Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of the November 8, 2011, the December 14, 2011 and the January 10, 2012 Policy meetings (Discussion/Action)

II.

Common Core State Standards - Closing the Achievement Gap (Discussion)
Presenter: Linda Sink, APS Chief Academic Officer; Gabriela Uro, Manager, ELL Policy & Research, CGCS; Lily Wong Fillmore, University of California at Berkeley; Lynne Rosen, Director, APS Language and Cultural Equity

III.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

IV.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 5:00 p.m. in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

V.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order – the meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Dr. David Peercy, chair.

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of the November 8, 2011, the December 14, 2011 and the January 10, 2012 Policy Committee meetings – Dr. Analee Maestas motioned for approval of the agenda and minutes.  Kathy Korte seconded the motion.  All indicated approval.

II.

Common Core State Standards - Closing the Achievement Gap –

Presenters: Linda Sink, APS chief academic officer; Gabriela Uro, manager, ELL Policy and Research, CGCS; Lily Wong Fillmore, University of California at Berkeley; Lynne Rosen, director, APS Language and Cultural Equity Department.

Mr. Brooks introduced Ms. Uro and Ms. Wong, two of the nationally known experts on English Language Learners (ELLs).

Linda Sink began by saying the purpose of the presentations was to address the concerns expressed with English Language Learners (ELL) students.  Lynne Rosen was able to get Ms. Uro and Ms. Wong Fillmore, nationally known experts in this field to come and speak.  Ms. Sink said the presentations were to be informational, and she would come back with more specifics if requested.  Ms. Uro stated she was excited to come to Albuquerque with Ms. Wong Fillmore because of all the exciting things happening in Albuquerque.  She gave her background and said she was currently with the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS).  She wanted to address concerns from board members.  Dr. Peercy asked for more on special education also.  Ms. Uro said they would be talking about special populations – those of the special groups that were not doing very well.  In regard to concerns in Albuquerque, she showed reports for 36 member districts of the CGCS using ACT scores and what they found was 30 percent were reading at complex text and 20 percent were Hispanic.  Dr. Peercy asked how common core would be integrated.  Ms. Uro said in regard to common core in complex text/language, research was done and we are dealing with a global economy.  All students are expected to learn with the common core.  The CGCS has created a support network bringing in writers of the common core teams (writers – it was a two-year process), they have created a public service announcement and materials to help parents/community understand what will be different.  In terms of ELLs, Albuquerque is ahead of all because of the consensus of leadership.  Discussion followed on an article that was included in the packets entitled:  The Common Core Challenge for ELLs.

Some of the questions that were presented by board members and topics of discussion were:

• Ms. Uro said it would take time in the instructional shift for ELLs.  If they were learning in tandem (native language and English) it was quicker.
• Ms. Maestas asked if there were pilots or if it was all new.  Ms. Uro said they pulled from research what clearly worked.
• Ms. Rosen said the common core state standards would strengthen the bilingual education program.

Ms. Wong Fillmore continued with her presentation.  She had been contacted by a group of school networks in New York because of the work she had done in regard to ELLs.  She worked as a volunteer assistant in fifth and sixth grades and with long-term ELL. Academic English was in complex text, something that had not been given to ELLs before.  Ms. Wong Fillmore then showed a video of several classroom teachers teaching ELL students.  One was of a kindergarten classroom learning science by deciphering sentences.  Discussion and questions followed.  Ms. Sink said the standards are the body of knowledge, and the writers did address the instructional shifts.  The teachers were excited and needed these instructional standards.  Discussion followed.

• Dr. Peercy suggested they also teach mathematics language and they needed to work on all integration with all subjects.
• Ms. Wong Fillmore wants to make sure we get the Common Core concepts integrated across the board throughout the entire curriculum.  We need to come up with a version that works.  Need instructional support at all levels; even assessments.

The steps in planning were discussed:

• Need to get buy in
• Develop overall plan for change, formal representation to site administrators so everyone can become aware of what the ELL plan involves.
• Need staff development to have everyone understand.
• Set up planning sessions at different levels, become strategic, what is academic language, how language works in text, vocabulary development – working with phrases, language across the curriculum, planning for instruction.
• Suggested establishment of several lab sites at elementary, middle and high schools – seminars to share their work.
• Document – put everything on website.  Show videos to parents.

Discussion followed.

Ms. Maestas felt instructional materials would not be too critical a matter – since teachers generally would be able to find what they need.  Ms. Sink said the core materials like the Treasures program are the basics that teachers can use.

Ms. Sink gave kudos to her instructional directors who were in attendance.  She also thanked the two professionals and asked them to help her and her instructional team.  Ms. Uro commended the board for their support.  Mr. Garcia asked what the strategies were and said he was hopeful that administration would map this out.  Ms. Maestas was worried about the teacher evaluation piece (could be dangerous).  Ms. Wong Fillmore feels deeply that the American school system has allowed her to do what she does now. She applauds the board and asked that they be open to all this.  Mr. Robbins said he appreciated the high standards Ms. Wong Fillmore spoke about.  Ms. Sink said they were working with Ellen Bernstein with  the union, and Anne Tafoya, executive director of Special Education.

III.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

IV.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 5:00 p.m. in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

V.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 7:29 p.m.