The State Board of Education (SBE) received additional feedback on its ESSA plan from the U.S. Department of Education and discussed the possibility of changing the calculations for ACT Work Keys and Math Course Rigor in the School Accountability Model. Mr. Eric Davis, SBE Chair of the Student Learning and Achievement Committee, presented a motion at Thursday's meeting to approve the staff’s recommended change, which was then unanimously approved by the Board. The Board also approved the following reports to the North Carolina General Assembly:

1.   ISD - Research findings from independent research organization

2.   Life Changing Experiences School Pilot Program

3.   Consolidated report on School Discipline, Violence and Dropouts

4.   AP/IB/Campbridge AICE Teacher Bonus Program

5.   Charter School Transportation Grant Pilot Program

6.   Clarify Career and College-Ready Graduates

7.   Cooperative Innovative High School Funding Changes

8.   Evaluation of Innovative High School Programs

9.   Teacher Bonus Programs for 2017-2018

10. Improve Education Financial and Information Transparency

11. Cursive Writing and Multiplication Tables

The final reports submitted to the General Assembly can be accessed here.

Educator Preparation Commission Meeting 

On Friday, February 23, the Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) met to propose licensure policy changes to the State Board of Education that reflect recent changes in NC General Statutes. This commission, which was created by SB 599, developed policy recommendations that would clarify the law for all NC educators. The Commission's recommendations were presented to the State Board of Education for discussion at its March 2018 meeting.  Action by the State Board of Education on the recommendations is expected at its April 2018 meeting.  The Commission is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, March 8 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at which time they will continue their work aligning licensure policy with law. The public may access all PEPSC meeting materials, including those policies presented at this week's State Board of Education meeting, on the SBE Meetings page.  

Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Committee on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities met Thursday, March 1, during which several presentations were heard by committee members.  The topic centered around the transitioning of this student population out of the K-12 education system.  Tara K. Myers and Dave Richard presented on supporting transitions from K-12 education into post-secondary programs or the workforce. In addition, John Nash and Duncan Reid gave a presentation emphasizing the importance of employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Autism Society of North Carolina also presented, highlighting the difficulties of transitioning to adulthood and the workforce for individuals with autism. This committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, March 28 and links to this week’s presentations can be found here.

Rockingham County Considers Opt in School Safety Program 

In 2013, the General Assembly created an optional Volunteer School Safety Resource Officer Program in an effort to increase safety in the North Carolina schools. Following the recent tragedy in Florida, local officials announced in Rockingham County on Wednesday they are considering the viability of creating this for their community and in doing so, their initiative would be the first of its kind. This program allows for schools to create a volunteer position for "special deputies."  These volunteers must be former law enforcement officers or military personnel, and they must be approved by law enforcement agencies to fill this position. Earlier this month, Speaker Tim Moore formed a House Select Committee on School Safety which aims to meet in March to identify short and long-term steps to protect NC schools. 

See this link for a complete list of bills impacting K-12 education.