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MARCH 2011 - RECAP
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MARCH 2011 - RECAP | ||
 “The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning.” –Ivy Baker PriestDear friend of ABEC,
Happy Spring time!
The weather’s warming up. The flowers in my garden are bursting forth. The fairways on the golf courses are greener than ever. For many of our ABEC educators, March Madness means the craziness of Spring Break – that welcomed relief from the pressures of beginning to wind down the school year. It’s a time of renewal – to gear up for the issues of AIMS testing, promotion, graduation preparations, and budgeting decisions.
It’s also a time for ABEC staff to work in earnest in preparation for our June conference. This year, we will have our best line up of speakers ever and we want to suggest some pre-reading. One of our speakers, Paul Kihn, with McKinsey & Company, will talk about research on “How the World’s Most Improved School Systems Keep Getting Better.” It’s research that describes the process of continued improvement, intervention, and renewal. Take a look. Consider bringing a team to the ABEC conference – we have special pricing on group registration fees. Educators, bring your board members and other school administrators. Business partners, bring your educator contacts.
Sincerely,
 Susan Carlson
ABEC executive director “I really think that's the key, part of the spiritual renewal that America needs to have, the notion that we really can have confidence in a better tomorrow.”
- Carol Moseley Braun  We asked one of our ABEC members, Toni Badone, Superintendent, Yuma Union High School District to share with us her thoughts to the following question:"What 'processes' do you go through to continue to improve your school district?"
Here's how she replied ...
In education, the barometer of success is student achievement. If you did a Jay Leno street walk and asked people what is the measure of student achievement, you would get as many as 30 different answers. Improving student achievement is complex but essential to improving our organization.
But first it must be defined.
In order to help clarify what our community believed about student achievement, Yuma Union High School District began strategic planning three years ago. The process was remarkable and helped sustain us the following year when the recession hit. I believe the acts of setting goals and measuring progress are essential to our organizational health, whether or not we have the same resources we had before. Daniel Burnham said, "Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood." Our District has continued to set annual action plan steps each year that are inspiring.
Data analysis is a common denominator between business and education. However, in our District we have taken a specific approach with data analysis because we know that relationships are as important as conclusions. It doesn’t matter if it’s budget data, student achievement data, or personnel data, we practice looking at data to find out what questions the data asks.
Looking for questions, as opposed to answers or conclusions leads to deeper discussions without judgment. It leads to everyone being on the same team with the same mission and goals. It keeps people from being on the defensive or being judgmental. It helps build and sustain trust among the participants.
Ongoing professional development is the most important process. The challenge is to tailor the professional development so it is differentiated. As we have become skinnier administratively, we have persistently looked to align our resources, including federal grant funds, to support professional learning communities. Collaboration with our partner elementary districts is part of that process. Collaboration has been essential to our continuing forward progress even as our resources disappear.
Inspiring goals, persistent data analysis, and collaboration are some of the keys to our organization changing for the better and sustaining progress.
 ABEC has been meeting with every member of the House and Senate Education Committees to share the background and proposals of its School Finance Reform Initiative. We clarified for the members that a recent bill, HB2710, Outcome-based school funding, was NOT the evidence-based model proposed by ABEC. A study committee of outcome-based funding is likely to result from this legislation. We continue to monitor, educate and influence the development of various elements of school finance reform. For example, the ABEC proposals for school finance redesign are founded upon a statewide data collection system that can link performance to student enrollment, staffing and expenditure information; automatically generate required reports and report total dollars in addition to full-time equivalency (FTE) for individual schools; replace current disconnected enrollment, financial and HR systems; link preschool and higher education; and link to other states. ABEC has advocated with all policy makers that this system must be in place before other changes are proposed or implemented. The Governor’s office, too, has placed emphasis on providing the state an efficient, accurate data system – and made assurances to the federal government regarding the system, in exchange for stimulus funding. The Arizona Office of Economic Recovery (OER) asked for an analysis from a 3rd party of the current data system. The analysis included:
Dr. Cliff Ehlinger, the consultant working with the Office of Economic Recovery, reviewed the Data Collection & Public Reporting Plan of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) Phase II Application and reported that, of the 49 indicators identified in the application, 29 or 59% were found to be accurate and feasible. He also developed recommendations regarding next steps that the State will need to take to meet all of the federal requirements and guidelines, and reviewed the existing data systems within the Arizona Department of Education, including the SAIS system, to determine if they are commensurate with current and future customer and state needs.
Regarding the work plans, 20 of the 49 indicators require a review and revision of the timelines and activities. This, reports the consultant, will be time consuming since it will require a review of current priorities, review of pilot projects and communications with higher education and the Arizona Board of Charter Schools. Keeping in mind that all of this review was gathered under a different leadership team and administration than currently in place, the burden for the new administration is great. The good news is that when these work plans are revised and timelines reestablished, those that needed corrections should be successful.
Regarding the data systems review, the current SAIS is simply not capable of meeting current or future needs. It must be revised or replaced – and this will mean significant investment. In addition, notes the report, the state needs a student longitudinal data system to provide individual student data to the appropriate personnel and to provide aggregated data and reports for decision making by stakeholders.
Mark Masterson, Chief Information Officer under the new ADE administration of State Superintendent John Huppenthal, assures transparency in pursuing this work, has already secured partnerships that will assist in transforming the system, and is committed to customer services and communication. He asks for patience, as his team works to take action on the recommendations.
Links to Dr. Ehlinger’s Arizona Education Technology Study:
Arizona Education Technology Study – Final Report (pdf)
Arizona Education Technology Study – Executive Summary (pdf) Arizona Education Technology Study – PowerPoint (pdf) The February 2011 meeting of the ABEC Board of Directors was a dynamic convening of economic development experts and leaders of various education initiatives. The purpose of the session was to hear from the experts themselves, via a panel on economic development and a panel on current education initiatives, about moving economic development forward, as well as understanding what efforts are underway to affect public education. A summary of the meeting notes indicate the rich information that will inform ABEC’s work. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PANEL: Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) - Barry Broome, President and CEO
Pinal County Economic Development – Tim Kanavel, Program Manager Arizona Town Hall – Tara Jackson, President Center for the Future of Arizona – Lattie Coor, Chairman and CEO Summary of Remarks
When asked about Arizona’s education system, GPEC touts that Arizona has more choice and flexibility than most markets which includes strong private schools and charter schools. GPEC also focuses on notable productivity of the community colleges and the records of our three state universities. However, feedback from business executives is that most are universally unhappy with education here in Arizona, especially those from the East with strong traditional school systems. Moreover, the success of Arizona’s public education is very mixed in the actual results. GPEC is not quite sure what to say about education. They need clarity and a tighter voice on good news of Arizona education. In rural Arizona, the role of education in economic development is vital. However, there’s a lack of tradition to attend beyond 8th grade. Students are very challenged to stay in school and the public education system is challenged to overcome this. Young people are told they don’t need an education to work in the mines or drive a tractor. There are still generations of families that don’t graduate from high school, and some rural areas with 28%-35% high school graduation rates. Regardless, Pinal County’s population has tripled, challenging the public school system. 50% of its workforce actually works in either Tucson or Maricopa County. Because it competes with Maricopa and Pima counties for high-tech jobs, Pinal County must bring in outside employees to work in its rural companies.
In almost every community where Arizona Town Hall meets, citizens state that education is KEY to their community’s and the state’s economic development – not just metro but also rural areas. A well-educated workforce attracts companies to recruit. State government is not supporting education in the way it should be supported. We should be involved in “education gardening” – or growing our own – creating and supporting education and small business.
In the Center for the Future of Arizona’s The Arizona We Want Survey, citizens frequently mentioned three powerful contributions for the State’s economic development. First, more quality jobs (both rural and metro areas); second, students graduating high school fully prepared for college and/or a career and educated to national and international standards; and third, policy makers in synch with citizens. The political system does not now reflect the desires of citizens and their priorities – only 10% of participating citizens thought legislature represented their views.
EDUCATION INITIATIVES PANEL:
Helios Education Foundation – Paul Luna, President and CEO
Science Foundation Arizona - Darcy Renfro, Vice President and Director of SFAz STEM Initiatives P-20 Coordinating Council - Debra Raeder-Gay, Executive Director Center for the Future of Arizona – Sybil Francis, Executive Director Summary of Remarks Governor Brewer recently established the Office of Education Innovation Office which is to include the work of a P20 Education Council and will drive and provide oversight to the Arizona Education Reform Plan (formerly Arizona’s Race to the Top Application). There is much work to do, including creating a data system that accurately reports the performance of students, teachers and schools –what really matters to us must be measured. It was also stated that educators need flexibility in spending the dollars if we ask them to do things differently. The challenge for the Education Reform Plan is to find the people who will be working on implementing the different initiatives, having discussion on these initiatives, and educating the citizens. There is also a need to move the discussions outward so more and more citizens understand – perhaps a role for ABEC. Science Foundation AZ is building a STEM network for the purpose of identifying those things that work, sharing them, scaling them up, and pushing STEM out to all areas in a meaningful way. They are now in the planning process to engage citizens. The challenges will be the policies and the implementation. Many see STEM as a priority but are unsure how to make it happen. They also want to help teachers understand both their subjects and the use of technology. The role of the teacher must change since 70% of HS students are not STEM proficient. A role for ABEC could be to assist in finding ways for business to get involved, and possibly facilitate industry internships for teachers, much like Tucson Values Teachers (TVT).
The Center for the Future of AZ believes that we are at a ‘perfect storm’ in both knowing where we are and where we want to go, even though we need to continue work on building a reliable data system. Developing a set of indicators for measuring where we are, and summarizing the strategies is needed. At the leadership level we have come a long way. The citizen’s voice was missing but is now present. We now understand that high school is not enough, but this is not yet embraced by the citizens. ABEC’s role should be to continue working toward a shared vision for all: educators, business leaders, legislators, and the Arizona citizen. Agreement on goals and vision is a very powerful thing.
Helios Education Foundation partners with many groups interested in education. Expect More Arizona (which is partially funded by Helios) is intended to be an umbrella and unifying voice for and on education across the continuum. Helios believes we as a State are lacking in our commitment to education. Arizona is viewed as a state that does not value education as other states and countries. We must acknowledge this, address it, and adopt the point of view that we need to change. We need to raise the expectations across the board for all students, parents and educators. We do not want to still be debating whether education is a priority or not in ten years. We need to reframe the discussion around investing in education. The state constitution says that we must fund education and do all that is necessary to maintain funding it. We must hold our elected officials accountable. ABEC’s role – be the voice! It’s very powerful when business leaders speak up. Similarly, getting behind these issues is tough, and we must back up legislators who do what is right.
Did you know that ABEC members are invited to every meeting of the Board of Directors? You, too, could participate in such discussions. Watch the ABEC website for meeting dates.
 At the end of the day – how do we achieve greatness? Thanks to international research done by McKinsey & Company, a set of educational systems across the world have been identified as top performers, and produce success in the top quarter as measured by international assessments. But how do they keep getting better? At the upcoming ABEC conference, Paul Kihn, Partner, McKinsey & Company, will reveal how each of the top 20 systems has achieved significant, sustained gains in student outcomes. Attendees will hear first-hand about the reform elements that moved these systems from poor to fair to good to great to excellent performance. A few of the major findings from the study of school systems, worldwide, as they embark on the journey from good to great, include:
McKinsey & Company’s earlier report, "How the world's best performing school systems come out on top," examined the common attributes of higher performing school systems. Now, "How the world's most improved school systems keep getting better," analyzes 20 systems from around the world, examining how each has achieved significant, sustained gains in student outcomes.
Mr. Kihn will speak more on this recent report at the 2011 ABEC Annual Conference to be held Monday, June 6th at the Desert Willow Conference Center. To best prepare for the conference, we encourage you to read the full report prior to the conference. For additional conference details and to register for the ABEC conference, please visit http://www.azbec.org/conference2011.cfm.
EDUCATION NEWS & SPECIAL REPORTS
 EDUCATION NEWS
Former Intel CEO blasts education in Arizona – www.azcentral.com, 3/30/11
Gov. Jan Brewer and the state's top lawmakers got a reality check Tuesday from former Intel Chief Executive and Board Chairman Craig Barrett, who told them Arizona's education system is hindering economic-development efforts. Read more> Tempe Union High School District has new superintendent – www.azcentral.com, 3/29/11 Arizona English language screening to change - www.azcentral.com, 3/26/11 Opinion: Mesa's future relies on raising the education bar for youths – www.azcentral.com, 3/24/11 Mesa education jobs in jeopardy as federal funds end - www.azcentral.com, 3/10/11 Dynamic schools can drive economy – www.azcentral.com 3/26/11 Pathways to Prosperity (pdf)
Harvard Graduate School of Education's Pathways to Prosperity Project Director, Dr. William C. Symonds, released a major report entitled, Pathways to Prosperity: Meeting the Challenge of Preparing Young Americans for the 21st Century. According to the "Pathways" study, the current educational system drives students to a four-year college, and only 30 percent of America's young adults successfully complete a bachelor's degree. The report recommends a more holistic approach to education that places greater emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE) and work-based learning. Teacher and Leader Effectiveness in High-Performing Education Systems – Alliance for Excellent Education and the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) (pdf) PROJECTIONS OF EDUCATION STATISTICS: Number of Hispanic and Asian Graduates Expected to Significantly Increase Over the Next Decade - National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Although only a slight increase is expected in the overall number of high school graduates over the next few years, much larger increases are expected for Hispanic and Asian students, according to a new report. Projections of Education Statistics to 2019 is the 38th report of a series begun in 1964 and examines elementary and secondary enrollment, high school graduation rates, the number of teachers, school expenditures, and enrollment in postsecondary degree-granting institutions. |
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The Arizona Business & Education Coalition (ABEC) is a 501(c)3 organization providing a balanced forum for business and education leaders to collaborate and improve K-12 education policy, with linkages to pre-kindergarten and postsecondary education. Guiding principles include: increasing public awareness about the relationship between Arizona’s future workforce and the quality of the K-12 system; actively and effectively influencing education policy; and sharing responsibility for the growth of student achievement in Arizona. For more information, visit www.azbec.org. You are receiving this e-mail because you are a member of ABEC, have signed up to receive our eNewsletter, attended an ABEC or ABEC-related event, or have made direct contact with ABEC.
Copyright 2011. Arizona Business & Education Coalition. All Rights Reserved. |
