John Hoeven: Governor of North Dakota

North Dakota Commission on Education Improvement

Commission Meeting Minutes
November 1, 2007
Century Commerce Center
WSI Boardroom

The Chairman, Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple, called a meeting of the ND Commission on Education Improvement to order at 9:05am.

Commission members in attendance included Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Warren Larson, Jack Maus, Martin Schock, Jon Martinson, Mark Lemer, Doug Johnson, Paul Stremick, Sen. Tim Flakoll, Dr. Wayne Sanstead, Rep. David Monson, Nick Whitman and Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch.

After reviewing the August 1st Commission meeting minutes, Senator Flakoll moved to approve the minutes, Representative Kelsch seconded and the motion was carried.

Mark Lemer asked if there have been updates given to Selfridge school regarding their unique funding situation. The Lt Governor responded by indicating that he would contact Jim Gross from Selfridge and update him. Jerry Coleman from DPI and the Governor's Legal Counsel, Ryan Bernstein, had reviewed the situation and has come to the conclusion that a solution to the problem will take a legislative fix. Representative Kelsch and Senator Flakoll will work with the legislators (Krauter, Kerzman and Froelich) from that area to introduce a bill draft to attempt to remedy the problem.

Lieutenant Governor Dalrymple outlined the timeline for the Adequacy Study Process.

The Commission then discussed the subcommittees meeting schedule. Subcommittee Chairmen will meet as they feel necessary to address the needs of the advisor. In addition, subcommittees may meet via teleconference if the Chairmen feel it is appropriate. The Commission will meet the first Thursday of the month after the submission of the progress reports from the previous month. The tentative schedule for the Commission is: December 6, February 7, March 6, April 3, and May 8. This may be modified by the Chairman as needed.

Lt Governor then introduced Sherry Neas, Procurement Officer from the Office of Management and Budget, to begin the report of the Advisor Selection Subcommittee.

Three proposals were submitted for evaluation: R.C. Wood and Associates; Picus and Associates; and Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (proposals and reference checks are on file). Sherry presented a brief overview of the evaluation process and pointed out that each member of the Advisor Selection Committee individually evaluated the technical proposals while Sherry Neas and Nikki Foerderer evaluated the cost proposals and checked the references for all three candidates. Evaluations scoring for the proposals were weighted as follows:

• Cost score: 20% of total
• Technical score: 80% of total
• Management Plan and Methodology: 50%
• Experience: 30%

The evaluation resulted with Picus and Associates scoring 88.73, R.C. Wood and Associates scoring 80 and A.P.A scoring 77.88. Lt Governor Dalrymple explained that Picus seemed to be the most on track in their technical proposal with the Commission's purpose for the study and that Picus and Associates have studied more states with a variety of adequacy situations. The Advisor Selection Committee recommendation to the Commission that they attempt to contract with Picus and Associates for the Evidence-Based Study of North Dakota Public Elementary and Secondary Education and Funding was given unanimously. Representative Kelsch moved to accept the recommendation of the Advisor Selection Subcommittee and Warren Larson seconded. The Commission's 9 voting members present were polled for their final vote. Lt. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Sen. Tim Flakoll, Rep. RaeAnn Kelsch, Warren Larson, Mark Lemer, Jack Maus, Rep. David Monson, Wayne Sanstead and Martin Schock voted to adopt the Advisor Selection Committee's recommendation. The motion passed with a vote of 9-0.

Sherry Neas then updated the Commission on the next steps to proceed with the contract. She will issue the intent to award notice which will open a seven day protest period. She will also debrief the bidders, and then begin contract negotiations with Picus and Associates.

Senator Flakoll then presented the report of the Curriculum/Class Size Subcommittee (minutes on file). Lt Governor Dalrymple pointed out that there is concern about what will happen if we require additional math requirements and children cannot handle them and suggested that we ask the advisor to assist us in defining a "math unit" and perhaps have alternative math credits that are less strenuous. Senator Flakoll pointed out that SB 2309 asked for feedback from schools to help in establishing a definition, and as the information comes into DPI defining math might become clearer. Representative Kelsch mentioned that Indiana has a great program and has good definitions of math and science units. She said the Interim Education Committee will examine those. There is a possibility that Dr. Reed, Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction, will be able to help the Interim Education Committee modify some of Indiana's concepts and streamline them into North Dakota with the intent to grow the curriculum expectations slowly. Right now taking math for the first two years and then not taking any math for the last two years of high school does not produce good results for college entrance. Dr. Sanstead said that Picus has done a study on learner results from exposure to subject matter in alternative classes such incorporating a math credit into a carpentry class. Doug Johnson pointed out that teacher shortages in the high schools will affect the ability to require additional math and science credits while Mark Lemer added that not every child in the 3rd and 4th year can take trigonometry so there needs to be additional math options which will mean the need for more teachers. Increased scheduling problems across the state caused by the teacher shortage are causing a shift in what classes are being offered. Representative Monson mentioned that he is concerned with an increase in student drop-out rates if North Dakota does implement more stringent math requirements. Senator Flakoll felt that there is a cultural shift in the expectations from parents and that will impact what will be considered viable options for math requirements.

Senator Flakoll noted that Dakota Draper had said that teachers are taught how to help the academically challenged but not how to teach gifted children. According to Dr. Sanstead, as a result of some media inquiries, DPI and the School Board Associations are launching an expanded study into distance learning and independent study programs to address some of the teacher shortage issues. Senator Flakoll thought that this idea might help tie in some of the electronic learning options from higher education and that it might be a good idea to think about requiring a distance learning course in high school to get students prepared for that option in college.

Representative Kelsch talked about a possible data tracking system being the key to moving forward in providing an adequate education and is the only way to truly measure student outcome. Senator Flakoll said that a data system would help streamline education in a lot of ways such as if students relocate to different areas of the state or as they move from elementary into junior high and high school. Dr. Sanstead added that dollars invested into a coordinated data system that links human services, K-12 and higher education would definitely be worth the money. There was the suggestion from Mark Lemer that we could investigate grants as a possible funding option for a tracking system.

Paul Stremick gave the report of the Assessments and Accountability Subcommittee (minutes on file). Paul Stremick was added to the SALT team advisory group that is working on DPI's RFP for an assessment vendor. Mark Lemer asked if there was discussion about the possibility of having NWA do district and statewide data although, he noted, as long as federal law requires a test to demonstrate AYP it would be difficult to roll all the assessments into one test. There was the suggestion from Doug Johnson that we could use a Fall NWA test as a formative test and a spring NWA as a summative test. The sooner formative data is returned to the schools the more benefit it is to the students.

Paul Stremick suggested that there at least be a switch in the times of the current state assessment. Right now we assess tenth graders the fall of their eleventh grade year; we should change that to assessing tenth graders the spring of their tenth grade year. Lemer noted that the NDSA data can be effectively utilized to make long term curriculum changes, but districts are just using NWA data and writing off NDSA because of the longer turnover time for results. Lt Governor suggested that we look into state standards that are aligned with ACT standards (with an additional writing test) and also look into how much our state standards would need to be modified. Stremick noted that if we are going to add testing it should link to higher education and should be multi-purpose so we are not always testing the students. Jack Maus said that we need a single test that drives curriculum and standards plus meets AYP. Representative Kelsch asked if it was a possibility to use the ACT test as an exit exam and if it was possible for the state to pay for the ACT in their eleventh grade year with the students/parents paying for any additional test if they choose to take it again.

In the work of the Commission, there will be investigation into a combination of formative testing, performance testing and testing to address AYP. Dr. Sanstead pointed out that the more accurate and the sooner we get test results back on curriculum and instruction the better; he also noted that he feels career counseling should start in 6th or 8th grade. Mark Lemer felt that the ACT, Explore and Plan tests would really help with that career guidance effort, and Rep Kelsch added that if we implemented these assessments we would then need the guidance counselors to sit down with the students and their parents and help them map out a curriculum path. This will require commitment and funds.

Doug Johnson then gave the report of the Teacher Qualifications and Professional Development Subcommittee (minutes on file). Representative Kelsch said that she felt of leadership in regards to professional development is sorely needed. Lt Governor Dalrymple said that professional development needs to be intense, high quality, and come with a verification aspect. Paul Stremick agreed, saying that academic rigor should be involved with professional development.

The Commission then discussed the offer of the Pre-K Now organization to partner with North Dakota to provide us technical assistance and policy expertise on the study of a pre-kindergarten program for the state. The Commission will apply for a grant from this organization for them to assist us in examining such a program. Lt Governor said that he spoke with Governor Hoeven and Dr. Sanstead and they both felt that is was appropriate for the Commission to take the lead on such a study. Representative Kelsch pointed out that it is a strictly voluntary program that involves parents in putting the program together. North Dakota is one of eleven states that do not have a state subsidized pre-kindergarten program. In taking steps towards developing a pre-kindergarten program, it is important to not only have strong parent involvement but also getting the business sector involved to work towards a private/public sector partnership. Representative Monson asked if there is any dollars changing hands. Rep Kelsch responded by saying that there is no exchange of money for this study and that all the organization is requesting at this point is the support of the Governor, the Chairman of the Commission the State Superintendent, the Director of Human Services, and a key legislator. Dr. Sanstead moved to endorse the proposal. The motion was seconded by Representative Kelsch and the motion was carried by a voice vote.

The discussion turned to the idea of teacher retention. The Lt Governor asked that any ideas to retain teachers be forwarded to Doug Johnson and suggested that we look into an expanded student loan forgiveness program. Senator Flakoll said that we should check into historic numbers in graduate trends of the teacher programs from higher education for the last 10-15years and that we ask some higher education campuses to develop a proposal to attract teachers. Mark Lemer suggested we should look at encouraging teachers to get Master's level degrees in curriculum shortage areas.

Meeting adjourned at 12:30pm.

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