California Educator

October 2016

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Q&A on LCFF Evaluation Rubrics We asked Joshua Daniels, director of training and outreach for the California Collaborative on Educational Excellence (CCEE), a few questions about the new rubrics. What do you see as the greatest challenges and greatest opportunities for districts? The new evaluation rubrics present a great opportunity, because a local educational agency (LEA) can use the information pre- sented by the rubrics to engage staff and stakeholders in beginning a discussion regard- ing what is working and not working in the LEA. The biggest challenge is remembering that the rubrics can only start a discussion — much more informa- tion is needed to truly understand the needs of a particular LEA. Each LEA must go deeper into its own data and local content, and consult with staff and stakeholders before determining next steps. How do you see districts demonstrating improvement on some of the less quantifiable indicators, such as school climate? Some indicators in the rubrics are "state" indicators (e.g., gradu- ation rate), and some are "local" indicators (e.g., school climate). LEAs will receive one of five colored icons [representing per- formance levels from "very low" to "very high"] for each state indicator, with the icon being determined by the state based on data from the LEA. For local indicators, however, it will be the LEA that determines whether the indicator is "met" or "not met." While the state has not provided extensive direction on how to meet the school climate local indicator, one current option for doing so is by administering the California Healthy Kids Survey. What is CCEE's role? What has it been doing since its inception? As part of the 2016-17 budget, the Legislature provided the CCEE with a one-time allocation of funds over three years for two pur- poses. The first purpose is to establish a pilot program to work closely with a select group of LEAs to learn how best to provide intensive support to the LEA without telling it what to do. The sec- ond is to establish a professional development training program for LEAs and local stakeholders so that they can use the rubrics and the LCAP Template as tools for continuous improvement. As you look across the state, how are you touting positive local stories around LCFF and LCAP? The CCEE has started a blog (ccee-ca.org/blog.asp) called "Local Control Spotlight" to highlight ways in which California's shift to local control is manifesting itself on the ground. The posts are not intended to describe best practices but rather to provide interesting, creative and inspiring illustrations of decisions made at the local level. The stories that we have heard across the state demonstrate that even if there are aspects of LCFF that need to be improved, many LEAs are taking advantage of local control for the benefit of students. To suggest a story, please email ccee@rcoe.us. Help on LCAPs To help local school districts and communities achieve the goals set forth in their Local Control and Account- ability Plans, the Legislature established the California Collaborative on Educational Excellence (CCEE). In addition to highlighting local control success stories, the CCEE has announced a series of free regional work- shops in November that will focus on the new rubrics and provide guidance on incorporating them into local plans (see box above). It's been only three years since the LCFF was signed into l aw. At th e tim e, C TA was quick to point out that LCFF 's philosophy borrowed heavily from our own successful Q uality Education Investm ent Act program, which showed dramatically that local edu- cators and other stakeholders know what's best for their students. It's hard to overstate what a major shift this is for California schools, and it's come at a time when education has been grappling with other major changes, such as the shift to the new California stan- dards. But this is a long-term endeavor, one that is likely to prove once and for all that the old top-down paradigm was the wrong approach. "Overall, we're very happy with the direction," says Heins. "Any time you look at any child or group, you want to use indicators that are giving you a complete picture. We are really on the doorstep of developing something that could be groundbreaking." Workshops to Help CCEE is holding free workshops to help educators interpret, understand and use the new LCFF Evaluation Rubrics as a tool to support continuous improvement. They are designed for teams (a team of teachers, a school leadership team, a district leadership team, etc.), but individuals are welcome. Register at ccee-ca.org/workshops-trainings.asp. For more information, see ccee-ca.org. WED N E SDAY, N OV. 2 : Sacramento F R I DAY, N OV. 4 : San Jose S AT U R DAY, N OV. 5 : San Jose WED N E SDAY, N OV. 9 : Los Angeles M O N DAY, N OV. 1 4 : Fresno T U E SDAY, N OV. 1 5 : Bakersfield WED N E SDAY, N OV. 1 6 : San Diego F R I DAY, N OV. 18 : Redding S AT U R DAY, N OV. 19 : Ontario 33 October 2016

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