HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

January 20, 2003 Hearing Room E

1:15 PM Tapes 3 - 4

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rep. Vic Backlund, Chair

Rep. Pat Burk Farr, Vice-Chair

Rep. Elaine Hopson, Vice-Chair

Rep. Brad Avakian

Rep. Billy Dalto

Rep. Mary Nolan

MEMBER EXCUSED: Rep. Wayne Scott

STAFF PRESENT: Jim Keller, Committee Administrator

Jeana Harrington, Committee Assistant

ISSUE HEARD: Informational Meeting

“No Child Left Behind”, Oregon Department of Education

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
TAPE 3, A
005	Chair Backlund	Calls meeting to order at 1:25 PM. Welcomes the audience. Opens informational meeting.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
010	Pat Burk	Deputy Superintendent, Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Thanks Chair. States that he will be presenting an overview of the “No Child Left Behind” Act (NCLB) (EXHIBIT A). Explains the statute.
045	Burk	References information on the allocations provided in (EXHIBIT B).
059	Burk	Defines NCLB Act.
067	Burk	Outlines underlying principles of NCLB Act.
078	Burk	Oregon context of the NCLB Act. States that Oregon was the first state to have a federally approved assessment system.
092	Rep. Avakian	Asks if this system is limited to benchmarks, Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) and Certificate of Advanced Mastery (CAM) or are other assessments taken into account.
093	Burk	Responds that two-thirds of all standardized tests are taken into account. Informs the committee of other tests included in the system.
097	Burk	Outlines vision and provides in-depth explanation of the NCLB Act by Title.
162	Burk	Describes district responsibilities established by NCLB.
183	Burk	States the act is very complex. Delves into major parts of the act including Title I.
205	Burk	Explains Oregon State Assessment requirements and future requirements. Notes that the key provision of NCLB is accountability. Defines adequate yearly progress (AYP) and explains its relationship to accountability in schools. Informs of consequences if schools fail to meet AYP.
364	Rep. Farr	Questions if progress must be consecutive in achieving AYP.
373	Burk	Affirms and details rules pertaining to delinquent schools who then achieve AYP.
388	Chair Backlund	Asks for an estimate of the current position of Oregon.
394	Burk	Clarifies matter for committee.
TAPE 4, A
003	Burk	Continues with information on assessments.
019	Rep. Hopson	Poses question regarding the starting points of subgroups.
022	Burk	States that it is more accurate, honest to have these different starting points for assessments. Comments this is a current issue of negotiation. States that report on AYP will be released later and is not part of the Oregon Report Card (ORC).
051	Burk	Identifies teacher quality goals of NCLB. Details Title II rules in relation. Explains the conflict between the two. Lists core subject areas of NCLB. Defines a “highly qualified teacher” according to federal law. Explains the difference in requirements for new and existing teachers. Urges Chair Backlund to request an update from Vickie Chamberlain.
151	Burk	Explains “parental notification” requirement of districts and comments on problems associated with this. Gives examples of substitute teachers who are less than qualified due to teacher shortage.
188	Rep. Hopson	Asks if this information is provided to every teacher as well.
189	Burk	Responds negatively and clarifies that parents are notified that they may request the information; they do not receive the notification itself. Highlights other ways of meeting this requirement.
213	Burk	Speaks to Rep. Hopson through Chair Backlund on issue she may have interest in with regards to special education.
231	Burk	Outlines requirements of paraprofessionals according to NCLB.
307	Chair Backlund	Asks if assessment of paraprofessionals would disqualify the existing paraprofessionals.
308	Burk	Responds that it is up to the districts to decide on standards for paraprofessionals. Remarks that they are trying not to have the state mandate requirements.
351	Rep. Hopson	Appreciates that response. Questions whether this decision was based in fact that the department did not have the structure or whether several versions of test were ideal.
353	Burk	Answers that the decision was due more to the latter than the former although they do produce the tests based on a prototype. States that standards are also individualized and that this does not fall within the department’s realm.
389	Rep. Hopson	Asks if it was their feeling the districts would do this better?
390	Burk	Affirms, but states that districts must submit their qualifications to the state for review. Indicates that the department recommends that the state not be in the “test” business.
431	Chair Backlund	Questions if volunteers also have to meet the qualification.
432	Burk	Responds that his current understanding is that they do not. Points out that criminal background and other appropriate checks remain a requirement.
TAPE 3, B
003	Burk	Continues. Points out the irony that exists in that these requirements are for employees and are not required of the supplemental service providers. States they are working to rectify this.
013	Rep. Hopson	Questions whether she in correct in her assumption that background checks are still required for service providers.
014	Burk	Remarks that is a certainty.
016	Burk	Shifts discussion to Title II and its goals.
046	Rep. Avakian	Asks if money allocated can be used for teachers not included in the current NCLB core subjects.
050	Burk	Responds positively that Title II funds are flexible and do not have to be limited to core subjects. Provides that dollars can also be used to help teachers meet the “highly qualified” requirement. Adds that the remaining 5% of funds are divided between ODE and the Oregon University System (OUS).
079	Burk	Starts overview of Title III requirements regarding language instruction.
114	Burk	Describes Title IV in terms the 21^st Century Schools Program.
138	Burk	Highlights the Title V innovative programs
142	Burk	States his regret in taking their time and that this is a complex law. Furnishes websites related to NCLB (EXHIBIT B).
156	Chair Backlund	Thanks Pat.
159	Burk	Reiterates that this is indeed a complex issue.
162	Chair Backlund	States he understands. Closes informational meeting. Adjourns at 2:35 PM.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – Informational, no child left behind, Pat Burk, 7 pp

B – Informational, websites, Pat Burk, 11 pp