Transcript Education Policy in Pennsylvania

Education Policy in
Pennsylvania
Governance & Leadership
Group Members
 Rosemary Nilles
 Lee Burket
 Dale Keagy
 Elaine Tischer
 Jim Thomas
Outline
 Task
 Obsolete school code
 School Board
– Demographics
– Term Length
 School Board professional development
 Creating consensus
 Conclusions
Task
 Identify issues concerning governance
and leadership in Pennsylvania
education policy that require state
action.
Focus
 Legislative accountability for student
achievement
What law needs to change
to improve local school
boards’ accountability for
student outcomes?
Pennsylvania School Code
 Findings
– Written in 1949,
• Many Amendments
• No comprehensive update since
– Contradictory and outdated sections
– Language confusing on duties of board
 Assessment
– School Code is obsolete and lacks vision
Pennsylvania School Code
 Examples of obsolescence in school
board responsibilities
– 24 PS 7-740 Water-closets or out-houses
– 24 PS 11-1146 Part-time teachers, etc.
– 24 PS 15-1516 Bible reading
– 24 PS 15-1543 William Penn Day
School Board Background
 Originally active in day-to-day operations, now focus
on policy
 Federal and state legislation has moved control away
from local boards
– Curriculum
– Student achievement standards
– Personnel
 Superintendents and staff now handle day-to-day
issues
 State holds school administrators responsible for
teacher quality and student achievement
 Local boards now have little accountability for student
achievement to meet mandated standards
 Local community holds board responsible for
preparing graduates to enter workforce
School Board Accountability
 Complicated
 Requires strengthening credibility and
relevance with the community by
establishing:
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Policy connected to achievement
Budget connected to achievement
Vision
Close relationship with school administration
Culture of ethical school governance
Requirement for Board member development
School Board Selection and
Qualifications - Issues
School board election cycles
School board director
development
3 – 3 – 3 Election Cycle
Cycle1
3 Directors – 6 year term
Cycle 2
3 Directors – 6 year term
Cycle 3
3 Directors – 6 year term
5-4 Election Cycle
Cycle 1
4 Directors – 4 year term
Cycle 2
5 Directors – 4 year term
Cycle 1
4 Directors – 4 year term
Cycle 2
5 Directors – 4 year term
Election Cycles in PA
 Until early 1980s, Boards in PA elected
on 3-3-3 cycle with 6 year terms
 Given reason for change to a 5 –4 cycle
– Difficult to find people willing to commit to 6
years of service
– High turnover rate
 Other reasons
 Time for a change…?
Board Demographics in PA
Years of Service on School Board
1980
1990
2002
Under 5
62%
50%
46%
5 – 10
24%
35%
35%
11 – 20
10%
12%
14%
Over 20
4%
3%
5%
Advantages/Disadvantages
 3 – 3 – 3 Boards
– Stability
– Continuity of leadership
– Assurance of experienced board
 5-4 Boards
– Quick response to single issues
– Potential for “take-overs” and instability
 Recommendation – Return to 3-3-3
School Board Election Cycles
 Findings
– Current law specifies 9 members for most districts
– Election of 5 members one election and 4 the
next, for term of 4 years
– Election cycle produces turbulence
 Assessment
– Member turbulence can causes dramatic policy
shifts
– Election law could be changed to provide for fewer
members each election and/or longer terms
providing more stability
Board Demographics in PA
AGE
1980
1990
2002
Under 35
11%
7%
3%
36-45
32%
35%
20%
46-55
37%
31%
40%
56-65
14%
17%
22%
Over 65
6%
10%
15%
Board Demographics in PA
Education
1980
1990
2002
High School
27%
18%
15%
Some College
19%
18%
14%
College Grad
28%
31%
33%
Master
16%
20%
26%
PhD, EdD
10%
13%
12%
Board Director Development
 Findings
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Aging board members
Board members well educated
No background checks or formal training required
School code specifies members to be 18 years old
and of good moral character.
– Other states have successfully implemented
mandatory training to develop board members
– Ability of boards to govern and provide leadership
not consistently displayed
Board Director Development
Assumptions
–Older board members may have interest in
taxation issues over education mission
–Lack of formal training lends towards members
functioning in their “comfort zone” and furtherance
of personal agendas and/or risk aversion
–Developmental training increases member
efficiency, focus on board functions and
consistency in governance
–Learning organizations serve their constituents
better
Board Director Development
 Recommendation
– Legislature amend laws to require:
• All newly elected Board members attend
orientation training (12 hrs)
• Annual professional development (4 hrs)
• All Board members successfully pass
background checks prior to assuming duties.
– Variety of options
– Administered by state Bd. of Ed.
– Funded by school board
– Incentives
Board Director Development
 Training Content
– Overview of Education in PA
– Legal and Regulatory Environment
– District Goals, Programs, Policies
– Board Operations
– Roles and Responsibilities
– Creating a Vision
– Personal/Professional Development
Building Consensus
 Enlist Support of Stakeholders in
the Educational Community to:
– Educate the Legislature
– Educate the Public About the
Importance of School Board
Creating a Critical Mass of
Support
 Small Scale: Build Support within
the Organizations
 Larger Scale: Communication to
Legislature and General Public
 Full Scale: Bill Introduced
 Consider the Opposition
Conclusions
 Legislature has role in student
achievement through school code
 School code must be revised to
reflect changes in school board
roles and responsibilities
 Complexity of school policy
environment dictates development
for school board members
Education Policy in
Pennsylvania
Governance & Leadership
References
 Institute for Educational Leadership. (2001).
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Leadership for Student Learning: Restructuring
School District Leadership. Washington D.C.
Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Pennsylvania Public School Code of 1949.
Harrisburg, PA.
The Education Policy and Leadership Center. (2004).
Strengthening the Work of School Boards in
Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA.
Bloomington
Cunningham
Gehring
Land