001we are thrilled that you decided to join us tonight we're excited hear what inside that she I want to let you know we will be stopping at seven-thirty no matter what what is going on so mrs. O'Brien's going to talk for a bit and she's been an offer us some insights and at the end of that she's going to open it up and if you have specific questions feel free to throw your hand in there and ask those questions she is a fourth grade teacher at River birthday lunch she has had experience and he hasn't ran bubbles she has been a teacher at two different schools and in those schools she's been a teacher of year after school three different times and she is a member of the State Board of Education which is why
002we we think that she offers a lot of different perspectives and works I'm 0 PS SI and o and you should know that if you ask a question we're live streaming and recording so it'll all be documented offending cold spell apologize in advance of try not to our reservation today and sarah ryan and i am as karen said i am a fourth grade teacher at river ridge elementary school prior to that I was a teacher at white oak elementary the redistricting as well so then um any about schools for my entire career just before i get into you what i'd like to share with you today i'd like to take just a couple of minutes to tell you a little bit more about what I bring to the table when I participate in my role
003as a state board of education river as I better than I am the teacher at river virtue elementary school I've had experience first as a special education assistant I worked in first grade and second grade and now in fourth grade experiencing the older kids I served at the State Board of Education actually since 2009 so I've been there for quite a while at this point as I'm sure you've heard through the news be with underwent some restructuring in recent months also I was reappointed with that phone mitran will actually go through june of 2019 so i still have a couple more years on my promise while there I was appointed for the first time by governor mitch Daniels and reappointed by him and then also by Governor Mike Pence the final thing every from the
004table which i think is probably the most important thing that I can bring my meetings is Miami mom I have to be children of my own two of them attend river birch Josh Hannah and Molly who rules our entire household in the age of two will be there in a few years as well so I think it's really important to recognize that in my role I'm not only bringing my classroom experience but also my experience also every decision that I make every conversation that I have impacts meaningful professionally and personally and I think that's a really valuable thing for me to bring to the table just to get a little bit of background on the political structure for education in Indiana everything starts with the federal government and then goes down to the state government
005Federal Government anything that we gain federal funds from we have to follow laws and procedures state government includes the general starlets US House of Representatives and the state Senate and then also the governor that we make pense the General Assembly the state government role is to enact laws the State Board of Education right under it is to set policy based on those laws so that's kind of where the structure goes down and then we have the Department of Education run by the superintendent right now that's Glenda Ritz and their job is to implement the policies that are created through the law and then do the policies of the State Board and feel free to stop me at any point I will go through some background knowledge but then asks as Kara mentioned we will they
006have some time for questions and answers also I put up here not that these names mean a whole lot to you but this is the current makeup of the State Board of Education and I want you to know that at this point there are 11 members on our board the the superintendent who chairs are for currently is the only elected position the rest are appointed eight of those positions are appointed by our governor and then two are appointed at large by the house the state also so trying to bring more diversity to our board as well within the governor appointments it's important to note that no more than five members can be from one political party so we do have a balance of bipartisanship within our board as well six of those members must have
007professional education experience so they're able to draw from their past experience within the classroom and then one has to be home each congressional district so I know you are representative from the fourth congressional district at this point I think it's also important to note that within the makeup of our team we have superintendents we have principles we have teachers we have business leaders we have the CEO of Project Lead the Way which is a stem initiative that science and technology education and then we also have parents so again it's a well-rounded group that can work together to make the best decisions moving forward for education within the state of Indiana I won't bore you with a lot of details but I just wanted to go through the basics of what the role the state board
008of education is and within statute it states that the state board shall do the following we established an educational goals for our stake we develop standards and objectives for local school corporations we then assess the attainment of those established goals we assure compliance within the established standards and objectives we coordinate with the Commission for higher education in the Department of Workforce Development to develop intrapreneurship educational programs for elementary and secondary education for higher education and for individuals in the workforce we make recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly concerning the educational needs of the state including financial needs and finally we provide for review is to ensure Bolivian I step program which we will definitely be talking about this evening as well um that's just it's not an all-inclusive list but it's a general
009overview of some of the key components of our role there and I also not that I'm not reading all this and I just wanted to put this up here so that you can kind of see a broader picture of the different elements that all come into our role these are all items that we are making decisions for on a monthly basis and I show you also the amount of there because be kind when were asking questions if I don't have information for you today I will certainly get it to you as soon as I can I wanted to give you one example of how the assessment responsibilities breakdown in education policy within our stake so looking at assessment for that example the State Board of Education actually authorizes and developments and develops the implementation of
010the ISTEP program we determine the date on which state way testing is administered in each school corporation then the superintendent of public instruction is responsible for the overall development implementation and monitoring of the ISTEP program and the department of education prepares the detailed design specifications making sure that they're aligned with the standards and that we are testing higher cognitive levels in our actual administration now typically within something like this that goes in a very sequential manner so we authorize the test it is implemented its design and it's implemented occasionally as we saw this year there are opportunities where we have to kind of go back in different levels as board members we were looking at the development of the test and what our students were going to be expected to achieve and an experience within
011their routine and it's was not acceptable so we actually went back in and made some changes in order to ensure that our students were receiving a responsible testing experience as well and we'll talk more about I seven just I wanted to talk about a few of the key issues in education policy right now one of which is definitely a hot item right now and it's something that I know as parents you feel and it's teachers we absolutely feel and that's dealing with the issue of teacher shortage the one thing that I want to be very very explicit about is that this is not a problem that's unique to India there are states across our country that are dealing with the same issue and it's actually an international issue as well there was just a report
012published in may of 2015 that in Great Britain looking at their compass coming school year in fall 2016 they're looking at a teacher shortage that will actually impact 100,000 students so this is something that we are dealing with across the nation across the world the legislature formed a Summer Study Committee so they actually have some meetings where they were working to figure out what we can do from from a policy perspective to actually make an impact in this problem and then the Department of Education led by glenda ritz actually really round a blue-ribbon panel as well and we were fortunate to have some avon representation on that panel also so definitely good to be at the table there was a poor proposal by one of our members mr. Henry for scholarship opportunities easily in your
013sky state legislature what that basically proposed was that we look asked top rated in high school students and we offer them full college tuition at the amenities in Indiana schools for a number of years so looking at and octave skating teachers in classroom beginning with writing teacher something that didn't ease our absolute extension part of it when it comes into play was also is looking at the fact that the number of teachers retirement has nearly doubled in recent years so it is that a lot of us out where the huge generation is retiring it is in frustration with the fields is it early incentive to retirement in a variety of thinking that come come and play there regardless of tossing it we need to get back in the field and excited about education my personal
014Stanley one of the United seems to be my role on board is that we redefine and to develop a strong management program across the state or our computers I'm a diplomat on chose to a new place at my first started here and another this is invaluable resource for me in developing any confidence today so I don't give medicine leave immediately look towards financial responsibility towards living in place processes for sure another key issue that was decided it is looking at as long as and as espada Madonna and I a schoolteacher it's really for me as well the nude flawless basically last legislative session it was before that superintendent risk and education assurances ours work develop sort of new more rigorous own dress for our students they came up with something that is called the work
015or study drama and a college and career ready now see the names of those right up front set off a glass for me I have real issues with the disciples of those good+ email for our students should rob the reservation women em and I'm not sure so that's what I'm going to be are leaning at there are certain concerns regarding the diplomas as it exists right now one of which to the rule of Finance requirements it's important to note that when you're increasing the number of credits that are required for an assignment you are minimizing the amount of there are only two the conservative attitude eliminates of currency as a general diploma and in remember education students to gain the response that we were gonna stab information and the mother was special needs student that
016is not okay and i will to my lab today i need to be sure that we are providing opportunities for all our students to be successful and in the current finally a see an act of schools we're putting in place a lot of education math classes and college and career-ready dress for our students but we're not applying to schools with additional monies in order to fund those classes and then his real concern for us that also spire was banned in the fine arts program it's tools under forced to make decisions to provide the additional math classes and digital price unfortunately one place so the working really hard make sure that we're still those of our students experiences as well it responds to the public that the representative or beside that we were not attacked you
017do want to brush Wars the best diploma format for our students so we actually have created a double and task force I want to very publicly acknowledged to the work that it we need you the initial drafts put your skin worked many many hours and gave off some really great ideas but is not there yet one of my concerns is that we reiterated risk working with me was primarily looking at business community want to see in a diploma which is very important but it's also burning we are acknowledging what our hater 12 educators and experts have said so the derivative Holman kind of course we are inviting asker's within finance community access to education we want to make sure that people who are facing in a fax from this table and they're able to get
018us in refined version or neither we need more activities needs students the recommendations are to mastering so a little bit later when we talk about how involved I hope a big issue really dragging on about a turnout is the issue this year is certainly outside of our morally fact that our students we preparing for this year's tested every last year's certainly not ideal from Stanton to see what I need in order to tell me guy my response to the performance and I cannot point out that in response to all your returns through fields that a new beta F nada will actually have equal weights of a performance and grow so it looks not only and how your students started performing but it also sees credit internality removing them we don't want to come in and
019say no my students are high right out here and they're going to stay right here we want you to commercial jet is low and that is I mean a 50-50 split and raised through create and its trying to try to split it in high school the remaining horses and if you watch you point out that growth it is only measure for students at any 162 days of school year so schools and then they got about 30 centimeters deep so our third rails don't come in growth in being on a date in SSBB see the person and in fourth grade we're dedicated pair of different idea and so on it is a question of all so many of our organic on Billy issues and especially with some of the strong set up this year are really
020strongly high-q federal diamonds that are in place okay um they're tied together a requirement of repressed maintain our we have to assign with it after all schools only receive in a hurry make sure that way all year it is important to show that obviously there's a lot of news right now about our previous years by seven extradition the portage community data we are looking at how you with the governor and some of our key legislators have committed to looking at how they refined formula for the last day of Survivor a clear snapshot of what our schools are performing at and the mortgage that is not something that state work statically we need to change our own right now the car by the Centers choose to be forwarded in short of something that is mostly be
021looking at to get a more accurate question I do want to note that was forced overall dropped there's a lot that if we are able to see there are schools that a hit at our and it released an inversion sauce further and we're going to be their last row because want to celebrate those and everything right pastor couple things to do first is that NWA is not even as a local assessment something is called for when an assessment and what about me the teachers are used that amazing brought we're to image a semi-tractor bro that is going to delay or they can we see for that version now from a register standpoint when I asked students who are you know performing at eye level there's always a way to push them that I love to
022meet an application so certainly relay baptized I know that is played out in the growth model and that you have done there are crude statisticians who are me n ma everything just break down the scale so that we have different levels within each so we have Oh policy expected early anyways what I can tell you is within an a on that level of irradiation is on this regard food well afraid if somebody was continuously modern not normal at an arcade game works 12 they make sure the artist needs to go now there is also less consider an RTI model and armitage response to instruction and it was on a linen spectrum so if you got kids who are struggling that's what we from a practice just annoying pole kids and smaller group and we're getting
023exactly mother in advance for our chances so then I get availability and do need education as well it wasn't as a spectrum it's absolutely expected I'm going into a staff here part of my side of nris courses here is because we took on many more rigorous standards and then also higher level students and ends see the dresses for so long with that this past year like so many dreams the first issue that time when we started receiving moving back on our CTL we were building a bubbling ended up being over a 12-hour testing experience in one we are now I will tell you there are a lot of us ife to the Ballon d'Or standardized testing but I think that we have a responsible well hours of mystery so our very first league and a
024queen was a sweet on me too we were able bring in some sandwich dreams which are assigning society the art of assessment and they are going to really on a s latest online figure out go through and was received was tired too so it were all love issues on better and where the test did not flow already they're investing in interactions there were flaws in the system and obviously for any when I works with kids you know the frustration and all right what are my issues was what we found was that some students thrusting testing animator pense version and i was looking it online we were finding there was a level of difficulty Philip rents to determine whereas by the end of the day we will be connect one class or to determine houses we
025manage McKenna said so we were able to travel and really have some media and then actually end result and how anger 39 points we hang on press the state to get more either question again it's all having an equitable sure because some of these issues didn't have the time and adjusted yet a student reports at this way the network it most recently again because to resource requested we've ever had a steak it is important to note that this is also the first year that a parents are we going to direct access to those resource one of the other many born from how is that schools also mean an option do your best resource for their students and it just open my experience my colleagues we had several cameras are calling us begging for an information
026on your games test results and in front of us we didn't have you it will be go on and show them yes is very sure must agree for this is what you need to do so we say that yes absolutely access to it in Beverly students what about an issue that came up that a fair decision is that when parents do go on after the restore it was an English only version so there were our schools spanish-speaking families they had the opportunity to understand the language video cable company and in order to digest whether or not every swirl so that's all that was to distraction ordered pair so fool's mission it can happen a variety of sizes part is us trying English you can with a pair of service see to the resource cities no
027no come but in order to do with some of the changes will be coming along may as well the source is going to keep will adjust it isn't one for you to know that moving forward with the Pearson we are taking a ruthenium innovative learning the business process and you know coming any quicker thorn in the side caleta de know what is acceptable and what is not moving forward unless it was arrested Oct and we are moving forward Pearson the tennis itself will be saying they're the same questions but final dimension this was actually done or meeting yesterday we have requested the formation of testing advisor community these are high level excerpts who basically are on Houston San my ass Indiana's me to monitor and we'd all fit within recent years may be able to
028me as needed in order to ensure that we are giving the most accurate so one of the questions today is how do we get involved the most is we're going to agitate Wednesday is the responsible sooner of information i think is important for you know that we made three and a variety is but it's worm you recognized in the size feel whatever you want or not then it is we're unable to recognize that you've got to be served be involved communicate frequently whether it is whether the rebel that i'm about to you information on and I levels whether is all in fellas heater weather is at any moment additions on themselves and I'm embarrassed I know a little while I knew about education policy for our setting in this velocity or and I think that
029that is something that a widespread we don't we don't get involved we have solutely need to and I many situations is to look at that point so you being your JS if it has to set up or stabbed comment there are long these global and your little before and then I'll sue the state board of education we by statute we want some they are public meetings that anyone is welcome too and you also got the ability to come in and testify are either on a general or not why you think you're absolutely come be involved in welcome at any of those we downtown either State House the last of the song is you know so often we encourage playing oh it's not only well but what is happy but we're not i'm not going to
030remember any right people who stand behind what we even if what we need to see so it's cliche it's just so important as to move forward I women ahead and get information on how to get it to anyone also it is the worst road on statewide issues to come from the legislation about side and register all and a senator who have been engraved on as well they I don't know firsthand absolutely wanna they want to know what these are the only loss on it there are there and absolutely anything that I encouraged to do so sing with Governor Mike Pence my family she's like I've heard about in the reorganization behind that's the way through now that we published in Coweta senator dan hooves new anomaly as well I was an occasion to answer questions
031you at any point there are a surrogate right now feels depending on what is going on and say that point it is not on time to get it maybe 500 emails in a day some of those situations i surely get back to you that day but I promise you I read about them and I absolutely I keep ride the position that I given and I want you to know that your voice is heard and I certainly you keep me informed the issues that are questions put together the reservation system we here in a long road and legislation exactly play so whether that was certainly entertaining i would expect to see some bills presented that hopefully the fact a little bit more as well it's not about your surroundings are somewhat in terms of Louisiana meeting
032women and I distract her to know but it's certainly someone even add the attention of leadership within it will pass in the Senate and didn't see those recommendations response to what easy Shawn yeah um because of my lord I've actually been MC quite a bit of a noble show standards went our original Indiana centers to come before and now we have our college career and scanners the domain conversation related to looking it on or in the first place there were a couple of issues number one was it we have students if we were moving from one state to another we want to have a more consistent measure of expectation looking at the global community and where the United States was ranking comparison of our neighbors in many years that part of it was looking America
033Stanley also what would be reversed about to become an important Sanders you also part of what was called the car ignition in the next 80 person we've seen are and what that is is a like if I set of alienation base or standards that were lost quite a bit of money also developed a stroke a number of wire the most stable education are you trying to do such as chair of the mortar or use she still decision say why the state election members of the parole as heresy go ahead and introduces the last year that it asks but it is inactive for another year i'm also at that point it doesn't mean he's not here means that we're going to received a lecturer ask here it also really device to achieve on at this point
034from my standpoint position as chair it was really limits the way by CEO on board regardless and member of the work all of us can add or take an agenda we all say there's not a lot other than in running the organization the reason of the death was brought about as a policy key role in station with a son of them strike that it was performed in the last year he knows all these students it just kind of it's still in the early phase right now where Henry one of our members posted and long have these other priority that medicine their campaign is not about junior so there it is not long for my guests just pure speculation is that fighting to do it look at how that may be developing you will get some
035private funding as well purrs available but you know it's really the conversation I think it's really important that we don't rush we still want all the educators who have foundation successful and faster you might have a little alvie actually were one of the issues in for the war with a deadly and we adjusted our teacher licensure exams and when we found with a set no one was it past them I'm service to us it wasn't so much a matter of lowering the standards as well as when we going to find out the basic law and task I think it is important to find ways to address without minimizing the role well it is less than editions a because it's something that it can't the governor and say it has the change in law is posturing
036so at this point you go to ask admitted to be hobbling teachers from a results and said very clearly that he will be working from savers to find ways to adjust those swords a results to getting rather we can't suggest you what stelazine is for the cause of the source because we were to do some of its going to risk losing our way or we should also lose it's kind of an interesting got me for register Christian fourth grade and all this it is and I was participating this role on unique experience and understand what my colleagues across the state and I can use important teachers standpoint that yes well them in the past and obviously y'all like you out but it's what everyone and it certainly does not define our children we need to
037get Jules is probably one of our standards we could be needing to test education the critical response to the latest features so it's important you don't let it overcome distraction but should and as I is on these it is fine when I believe a student didn't pass correct it off because you didn't have literally gonna have it the way I can look at it also though from my short on time before upgrade already it's not opportunity to help build life skills as well whether it is a testing situation or any online or a they have asked for the professional field there's always a way to that level of anxiety that an economy education so I'll get as an opportunity for me to be an approach for them also and they're learning strategies that they when
038it's not a surpassing absolutely adjusted allegation as teaching them there's not that we created we're so late on this test car trouble because then we looked at one of the way that we really only wanted was for the deluminator assertion about sausages so what will build in it as now have a role pilot testing of some sort of messages that we would it would have any really did enjoy miss plural or whatever that out one more variance from another offensive also so weird i can tell you is that a developer just a saying you know I absolutely that's definitely what you're going to do with what has been posted a new version of why is increasingly their services right what I got my wife from so I think that you know we wanted one makes
039a minute to my one thing I wasn't mentioned we're also so that sucked on the Viking seems you've heard her upcoming sessions if there were any high sizes it was on for us today and got an Armani engage in talks so we have a global not also serves every wider to make no doubt application areas so I so I did that we need to make sure that I the basic program around sunday since we are over former Navy it's look for anybody can phone records we gave you that it for 30 i nag about gin gin double vodka again novel holsters are off the gentleman right now so sorry it ok sweet bedroom suite if equation jewelry and then the tech tech my box so you know we don't mess with me if I am
040an adversity and I think about by the way to go baby a lot of towie don't know you're you're needy that is I don't know what to do I'd way to downtown maybe she doesn't mean any more juices sort words are if anybody's really good actually if there is a train or the assistant areas so while they don't have the actual graduation rates this would be reread stall out stay in their area sis today we announce on live def deficits no nervous so that guide questions it's completely official neighborhoods that they're not alkalizing so it's not some major sure that occupied by then antistress or guys