Staff Present:
Ms. Carmen N. Schroeder, Associate Superintendent, Division of Instruction
Ms. Judy Burton, Assistant Superintendent, School Reform
Ms. Rita Payan Caldera, Administrator, Language Acquisition Branch
Mr. James Konantz, Administrator, Instructional Technology Branch
Ms. Sue Shannon, Administrator, Professional Development Branch
Ms. Joan Evans, Director, Standards-Based Education Unit
Ms. Esther Wong, Director, Information Technology Division
Mr. Ted Bartell, Director, Program Evaluation and Research Branch
Ms. Margaret Jones, Director, Specially Funded Programs Branch
Mr. Chris Downing, Unit Coordinator, School-Based Coordinated Program/Title I
Dr. Desmond Saunders-Newton, Program Analyst, Independent Analysis Unit

Outside Expert
Dr. James S. Lanich, Director, Core Services, Los Angeles County Office of Education

Others Present: See attached list.-
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The meeting convened at 10:22 a.m.-
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INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

SBIX ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE INDEX AND DISTRICT SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

Ms. Burton and Ms. Wong reviewed the Academic Performance Index (API) scores by Board Member district, by proposed new local districts, by reform programs, by the Ten Schools Program, by Title I schools, by the highest and lowest performing schools, and by ethnic subgroups. Ms. Burton also spoke about the timeline to develop the local District Accountability Plan. The API is the index that is used throughout the State of California to rank schools and to hold them accountable for annual progress.

Ms. Burton and Ms. Wong responded to questions raised by the Committee.

DECISION ITEMS

COORDINATED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Ms. Shannon reported that the role of the Professional Development Branch is to coordinate and facilitate educator learning to meet the challenges of student achievement and to help teachers and administrators become better educational leaders. Currently, there are numerous instructional and non-instructional professional development activities occurring within the District. The Coordinated Professional Development Plan will coordinate these activities and provide the focus to maximize the District's ability to meet the goal of increased student achievement.
Ms. Shannon spoke about past and current professional development activities, the Professional Development Continuum, the integration of professional development components, the roles and responsibilities of the Professional Development Branch, potential challenges, recommendations for training time, long-range activities, and the major steps to a coordinated plan.

Ms. Shannon and Ms. Schroeder responded to questions raised by the Committee.

RESUBMITTAL OF THE AMERICORPS*VISTA GRANT

Mr. Downing announced the District's intention to resubmit the AmeriCorps*Vista grant. Last year, the grant provided funding for 52 summer associates who were placed at low-achieving Title I schools to implement the L.A. Reads program. This year, staff is asking for an increase to 80 summer associates and 15 full time associates. The grant would be for over $853,000 to the District.

The Committee expressed its support for the program.

INFORMATIONAL ITEM

DISTRICTWIDE STANDARDS-BASED PERFORMANCE

Ms. Evans provided an update on the procedures and assessments utilized to measure student achievement. She talked about the assessments that have been developed and those that are being used this year to establish baseline data to measure student achievement; how those performance based assignments are being systemically administered and scored; and who has been involved to ensure a collaborative commitment for building a culture of assessment literacy.

Speaker

Mr. Darryl Dufay, a retired principal, expressed his concerns over the Academic Performance Index and the eighth-grade social promotion.

Notes by: Dinah Edwards, Board Secretariat