|
To: District Superintendents
From: Jennifer Patterson, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Teaching, Learning
and Assessment
Date: August 17, 2021
RE: 2020-21 Division 22 Standards Assurances
Dear Superintendents,
Thank you for your leadership and your steadfast commitment to serving the students, staff, and families in your community. We know you are in the midst of preparing to welcome staff, students, and families back to school for the 2021-22 school year. We are reaching out to you now regarding the required Division 22 Standards Assurances process so you can plan accordingly to meet the November deadlines.
This past school year presented unprecedented challenges in the face of continuously changing conditions and subsequent shifts to policy and guidance. We recognize the flexibility and responsiveness demonstrated by Oregon educators and share their commitment to Oregon’s students. While COVID-19 necessitated a shift in some priorities, in large part the requirements outlined in Division 22 remained in place during the 2020-21 school year. As we continue to navigate a dynamic educational landscape, it is essential that we keep the Division 22 foundations at the forefront of our work.
Each year, districts report on their compliance with Division 22 Standards to their community by presenting a report to the School Board. This annual practice is one way we publicly commit to providing a high-quality educational experience for students in our care. It provides an opportunity for school districts to demonstrate compliance with rigorous standards, reflect on areas in need of attention and alignment, and plan for how to address them. As part of our shared responsibility to provide quality service for our students and communities, this system promotes reciprocal accountability between school districts and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
To support districts in preparing for the upcoming Assurances Process, this communication provides updates and reminders on the following topics:
- Changes to the Assurances Process
- Division 22 Rule Waivers and Modifications for the 2020-21 School Year
- Fall 2021 Division 22 Standards Assurances Timeline
- Resources and Support
Changes to the Assurances Process
On June 3, 2021 ODE notified superintendents regarding the changes to OAR 581-022-2305 District Assurances of Compliance with Public School Standards that were adopted by the State Board of Education in May 2021. There are four major changes to the assurances process set forth in the revised rule:
- The timeline for districts to submit their annual Division 22 Standards Assurances shifts permanently from February to November.
- The rule explicitly states that assurances are made for the preceding school year.
- The rule includes clear language indicating that the district is reporting to the community (not just the school board) and that the report should be made “by presenting the report to the school board of the district in an oral presentation at an open public meeting, allowing for public comment, and by posting the report on the district’s webpage.”
- All districts are required to use the same report template for reporting to the community.
On July 26, 2021, we sent an update that included two new resources designed to support districts in completing reports that are accurate, informative, and clear. The feedback we received on the draft of the Community Report Template was positive and there were no suggested revisions. A final version is now posted on ODE’s Division 22 webpage, where you can download it in English. Translated versions of the template will be available by September 1, 2021. The other new resource we developed is an internal tracking sheet that districts can use to gather and record information on compliance with each rule. This resource is also posted on the Division 22 webpage. While not required, we do recommend using the internal tracking sheet when preparing your reports, as it contains embedded links for each of the rules and a summary column that includes italicized notes regarding all changes and/or waivers of the Division 22 OARs; these changes were set forth in OAR 581-022-0104 State Standards for the 2020-21 School Year.
Division 22 Rule Waivers and Modifications for the
2020-21 School Year
All changes and waivers to the Division 22 standards for the 2020-21 school year are set out in OAR 581-022-0104: State Standards for the 2020-21 School Year. We have included a summary below; however, districts should refer to the text of OAR 581-022-0104 for specific details.
The following rules were waived in their entirety:
Modifications were made to the following rules as described below:
-
581-022-2000 Diploma Requirements and 581-022-2010 Modified Diploma: Diploma requirements for essential skills, education plan and profile, extended application, and career related learning experiences were waived.
-
581-022-2220 Health Services: Required vision and hearing screenings were waived.
-
581-022-2263 Physical Education Requirements: While specific grade level time requirements were waived, each public school student in kindergarten through grade eight should have received physical education throughout the entire school year.
-
581-022-2320 Required Instructional Time: Districts were allowed to include in the calculation of required instructional time up to an additional 60 hours for staff professional development and up to an additional 60 hours for parent teacher communication to facilitate student learning, including parent teacher conferences, training, and support for distance learning. This allowance is in addition to the 30 hours allowed under OAR 581-022-2320(6)(d) and (e), respectively.
-
581-022-2350 Independent Adoptions of Instructional Materials: Districts that use digital content as core curriculum for a course of study or any part thereof must complete an independent adoption of the digital instructional materials. If districts did not do this process in the 2020-21 school year, they will need to indicate this in their Division 22 reporting in November 2021, and complete the process to resolve this non-compliance. Districts must provide their local school board with the information in sections 1 through 7 of OAR 581-022-2350 to inform the local school board’s review and independent adoption of instructional materials.
Fall 2021 Division 22 Standards Assurances Timeline
This is the annual Division 22 Standards Assurances timeline and process:
-
By November 1, 2021: School district superintendents report to their local School Board the district’s compliance with all Division 22 Standards in effect for the 2020-21 school year. ODE also recommends that superintendents inform School Boards if there have been any recent changes in policy or practice that may result in the district being out of compliance with any of the Division 22 Standards during the current school year (2021-22).
-
By November 1, 2021: School districts post the Community Report on Compliance with Public School Standards to their websites.
-
By November 15, 2021: School districts complete and submit the annual, online ODE Division 22 Standards Assurance Form (to be provided by ODE no later than September 1, 2021).
By completing the Assurances process, school districts are certifying:
-
First, that the school district presented its annual Report on Compliance with Public School Standards to the local School Board in an oral presentation at an open public meeting by November 1, 2021 and that the School Board acknowledged receipt of the report.
-
Second, that the school district posted its annual Report on Compliance with Public School Standards on the school district’s website by November 1, 2021.
-
Third, that the school district indicated its compliance status for each of the Division 22 Standards in effect for the 2020-21 school year by November 15, 2021.
The Assurances Form will ask school districts to review each standard and indicate whether the district was in compliance, out of compliance, or implementing corrective action during the 2020-21 school year. If the school district did not meet a given standard, the school district must describe why the school district is out of compliance and explain the school district’s proposed plan to come into compliance with the rule(s) by the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. ODE will review the school district’s submission, and if the school district did not meet one or more standards, ODE will consider the school district’s proposed plan to come into compliance and provide guidance and technical assistance in support of the school district’s plan. In this process, school districts and ODE work together to ensure full compliance with the Division 22 Standards to maintain full eligibility for state school funding.
Resources and Support
To support school districts in completing the Assurances process, ODE will provide the following resources:
-
Community Report Template (Report on Compliance with Public School Standards) that meets WCAG 2.0 accessibility criteria (Please note: Districts are required to use this template provided by ODE. Translated versions of the template will also be provided.)
-
Online Submission Form that school districts must use to submit their assurances to ODE
-
Report and Submission Form Instructions that explain how to complete the required Community Report Template and how to submit assurances to ODE through the online submission form
-
School Board Presentation Template that can be customized in order to communicate changes to Division 22 and to share the district’s Report on Compliance with Public School Standards with the School Board
-
Internal Tracking Sheet that districts can use to gather and record information on compliance with each rule
ODE will post these resources on the Division 22 webpage no later than September 1, 2021.
In addition, ODE will be offering multiple options for districts to access support for the Assurances process beginning in early September. These include a recorded video tutorial and drop-in office hours. More detailed information about these opportunities will be forthcoming.
Thank you for your continued efforts to honor and uphold the Division 22 Standards. If you have any questions or are in need of additional support, we are happy to assist you. Please direct questions regarding the Division 22 Standards Assurances process to Division22@ode.state.or.us or call Susan Payne, Education Standards & Systems Specialist, at (503) 580-6814.
|
