With the introduction of both Senate and Assembly bills designed to ensure California is eligible for a portion of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top funding grants, ACSA has positioned itself as a key player as the work unfolds.
Based on member surveys and direction from leadership, ACSA has focused on some key themes for members. Although there are many components to the RTT discussions, several key themes have emerged.
First and foremost is fiscal sustainability and protecting LEAs from unfunded mandates, particularly those signing local RTT Memorandums of Understanding. Secondly, ACSA is dedicated to supporting principals by advocating professional development and doing the least harm under the struggling school reforms.
Third, ACSA hopes to ensure that teacher and principal evaluations and hiring, firing and placement decisions remain the jurisdiction of local control and not turned over to the state. Fourth, ACSA is urging a review process for common core standards and the development of quality assessments to ensure the state has the best college and career-ready standards and assessments with a thoughtful and fully funded implementation plan. Fifth, ACSA hopes to ensure quality charters and accountability for private education management companies.
There have been numerous policy hearings in both the Senate and Assembly. Some of ACSA’s key leaders have testified, including President Chuck Weis.
Meantime, RTT guidance was recently released and contains more than 700 pages of detail. The RTT competition is centered on garnering points for state reforms. Up to 500 RTT points will be granted in six key areas:
• State Success Factors = 125 points.
•Standards and Assessments = 70 points.
•Data Systems to Support Instruction = 47 points.
•Great Teachers and Leaders = 138 points.
•Turning Around the Lowest-Achievement Schools = 50 points.
•General (including quality charter reforms) = 55 points.
A significant new factor in the final guidance is that roughly half the points go to articulating a state plan and demonstrating how the state has already achieved student achievement results. Another significant factor is the greater weight given to the number of "participating LEAs" who agree to sign on to "all or a significant portion" of whatever the final plan looks like.
On Nov. 25, district and county superintendents and charters received an invitation to partner on RTT with the state. An MOU that is binding will be required, and these LEAs will receive a one-time portion of RTT funding, which at a minimum will be their current Title 1 share. Other funds may be included but that is unclear at this time. Up to 50 percent of the total grant if awarded to California can go to state activities.
The biggest challenge ACSA currently faces is no one has seen a draft RTT plan, so it’s challenging to advise members on what to expect. ACSA is working on RTT from a number of fronts, including the Senate and Assembly, as well as state leaders for the secretary of education, state superintendent of public instruction and State Board of Education, who are required to develop and sign off on the final RTT plan.
Upcoming and recent RTT activities and deadlines include the following:
•Dec. 3: Assembly version of Proposed RTT reforms, AB X5 8, introduced.
•Dec. 9: Assembly Special Session Education Committee hears SB X5 1 and AB X5 8.
•Dec. 10: Assembly Appropriations Committee scheduled to hear RTT bills that pass Assembly Education Committee.
•Dec. 10: Assembly floor special session on RTT bills.
•Week of Dec. 7: CDE/SBE/secretary of education expected to release "final MOU" based on State Plan for LEAs.
•Dec. 31: Anticipated deadline for interested LEAs to sign and submit preliminary MOUs on RTT to the state.
•December/January: Senate will hear bills coming from the Assembly (dates unknown).
•Jan.19, 2010: Final deadline for California to submit RTT plan.
•April 2010: States selected for RTT will be notified (likely small number of 10-15 states).
• Spring/Summer 2010: One-time-only RTT grant funds to states that are selected.
•July 2010: Deadline to complete a Final Scope of Work and Terms and Conditions for participating LEAs if California is awarded grants.