(FRANKFORT, Ky.) -- At its regular meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Kentucky Board of Education heard presentations and had in-depth discussions on a number of items, including the state's assessment and accountability system and the health and physical wellness status of schoolchildren.
The board discussed and heard options on reporting timelines for the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS). Action on the timelines was necessary for the state to comply with the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. The board agreed to move the current testing window back one week into the school year, beginning in the spring of 2005 and not occurring earlier than April 1. For the spring 2004 test administration, school districts may schedule testing during any consecutive two-week period from April 26 through May 21.
Moving the testing window to an earlier time in the year will enable the state to comply with NCLB requirements that information about school and district test scores be provided prior to the beginning of the school year. The goal is to provide that information by at least August 1 of each year.
The board approved the revision of five Kentucky Administrative Regulations to merge state and federal assessment and accountability requirements. Those regulations affect the following issues:
- assessment and accountability issues (703 KAR 5:001)
- the formula for determining school accountability (703 KAR 5:020)
- assistance for schools; guidelines for scholastic audit (703 KAR 5:120)
- procedures for the inclusion of special populations (703 KAR 5:070)
- school district accountability (703 KAR 5:130)
Major items in those regulations include:
- the definition of "full academic year" for testing and accountability purposes as 100 non-consecutive instructional days
- that graduation rate will be used for federal accountability purposes but not for state accountability purposes
- a definition of "good faith effort" in describing student attempts to respond to assessments
The board also approved a new regulation, 703 KAR 5:160, which formalizes current administrative procedures related to CATS.
On the issues of health and physical education, the board discussed recent data from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and the status of Coordinated School Health efforts and expressed concern over indications that students are not provided with opportunities for physical activity within the school day. The board agreed to disseminate a resolution encouraging schools to integrate physical activities for every student into the regular school day.
The board will revisit health and physical education issues at its next regular meeting in February.
The board also took the following actions:
- approved the 2004 Legislative Agenda and Biennial Budget Request
- approved the implementation of Kentucky Technology Standards for students
- approved district facility plans for Adair, Bullitt, Caldwell, Henry, Jefferson and Owen Counties and Campbellsville and Owensboro Independents
- approved a facility plan amendment for Floyd County
- approved 2003-04 local district working budgets
- approved 2003-04 local district tax rates levied
- approved a request by the Jefferson County Board of Education to use an alternative formula to allocate funds to school-based decision making councils
- approved a site for the proposed New Alexandria Elementary School in Campbell County
- approved the School Facilities Construction - Facility Unmet Needs Report
The board heard reports and had discussions on the following items:
- minority applicants for administrative and teaching positions in Kentucky's public schools
- a position paper on the state's assessment and accountability system, developed by state school superintendents
- refocusing high school education
- daytime Extended School Services programs
- Core Content for Assessment alignment with federal requirements
- status of the School Breakfast Program
- proposed changes to regulations affecting pupil attendance
- deficit and "watch list" school districts
- Kentucky High School Athletics Association (KHSAA) reports
- an update on the Kentucky School for the Deaf and Kentucky School for the Blind
The next meeting of the Kentucky Board of Education will be February 11 and 12 in Frankfort. More information about the board is available here.
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