NREAC Meeting Minutes

  

September 21, 2009

NREAC Conference Call

 

Scott Turney
Ray Patrick
Brian Talbott
Noelle Ellerson
John Hill
Bill LeTarte
Claudette Morton
Mary Kusler
Bob Mahaffey
Dave Walrath
Joe Bard
Jay McAdams
Jimmy Cunningham
Jerry White

  • Section 1512 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has reporting requirements for recipients of grants, loans, and other forms of assistance. The reports required by Section 1512 will be submitted by recipients beginning in October 2009. Every school district is a sub-grantee under Title I and IDEA and as such will be subject to these reporting requirements.
  • Click here for a summary of the reporting requirements.
  • Click here for an ARRA Reporting Tip Sheet for Elementary and Secondary Programs as released by USED. Full information around the reporting requirements (including the latest guidance) is available here.
  • Teacher Recruitment and Retention survey: Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and/or shared it with their members. Please email Noelle with any suggested changes/revisions. She will circulate the final version soon.
  • In a recent phone conversation with the Department of Education, Mary was able to cover a handful of topics, namely encouraging USED to increase their feedback from rural educators by having on on-staff position filled with a rural practitioner. Additionally, Mary touched on the Title I formula issues, the negative impact of the shift away from formulas to competitive grants, and expressing to USED that while they continue to talk about rural and the importance of rural schools/communities, their actions are anything but rural-friendly. We hope to have a face-to-face conversation with them during the February meeting.
  • There will NOT be a conference call next month. Rather, NREAC will convene—in person—at NREA in Ohio. You will meet on Saturday, October 10.
  • Do NOT respond to any mailers or requests from Broadband for America. They are a puppet group/coalition set up by broadband companies trying to show you they are working for the little man. They are currently approaching state rural education associations, soliciting support, so they can list you on paperwork. Please ignore these requests.
  • Mark Your Calendars Now! NREAC will have its annual legislative agenda meeting on February 2-3, 2010 at the AASA offices in Arlington, Va.
  • In late August, USED release guidance around the School Improvement Grants available as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NREAC submitted comments in response, urging USED to continue its focus on targeting monies to those schools in greatest need; to use reform models with proven research bases; and district capacity as it relates to instituting transformative change.
  • As a refresher: The School Improvement Grants provide $3.5b for school improvement purposes. The proposed changes look to throw out/restart hot the feds are involved in school improvement. Essentially, they want to target all of the funds to the bottom 5% performing schools in each state. While each school would receive the same share of School Improvement Grants, the states would then focus on the bottom 5%. Schools would be grouped into three tiers: Tier I schools are those in the bottom 5% performing; Tier 2 are those Title I-eligible middle and high schools that perform poorly but do not receive Title I funds; and Tier 3 is a catch-all for the rest of the schools.
  • If your schools or a school in your district are in the bottom 5%, that school would apply to the department. At this point, it looks like an extensive application process that will likely be difficult for rural schools to complete.
  • If your school receives these funds, there are four ‘improvement’ models to choose from. All four involve firing the principal.
  • Firing the principal and 50% of staff, implementing a new curriculum and education strategy
  • Firing the principal, closing the school and reopening under an education management organization (read: charter)
  • Firing the principal, closing the school and sending students to other schools in the district
  • Firing the principal, providing leadership training and professional development for teachers, instituting new curriculum
  • This is the transformational model and is an option available for rural schools. As you consider applying for the funds, make sure your application talks about involving outside agencies/partners; identify ready-made partners in your community.
  • NOTE: If you have more than 9 eligible schools in your district, you cannot use the same strategy in more than 50% of the schools.