Governor will get school-plan draft
Leaders in the Arkansas Department of Education, along with others, are continuing to work toward a September submission of the state's plan for complying with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015.
The latest draft of the state plan will be sent in the next few days to Gov. Asa Hutchinson for his review. The draft -- which is about 150 pages including appendices -- currently proposes a 12-year goal of 80 percent of students achieving proficiency for their grade level on state-mandated tests.
That's a change from the 90 percent proficiency goal initially discussed. Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key said this week that educators see the 80 percent proficiency goal as both aspirational and reasonable. That is particularly true, he said, in light of the state's use of the ACT Aspire exams "that raised the bar" on what students are expected to know and be able to do.
Additionally, the draft plan sets 15 as the minimum number at which a subgroup of students is created for reporting purposes. Schools will be held accountable for the achievement of subgroups of students, including those who are white, black, Hispanic, English-language learners, impoverished or recipients of special education services.
The federal law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002.
Teachers in state contend for award
Seven teachers from across the state have been selected as 2017 state finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
The finalists for the math award and their schools are Kyla Gentry, Ahlf Junior High School in the Searcy School District; Mary Parson, Little Rock Central High School; Carol Stubblefield, Charleston High School; and Tiffany Taylor, Rogers Heritage High School.
The finalists for the science award are John Williams, Bryant High School; Corey Boby, Benton High School; and Travis Fink, Springdale Har-Ber High School.
The National Science Foundation, on behalf of the White House, oversees the program that recognizes outstanding teachers who have demonstrated a commitment to professional development, innovative teaching techniques and technology use in their classrooms.
A total of 51 Arkansas teachers were nominated this year, and a state review committee selected the seven finalists who are now eligible for national honors in 2018. National Presidential Award winners each receive $10,000, a presidential citation and a trip to Washington, D.C., for a series of recognition events, professional development activities and an awards ceremony.
The Arkansas Science Teachers Association and Arkansas Council of Teachers of Mathematics will honor Arkansas' seven teachers at the Arkansas Curriculum Conference Nov. 2-3 at the Little Rock Marriott and Statehouse Convention Center.
Principal selected for school in NLR
Karla Whisnant has been named principal of the North Little Rock School District's new Center of Excellence, which is a conversion charter school offering instruction in computer science, manufacturing, engineering, health care, transportation, distribution and logistics.
The new school within North Little Rock High is designed to gives students and their families choices about the pace, place, path and time for academic and career-related instruction.
Whisnant, who has been an assistant principal at North Little Rock High School, succeeds Christie Toland as head of the charter school. Toland was the district's director of college and career readiness, but recently resigned to become an assistant superintendent in the Gentry School District.
At the same meeting in which it endorsed Whisnant, the North Little Rock School Board approved the appointment of Steve Orobona to the principal's job at Boone Park Elementary. He had been the assistant principal at Glenview Elementary.
Metro on 07/29/2017