by  Chuck Bennett, Director of Governmental Relations

Yesterday, ODE released a series of rule drafts aimed at hearings and adoption by the State Board of Education over the next eight months. We’ve had several questions from superintendents about the list and the context of them. Bottom line is that there are no major changes in rules not expected from legislation passed in the last Session. Below is a summary and timeline.

You will notice that there are no plans to do rulemaking on the Inter-District Transfer Law (HB 3681) that passed last Session. Cindy Hunt at ODE, the author of the rules listed blow, has determined that the best way to handle issues around the new law is through an FAQ (frequently asked questions). Several districts or groups of districts have sent Cindy their questions and COSA has been compiling others that come our way. If you have questions please send them to Cindy Hunt or me and we’ll get them into the mix.

Topping the list coming out of ODE yesterday was a set of rule changes seeking comment by November 1. Here’s a synopsis of the rules under review:

Set for hearing on October 26 at ODE with public comment open until November 1:

• OAR 581-033-1133 – Extended Diploma – allows a student to either receive their diploma by four years (or sooner) after entering grade 9 or by the time they reach 21 years of age. It sets out consent requirements and reporting requirements on the number of students seeking the diplomas under the rule.
• OAR 581-022-1134 – Modified Diploma – sets out consent requirements similar to the previous rule and then adds a substantial new section on district obligations to students seeking modified diplomas including: comparable instruction hours and services to those students attending the public high school; IEP team responsibilities; notice requirements to parents; and a requirement that districts have on-site access to resources for students seeking modified diplomas.
• OAR 581-022-1135 – Alternative Certificate – again set out consent requirements similar to the other two rules being heard, sets out requirements for comparable instructional  hours, IEP team involvement, notice to parents and on-site resources as the above modified diploma rule.

Public comments are due to ODE on the following rules by November 1 (note that no public hearing has been set on these and there won’t be one unless there is a need reflected in public comments):

• There are a series of rules covering requirements under SB 800, the Mandate Relief Bill passed in the last Session of the Legislature. Here are the highlights of the rules: requirements for annual financial reporting by charter schools to ODE and sponsors; repeal of interscholastic activity districts and rules around their activities, and appeals process; new requirements on the transfer of student education records including notice requirements between the students former school and their new school;  allowing districts to provide written, emailed or web based copies of state required performance reports; a rule adding school library programs to the programs eligible for School Improvement Funds;  and repealing the reporting requirements under the SIF.
• OAR 581-015-2570, 2571, 2572, 2573 and 2574 – Long-Term Care and Treatment – does some work on definitions, primarily substituting current definitions of “state agency” with references to public and private entities and a child’s parent as well as specifically referencing the Oregon Department of Human Services. The rules also deal with program eligibility and approval requirements, and the funding formula.
• 581-020-0342, 0343, 0339 – On-line Charter Schools -- follows legislation in HB 2301 and repeals 0339 on attendance rules and then outlines the new rules for on-line schools in the other two rules.  0342 outlines the enrollment rules around on-line charter schools including parental notice, possible school district responses and timelines. New to the rule is the ability of a district to deny on-line education to student because the district has reached a point where three percent of its students have already enrolled in an on-line school. It gives some guidance on how to calculate the 3% by saying the district is only required to use data that is reasonably available to the district and then gives examples of sources for information that can be used to calculate total student population in a district.  0343 outlines a student’s appeal process if they are denied enrollment at an on-line charter school.
• OAR 581-023-0015 – Remote Small Elementary Schools and Small High School Weightings -- allows a small elementary school to qualify as remote and therefore receive more funds if it is not within 8 miles of another elementary school in the same school district.  This change in state law and reflected in this rule allows 22 more elementary schools in the state to qualify for remote funding.
• OAR 581-022-1720, 1723, 1724 and 1725 – Personnel Policies, Evaluation, Teaching and Administrative Standards – This set of OARs cover the changes made in SB 290. Basically the new rules set up standards for evaluation of teachers and administrators statewide. The basic standards for both teachers and administrators are based on national models --- for administrators the standards are found in the Educational Leadership Constituents Council Administrator Standards and the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium Standards. For teachers similar national standards are published by the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium in its core teaching standards. The same standards are used by TSPC. Evaluations are to begin statewide in July 2013.  The new law also requires that the standards be customized by each district based on collaborative efforts of teachers and administrators and the bargaining agent for teachers. The rules also follow the statute in outlining the basic components of the process.
• OAR 581-023-0040 – School Transportation – updates school bus regulations and funding formula.

The rulemaking announcement also set a series of public hearings next year on a series of rules:

• Jan. 6 – OAR 581-020-0345 – Timeline Extensions for Charter Approvals and Renewals – allows the superintendent of public instruction to grant extensions requested by a school district for charter approval or renewal process.  OAR 581-020-0421 – Safety of School Sports, Concussions – adds psychologists license by the Board of Psychologist Examiners to the list of health care professionals who can grant releases in cases of concussion allowing the student to again participate in sports.
• Jan 26 – OAR 581-053-0002, 0006 – Pupil Transportation and Bus Driver Training and Certification.
• Feb. 23 – OAR 581-015-0610 – State Assessment – outlines changes in administration of the OAKS and ELPA tests.
• March 23 – OAR 581-015-2950 – Sets 176 minimum days for students under the Youth Corrections Education Program and Juvenile Corrections Education Program.  OAR 581-001-0005 – Adopts the AG’s model rules of procedure for special education complaint evaluations.
• May 25 – OAR-022-0615 – Assessment of Essential Skills –sets up rules for meeting proficiency requirements in essential skills. It outlines district responsibilities in setting up these evaluation plans.

by Craig Hawkins

My friend Kent Hunsaker is retiring this week.  

After more than four decades of service to Oregon schools and students, he says he’s ready.  He says it’s time.  But, after 28 years of working with Kent, I confess that I am having a little trouble seeing it.

It’s not hard to picture Kent relishing the extra time he gets to spend with his wife, Jody; their three children (Rex, Allison and Angela) and their spouses; and their grandchildren.  It’s not hard to picture Kent enjoying additional opportunities to travel and visit with friends.  And, of course, it’s not hard to picture Kent taking pleasure in having plenty of time to work on his golf game.

But, as I mentioned, having worked with Kent since 1983, it is kind of hard for me to picture him in retirement.  Kent began his career as a math teacher in Oakridge in 1967.  He was later promoted to assistant principal at Oakridge High School, and then became principal at Pleasant Hill Junior High School in 1977.  Kent got his first superintendent’s job at Yamhill-Carlton in 1979, at the age of 34.  In 1982, he moved to Creswell, and then in 1987, he became only the third superintendent in the history of Bethel School District.  Kent stayed in Bethel for 17 years, where his leadership helped to transform the district, both educationally and perceptually.  Bethel generated tremendous gains in community support during Kent’s tenure, leading to the construction of three new schools.

In 2004, Kent succeeded Ozzie Rose, becoming just the second executive director of COSA.  Under his stewardship, COSA has expanded and enhanced its professional development program, and reinforced its standing as a respected and effective statewide advocate for schools.  Among his many accomplishments, Kent has trained a generation of administrators in school finance.

Everywhere Kent has been – every school, every district, every community, every organization – is better off because of his leadership.  At every stop in his career, Kent created a glass-is-at-least-half-full environment, where all people were good, and by working together they could accomplish great things.  Over the years, my colleagues and I have often referred to that environment as “Kent’s World."

Kent’s World is a magical place, where Kent’s outlook on life casts a spell over all of those fortunate enough to live there.  In Kent’s World, all students are gifted, all employees are talented, all spouses are beautiful (or handsome), all families are wonderful, and everyone is a scratch golfer.

In Kent’s World, we always see the best in everyone – and we never, ever, utter a bad word about anyone.  True story: I worked with Kent for more than 15 years before I heard him say something negative about someone.  And that person really deserved it.  And what he said wasn’t all that negative.  And it hasn’t happened again.

In Kent’s World, schools improve.  Student performance increases.  Teachers and classified employees trust administrators and school boards.  And parents and communities support their schools.

Early on, I thought Kent was just a really, really blessed guy.  I mean, look at the life he’s led.  Look at his family.  Look at his career.  Look at his golf game, and his history as an athlete (he was a quarterback and shooting guard at Utah State, where he played in two NCAA tournaments).  But after a few years, I came to understand that Kent’s World didn’t just occur by happy accident.  It was a place, an attitude and an atmosphere created, intentionally, by Kent.  Sure, it was magic.  But the magic required a potion, and that potion required certain ingredients – and Kent has been a master mixologist.

I have been witness to that magical potion for 28 years now.  Marveling at it, and studying it.  Breaking it down.  Measuring it.  Calculating the balance and blend of ingredients.  I don’t pretend to have it entirely figured out, but I think I can describe some of the essential ingredients in Kent’s potion.  Among them (in no particular order) are:

• Be open and honest with your staff – all of them, including teachers and classified employees – and your community, especially about money.  Give them a voice, and listen to what they have to say.  Process important decisions with them.  In return, they will feel they have a stake in decisions and outcomes.
• Surround yourself with talented, dedicated people.  Offer guidance as necessary, but trust them to do their jobs.
• Always be forthright with your Board, especially about money, even when they may not like the answer.  Provide information, without “spin.”
• Invest confidence in those around you.  Most will thrive on it, and strive to justify your confidence.
• Make your organization as “flat” as possible.  Include everyone.  Value all people.  Strive for equity.  Promote diversity.
• If you make a mistake, take responsibility for it.  Then develop a plan to fix it.  And never make that mistake again.
• Treat your leadership team – your administrative team – like they are your most important asset and audience.  Because they are.
• Never, ever say a bad word about anyone.  And always believe the best in people.  

Positivity.  Trust.  Confidence.  Honesty.  Inclusivity.  Openness.  Accountability.  The key values in Kent’s World speak volumes about him and his legacy, and they provide us with the essential ingredients for our “potion” as we go forward.

It has been a privilege to work and live in Kent’s World for the past 28 years. And, even though we will find ways to keep him connected to COSA and COSA members, we will miss him.

Please join me in wishing Kent and Jody a long and healthy and happy retirement.

by Chuck Bennett, Director of Governmental Relations

The Legislature is moving rapidly toward adjournment -- perhaps as early as next week. There are a number of issues of interest to COSA members still on the table.

COSA continues to advocate actively for SB 909, the governor’s education investment board and SB 552, which makes the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s position an appointed one.

Here’s a look at some of the more controversial bills (final versions of these bills only became available Thursday evening). They are currently moving toward final votes in the House and Senate:

SB 250 – This is the ESD bill. The final version moving forward would make a number of changes in ESD policy. One of the biggest changes would be a cut in ESD funding by trimming its share of the State School Fund from 4.75 to 4.5 percent. That’s a reduction of about $15 million for the ESDs and an addition of $14.5 for school districts statewide. A half million dollars is being allocated for a new office at ODE to analyze regional service delivery systems. The bill also includes a provision allowing districts in Willamette, Northwest Regional, Multnomah and the Baker portion of Intermountain ESDs to opt out of the ESD and take 90% of their total funding including state and local funds with them.

SB 248 – Creates a full-day kindergarten option for districts beginning in 2015 and allows districts to claim a full weight ADM for those students. Between now and then, districts offering full-day K can continue to charge tuition.

HB 2301 – This bill deals with on-line charter schools by removing the requirement that 50% of the on-line students must come from the chartering district and allowing the schools to recruit up to 3% of any district’s student population into their on-line schools.

HB 3645 – This one adds community colleges, higher education institutions and the Oregon Health Sciences University as entities able to approve charter schools. The change is done by including the post secondary institutions as alternatives to the State Board of Education as entities that can deal with appeals from charter applicants denied by local school boards. The bill also allows charter applicants to rewrite the applications for the appeal to higher education institutions.  The higher education charters also will receive 90 and 95% of the State School Fund distribution. Community colleges will be able to try to opt out of the system by proving that accepting a charter is not in line with their education goals for the institution.

HB 3681 – Inter-district transfers of students is the topic in this bill. It will begin in the 2012-13 school year and require students to apply for transfer to another district by April 1. Basically permission need only come from the receiving district. The big changes in the current system will be new mandates on districts that elect to receive student transfers. It begins with districts writing a policy to receive students, identify slots in specific schools for them, make those slots available first to students inside their own district, establish an equitable lottery system that creates an open enrollment for all students seeking admission to the district, and accept students with IEPs developed by their home district.  Or, if that’s too much, districts can decide not to accept any inter-district transfers. The whole system would sunset in 2017 but districts would have to keep students they have accepted during the program.

COSA has actively opposed earlier iterations of the three House Bills – 2301, 3645 and 3681 – and encouraged substantial amendments. Members of the Legislature have been actively seeking local educators advice on these various bills and we encourage you to make contact with your members of the House or Senate and share your views on them. If you need any further information please don’t hesitate to contact me by email or phone – chuck@cosa.k12.or.us or 503-551-3055.

by Craig Hawkins, Communications Director

The 37th Annual COSA Professional Development Conference & Expo is now just a few weeks away, so this is a great time to begin firming up plans for Seaside.

The conference, themed “Leading the Way: Investing, Inspiring and Innovating for Oregon’s Future,” is set for June 22-24 and promises three full days of outstanding professional development for Oregon school leaders.  And, whether you are able to come for the entire conference, or just a single day, we have an enriching and affordable options available.  Register today.

Check out the conference agenda and session lineup, and you will see that each day in Seaside offers tremendous learning and growth opportunities:

- Wednesday, June 22 will feature the annual Special Education Pre-Conference, plus the ESEA/ODE Odyssey School Improvement Conference on federal programs. 

- Thursday, June 23 will offer nationally-acclaimed keynote speakers Yong Zhao and Jennifer James, dozens of best practices breakout sessions from many of Oregon’s leader educators, plus much more 

- Friday, June 24 will include two keynote presentations – Rick Stiggins on formative assessment and grading, and Nancy Golden on the governor’s education agenda – plus more breakout sessions, a special Apple iPad session, and a special farewell to COSA Executive Director Kent Hunsaker.

Of course, events like the COSA Presidents Reception on Wednesday night, and Family Fun Night on Thursday, are also planned.  And more than 80 education exhibitors will be on hand throughout the conference.

So, please take a few moments to plan and to make sure you get the most out of your COSA Annual Conference experience.

We hope to see you in Seaside in just a few weeks.