The State Board of Education assigned No Child Left Behind Corrective Actions to 50 local educational agencies in Cohort 2 during its November meeting.
After significant discussion the board voted unanimously to assign all 50 LEAs in Cohort 2 of NCLB Corrective Action No. 6, which is considered the lightest of the seven sanctions required under federal law.
Corrective Action No. 6 is to “institute and fully implement the SBE adopted standards aligned curriculum, including appropriate professional development as documented in the district’s local educational agency (LEA) plan.” Twenty-six of the 50 LEAs were assigned required technical assistance that mandates they contract with a District Assistance and Intervention Team. Twenty-five of those LEAs can choose from the list of state approved DAIT providers. One school district, Parlier Unified, is required to contract with its county office DAIT provider.
Twenty-four districts will be required to “access technical assistance to analyze LEA needs, amend the LEA Plan or Plan Addendum and implement key action steps.” These LEAs can choose the type of technical assistance they desire. For all 50 LEAs, funding is based on the severity of need for technical assistance and the number of Program Improvement schools. This was determined using the new Priority Assistance Index. Funding comes from limited Title 1 Set Aside (4 percent of the total Title 1 appropriation), which is exclusively set aside for the state to assist districts in Corrective Action.
According to the recent requirements of Assembly Bill 519, these funds are considered one-time only “non-renewable grants” to the 50 LEAs as well as for Cohort 1. Some districts with no PI schools that are in NCLB Corrective Action receive no funds.
ACSA is working to have this changed as these districts have also been assigned Corrective Actions and mandates by the SBE and have students in need who don’t make up a subgroup or reside in a PI school.
Board members’ discussion made it clear the State Board is still not sure it has fully embraced this process, and there was a consensus they want to further define the goals and expectations for outcomes and measures of success, particularly for the DAIT teams working with LEAs. There was even some discussion to either postpone or not assign sanctions or technical assistance at this time. In the end board members decided to move forward. However, they may make modifications in the future.
LEAs and local boards need to watch this process carefully and stay engaged with the California Department of Education and the State Board.
These LEAs were expected to receive a letter from the California Department of Education in the coming days explaining what is required. An award letter that lists the amount of funding will also be forthcoming.
In the meantime, ACSA has been there to assist LEAs as they navigate new rules and procedures, including holding information meetings that include invited speakers from the CDE.
Visit www.acsa.org or www.cde.ca.gov/be/ag.