintendent Michael Bennet, pointing out that the district and the union also signed an agreement to open negotiations on ProComp in February of this year.

School officials also say that the changes proposed by the 74,000-student district—including raising teachers’ starting salaries and giving additional incentives to teachers at hard-to-staff schools and of high-demand subjects like math and science—would help attract more teachers.

But the union says it is too early to take those steps.

Read more HERE

Charles County Students Participate in NSWC STEM Summer Program

The BayNet
LA PLATA - 7/28/2008

More than 30 Charles County Public Schools students participated in the first science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) summer program sponsored by the school system and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head division.

The two-week-long program was held at Theodore G. Davis Middle School from June 30 through July 11, and 33 Charles County middle school students participated. The students were divided into groups of seven and were from Mattawoman and Davis middle schools. Each team had a county science teacher assigned to serve as their team’s referee and were paired with an engineer from NSWC.

The program introduced students to a series of science and engineering problems through Material World Modules (MWM), various engineering challenges, robotics challenges and a research project.

The modules are a series of kits students use to investigate real world engineering problems. One module covered why specific sports equipment, such as golf balls, tennis balls, footballs and basketballs, are used for specific sports. Students examined the physical properties of the balls, including the size, mass and weight of distribution and how many layers of materials are used to create the equipment.

The second of two modules consisted of smart sensors, including light, infrared and magnetic sensors. Students were required to investigate the sensor’s trigger and hypothesize what sets the sensor off, such as light, temperature, motion and pressure. Student teams also had to map our where, in the area surrounding the sensor, the sensor went off to try and figure out how to avoid the trigger. Teams were then required to compete against each other in a contest to see which team could successfully pass by each sensor without being detected.

Read more HERE

NOTES: Board Meeting, August 12, 2008

The Board Meeting Tuesday, August 12th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

REPORT - Superintendent - Report (Richmond)

• 175 new teachers; orientation all week; tour of county today
• Summer programs
• Neal Elem. ready
• Summer energy savings $150,000; bus routes consolidated; 07 diesel $2.85; 08 diesel $4.70
• Veteran teachers return on Monday 8/18
• Students return on Monday 8/25

REPORT - Board Members

• Wade - MABE meeting with Governor next week; Wise asked to attend
• Wise - PBIS conference, speaker Dr. Rybowski (sp?), Pres. UMBC states he always recommends Southern Maryland, specifically Charles County as the best place to move to in Maryland
• Wade - suggests BOE monthly newsletter/input to paper on CCPS programs

REPORT - Board Members - What Counts Update

• MABE - Kitty Blumsack - about 20 people responded
• Wants board members to act as recorders
• color coded name labels and tables with 7 people each

REPORT - Board Members - Board Priorities Sub-Committee

• Abell - sub committee report categorized by need. #1 students, #2 Teachers and Staff, #3 Facilities/Budgetary, #4 completed or out of our control. How to proceed?
• Carrington - Requests a work session

REPORT - EACC - Report (Fisher)

• many conferences, conventions & trainings
• Recognize & appreciate BOE efforts with budget & contracts
• New officers
• Membership committee providing sessions for new teachers
• 8/22 EACC crab feast
• Congratulate Col. Wade regarding communicating with public

REPORT - Deputy Superintendent - Preparation for Fall Sports (no report) (Jan Johnson)

• every HS having parent meeting 4 each season & provide hand book with all rules & guidelines
• all students required physical examination; offer @ all HS @ minimal charge
• Hired a hydration/nutritionist
• New MPSSA ruling - out of season practice allowed. Coaches ARE able to work with HS athletes year round.
• AD's meet with all coaches; certified in AED & CPR & athletic injuries
• Summer conditioning provided at all HS
• NIAAA offering online courses for volunteer coaches for certification
• Lightening detectors
• SMAC pre-season meetings
• Security - great partnership with CCSO; provided at needed events
• Activity buses increase student participation
• Supervision of athletes before & after practice improving
• Bleachers inspected annually
• Field maintenance outstanding
• email notification of game cancellations
• thank you for allowing and budgeting for athletic trainers. Goal is 6, one for each HS
• Wise - CPR version?
• Johnson - all updated versions
• Wise - Lacrosse?
• Johnson - purchased equipment for every HS. Researching best way to implement for a successful program. Will have a program this spring.
• Wise - hydration/nutritionist frequency?
• Johnson - testing done at AD's request & teaches students self monitoring of urine
• Berringer - thank you for the physicals at the hs
• Pedersen - hydration needed throughout day when afternoon sports games. some schools don't allow water bottles to be carried throughout the day
• Johnson - educate students; unfortunately not all students fill them with water
• Carrington - require parents to attend hydration testing/education
• Johnson - parents already being asked to attend but not required
• Carrington - would like to see at least one of the coaches from that school
• Johnson - First priority but not always possible
• Abell - Under the impression activity buses were cut from budget
• Johnson - No, they are continuing but condensed some routes
• Abell - Athletic trainers implementation?
• Johnson - office hours with training room available to meet with students, parents and coaches upon request from any. Trained in injury prevention and treatment
• Abell - Summer conditioning offered at all high schools? communicated?
• Johnson - yes; announced throughout middle & high schools and coaches
• Abell - Reinforce the communication efforts that Westlake uses for all schools
• Abell - rescue squad at games?
• Johnson - yes

REPORT - Student Member Report (no report)

• 50 students attended SMECO conference
• 23 students to skill building workshop
• 10 middle and 10 high students to leadership workshop
• Oct CCASC meeting

REPORT - CIP - Report (Wineland)

• Neal - complete; mascot = Blue Crabs
• Somers - 99% complete; 4 months ahead of schedule
• Lackey - Duplex delivered
• NP - relocateables completed; handicap ramps will be installed
• Hope/Nanj - site prep for FDK
• Abell - Somers relocateables not needed now?
• Wineland - Will be moved out

REPORT - State CIP 2010 - Report (Wineland)

• Due to state 10/6; followed Master Plan
• Lots of information - see report; Action item next month

REPORT - New High School

• SHW - Jeffries (sp?) - presented at a Canada/USA superintendent meeting; boasted on Mr. Richmond

REPORT - Curriculum - SY09 Master Plan Annual Update

• Lots of information - See Report

REPORT - Curriculum - Summer Opportunities

• Again, lots of information - see report

REPORT - Curriculum - HSA Bridge Plan Summer Program (no report)

• We're first system in the state to offer the bridge plan; very successful
• students testimonials

REPORT - Budget - Classified Pension Plan Documents

• See report

REPORT - Human Resources - Staffing (no report)

• Critical shortage areas required additional recruiting
• Elementary - all hired
• Middle - Need 2 language arts & 2 Phys ed
• High - Need 1 math, 1 eng, 2 ROTC, 1 bio, 1 chem, 1 art, 1 family consumer science, 1 ??
• 3 Special ed/life skills
• House Keys for Employees - 5 home purchases
• increase in # of teachers coming to teach that are CCPS graduates
• increase in # of teachers coming in to teach with previous teaching experience

REPORT - Recurring Resolutions - Report

• Bailey - minor wording changes on three resolutions
• Cunningham - will correct and send in update

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Pedersen - Blue Ribbon Commission wants to meet with us

NEW BUSINESS

• Carrington - Priorities work session possible 8/25?
• Cunningham - Commissioner requests cost of graduations; $3,400 arena per school; $1,000 audio equipment per school; $3,000 spending allotment per school; $500 video allotment per school; $7,000 donation project graduation; $7,000 State Police total; $2,318 interpreters total; $17,980 transportation total
• possible NP; road ways not capable at this time. The only cost savings would be facility and decrease in transportation, all other costs remain
• Richmond - Senator Cardin has requested a tour of NP

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

• Abell - Requests review of Policy 8000 & 9336 again.

PUBLIC FORUM - Rules

• None

ACTION - Draft minutes of the June 10, 2008, regular Board meeting

Motion by Wise; Second by Cook
Yes - Unanimous

PASSED

ACTION - June 23, 2008, work session; Motions

Motion by Wise; Second by Cook
Abstain - Pedersen; Yes - Abell, Bailey, Carrington, Cook, Wade, Wise

PASSED

ACTION - Personnel

Motion by Carrington; Second by Pedersen

Yes - Unanimous

PASSED

ACTION - Ethics Regulation Amendment

Motion by Wise; Second by Pederen

Yes - Unanimous

PASSED

The Biggest Issue

New York Times
Op-Ed Columnist
By DAVID BROOKS
Published: July 29, 2008

Why did the United States become the leading economic power of the 20th century? The best short answer is that a ferocious belief that people have the power to transform their own lives gave Americans an unparalleled commitment to education, hard work and economic freedom.

Between 1870 and 1950, the average American’s level of education rose by 0.8 years per decade. In 1890, the average adult had completed about 8 years of schooling. By 1900, the average American had 8.8 years. By 1910, it was 9.6 years, and by 1960, it was nearly 14 years.

As Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz describe in their book, “The Race Between Education and Technology,” America’s educational progress was amazingly steady over those decades, and the U.S. opened up a gigantic global lead. Educational levels were rising across the industrialized world, but the U.S. had at least a 35-year advantage on most of Europe. In 1950, no European country enrolled 30 percent of its older teens in full-time secondary school. In the U.S., 70 percent of older teens were in school.

America’s edge boosted productivity and growth. But the happy era ended around 1970 when America’s educational progress slowed to a crawl. Between 1975 and 1990, educational attainments stagnated completely. Since then, progress has been modest. America’s lead over its economic rivals has been entirely forfeited, with many nations surging ahead in school attainment.

Read more HERE

Education as a Civil Rights Issue

New York Times
Published: August 1, 2008

Civil rights groups have begun a welcome attack on a House bill that would temporarily exempt the states from the all-important accountability requirements in the No Child Left Behind Act, which was signed into law in 2002. The attack, led by powerful groups like the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, was unexpected, given that the nation’s two big teachers’ unions actually hold seats on the conference’s executive committee. Recent events suggest that the civil rights establishment generally is ready to break with the teachers’ unions and take an independent stand on education reform.

Despite innocuous packaging, the House bill looks very much like a stealth attempt to gut the national school accountability effort. Introduced by Representatives Sam Graves, a Missouri Republican, and Timothy Walz, a Democrat from Minnesota who is a former teacher, it is supported by the National Education Association, the influential teachers’ union that has been trying to kill off No Child Left Behind for years.

The bill, which is unlikely to pass, would permit the states to ignore the parts of the law that require them to pursue corrective actions at failing schools. That would encourage lassitude in states and districts that have already dragged their feet for too long. It would sap the energy of states that have shown clear progress since the law was passed and are eager to move forward. Once stopped, the reform effort could take years to get moving again.

Read more HERE

Open Thread Sunday!

"Open Thread" is a place for you to tell me what you would like to see on this site. What can I do to make it more user-friendly, topics you would like to see discussed in the future, questions or concerns. If I missed your questions on another thread, please direct me to them here.

So here you go, give me your feedback.

Summer Often Spells No Vacation From Homework

Some Educators Rethinking Workload

By Donna St. George
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 5, 2008; Page A01

Issie Griffith conquered two novels and a 100-page math packet on a recent summer break. So this year, the 12-year-old was ready for her latest load of vacation homework: four books to read, each with written summaries, preparation for the rigors of sixth grade.

Now it is just a matter of finishing it up as the days of summer dwindle.

"I have a lot to go," said Issie, who spent many hours this summer at the pool, with friends, and at tennis and acting camps. Still, she said, "I know I'm going to get it done."

For Issie and many other students across the Washington region, summer homework is as familiar as fireworks in July and back-to-school shopping in August. Often, it goes far beyond the summer reading list that some of their parents remember from childhood. First-graders solve math problems. Middle schoolers create plot summaries. High school students pore over Shakespeare, Dickens and Twain.

Lately this modern rite of the season is under increased scrutiny as many educators rethink how much summer homework students should get, whether it should be required, and how it is related to classroom lessons.

Read more HERE

"What Counts?" Update

I know of several individuals requested to be a part of this event through me and have not confirmed their attendance as of yet. If you received an invitation to attend this event, please respond to CCPS (301-934-7224 or kstubblefield@ccboe.com ) ASAP.

CCPS PRESS RELEASE

What do you think counts in education? The Board of Education wants to know.

"What Counts" is the topic for discussion at a community forum set for Thursday, Sept. 4, 7-9 p.m., in the Maurice J. McDonough High School cafeteria. McDonough is located in Pomfret.

Invitations have been sent out to a cross-section of county residents to ensure well-rounded participation, but the public is invited to attend and participate as well.

The goal of the forum is simple. Board members want to learn what Charles County residents think counts in education and explore how the effectiveness and quality of public schools should be measured. The Board hopes to engage participants in small round-table discussions about what the community wants from its public schools.

Col. Donald Wade, chairman of the Board of Education, said, "The forum is to hear everyone who has opinions on what their expectations of schools are, especially in these times of high accountability and state-mandated testing. Beyond high test scores, what do people think makes a good school system? Is it college matriculation, advanced courses, small classes, quality facilities or advanced technology? We hope to find out during this forum and to use this information as we set our direction for the next three to five years."

Participants will be asked to fill out a handout listing quality school characteristics and be placed in small groups of six to 10 people. After each person has made their individual selections, a facilitator will ask participants to share their rationale for their selections. Each group will have to decide on the top eight most important indicators, with a rational for each.

Following the forum, a summary report will be provided to each public school and each participant. Additionally, the Board will share the report with local leaders and business owners and post it on the Charles County Public Schools Web site.

Anyone who would like to participate in the forum should call or e-mail Kessandra Stubblefield, executive assistant to the Board, at 301-934-7224 or kstubblefield@ccboe.com.

"We hope people will join us and let us know what counts," Wade said.

Fairfax Fed Up With Lunch-Line Thieves

$1 Million Loss Leads to Security Cameras in School Cafeterias

By Michael Alison Chandler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 4, 2008; Page A01

For the first time, video cameras will monitor Fairfax County high school cafeterias this fall to keep students from pilfering chicken wraps or veggie burgers in the lunch line.

The region's largest school system is turning to video surveillance, already widely used on school buses and outside school buildings, to combat what officials say has become a pervasive problem: food theft. The school system's food and nutrition services department estimated that $1.2 million worth of prepared food was lifted from cafeterias in the past school year.

Board members decided last month that they could no longer swallow such losses, given a $150 million school budget shortfall and rising food prices. They approved a one-year tryout for cafeteria cameras at Annandale, Mount Vernon and Westfield high schools and Lake Braddock, Robinson and South County secondary schools.

Penny McConnell, director of food and nutrition services, said she hopes the cameras will curb theft and send a message to students that stealing from the cafeteria is no less serious than shoplifting from a store. "I would hate for them to make this a habit and take it into the community," she said. "They could get themselves into some serious situations that could impact their futures."

Read more HERE