January 2008

Blue Ribbon Commissions Present Recommendations

Charter Schools
The Blue Ribbon Commission on Charters Schools presented their findings to the Joint Education Oversight Committee on January 9. The Commission recommended that the State Board of Education (SBE) seek legislative authority to increase the cap on charter schools by 6 per year. In addition, the Commission recommended excluding from counting toward the cap high performing charter schools and the first charter school in a county that currently does not have one. The Commission also recommended developing a more diagnostic process of oversight to enable a more timely response to poor-performing schools.

SBE Chairman Howard Lee and Commission Chairman Michael Fedewa, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Raleigh, took questions from legislators. Many legislators expressed concern that there has not been enough collaboration between charter schools designed as “schools of innovation” and traditional public schools. Other legislators pointed out the significant fiscal impact charter schools can have on traditional schools.

Testing and Accountability
The Blue Ribbon Commission on Testing and Accountability also presented their 27 recommendations to the Committee. The Commission recommended ending standardized writing tests in grades 4, 7 and 10 and an 8th-grade computer literacy test. High school tests in physical science, chemistry and physics also would no longer be a part of the testing accountability program, according to the Commission. A 9th-grade English test would be replaced with one for the 10th grade.

SBE Chairman Howard Lee said a board subcommittee would review both commission's findings and recommend to the full board which recommendations should be made into new policies. Some changes would have to be approved by the General Assembly.

Statewide Professional Development Network Recommended

The State Board of Education and University of North Carolina- General Administration Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership recommended a state network of high-quality professional development opportunities for school executives.

The Ad Hoc Committee on School Leadership outlined recommendations to establish a statewide center for professional development that would be housed in the Department of Public Instruction. LEAs, colleges and universities, and the private sector would serve in an advisory capacity to the statewide center.

Further recommendations suggest that the professional development be built on the new standards for school executives, which were adopted by the State Board of Education in December of 2006. The Committee emphasized the need to customize the professional development to the personal and professional growth needs of school leaders.

This item will be placed on SBE’s action agenda for the February meeting.

Congress Moratorium on School-Based Medicaid Cuts

President Bush signed S. 2499, The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP extension Act of 2007, which includes a six-month moratorium provision that would prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from taking any action to limit Medicaid reimbursements to schools for administration and transportation services to students.  

This action constitutes a significant win for school board members and others in the education community that have been lobbying hard to prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from finalizing a proposed rule (CMS-2287-P) that would eliminate federal payments to schools for administration and transportation services provided to low-income students and students with disabilities.

The legislation effectively imposes a six-month delay on any action by the Administration to restrict payments to schools in these areas.  While the provision is only temporary (it will expire on June 30, 2008), it is a significant step in the right direction.  NSBA hopes to build on this show of support, particularly by the Senate Finance Committee, to obtain a permanent solution to the problem next year.

In addition, the bill extends the current State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) through March 31, 2009, and provides adequate funding to States for the purpose of maintaining their current enrollment through that date. Despite this 2009 deadline, Congress is expected to continue working on a compromise bill that would expand the program in 2008. The latest attempt to increase eligibility to an additional four million children, H.R. 3963, was vetoed by President Bush on December 12, 2007.

On Capitol Hill—FY 2008 Funding Update

President Bush signed the consolidated appropriations bill for FY 2008 on December 26, 2007.  The funding bill (H.R. 2764) provides increases for key programs including Title I, IDEA, and teacher quality grants. 

Specifically, the bill provides approximately $14 billion for Title I grants, which reflects an increase of about $1.2 billion.  Title I School Improvement grants will be funded at $491 million, an increase of $366 million from FY 2007.  The funding level for IDEA Part B grants (special education) is roughly $11 billion, which includes a $259 million increase.  The measure provides an increase of about $73 million for Teacher quality grants; total funding is $2.96 billion.  Funding for education technology grants is also continued at $267.5 million.

We will provide additional details about FY 2008 appropriations as soon as possible.

Special Training: Spring Forward with Local Wellness Policy

Mar. 11, Raleigh
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North Carolina School Boards Association
Mailing: PO Box 97877, Raleigh, NC 27624-7877
Street: 7208 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC 27615
Phone: 919.841.4040  Fax: 919.841.4020