MONDAY SUPERINTENDENT E-MAIL – 3/28/11
The Monday E-mail contains information on the following KDE-related topics:
If you have questions about the specific items, please see the contact information for each item.
· Q and A Generated in Response to Questions from the West Kentucky Coop on the AFGR (Attachment)
· Webinar on MUNIS for CIOs and CFOs – March 29, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET (note revised date)
· Special Session Update
· KDE Receives Approval of Waivers from USDOE; Options Offered for Spring Testing
· Update on the Commonwealth Commitment Pledge (Attachment)
Items from KDE
Q and A Generated in Response to Questions from the West Kentucky Coop on the AFGR (Attachment)
In response to questions on the Averaged Freshman Graduation Rate (AFGR) generated by the members of the West Kentucky Cooperative, see the attached Question and Answer document. Any further questions can be directed to Ken Draut at Ken.Draut@education.ky.gov or via phone to (502) 564-2256.
Webinar on MUNIS for CIOs and CFOs – March 29, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET (note revised date)
The Department of Education’s Office of Knowledge, Information and Data Systems (KIDS) and the Office of Administration and Support (OAS) will conduct a joint webcast to brief district CIOs and CFOs on the upcoming transition from MUNIS version 7 to MUNIS version 9.1. Superintendents are welcome to join the webcast, too. Included in the webcast will be responses to questions/concerns that we’ve heard from districts.
Links for accessing the webcast on Tuesday are found below:
Live broadcast video and audio mms://video1.education.ky.gov/encoder3a
Live broadcast audio only mms://video1.education.ky.gov/encoder4a
The webcast will include a brief discussion of the increased costs for the department and districts that will occur when going to the new version. The department will also explain the benefits that have been identified and costs saved by going to the Cloud services model verses an On-Prem model. If a district wishes to stay with an On-Prem model, it will have to request a waiver from the department and the webcast will briefly explain the costs for districts of going with an On-Prem model on such an exception basis.
In anticipation of this webcast, districts may wish to review the information available on the KDE website. The following link will provide information on the New MUNIS functionality and detailed costs between Cloud services and On-Prem services:
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Administrative+Resources/Technology/Additional+Technology+Resources/MUNIS+Cloud+Services.htm
We will have someone available during the webcast to take questions by e-mail for discussion. We will also tape the webcast, so that it will be available for those of you who may not be able to attend, but are still interested in listening to the discussion at a later time.
Special Session Update
As you are aware, the 2011 Special Session ended on Thursday evening with the passage of House Bill 1. Then, on Friday, March 25, the Governor took action on House Bill 1, approving a plan to resolve a shortfall in the Medicaid budget that included specific line-item vetoes. This final version of House Bill 1, as line-item vetoed and approved by the Governor, also does the following:
· It does not require any additional cuts to education in FY 2011 or FY 2012 in either SEEK or other programs, as a result of the Medicaid shortfall.
· It ensures that state maintenance of effort requirements for EduJobs funding are met and this federal funding remains secure.
However, please keep in mind that the original provisions of the biennial budget bill (from the 2010 Special Session) still require that the Governor enact $168.9 million worth of savings through operational efficiencies and program reductions across state government in FY 2012. The exact impact of these existing provisions on education remains to be seen. We will update you as soon as this becomes clear.
In addition, as previously mentioned, we are working on identifying adequate funding for statewide Senate Bill 1-related work in FY 2012. Staff has been directed to identify a similar approach to that used in FY 2011, with the least negative impact on school districts. We plan to have an update for you soon.
KDE Receives Approval of Waivers from USDOE; Options Offered for Spring Testing
The United States Department of Education has approved Kentucky’s request for delayed reporting of 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress determinations required by No Child Left Behind. Kentucky made the request due to the large number of instructional days lost during this school year due mainly to inclement weather. The approval allows the Kentucky Department of Education to provide Kentucky districts and schools with additional test window options for the spring 2011 administration of the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT). Student performance on the KCCT is used to generate federal accountability reporting.
Multiple test window options will be offered so that districts may recover lost instructional time before students take the state summative assessment. Kentucky schools and districts may select from the following KCCT test windows:
· Original April 18-29
· Option 1 April 25-May 6
· Option 2 May 2-13
· Option 3 May 9-20
District Assessment Coordinators have received detailed information regarding the test window options, associated deadlines and the notification process from the Office of Assessment and Accountability. If you have questions, please contact Rhonda Sims at rhonda.sims@education.ky.gov or 502-564-4394.
Update on the Commonwealth Commitment (Attachment)
We are now at a total of 167 districts that have signed the pledge. This is fantastic!
Since the last update in the Fast Five on Friday, the new districts are: Adair, Bath, McCreary and Meade Counties and Mayfield, Raceland-Worthington and Williamsburg Independents. Thanks to these districts for getting in their pledges. Remember that the deadline for submitting the pledge is April 4.
Also, last week you were sent a revised college and career readiness workbook as an attachment that is designed to help superintendents, school boards, principals and site-based councils work to align their work toward the Senate Bill 1(2009) goal of increasing college/career readiness. It is attached again in case you need to access it.
No Items from Outside Agencies