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BUILDING AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING AND  
SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION 

 
October 17, 2013

PFL RESOURCES

 

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Annual Measurable Objectives results show little to no progress

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction released results last week for the 2013 Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO) that showed little to no progress -- and even some regression -- for Washington state's schools. The AMOs are part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) waiver that was reissued to the state in August.

 

Washington's ESEA waiver issued by the US Department of Education requires the state to cut proficiency gaps in half for all students, and all subgroups, by 2017. The AMO results reported last week represent the second incremental step on the path to that goal. Last year marked first time AMOs were reported.

 

AMO results from last year (2011-12) to this year (2012-13) show limited progress in eliminating proficiency gaps. In a few subgroups, the gaps widened rather than narrowed. 

 

Specifically, in 2011-12, students identified under the categories of all, Asian, white or two or more races met their AMO targets in math -- the Asian subgroup also met its AMO target in reading. In contrast, the results for 2012-13 show that only the Asian subgroup met its AMO target in math and reading. All other subgroups did not reach their targets.

 

Click here for additional information on ESEA, the state's federal waiver and Annual Measurable Objectives. 

 

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

Washington joins other states in adopting standards

Gov. Jay Inslee and State Superintendent Randy Dorn announced last week that Washington state will adopt the Next Generation Science Standards. See the press release.

 

The Next Generation Science Standards set expectations for what students should know by the end of every grade level in the four domains of science: physical science; life science; earth and space science; and engineering, technology and science application. They will be fully implemented in Washington classrooms in the 2016-17 school year.  

Watch Jeff Charbonneau talk about Next Gen Science
Watch Jeff Charbonneau talk about Next Gen Science

 

Jeff Charbonneau, the 2013 National Teacher of the Year, is a science teacher at Zillah (Wash.) High School. He teaches physics, chemistry and engineering. Like many teachers around the nation, Charbonneau offered feedback on the Next Generation Science Standards during public review. He said the standards are much more than preparing students to be the next scientists.

 

The Ready Washington coalition has information on Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards. See the coalition's resources page. More materials and resources are being developed to help schools communicate with parents and the public regarding the college and career ready standards.

 

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS

Indicators show increasing need to raise expectations
Partnership for Learning will be presenting information on Common Core State Standards at upcoming events, including the PTA Legislative Assembly on Friday and Schools Out Washington's Bridge Conference next week.
 
PFL Communications Manager Chris Barron wrote a blog item for Schools Out Washington on why states, and particularly Washington, are working toward raising expectations for all students. The answer? The U.S. is losing the battle to stay competitive in global economy.
 
In the blog, Chris cites two indicators that provide clear evidence that our education system must increase standards for all students:
 

"Let's look at results released last week by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The organization tested adults in 24 nations in math, reading and problem-solving -- skills that are critical to succeeding in the workplace. The U.S. performed below the international average in those three categories.

  

If that doesn't grab you, read the Washington Roundtable's study of Washington's growing job skills gap. Our state currently has 25,000 unfilled highly skilled jobs where employers cannot find qualified applicants. That number is projected to double by 2017, when about 70 percent of jobs in our state will require postsecondary education or training."

 

PARTNERSHIP NOTES
EXCELLENT SCHOOLS NOW AWARDS GRANT: The Excellent Schools Now steering committee has awarded Powerful Schools a $15,00 grant intended to build support for the A+ Washington plan and ESN's 2014 Policy Priorities among underserved communities. Two more grant awards are pending. 
 
PUBLIC FORUM ON TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITYA panel of leading educators and advocates at the forefront of testing and teacher evaluation will share their differing perspectives Oct. 29 in a panel discussion titled "Accountability at a Crossroads: Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teacher Effectiveness" at Kane Hall, Room 120, on the University of Washington campus. The event is free and open to to the public. Click here for more information. 
ABOUT PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING
Partnership for Learning, the education foundation of the Washington Roundtable, is a statewide nonprofit organization that builds awareness, understanding and support for improving public education in Washington. As a trusted source of information, Partnership for Learning makes complex education issues accessible.