Joint Education Committee – September 9, 2009
Posted on September 9th, 2009
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Location: Room 171, State Capitol
Agenda: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/Lists/Meetings/Attachments/12070/I7771.pdf
Attachments: none
This committee reviews matters pertaining to public kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and adult education, vocational education, vocational-technical schools, vocational rehabilitation, higher education, private educational institutions, similar legislation, and resolutions germane to the subject matter of the committee.(House Rules 62.1)
10:02 am – Meeting called to order by Sen. Jimmy Jeffress.
10:03 am – We welcome a new committee staff person that replaces a recently retired committee staff person. Jaunita Giles replaces the retiring Patricia Laughter.
10:04 am – Richard Wilson is providing an update on the adequacy survey and the impact of the fiscal session on the procedure. See the information here for more information. This process should result in a “tweaking” of the matrix by adjusting the various numbers in the matrix. Any activity that pulls numbers out of the matrix or puts additional items in the matrix that impact other values in the matrix will need to be carefully considered so as not to impact the Supreme Courts declaration of adequacy.
10:12 am – Mr. James Boardman, Assistant Commissioner for Reseach and Technology in the Arkansas Department of Education is currently providing an update on the Longitudinal Tracking System. He is talking about the development of electronic transcripts. This allows for a smooth transfer of students and also aids in student advising upon college entry. Apparently our data system is one of the better ones in the countries.
10:29 am – Lots of discussion about the data collection, mostly just technical blah blah. But one thing caught my attention, the data will begin to be used to evaluate performance metrics to determine if a particular policy is effective in improving student accomplishment.
10:34 am – The data system discovered that there were 5000 duplication of students. Sen. Kim Hendren points out that 5000 students at about $7000 each funding from the state resulting in about $35 million dollars annually going where it should not have. He asked where did that money go. The answer was that the system used to not be able to check for that and that the money was probably recieved legally, but now the new system will stop this.
10:39 am – Coming soon! hive.arkansas.gov — This will provide information to parents, teachers, school districts, universities, and businesses on the performance of the various school districts.
10:43 am – Rep. Rainey is asking about training for the data analysis. Mr. Boardman said that the data will be charted and graphed to improve ability to analyze the data, but he believes that teachers need to access the data to meet their particular needs rather than have the DOE analyze it for them.
10:55 am – Debbie Coffman, Education Associate Director for Professoinal Development at the Arkansas Department of Education is providing an update on the On-Line Professional Development Program. Apparently some school districts do not use the IDEAS system for the required 60 hours of professional development.
11:05 am – Rep. Abernathy is concerned that school districts are not spending funds given to them for professional development . He asked for additional metrics to evaluate the situation.
11:14 am – Mr. Bill Goff, Assistant Commissioner for Fiscal and Administrative Services at the Arkansas Department of Education is providing an update on the AR DOE’s Fiscal Distress Program and Academic Distress Program.
11:24 am – We are currently reviewing the proposed rules identifying and governing the Arkansas Fiscal Assessment adn Accountablity Program. These should be eventually be posted here: http://arkansased.org/rules/rules_pending.html
11:38 am – Next meeting will be in Jasper in Newton County. Meeting adjourned.
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