SBE Adopted Language

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

Here is the exact language (proposed by the Governor without public notice) 
adopted by the State Board of Education on Wednesday, July 9 regarding State
Board Item #10 to comply with the flawed 2001 NCLB.



First, as the State Education Agency (SEA) the State Board of Education (SBE)
directs SBE and CDE staff to work with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE)
to develop a compliance agreement whereby the Algebra 1 end of course exam
becomes the sole test of record for federal accountability purposes under the No
Child Left Behind Act for eighth grade mathematics. Further, SBE and CDE staff
will work with the USDOE to establish an agreement that provides a reasonable
transition period during which the State can build capacity across the system to
achieve our goal of Algebra mastery for all eighth grade students. The Board
intends that the required federal hearings on such an agreement take place in the
late summer or early fall and that the agreement be ready for Board review at its
September Board meeting.

Second, the SBE and CDE will concurrently pursue a waiver request with the USDOE
to allow scores from students who are proficient in Algebra 1 during 7th grade to
be "banked" and included for federal accountability purposes the following school
year. Additionally, SBE and CDE staff will assemble a working group to develop
priorities for longer term discussions with the USDOE that will help continue the
process of more fully accommodating California's 8th through 12th grade end of
course mathematics content standards and other state programs with NCLB.

George Sheridan