Wednesday, June 25, 2014

SUBMIT PUBLIC INPUT ON THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY DIPLOMA

The 2014 Legislature passed the College and Career Ready Diploma as part of E2SSB 6552. The State Board of Education is accepting public comment on the rules for this new diploma and your input will help make sure the College and Career Ready Diploma achieves what you’d hoped it would. You can review the rules and submit comment online at this link (see section labeled Feedback) or in person by submitting testimony at the July 9, 2014 meeting of the State Board of Education from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at ESD 101, Conference Center, 4202 South Regal Street, Spokane, WA 99223.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Smarter Balanced Online Achievement Level Setting Recruitment

Registration is now open for the Smarter Balanced Online Panel, giving parents of school-age children an opportunity to weigh in on the new Common Core assessments.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium has developed new tests in English language arts/literacy and mathematics aligned to the Common Core that may replace existing assessments in Washington. The Consortium is inviting parents and teachers to help establish performance expectations for students on these new assessments.
To help ensure the process is inclusive and reflects input from a large group of teachers and parents, Smarter Balanced has organized an Online Panel to recommend proficiency scores on the assessments.
Through the Online Panel this October, parents, teachers and interested community members can help ensure that these assessments are fair and provide accurate information about student progress.  Parents can help recommend an achievement level score for proficiency in one grade and subject as part of the Online Panel. The Online Panel will take up to three hours during a two-day window that each participant can select between October 6 and October 17, 2014. Parents can participate from a home or office computer or tablet.
“The Common Core sets clear and consistent guidelines for teachers and helps ensure that all children are on track for success at each grade level and graduate ready for college or a career. Assessments are essential for achieving those high expectations, and the Online Panel provides a critical opportunity to hear from teachers and parents as an integral part of launching these assessments in the 2014-2015 school year,” Heather Gillette said.

Interested parents, teachers, and community members can register and learn more at SmarterBalanced.org/OnlinePanel.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

State Board of Education seeks public comment: rules for E2SSB 6552

PTA members interested in the rules to be written to implement E2SSB 6552 may wish to attend the meeting this Friday (by webinar or in person in Olympia).  For more information on the bill click here.  This bill implements the career and technical equivalencies, instructional hours and 24 credit diploma.

Notice from State Board of Education:  Forum on Rules to Implement E2SSB 6552


Please join us for an opportunity for public comment and Q&A with staff on proposed rules to implement E2SSB 6552, Relating to improving student success by modifying instructional hour and graduation requirements. Comments will be documented and provided to State Board of Education members, as part of public comments in fulfillment of public participation requirements under RCW 34.05.325.

The Forum will be held on June 6, 3:00-4:30 p.m., in the Billings Conference Room, 3rd Floor, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Building, 600 Washington Street SE, Olympia, WA 98504-7206.

If you are interested in attending, please let us know by emailing SBE@k12.wa.us.

If you are not able to join in person there is an opportunity to join via webinar. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/985883425

The public hearing for proposed rules to implement E2SSB 6552 will be held on July 9, 2014, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at ESD 101, Conference Center, 4202 South Regal Street, Spokane, WA 99223.

Public comment may also be submitted through July 3, 2014, by emailing, calling or writing. Contact sbe@k12.wa.us, 360-725-6035, or State Board of Education, P.O. Box 47206, Olympia, WA 98504.