H 3759 by House Speaker Jay Lucas and S 419 by Senate Education Chair Greg Hembree include:
Legislators in South Carolina will soon have the chance to enact a bold set of education reforms that will benefit Palmetto State students immediately and into the future under a pair of key bills introduced this week.

H 3759 by House Speaker Jay Lucas and S 419 by Senate Education Chair Greg Hembree include:

• Improved policy and transparency to effectively implement Read to Succeed, helping to ensure students can read on grade level by the end of third grade.
• Investments to give more South Carolina students access to computer science classes and other critical coursework that can better prepare them for college and careers.
• More supports for teachers, greater accountability for school boards and districts, and greater flexibility for the state to intercede if schools fail to meet student needs.

Separately, 53 House members from both parties signed on to support an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program – H 3681 by Rep. Shannon Erickson – that would allow students with special needs or from low-income, military or foster households to use their share of state funding for a customized education that may include tutoring, school tuition, therapy or instructional materials.

• Improved policy and transparency to effectively implement Read to Succeed, helping to ensure students can read on grade level by the end of third grade.
• Investments to give more South Carolina students access to computer science classes and other critical coursework that can better prepare them for college and careers.
• More supports for teachers, greater accountability for school boards and districts, and greater flexibility for the state to intercede if schools fail to meet student needs.

Separately, 53 House members from both parties signed on to support an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program – H 3681 by Rep. Shannon Erickson – that would allow students with special needs or from low-income, military or foster households to use their share of state funding for a customized education that may include tutoring, school tuition, therapy or instructional materials.

“South Carolina policymakers are clearly dedicated to doing what is needed to make sure the state’s education system is centered on students rather than archaic processes.

“ExcelinEd in Action appreciates the leadership of House Speaker Jay Lewis, House Education Chair Rita Allison, Senate Education Chair Greg Hembree, Rep. Shannon Erickson and the dozens of members who co-sponsored these forward-thinking bills, and we salute our many partners in this work, including EdChoice, My SC Education, the Palmetto Promise Institute and the South Carolina Catholic Conference.”

Ryan Mahoney, Southeast Legislative Director

For more information on these proven education strategies, please visit the ExcelinEd website.

The post South Carolina Lawmakers Propose Comprehensive Student Reforms appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

These course access provisions— championed by Senators Bob Onder and Gary Romine and Representative Bryan Spencer— promote freedom of choice by allowing students in all Missouri communities to have access to courses including advanced and specialized offerings that may not be available in smaller districts.

They also provide opportunities for communities to customize their course offerings to ensure wider opportunities for students while maintaining autonomy and local control.

“Missouri legislators took a great step forward in ensuring access for all students regardless of where they live. Course access policies can help students truly have a level playing field when it comes to advanced course work while empowering communities to determine the best paths toward success.

“We appreciate the support of Senators Onder and Romine, Rep. Spencer, and so many others who work to ensure all students have high quality educational opportunities.”

Kim Preston, Midwest Legislative Director, ExcelinEd in Action

This course access bill opens new opportunities for students to access courses which would not be available in their home school, ensures courses are high-quality and creates a menu of options accessible to all students to inform their enrollment decisions.

These changes will connect students with teachers and content, ensuring that all students have access to a broad set of courses.

For more on the power of course access, visit the ExcelinEd policy library.

The post Missouri Students Will Have Greater Access to Educational Options as Legislature Passes HB 1606 appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

“Today, the nations of the world are transitioning into a new kind of economy. Information, goods and services are moving with lightning speed. Language is no barrier and neither is distance. Workers who previously carried tool boxes now carry tablets. To that end, I’m calling for the creation of the South Carolina Workforce Partnership. This new initiative will connect businesses with high schools and technical colleges to collaborate on internships, dual credit and certificate programs for students interested in the skilled trades – focused on rural areas of our state.

“We must also continue to invest in school choice. A robust charter school program allows parents to choose the education opportunities that best suit their children. My executive budget increases per-pupil funding for charter schools, and establishes a transportation program to reduce barriers to access.”

– Gov. Henry McMaster

Highlights in the Governor’s budget proposal include:

• $5.7 million to provide South Carolina’s first-ever per-student funding increase for charter school students, and another $13.1 million for anticipated charter growth, bringing total charter school funding to $119.4 million.
• $2.5 million to provide, also for the first time, transportation funds for charter school students.
• $2.7 million for additional reading coaches under Read to Succeed, South Carolina’s comprehensive initiative to ensure students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade. This brings the total funding for reading coaches to $32.6 million.
• $3.3 million to train new computer science and coding teachers for every school in the state.
• Maintain $3 million for schools whose students pursue industry credentials that give them a head start on college and their careers.
• $188,475 for two new positions at the South Carolina Department of Education to support their work with schools across the state in personalized learning.  This is a critical investment that also supports House Bill 4596, legislation creating a framework for personalized learning by Rep. Neal Collins. 

For more on Gov. McMaster’s State of the State address, visit his website.

The post Gov. McMaster Offers Strong Support for Students in First State of the State  appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

“The unfortunate reality for our children is that future success can be handicapped at a harshly young age. Students who do not become capable readers by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of school later on, and from there you can track the statistics into the juvenile justice system,” said ExcelinEd in Action Executive Director Patricia Levesque. “If a child struggles to read, all the other subjects become a moot point. I commend Governor Otter for his leadership on this issue and thank Representative Julie VanOrden and Idaho lawmakers, the State Board of Education and State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra who understand the critical importance of K-3 literacy and the need to engage schools, teachers and parents in finding collaborative solutions for each and every struggling reader.”

H 451 earned bipartisan support and the backing of a strong coalition of education groups, including Idaho Business for Education, Idaho Rural Schools Association, Idaho Association of School Administrators, Idaho Education Association and Idaho Schools Boards Association.

The House of Representatives passed H 451 on February 24, 2016 with nearly unanimous support. The bill will now move on to Governor Otter’s desk for signature.

###

Background on H 451:

• The greatest impact for ensuring student success in kindergarten through third grade is a productive collaboration among parents, trained teachers and schools.
• Reaching this major benchmark requires an important partnership between a parent and a child as the child develops listening and speaking skills in their early years that form the foundation for reading and writing.
• It is paramount that parents are informed about the status of their children’s educational progress and that teachers and schools have the resources and support they need to effectively teach reading, assess student achievement, provide intervention when necessary and establish a solid foundation for a student’s academic success.
• The bill includes provisions for:
  • Reading Instruction and Intervention.
  • Reading Improvement Plans.
  • Parent Notification.
  • District Annual Reporting.
• Department of Education responsibilities including a state-level summary report to the state board of education, the public, the governor and the legislature and provide technical assistance as needed to aid school districts in implementing this law.

The post Idaho Senate Advances Early Literacy Program appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

“Alabama is adding more educational choice for students and families. The proposed bill, HB 84, would establish an Education Savings Account program to empower parents of students with special needs with the opportunity to choose the best education for their children,” said ExcelinEd in Action National Legislative Director J. Alex Kelly.

“This is a bold step forward for the Alabama education system. We applaud Representative Ken Johnson and the House Education Policy Committee for supporting the Education Savings Account Program and a pathway to a customized education for Alabama’s students.”

The bill will next be considered on the House Floor.

###

Learn more about the HB 84:

• Creates an Education Savings Account program in the state of Alabama.
• Allows parents of special needs students to use the funds in the account for an education program of the parents’ choosing.
• Would be limited to 1,000 new participating students each academic year.

Background on Education Savings Accounts:

• Education Savings Accounts (also commonly referred to as Education Scholarship Accounts or ESAs) are an innovative way to bring customization to the education system.
• ESAs allow parents to direct their child’s funding to the schools, courses, programs and services of their choice – including tuition and fees, curriculum materials, tutoring, online learning, dual enrollment, and licensed services such as therapy for students with disabilities.
• Parents are able to save unused funds for higher education expenses in most states – creating an incentive for parents to judge all education service expenses not only on quality but also on cost.

The post AL House Education Policy Committee for Advances Education Savings Accounts appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – This week, Kentucky Senate Education Committee Chair Mike Wilson and Representative Addia Wuchner filed SB 273 and HB 620, respectively, which will create Individualized Education Accounts for students with special needs. These accounts, also known as Education Savings Accounts, would allow students to use state funds already designated for their education to attend private school; receive tutoring, therapy and support services at home; or build a customized education from these options and more.

“Education Savings Accounts empower parents with the opportunity to choose the best education for their children. That opportunity is especially important for parents of students with special needs in Kentucky public schools, where nearly one in three students with special needs do not graduate. This is a bold step forward for the Kentucky education system and a win for students,” said ExcelinEd in Action National Legislative Director J. Alex Kelly.

“We commend Chair Wilson and Representative Wuchner for their commitment to the children of Kentucky.”

###

Background on Education Savings Accounts:

• Education Savings Accounts (also commonly referred to as Education Scholarship Accounts or ESAs) are an innovative way to bring customization to the education system.
• ESAs allow parents to direct their child’s funding to the schools, courses, programs and services of their choice – including tuition and fees, curriculum materials, tutoring, online learning, dual enrollment, and licensed services such as therapy for students with disabilities.
• Parents are able to save unused funds for higher education expenses – creating an incentive for parents to judge all education service expenses not only on quality but also on cost.
• ESAs create a personal approach to education, where the ultimate goal is maximizing each child’s natural learning abilities.

*According to data released by the U.S. Department of Education showing high school graduation rates for the 2013-14 school year, 71 percent of students with special needs in Kentucky graduate from high school.

The post Kentucky Legislators Introduce New School Choice Option for Special Needs Students appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —Today, the Tennessee House of Representatives passed SB 300, which will implement a statewide A-F School Grading System. The bill, presented by Representative Glen Casada, requires schools to be graded using clear, easily understandable A-F grades to summarize school performance information for parents, educators and the public. SB 300 was sponsored in the Senate by Senate Education Chair Dolores Gresham and passed that chamber in 2015.

“We have wide access to information about everything from the value of a car to the quality of food at a restaurant. Yet all too often, parents are in the dark when it comes to the effectiveness of the school their children attend. Tennessee lawmakers are addressing that with a simple, transparent A-F accountability system that grades the performance of schools like teachers grade the performance of students,” said Patricia Levesque, ExcelinEd in Action Executive Director.

“The goal of every school in Tennessee will be to earn an A, and that will be to the benefit of every child in every classroom. I congratulate Senator Gresham and Representative Casada for leading on this common-sense measure and look forward to swift concurrence by the Senate.”

ExcelinEd in Action thanks our partners on this legislation, the Beacon Center of Tennessee and StudentsFirst Tennessee.

###

Background on A-F School Grading Policy:

• A-F School Grading systems have been adopted in 16 other states.
• A-F grades promote transparency. Using clear and transparent A, B, C, D and F descriptors ensures that there is a scale that parents, educators and the public clearly understand. Unlike any other scale, A-F provides a system that is understandable and relevant.
• A-F grades distinguish, in an immediately understandable way, schools that are doing a good job of making sure children are learning, schools that are failing and schools that need to work harder to improve.
• A-F grades promote excellence. The command focus on learning allows educators and parents to focus on students. No one is satisfied with a “C” grade or even a “B” grade. Everyone strives for excellence in a way you don’t see with fuzzy descriptors like “satisfactory” or “performing.”
• A-F grades allow student growth toward high standards. Using criterion-based growth in a school grading system ensures students are measured on their individual progress towards meeting pre-determined expectations demonstrating at least a year’s worth of progress in a year’s time towards the mastery of a certain set of skills.

The post TN House of Representatives Approve Statewide A-F School Grading System appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

Tallahassee, Fla – Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of Excellence in Education in Action (ExcelinEd in Action) released the following statement regarding today’s public hearing on HB 122 by the Louisiana Senate Finance Committee. HB 122 would, among other things, defund two school choice programs and greatly impact the state’s ability to measure student readiness for college and career.

“Today’s powerful testimony from parents of scholarship students should send a strong message to Louisiana lawmakers. The rash action by the Louisiana House of Representatives to effectively gut two school choice programs places the education of 7,500 children directly in harm’s way.

“Every child should have access to the school or learning environment that best equips him or her to succeed. Since 2008, thousands of Louisiana families and students, including those with special needs, have been empowered with school choice. Lawmakers should not be picking winners and losers when it comes to our children and their education. 

“Furthermore, these cuts would significantly curb- if not entirely halt- the Louisiana Department of Education’s ability to measure students for college and career readiness. We encourage the Louisiana Senate to restore these funds and ensure that parents, students and teachers have the resources they need to succeed. Louisiana’s most vulnerable children deserve better.”

Programs are Saving Funds and Serving States Most Vulnerable Students

• These programs have more than a 90 percent satisfaction rating from parents
• The state’s most vulnerable students: those with disabilities and low-income students zoned for ‘C,’ ‘D,’ or ‘F’ rated schools are the top beneficiaries of this program.
• This action is being done under the guise of saving money, but research has shown that the state’s largest choice program saved the state more than $12 million in its first three years of operation.

###

The post ExcelinEd in Action: Lawmakers Shouldn’t Pick Winners and Losers in Education appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Utah Senate passed SB 143, a bill to establish the Competency-Based Education Grants Program where students advance to higher levels of learning when they demonstrate mastery of concepts and skills—regardless of time, place or pace.

“Every student learns at a different pace. Utah’s leaders are taking steps to design an education system that meets students at their learning level, challenges them to exceed expectations and prepares them for college and career,” said ExcelinEd in Action National Legislative Director J. Alex Kelly.

“ExcelinEd in Action thanks Senate Education Committee Chair Ann Millner, bill sponsor Senator Howard Stephenson and Interim State Superintendent Sydnee Dickson for supporting this legislation.”

###

Learn more about SB 143:

• In the current system, all students move at the same pace, whether or not each student has fully mastered the content.
• Schools may apply for grants and applications must include a plan for schoolwide implementation of competency-based education, demonstrate local governing board support and include communication plan for teachers, parents and community members.
• This legislation will give the teachers and principals of grantees the opportunity to better customize their students’ education, empowering them to plan, implement and scale their own approaches to competency-based education at the local level.
• Applicants may include requests for a waiver of a Board rule that inhibits or hinders implementation as well as recommended statutory changes. The State Board may in turn make a recommendation to the Legislature.
• Institutions of higher education will recognize and accept a diploma awarded to a student that attended a competency-based school.
• A student may not be penalized if transferring from a competency-based education school.
• The State Board of Education will define outcome-based measures of successful implementation.

More about Competency-based Education: 

• Competency-based education (also called mastery or proficiency-based education) is a system of instruction where students do not move on to the next concept or skill until they have shown that they have learned (or mastered) the current concept or skill. This approach reduces the development of gaps in student knowledge, particularly in fundamental skills, which can cause problems as students advance to more complex concepts.
• In a competency-based education system, an individual student progresses as learning expectations are met, rather than moving through a predetermined curriculum schedule dictated by fixed, age-based grade levels or seat-time requirements (sometimes expressed as Carnegie Units or credit hours).
• A student can accelerate through concepts and skills they have mastered when they are ready to move on, and receive more time and support in areas they have not yet mastered.

The post Utah Senate Advances Competency-Based Education Grants Program appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Mississippi Senate passed SB 2161, a bill that would amend the Mississippi Charter Schools Act of 2013. Sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chair Gray Tollison, the legislation would give more students the ability to attend a charter school.

“If a traditional school is not meeting the learning needs of a student, a charter school can provide an environment where that student can excel. Public charter schools are just one innovative school choice option that can help students on their path to academic success. Enhancing access to charter schools, as the Mississippi Senate has voted to do with SB 2161, would open up this opportunity to many more students,” said ExcelinEd in Action National Legislative Director J. Alex Kelly.

“We thank the Senate members for their support in building educational opportunities for all Mississippi families.”

The House of Representatives will now consider SB 2161.

###

About SB 2161:

• Charter schools would be open to any student within the state of Mississippi.
• Conversion charter schools would have the option to lease or buy the school district facility housing the conversion charter school.
• The legislation offers other technical changes regarding funding, teacher retirement and academic standards.

Background on Charters:

• As defined in federal and state law, charter schools are public schools.
• Like traditional public schools, charters are tuition free and open to all students; publicly funded by local, state, and federal tax dollars based on enrollment; and held accountable for meeting state academic standards.
• Charters are approved, funded, and overseen by a government-endorsed authorizing entity, just as traditional public schools are overseen by a school district.

The post Mississippi Senate Votes to Expand Access to Charter Schools appeared first on ExcelinEd in Action.