"Draft Only - Approval Pending"

Summary of Proceedings

Joint Meeting of the Management Council

and the Joint Education Interim Committee

Room 150, U.W. Outreach Center                                                                             November 19, 2004

951 North Poplar                                                                                                         Casper, Wyoming

PRESENT:      MANAGEMENT COUNCIL:

Representative Fred Parady, Chairman;

Senator April Brimmer Kunz, Vice-Chairman;

Senators Irene Devin, Keith Goodenough, Rae Lynn Job, Grant Larson and John Schiffer;

Representatives Pete Anderson, Tom Lockhart, Randall Luthi, Wayne Reese and Ann Robinson.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE:

Senator Henry H.R. "Hank" Coe and Representative Jeff Wasserburger, Cochairmen;

Senators Jim Anderson, Robert Peck and Kathryn Sessions;

Representatives Kurt Bucholz, Becket Hinckley, Tom Lockhart, Del McOmie, Ann Robinson and Mark Semlek.

Legislative Service Office: Dan Pauli, Dave Nelson, Mary Byrnes, Mark Quiner and Wendy Madson.

Other Legislators In Attendance:  Senator Laness Northrup and Representative Monte Olsen.

Others Present:  See attached Appendix A.

ABSENT:        Senators Larry Caller and Jayne Mockler and Representatives Liz Gentile and Jane Wostenberg.

AGENDA:       See attached Appendix B.

*  *  *  *  *

Call to Order.

At 1:30 p.m., Representative Fred Parady, Management Council Chairman, called to order the joint meeting of the Management Council and the Joint Education Interim Committee.

Michael O'Donnell, State's Counsel for School Finance Litigation.

At 1:35 p.m., Representative Parady resolved the meeting into executive session to discuss school finance litigation matters.  At 2:05 p.m., Representative Parady reconvened the joint meeting in open session.

School Finance Model Recalibration Proposed RFP.

On behalf of Senator Larson, Representative Luthi, and Senator Coe and Representative Wasserburger, CoChairs of the Joint Education Interim Committee, LSO staff reviewed components of a proposed RFP for 2005 recalibration of the cost-based school finance funding model.  A copy of the proposed RFP is attached at Appendix C.

Senator Kunz requested a recorded vote of both the Joint Education Interim Committee and the Management Council.  Chairman Parady directed the Joint Education Interim Committee to present a recommendation to the Council.

Representative Lockhart made a motion for Joint Education Committee approval of the proposed RFP, to be forwarded to the Management Council.  Senator Peck seconded the motion and the motion carried by a vote of 11 ayes and three excused.  The roll call vote is attached at Appendix D.

Representative Luthi moved the Management Council accept the proposed RFP approved by the Education Committee.  Senator Larson seconded the motion and the motion carried by a vote of twelve ayes and one excused.  The roll call vote is attached at Appendix E.

Student Assessment/Accountability Task Force Report.

Deputy State Superintendent Annette Bohling, on behalf of the Department of Education and the Statewide Task Force on Student Assessment and Accountability, presented recommendations on student proficiency assessments and NCLB rewards and consequences detailed in the statewide accountability plan.  The report is made in accordance with 2004 Laws, Chapter 109.  Materials pertaining to these matters are attached at Appendix F.

Assessment.  The statewide assessment system contains both year-end and year-round assessments, providing an option to districts.  The year-end assessment operates similar to the existing WyCAS assessment whereby reading and math are assessed in March and writing in January and April.  Year-round tests in all subject areas will be administered through shortened instruments in January and April in a classroom setting, with January tests providing a preliminary score, and April testing combined with January scores to result in a final score.  Reading, math and in 2008, science, will be scored by the assessment provider (Harcourt) and writing tests, by Wyoming teachers.  Additionally, districts will have access to additional assessment tools to assist with teaching and learning.

Accountability.  Consequences were described under both the transitional plan and the permanent plan, which will apply to all schools and districts with appropriate distinctions between Title 1 and non-Title 1 schools, and are for the most part cost-neutral.  Consequences include a menu approach allowing options to districts when imposing sanctions upon schools.  Interventions escalate over time.  The Task Force recommends funds be available at the state level for district technical assistance with interventions, and for supporting tutoring and related services for individual student remediation.

Adjournment.

Council Chair Parady adjourned the joint meeting at 2:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________

Representative Randall Luthi, Council Secretary