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* UPDATED x1 * Board doesn’t step in, wants change in law so it won’t have to

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* State law requires that the Illinois State Board of Education take action when local school districts have been on academic watch lists for more than three years. The state board can remove local school board members, fire staff, etc. But a new Illinois Auditor General’s report found that the state isn’t doing anything…

We noted 411 schools in FY09 and 471 schools and 42 school districts in FY10 had been on academic watch status for over three years by the end of the school year. The Agency had taken some remedial steps during the first three years on academic watch status, but had not taken the action required by statute after three years.

The state board’s response…

The board says it lacks the money to take action. It may ask for a change in the law so that it isn’t required to step in.

So, while state lawmakers are crafting a deal on education reform which mostly focuses on teachers, the State Board of Education wants out of its role in enforcing a significant reform component that focuses on administrators and boards.

Peachy.

*** UPDATE *** From the State Board of Education…

Rich,

Just wanted to touch base with you on an item you had on the blog about the audit finding for schools on the academic watch list. I don’t think that in our response we said that we wanted to amend so that we wouldn’t step in, but rather that we would possibly seek legislative changes, trying to more narrowly define what schools would be eligible for these types of actions.

Currently, about 500 schools are in this status and eventually if NCLB is not reauthorized it’s likely every school in Illinois will be in this status. The type of turnaround activity that is required is expensive and there is no specific line item currently in the ISBE budget for this, which is now made up of more than 90% in GSA and MCATS.

We have received $146 million in school improvement grant funds from the federal government that we are beginning to do this type of work, however, the vast majority of that ($124 million) is stimulus funding. Of that 146 we have awarded $57 million to 10 schools in 5 districts to do this type of work. We expect to make additional awards this summer for the remaining funds, but even so, the total number of schools that will be impacted by this $146 million is going to be about 25 (best guess).

In FY 12 we’re seeking an additional $5 million in funding that would allow us to be able to start doing some of this work for schools that are not eligible for the SIG grants. We’re seeking the funds to allow us to do audits to provide a comprehensive examination to assess the overall structure, curriculum, instruction, finances, program effectiveness, human capital and governance in order to provide foundational information to target strategies and interventions. This funding would also provide on-site leadership and support to schools most in need.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 12:51 pm

Comments

If the Illinois State Board of Education isn’t going to perform its mandated duties, either a proportion of its funding should be returned to the General Fund (or preferably the taxpayers) or the department itself should be eliminated.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 12:56 pm
Typical passing the buck.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:02 pm
They couldn’t perform this duty if they wanted to. This would require a huge amount of resources and staff, neither of which ISBE has.

And, @Anonymous, do you have any idea how many things ISBE is “mandated” to do. Check it out sometime. They would need their own army to perform their mandated duties.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:11 pm
Seems like support to the argument that the ISBE should be eliminated.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:12 pm
So basicaaly the State Board of Education is completly ueeded.

How hard is it to send out a warning letter, and then follow through and fire the boards of underperformers?

Whats the point of a watchdog that wants to laze aound the backyard claiming its to tough to get up and walk around.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:27 pm
Totally Agree with Anonymous—Get rid of them!!! The State is looking for things to cut and this is a good place to start!

Comment by Just a Citizen Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:29 pm
Should the Regional Superintendents that Quinn wants to eliminate play a role to support this and other mandates that ISBE has? After all, if the Superintendents are doing so little that they can be considered expendable, let’s put them to work to enforce the mandates.

Comment by Both Sides Now Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:31 pm
“Demoralized” is right; how can ISBE do what it’s mandated to do without the wherewithal to do it? Headcount has been drastically reduced over the last decade, while new mandates and expectations have headed in the opposite direction.

A lot of people seem to think “reform” should mean “getting more, new and/or dramatically different work for less money.” That’s about as impossible as it is unreasonable.

I never quite understand the logic that we should fulfill our statutory duties to children’s education by cutting-back further on, or eliminating altogether, the very people (a) w/whom we’re already frustrated, because they can’t get the job done, and (b) by the way, they can’t get the job done because we’ve cut-back and/or eliminated various of their resources over the last decade.

(And before others raise the arguments about local schools’ funding increases over the years, pre-FY09 & 10 cuts - those arguments don’t apply here, where we’re talking primarily about the capacity of the State Board to keep on top of policing and handling local schools’ problems.)

Comment by Linus Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:35 pm
Linus wat exactly is ISB doing with what it has that is a greater priority then making sure kids are getting educated?

It sounds to me like they are overstaffed and overbudgeted. This is like watching a cop keep his files organized bu complaning he does not have time to actually enofrce the law or go after criminals.

priority.

Comment by Ghost Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:53 pm
Linus said,

“A lot of people seem to think “reform” should mean “getting more, new and/or dramatically different work for less money.” That’s about as impossible as it is unreasonable.”

Some would say reform is eliminating many of the tasks assigned to government for the same or less money.

If a mandate is unfunded, it either needs to be fully funded so that the true cost of the mandate is transparent, to the mandate needs to be eliminated. Right now, we have mandates without funding, mandates on other organizations without funding the effort (forcing someone else to fund it), and too many mandates that are funded that should be there in the first place.

This discussion about the proper role of government is long overdue, but we don’t have the time nor inclination because we are too worried about transfats.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 1:57 pm
This is a perfect example of what’s wrong with the ISBE under the current constitution. Changes under Blago probably violates the constitution as to who’s actually in charge.

Either make the governor the chief education officer (which under our recent governors is probably not a good idea), or go back to an elected State Superintendent of Education.

One short term fix would be to strengthen the role of the existing regional superintendents, regional offices of educaton and the elected board of regional school trustees (or whatever they’re called). Someone needs to be able to step in when there is a problem.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 2:42 pm
–Either make the governor the chief education officer–

I think Mike Lawrence had that in a column a few months back. A very good idea. Make the Big Chair responsible and accountable for the the whole schmeer, K-Higher Ed.

It’s the most important thing state government does and where the lion’s share of the money is going. Why lay it off on a bunch of boards, including the university boards?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:14 pm
I hate to be a complete cynic, but all the reorganization in the world isn’t going to fix most of these non-performing schools. They’re failing because of their student body. Changing out the students seems to be the only thing that really works.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for the update on this issue Rich. I can see where ISBE is coming from on this issue.

cermak–I taught for 33 years and the last twenty in the same rural school district in Central Illinois. The biggest change I saw in those 20 years was a dramatic change in demographics. From a white mostly middle-class population to one that was more diverse and a shrinking middle-class. Through the years, there were more and more students who qualified for free, reduced lunch and even breakfast. Many of these students were considered “at risk” which meant they were woefully behind their peers in reading and other test scores.

As a public high school with seven feeder schools (4 public elementary districts, 2 Catholic, and one Christian Academy), we only had the the students for four years, really not enough time to bring many of them up to grade level before graduation.

Our principal said in 2005, my last year, that in two or three years the district would not be able to meet AYP, Adequate Yearly Progress, as defined by NCLB rules.

We had to take all students that were in the district, too. We worked hard to prepare interventions and work as much as possible in smaller group settings to help these students. They did not have disabilities as defined by the special education rules but suffered from a lot of other issues many of them related to their lives outside of the school setting.

Comment by Nearly Normal Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:39 pm
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:22 pm:

“They’re failing because of their student body.”

Wow, that’s harsh, even for me!

As a former middle then high school teacher, I don’t place the primary blame on the kids.

First I blame the parents. The kids are plain spoiled, and have this feeling of entitlement that can only be taught over years of being told how special they are. There is a big difference between being encouraged and being spoiled.

Then I blame the “vast conspiracy” that has made the curriculum a hodgepodge of politically correct, kumbaya nonsense that has absolutely nothing to do with providing the critical skills the student needs to become employed. The curriculum has been totally diluted, there are only so many hours in the day. Bring back rote memorization, it’s better than this holistic approach nonsense.

I hate saying this, cause I am going to take heat but unions are third. Unions are for themselves, and teacher. No matter how much a teacher may care, their union ill-serves them, sops strength and money from the system, and makes the teachers’ jobs more difficult. Unions are nothing more than a bureaucracy whose main purpose in life is gathering power.

With very few exceptions, I thought the kids were absolutely great.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:51 pm
Unions are for themselves, and teacher.

*Unions are for themselves, and teachers and students take a back seat.

Comment by Cincinnatus Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 4:53 pm
Sure, it’s the family that first causes the problem but after that it’s the kids. Go to a high school and see students who still can’t read at a 2nd grade level and who curse at their teachers. It’s very seldom the teacher unless they managed to get a bunch of bad ones in a row.

Some things do need to be learned by rote, I’d agree with you there. The mult tables come to mind. Once you have them memorized, they’re there for life and you need never think about them again because you just know them. However, the finer points of English grammar are better taught via explanation than via rote.

The only subject area really given to politics is history and that makes perfect sense as your view of history is different depending on your perspective. A resident of old Dixie views the Civil War differently from a resident of New England and a Native American may have a vastly different perspective on Plymouth Rock. History used to be written by the victors. I prefer the new approach of giving everyone’s viewpoint.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 5:15 pm
“This discussion about the proper role of government is long overdue, but we don’t have the time nor inclination because we are too worried about transfats.”

Couldn’t agree more. Well said C!

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 6:20 pm
–”This discussion about the proper role of government is long overdue, but we don’t have the time nor inclination because we are too worried about transfats.”

Couldn’t agree more. Well said C!–

Just brilliant. Because we all know grownups can’t deal with more than one thing at a time. Especially while trying to pat their heads and rub their bellies.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 6:22 pm
We’re talking about the General Assembly not grownups.

Must have offended a trans fat hater.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Apr 14, 11 @ 7:18 pm
Wordslinger,

It isn’t about ability to do many things at once, it’s about priorities. I cannot believe you believe transfats is among the most important priorities we face. If it is, I want to live in your world…

Comment by Cincinnatus Friday, Apr 15, 11 @ 7:51 am