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Supt's Corner: June 2018

From the June 2018 edition of Education Update.

State offices have been planning for next school year for the past several weeks. Here are some key areas of focus based on developments this year:

SCHOOL DESIGN: Complex Area superintendents, assistant superintendents and several principals have developed definitions of school design within four sub-categories: core beliefs and values, instructional design, school infrastructure, and student voice. A continuum based on these will be finalized this summer and shared with HIDOE.

TRI-LEVEL EMPOWERMENT: The HIDOE leadership team started discussions to identify key areas of responsibility and accountability that should be transitioned from the state to the complex and school levels to provide greater decision-making in areas that impact student success; the first iteration of this will be completed this summer.  

COMPUTER SCIENCE: Computer Science standards were approved and adopted by our Board of Education on May 3. We will begin an implementation process based on tri-level empowerment — high standards and expectations from the state, curricular and instructional choice at the complex/school level. The non-negotiable is access for all students to high-quality, engaging computer science education.

TEACHER COLLABORATION: We will look at ways to capture curriculum and lesson development and other instructional innovations by teachers, and ways to increase their voice in state policy.

BILITERACY: I will be charging a new task force to examine ways to expand upon second language acquisition opportunities to increase the number of students who are biliterate.

STUDENT CIVIL RIGHTS: We are committed to making every school a safe place for every student. We are updating HIDOE’s civil rights policy and complaints procedure, and when we return in August we will be hosting public hearings to gather feedback. 

DUAL CREDIT & ADVANCED PLACEMENT: Students who earn college credit via AP exams and/or dual credit courses are more likely to graduate and go to college. The Legislature agreed to fund half of the FY19 budget request for Early College courses — $500,000. I have also asked the Board to consider this a priority area for carryover funds as they become available. I am asking Complex Areas to review their AP and dual credit data for equity access and expansion opportunities.