LaTEACH
Join Fellow LaTEACH Members!
Put on your Purple  
BESE needs to hear your voice!
November 25, 2014


The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) meets next week to consider the following issues:
  • Expansion of students eligible to take the LAA-1 assessment
  • There will also be a brief discussion on the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) 

If these issues are important to you, put on your purple shirt and join fellow LaTEACH members at BESE!   BESE members need to hear from you! 


 

WHEN:          Tuesday, December 2nd and 3rd beginning at 9:00 am

  

WHERE:       Claiborne Building

The Louisiana Purchase Room (1-100)

1201 N. Third Street

 Baton Rouge, LA  70802


 

LaTEACH members are encouraged to attend BESE meetings to remind BESE members who we are and that decisions should be made that consider the best interest of ALL kids.

 

If you don't have a purple LaTEACH shirt, contact your LaTEACH Regional Leader and we will provide one for you at the BESE meeting.

BESE Agendas
Click the links below to see the agenda for each December 2014 BESE Committee and Board meeting.  

 

Tuesday, December 2nd


12:30 pm   Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement Committee Click Here

9:00 am   Educator Effectiveness Committee   Click Here

10:00 am   School Innovation and Turnaround Committee Click Here

2:30 pm   Administration and Finance Committee Click Here

 

 

Wednesday, December 3rd

 

9:00 am   Full Board  Click Here  

 

 

Contact your BESE member to tell them how you feel about these issues.

Click HERE for the list of BESE Members by district.

Additional Information
Expansion of LAA-1 assessment eligibility:
The La. Department of Education (LDOE) is recommending expanding the eligibility for students to take the LEAP Alternate Assessment - Level 1 (LAA-1).  
  • Currently Louisiana has one of the most restrictive eligibility requirements for students to participate in LAA-1.  Only students with the most significant cognitive disabilities can take LAA-1, but each state can define what is meant by a significant cognitive disability - as long as no more than one percent (1%) of students are counted in school, district and state accountability systems as proficient using the LAA-1.  Louisiana has been using 1% as a cap on LAA-1 participation rates, so school systems could only test a maximum of 1% of students on the LAA-1.  
    • Louisiana's current definition of a significant cognitive disability as used for LAA-1 participation criteria is a student must be three or more standard deviations below the mean in cognitive and/or adaptive behavior. 
  • The recommendation from the LDE is to:
    • Retain the three standard deviations or below requirement for students who have not completed fifth grade. 
    • Once a student has completed fifth grade, the IEP team may identify a student as eligible for  LAA 1 if the student:
      • Is 2.3 or more standard deviations below the mean in cognitive and/or adaptive behavior, and
      • Has demonstrated a cognitive impairment which prevents the student from attaining grade level achievement standards, as evidenced by student achievement data, including state assessment results.
      • Additionally, an IEP team may exercise an exception for a student between 2.0 and 2.29 standard deviations below the mean if empirical evidence is provided to support the decision that a LAA-1 identification is appropriate.

Why does this matter and what does this mean?

From an individual student perspective it will allow more students to be put on LAA-1 and not have to take regular standardized grade-level tests. However, students on LAA-1 tend to be included less and tend to have less access to highly-qualified subject-matter teachers (i.e., math, English/reading, etc.).

 

There also may be some unintended consequences resulting from these proposed changes. From a district and school accountability perspective, expanding the eligibility criteria may cause students with severe and profound disabilities to be further left out of the accountability system, with schools or school systems being rewarded for not serving students with the most severe disabilities.

 

 

Discussion of the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP)

  • BESE will receive a report from the most recent MFP Task Force meeting. They will hear the final recommendations from the Task Force at the January 13th BESE meeting.
  • LaTEACH has advocated for an equitable funding formula across school systems (traditional-charter schools).
Did You Take Action?
action alert
 
Please let us know if you contacted your BESE Member or attended a BESE meeting by emailing us at info@lateach.org.
Any questions?
If there are any questions about the information in this alert, contact LaTEACH at:
contact pic
Phone: 1-800-450-8108
Phone: 1-800-894-6558
Website: www.lateach.org

LaTEACH is an initiative of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.