PSAA Meeting Minutes--February 20, 2014
Minutes of the Advisory Committee for the Public Schools Accountability Act (PSAA) of 1999.
PSAA Advisory Committee Members Present:
- Co-Chair: Ting Sun, Educational Programs Director, Natomas Charter School
- Co-Chair: Kenn Young, Superintendent, Riverside County Office of Education|
- Nancy Aaberg, Superintendent, Yuba City Unified School District
- Wendell Callahan, Director, Assessment, Research, and Pupil Services, San Diego County Office of Education
- Dennis Cima, Senior Vice President, Silicon Valley Leadership Group
- Edward Haertel, Emeritus Professor, School of Education, Stanford University
- Julianne Hoefer, Director, Assessment and Accountability, Fountain Valley Unified School District
- Mia Keeley, Analyst, Admissions and Records/Early Assessment Program, California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
- Clifford Kusaba, Teacher, California Teachers Association
- Chet Madison, Sr., President, Board of Education, Elk Grove Unified School District
- Laurie Olsen, Director, The Sobrato Early Academic Language Program
- Jeff Patterson, English Teacher, SOAR Prep Academy
PSAA Advisory Committee Members Absent:
- Colleen A.R. You, President, California State PTA
Principal California Department of Education (CDE) Staff to the Advisory Committee:
- Keric Ashley, Director, Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division (AMARD)
- Jenny Singh, Administrator, Academic Accountability Unit
State Board of Education (SBE) and Legislative Representative:
- SBE Liaisons to the PSAA Advisory Committee: Ilene Straus
- SBE Staff: Patricia de Cos, Deputy Executive Director
Please note that the complete proceedings of the February 20, 2014, PSAA Advisory Committee meeting, including captioning, are available on the CDE PSAA Meeting Webcast Archive 2014 Web page.
Public Session
February 20, 2014
Ting Sun called the meeting to order at approximately 10:06 a.m.
AGENDA ITEMS
Item 1
Subject: Welcome and introductions
It was announced that SBE member Nicolasa Sandoval will replace Trish Boyd Williams as one of the two SBE Liaisons to the PSAA Advisory Committee. Ms. Sandoval will begin attending at the next Committee meeting. CDE staff, on behalf of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the CDE, the Committee, and the California educational system thanked Ms. Williams for her years of service and guidance as a liaison for the Committee. Laurie Olsen, Director, The Sobrato Early Academic Language Program, was welcomed as a new member to the PSAA Advisory Committee and replaces one of three members who retired from the Committee in December 2013.
ACTION: No action taken.
Item 2
Subject: CDE Update—Information
In response to a request by the PSAA Advisory Committee, a timeline of future activities and notable events from 2014 to 2016 was provided to members. In addition, a February 2014 Report of Survey Results on the Inclusion of New Indicators in the High School Academic Performance Index (API) was also provided to members. The report was updated from the August 2013 report to include qualitative information.
The SBE has approved emergency regulations for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), including the template for the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). As part of the LCFF, school districts, county offices of education (COEs), and charter schools are required to develop, adopt, and annually update a three-year LCAP, beginning on July 1, 2014, using a template adopted by the SBE. As the Committee considers new indicators for the API, it will need to evaluate the usefulness of each indicator at the state level versus the local level.
The Smarter Balanced field test will take place March through June 2014. The Committee will be considering how the new assessments will be included in the API.
ACTION: No action taken.
Item 3
Subject: Review Decisions Made at the December 9, 2013, PSAA Committee Meeting—Information
The CDE staff summarized PSAA Advisory Committee meeting actions from its December 9, 2013 meeting:
- The Committee recommended to maintain existing reassignment rules under California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5CCR) sections 1039.2 and 1039.3 but to reconsider changes at a later time once LCFF plans and reporting as well as new indicators for the API are in place. This recommendation was provided in a memo to the SBE in December 2013.
- The Committee recommended changing the definition of continuous enrollment for July through December California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) administrations to require enrollment of 90 calendar days or more, which would require revision of the 5 CCR and SBE approval.
- The Committee recommended that the 2014 Growth API for high schools not be produced. This recommendation will be presented to the SBE at its March 2014 meeting.
ACTION: No action taken.
Item 4
Subject: : Presentation: Considering Measures for a College and Career Readiness Indicator: Research Plan and Analytical Framework by Dr. Charis McGaughy and Sarah Collins Lench (Educational Policy Improvement Center [EPIC])—Information
- Dr. McGaughy provided background information about the EPIC organization, its mission, its staff and partners, and its four keys to college and career readiness. Ms. Collins Lench described the project and analytical framework that will guide the literature reviews for the CDE. EPIC will produce six white papers between April and August 2014 and a final report to be presented to the SBE in December 2014. Further discussion on potential measures for the six white paper reviews occurred later in the meeting (see Item 7 below).
ACTION: No action taken.
Item 5
Subject: Presentation: Using Course Sequences in Accountability Systems: Insights from Mathematics Trajectories that Predict College Readiness by Dr. Neil Finkelstein (WestEd)—Information
Dr. Finkelstein described the transcript analysis from his 2012 study. Some key findings of the study were:
- Seventh-grade mathematics performance is predictive of high school mathematics course taking.
- The majority of students who achieved at least Proficient on their mathematics California Standards Tests are those who took Algebra 1 in grade eight, geometry in grade nine, and Algebra 2 in grade ten. In general, however, this accelerated pathway does not support students who are not proficient in mathematics in grade seven.
- Few students who repeat algebra become Proficient on their second attempt.
Dr. Finkelstein suggested that accountability systems might include relevant information on students’ course progression patterns. Dr. Finkelstein discussed considerations regarding the stability of course sequences and concluded with a set of policy considerations for the PSAA Advisory Committee.
ACTION: No action taken.
Lunch Break
Item 6
Subject: Presentation: Using the API to Increase College Readiness in Mathematics Now by Dr. Louise Jaffe (Santa Monica College Board of Trustees)—Information
Dr. Jaffe presented findings and implications from her study of mathematics course pathways from high school to community college. The study looked at course taking at one high school of 2,920 students, two thirds of whom went on to community colleges, and found:
- CAHSEE mathematics scores were a significant predictor of placement at all below-college-level mathematics.
- Students in lower level mathematics pathways, such as students not taking mathematics in grade twelve, diminished their chances for postsecondary success.
- High schools have little accountability to assist students to achieve proficient or advanced on the CAHSEE mathematics test because schools get full credit toward the API if students simply pass the CAHSEE.
Dr. Jaffe recommended the following revisions to the API:
- Reward growth in the number of students performing at Proficient and Advanced levels on the CAHSEE mathematics test.
- Reward growth in the number of students taking mathematics in grade twelve.
- Reward growth in the number of students taking mathematics coursework beyond Algebra 2.
ACTION: No action taken.
Item 7
Subject: Additional Measures for Literature Reviews—by Dr. Charis McGaughy and Sarah Collins Lench (EPIC)—Information
Ms. Collins Lench discussed points to consider and potential measures for the six white paper literature reviews to be conducted by EPIC. As approved by the PSAA Advisory Committee at its December 2013 meeting, two of the six reviews will be (1) ACT/SAT (College Entrance Exams) and (2) Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Participation and Achievement. The Committee provided input and discussion on potential measures for the remaining four literature reviews.
ACTION: Member Olsen moved that the Committee select the following three additional literature reviews:
- Career readiness assessments and Career Technical Education certifications/credentials
- Innovative measures (e.g., non-cognitive, performance tasks)
- Course taking/pathways/a-g requirements (clusters of courses)
Member Callahan seconded the motion.
Yes Votes: Members Sun, Young, Callahan, Cima, Haertel, Hoefer, Keeley, Kusaba, Madison, Olsen, Patterson.
No Votes: None.
Absent: Members Aaberg, You.
***ADJOURMENT OF MEETING***
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:40 p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:40 p.m.
Questions: Karen Heiner | KHeiner@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0635