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The meeting convened at 1:46 p.m.-
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ENHANCED PROGRAM QUALITY REVIEW (EPQR)‹AN APPROACH TO CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

Ms. Phyllis Hart, Executive Director, The Achievement Council, reported that a year ago Superintendent Romer asked the Achievement Council to develop a collaborative process between the school communities and local districts that results in a plan for improving teaching and learning.

Ms. Hart presented data that revealed the following:

1. Teacher qualifications account for the greatest variance in student test scores.

2. Research done in Dallas, Texas, showed that half of the students in grades 3 through 5 who had three highly effective teachers in a row went from the 50th percentile to the 76th percentile in terms of achievement. The other half of the students were in classes where teachers were not as effective. The net result of their experience was to go from the 50th percentile down to the 27th percentile.

3.Data shows that when schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, implemented a professional development plan, it wiped out the Black/White achievement gap in mathematics skills.

Ms. Patricia Avette, Director of the Enhanced Program Quality Review at the Achievement Council, advised that the Enhanced Program Quality Review (EPQR) enhances the state mandated Program Quality Review (PQR) by including research-based professional development strategies for teachers; providing a coach to assist schools in developing an improvement plan; and providing local district support for continued school improvement. Ms. Avette spoke about the goals, research-based best practices, the EPQR process, research findings, and the criterion for measuring success.

Ms. Trilce Delgado and Mr. Jose Carrillo, EPQR Coaches, spoke about the benefits of the EPQR.

Ms. Hart and Ms. Avette responded to questions raised by the Committee.

SPEAKERS

Mr. Dafer Dakhil, a member of the community, expressed his support for the EPQR.

Mr. Gene Krischer, representing Friends of the Children, spoke about the decibel level of air conditioning units, lighting, and acoustics.

PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT FUNDING GRANT

Mrs. Jones presented Instructional Services Division Communication No. 2 authorizing the local district superintendents to recommend state-identified Program Improvement schools, including the ten in the Scholastic Audit Review, in their local districts that will apply to the California Department of Education for fiscal year 2001 appropriation grants for Title I School Improvement funding.

Mrs. Jones and Dr. Ott responded to questions raised by the Committee.

The communication was approved for transmittal to the Board of Education on January 22, 2002.

SPECIAL EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN

Mrs. Anton stated that the mission of the Division of Special Education is to provide leadership, guidance, and support to the school community in order to maximize learning for all students within an inclusive environment so that each student will contribute to and benefit from a diverse society.

Mrs. Anton presented a document entitled "Schools for All Children" which is a strategic plan for achieving measurable results for all students including those with disabilities. She spoke about a shared belief system, student outcomes, goals, benchmarks and strategies.

Mrs. Anton pointed out that the following events will occur by June 2006:

1. The unique needs of students with disabilities will be accurately identified and appropriately met.

2. Students with disabilities will be served by knowledgeable and qualified personnel.

3.All students with disabilities will be successfully integrated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

4.All students with disabilities will meet high standards for academic achievement and non-academic skills.

5.Student and system outcomes will be monitored and measured to track progress toward achievement of this plan.

Mrs. Anton responded to questions raised by the Committee.

SECONDARY LITERACY PLAN

Ms. Ephraim said that the purpose of the presentation was to respond to questions raised on the Secondary Literacy Plan at last month's Committee meeting. She advised that the Local District Superintendents will be invited to the Augmented Curriculum and Instruction Committee meetings to share their experience in implementing the Secondary Literacy Program.

Mr. Robert Collins, Local District C Superintendent, reported that the Secondary Literacy Plan was implemented with the participation and involvement of the English department chairs and the literary cadre at the middle and high school level.

Ms. Vivian Ekchian, Director of Instruction, Local District C, spoke about the common beliefs, participating students, curriculum components, the assessments, student placement, teachers trained in the Phase I LANGUAGE! Training, Phase I implementation, middle and high school student enrollment, preliminary results, support and professional development, 2001-02 funding commitment, and the
2002-03 implementation plan.

Ms. Ephraim reported that the Secondary Literacy Plan has three parts‹content literacy, the Developing Readers and Writers Course, and a Standards-based textbook adoption in Language Arts and ESL or ELD (English language development).

Ms. Kathleen Young, representing the Institute for Learning, spoke about the disciplinary literacy framework, the two definitions of disciplinary literacy, the learning outcomes, the principles for the instructional approaches, and the required shifts in instruction regarding what and how one teaches.

Ms. Ephraim talked about the professional development plan, the Developing Readers and Writers Course, and the adoption of the Language Arts textbooks.

Ms. Ephraim advised that in order to put the Secondary Literacy Initiative in place, staff recommends the following:

1.Approval of the Developing Readers and Writers course for grades 6 through 9;

2. Mandated professional development;

3. Adoption of the Language Arts textbook for grades 6 through 8; and

4. Replace 8th grade Intensive Academic Support with the Developing Readers and Writers course

Superintendent Romer expressed his support for the Secondary Literacy Plan.

A communication recommending the adoption of the Secondary Literacy Plan will be presented to the Board of Education on January 22, 2001.

SPEAKERS

Ms. Bertha Orrostieta, a parent, expressed her views on student achievement.

Ms. Lorena Jaramillo, a parent, expressed her views on student achievement.

Committee Members Superintendent's Representatives
Genethia Hudley Hayes, Chairperson Maria G. Ott, Ph.D.
Julie Korenstein Sr. Deputy Superintendent, Educational Services
Mike Lansing Merle Price
David Tokofsky Deputy Superintendent, Instructional Services
Robin Avelar-LaSalle, Ex-Officio Sue H. Shannon
Ruth Johnson, Ex-Officio Assistant Superintendent, Instructional Support Becki Robinson, Ex-Officio Services

AGENDA

FUTURE BOARD ACTION PRESENTERS TIME

1. Program Improvement Funding Grant Margaret Jones, Director..............................5 Min.
Early funding for ten schools in the Scholastic Specially Funded Programs/
Audit Review and funding for additional 142 Compliance & Technical Support Branch
Program Improvement schools
(Handouts)

FOCUS: CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP

2. EPQR - An Approach to Closing the Phyllis Hart.................................................20 Min.
Achievement Gap Executive Director
(Handouts) The Achievement Council

INSTRUCTIONAL INITIATIVES

3. Special Education Strategic Plan Donnalyn Anton...........................................5 Min.
Presentation of Special Education Associate Superintendent
Strategic Plan‹1:30 p.m.) Division of Special Education
(Handouts)

4. Secondary Literacy Plan Arzie Galvez, Director.................................90 Min.
Presentation of the District's
Secondary Literacy Plan
(Handouts)

"The Committee may consider and act upon motions, Board Reports, or other business referred to it by the Board of Education or Committee of the Whole, with respect to any properly posted matter at a meeting immediately preceding the committee meeting, where the time between that meeting and this meeting is less than 72 hours. Members of the public are encouraged to review the order of business or agenda for the meetings of the Board of Education and Committee of the Whole."