President's Letter             [ top ]

Your CCEA Executive Board recently visited Sacramento where we talked with various members of the Department of Education, State Board of Education, and other education based representatives. To my great surprise, considering the State’s 35 Billion dollar deficit, no one seemed panicked, depressed, or suicidal. The prevailing attitude was that California has faced hard times before and we will get through this crisis as well. Of course some people and programs will be left behind! Perhaps the best way to summarize the moment is to quote from a voice from the past “ In the end everything always works out for the best”??? We can only hope.

Some of the best discussions during the capital visit were with Phil Spears, Director, Standards and Measurements CDE. Mr. Spears is working with the CAHSEE. The one issue that was made crystal clear during the discussion dealt with the issues of who must take the test to graduate. This has been the number one question asked of me during the past year. The issue is: If a student scheduled to graduate in 2003 fails to graduate and returns as a 5^th year student in 2004 or graduates in a later year, must he pass the CAHSEE. The answer is NO. (See notes at www.cde.ca.gov/statetest/cahsee/updates).

When he does complete the 2003 graduation requirements from your continuation school he must be credited with a 2003 diploma certification and not a diploma for 2004 or after. It is the local school board who determines the year in school and year of graduation. Mr. Spears will be presenting a workshop on the CAHSEE during the state conference in May in Sacramento.

The big issue we all face today, as you might suspect, is the 3.66% cut in education spending proposed by Governor Davis. The prospects of these cuts impacting our continuation programs should be minimal this year. For some districts, however, the consequences might become much more noticeable next year as superintendents and business managers look for ways to cut their budgets. Districts could change the ratio of students to teachers or even attempt to close down the programs. Be vigilant to these changes. Remember the Law mandates that every district must have a continuation program in place (Education Code 48430, 48432). Don’t even let your school boards contemplate such actions. It’s illegal! If you still don’t have a copy of CCEA’s new manual Continuation Education, Finding the facts, you can order your copy on line at www.cceanet.org. The cost is only $10 plus mailing.

 A word about the 2003 CCEA State Conference, Learning By The Bay, May 2-4 in San Francisco. This conference meets all the guidelines for support funding outlined by the No Child Left Behind legislation and all other State and Federal programs. It represents the finest program assemblage of in-service activities for at-risk students to be found anywhere in the country. This year we have received over 80 requests from educators wishing to present conference programs. We have had to say no to several excellent presentations due to the lack of time and space for these presentations. We encourage these individuals to apply again next year. I know that some small school programs have limited financial resources this year, but I strongly encourage everyone to make every effort to attend this year’s conference especially those who live and work in central and northern California.

 One final issue deals with our 2001-02 Continuation Year-End Data Report. We have had only a 30% return from the almost 600 forms mailed out in October. Even if you don’t have all the data requested, please mail what you have to me ASAP. We especially need data on total numbers of students enrolled, numbers graduating, total staffing, etc. These are easy numbers to obtain. The CDE and the Legislature are looking for these numbers. Let’s not give them the opportunity to say that some continuation educators are as flaky as their students. I really need your professional support on this issue. Happy New Year.

I  hope to see many of you in San Francisco.

Legislative Update                        [ top ]
Peter Birdsall & Theresa Inslee

Governor Proposes to Eliminate State’s
Deficit in the 2003-04 Budget Year

As CCEA members are aware, Governor Davis released his highly anticipated 2003-04 Proposed State Budget on Friday, January 10.  His proposed budget includes not only a plan for the coming budget year, but additional reductions in the current year (2002-03) in an effort to tackle the state’s reported $34.6 billion dollar deficit.

In order to bridge the gap between projected state expenditures and revenues, the Governor is proposing various program reductions, funding transfers and loans, as well as tax increases.  Proposed tax increases include: a 1 cent sales tax increase ($4.6 billion), a hike in state income tax for high end wage earners ($2.6 billion), and a cigarette tax increase ($1.2 billion).

Proposed reductions to K-12 education for both the current and budget years total approximately $6 billion.  The following briefly summarizes some of the major K-12 education proposals for both the current and budget years. 

School district revenue limits (the primary source of state funding for all students in a school district, including continuation high schools) is proposed by the Governor to be reduced by 3.66% in the current year.  The Governor also proposes that revenue limits will receive no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2003-04.  The revenue limit “add-on” that is specific to continuation high schools is one of the only elements of K-12 education funding that is proposed to receive no reduction.  However, the add-on also is not proposed to receive a COLA for 2003-04.

Additional Reductions to K-12 Education in the Current Year

In addition to reducing Proposition to the minimum guarantee, including the $978.4 million in an across-the-board reduction proposed by the Governor last December, Davis further proposes a number of additional reductions to K-12 education in the current year.

Additional Cuts to Categorical Programs in the Current Year

The Administration is proposing a 7.46% reduction to almost all Proposition 98 categorical programs on top of the proposed 3.66% across‑the-board mid-year reduction.  This reduction constitutes an additional $481.7 million decrease in current year funding.  Supplemental Instruction, Special Education, Preschool, and Child Nutrition would not be subject to this reduction.  If adopted, this would represent a 10.82% reduction to almost all categorical programs in the current year and would carry over into the 2003-04 budget year.  These include programs such as 9^th Grade Class Size Reduction, Regional Occupational Centers and Programs, adult education, and the School Improvement Program.

Governor’s Proposed 2003-04 State Budget for K-12 Education

No Cost of Living Adjustments/No Growth Funding for Categorical Programs

No funding is provided for cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Proposition 98 programs, including revenue limit apportionments.  The statutory COLA is estimated to be 1.55%.  Also, Davis provides no growth funding for categorical programs.  However, the proposed Budget fully funds statutory enrollment growth for school districts ($299.2 million), county offices of education apportionments ($22.3 million), and Special Education ($37.2 million).

Additional Reduction and Block Grant  Proposed for    Categorical Programs

The Governor is proposing to impose an additional 1.28% ($70.4 million) reduction to selected categorical programs in the budget year.  It is important to emphasize that this reduction would be in addition to the current year reductions (3.66% and 7.46%) being proposed.  Also, the Governor proposes to block grant sixty-four categorical programs, which would provide districts with the authority to spend the dollars “…for the general purposes of professional development, instructional materials and technology, specialized and targeted instructional programs, school safety, and student services.”  The block grant would consolidate approximately $5.1 billion in state funding for this purpose and repeal categorical programs slated to be included in the block grant. 

Set-Aside for     Fiscally Troubled Districts

The Budget sets aside $102 million in non-Prop 98 monies in anticipation of emergency loans that may need to be provided to fiscally troubled districts pursuant to future legislation. 

Deferral of Funding for State Mandates

No funding is provided for the cost of various new mandates identified by the Commission on State Mandates and deficiencies for mandated programs that have been reported by the State Controller.  The estimated state savings is reportedly $870 million.

State Board of    Education Finalizes NCLB Application

At its January meeting, the State Board of Education approved a number of recommendations offered by the California Department of Education (CDE) that are key components related to implementation of NCLB.  The final application outlining California’s accountability plan must be submitted to the United States Department of Education (USDOE) by no later than January 31, 2003.  Once the application has been submitted, it will undergo a federal peer review for approval, which is expected to take several months and may require additional modifications to the state’s accountability plan.

Of importance to CCEA members is the decision approved by the Board with respect to whether or not ASAM would be allowable under new federal regulations and if continuation high schools would be removed from the state’s alternative accountability system for the purposes of NCLB.  The following briefly summarizes some of the board’s actions that were taken during the meeting that are of particular interest to CCEA members.

Alternative Accountability (ASAM)

Previous drafts of the federal Title I regulations allowed states the flexibility to use additional accountability methods for schools that serve students for less than a full academic year.  Unfortunately, that provision was removed from the final regulations.  As a result of this decision, the CDE recommended and the Board approved, that there only be one accountability system for all schools, eliminating the use of the Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) for accountability purposes under NCLB. 

As a result all ASAM schools to receive an API report, and an AYP report based upon the “percent proficient” metric for all students that have been enrolled in the school for a full year.  Any student who is enrolled in an ASAM school on the first day of testing must participate in STAR assessments.  Schools who have fewer students than are required in each subgroup (due to mobility) will be aggregated at the district level.  Also, individual students scores that do not count for the school AYP due to mobility will be “rolled-up” to the district or state AYP as appropriate. 

As a result, the state must now consider whether or not to maintain the ASAM and provide each participating school with an ASAM report.  Selected indicators may potentially aid districts in providing accountability for alternative schools.

Definition of “Proficient”

In order to conform to NCLB requirements, the Board had to re-examine the state’s rigorous definition of proficient, which corresponds to college readiness at a four-year university.  Upon reviewing the federal and state requirements, the Board approved the recommendation that the current “proficient” level on the Ca. Standards Tests would serve as “proficient” for NCLB purposes for grades 2-8.

Mobility

Federal requirements contain specific rules related to student mobility that dictate where students should be counted with regard to a state’s accountability system.  NCLB specifies that if a student attends more than one school within a district but is enrolled in the district for a full academic year, that student should be counted at the district.  Highly mobile students who have not been continuously enrolled in any district for a full year should be counted at the state level.

These rules are different from the state’s API and would require legislation to alter California’s system to reflect the new changes under NCLB.  The Board approved the recommendation that the state adopt the necessary changes to conform the state’s definition of mobility to that of NCLB. 

Exemplary Programs/Projects                     [ top ]
Jeanne Yttreness

Just a friendly reminder to be thinking of your outstanding programs/projects and be prepared to submit them by February 1, 2003.I have only received three programs. I know with over 600 continuation schools, we have a lot more programs. The requirements are simple and the application is easy to complete. Go to our website www.cceanet.org.  The goal is to provide an opportunity for all continuation or alternative schools to reap the benefit of the numerous special programs that have been developed by our members.  It is intended that through this process every continuation or alternative school in the state can replicate the selected programs/projects.

The program/project must be submitted by any current  member of CCEA (professional or school) or any employee of a school who has a school membership in CCEA.  Each school is limited to a single submission each year.   If you have questions, call Jeanne Yttreness.

707-463-5220 (work)
707-458-5292 (home)  

ASAM Update                         [ top ]
by Janet Knoeppel

The December 2002 meeting of the PSAA Alternative Accountability Subcommittee yielded much good information.  As of December 18^th, 87% of all schools in the ASAM and 90% of Continuation High Schools had completed their ASAM reporting.  (If you are one of the schools that have not completed this task, you will be hearing from me by phone or email.  You need to complete this ASAP!) 

The State Board of Education has agreed to the recommendations submitted from the committee regarding the pre-post test of achievement.  They also have agreed to accept further recommendations in January 2003.  Several tests were thought to be possibly acceptable by the committee, but additional data was needed to ensure their quality and that they would meet the parameters agreed upon by the committee.  Those tests that have been approved for pre-post testing include:  Renaissance Reading and Renaissance Math (formerly Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math); CASAS (Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System); and the Gates MacGinitie Reading Test. 

We spent a great deal of time reviewing the various indicators that are available for us to use as our accountability measures and determined that there is a need for recrafting definitions for a couple of them.  It is expected that the data will be released either late this winter or early in the spring on the website.  A statement that schools are to be compared against themselves and not one another will be posted with this information. 

We had a report on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) as it pertains to California.  By January 31, 2003, the state must file its accountability plan with the Federal Government for its approval.  There are serious questions about the role of ASAM as it relates to NCLB.  The Feds want to see a single system of students who’ve been enrolled since the beginning of the school year to demonstrate Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  They do not want to see two separate, and what they perceive to be unequal, systems for reporting.  Any school with no students from day 1 for reporting will filter up to the district as a part of the district reporting mechanism.  And, if students are not in the district from day 1, the scores will filter up to the state.  There have even been questions regarding the API as it is reported out as a single score that encompasses both the reading/language arts and math areas.  The Feds prefer that there be separate reports rather than indexing of a single score.  Regardless of the decisions, California can still move ahead independently on the ASAM.  This decision will have to be made in January. 

ASAM  UPDATE-JANUARY 8, 2003

As of this date, the State Board of Education (SBE) has eliminated the ASAM as a valid accountability measure to show AYP under the No Child Left Behind mandate.  The actions taken by the SBE will now require all ASAM schools to receive an API report, and an AYP report based upon the ‘percent proficient’ metric for all students that have been enrolled in the school for a full year.  Any student who is enrolled in an ASAM school on the first day of testing must participate in STAR assessments.  Schools who have fewer students than are required in each subgroup (due to mobility) will be aggregated at the district level.  Also, individual students’ scores that do not count for the school AYP due to mobility will be ‘rolled-up’ to the district or state AYP as appropriate.”  In addition, the Federal Government requires a 95% student participation rate in testing programs that are used to demonstrate AYP.

The SBE definition of “proficient” is that all students are performing at an acceptable level to be admitted to a college or university.  For high school students, this will be determined by passage of the CAHSEE. 

As to what will happen at our next meetings of the ASAM, I will keep you informed.  We would hate to see 4+ years of hard work summarily eliminated.  We are hopeful that we will continue to refine the ASAM and be able to use it for our own accountability. 

Cruse Alaska                                   [ top ]
With Your Colleagues

With over 80 submissions to present at this year’s State Conference, we will have some of the best presentations in recent memory.  The majority of submissions fall into five major themes:  Assessment and Accountability, Instructional Strategies, Student Safety, School Improvement, and the Use and Implementation of the California Standards.  Tied into all of these themes is how the “No Child Left Behind” legislation impacts what we are doing in Continuation Education.  Therefore, for those of you who have been wondering how you will find the money to attend the conference, utilize your NCLB Professional Development funds.  This year’s conference will help answer some of the questions surrounding NCLB, the future of ASAM, how we fit into an API and what the future holds for Continuation Education and alternative education in California.  You won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to hear what the experts have to say.

Some of the presentations we have lined up include a Legislative Update presented by Peter Birdsall and Theresa Inslee, our lobbyists in Sacramento; Developing Your Model School presented by Dennis Fisher, our Consultant in the CDE; Assessment and Accountability presented by Phil Spears from the CDE; Gang Culture and Graffiti, presented by Vince Carbino; Using AVID Techniques in Your Classroom, presented by Mark Wolfe from the AVID Center; and WASC for Continuation High Schools presented by Dr. Marilyn George from the Accrediting Commission.  In addition, there will be workshop sessions on how some schools have made the CAHSEE work for their students.  There will also be several workshops dealing with the Demystification of State Standards, as well as strategies you can take back to your school Monday following the conference.  You will find a more complete list of titles elsewhere in this newsletter.

Unfortunately, not everyone who submitted a proposal has been selected to present at this year’s conference.  With the focus on “No Child Left Behind” and the concerns relating to testing and accountability, school improvement for students and teachers, and safety issues, the conference committee found it necessary to accept only those presentations that addressed the five themes mentioned earlier in this article.  In addition, our space is limited at the hotel.  We are very thankful that so many of you were interested in participating in this year’s conference and hope that you will apply again next year.  What you have to share is of great value and we want to hear about your programs. 

If you haven’t already registered for our conference this year, do so today.  It is as easy as online registration, or if you’d prefer, download the registration form and mail it to Jeanne Yttreness at South Valley High School in Ukiah.

 THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING YOUR REGISTRATION IS APRIL 15^th!  After that date there is a $25.00 additional charge for registration. 

While you are doing this, don’t forget to make your hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency Airport Hotel in Burlingame. 

The phone number there is 650-347-1234. 

Be sure to ask for the conference rate for CCEA.

The deadline for this conference rate is April 1st.

This conference is supported by the California Department of Education (CDE) and meets all criteria for categorical funding, including No Child Left Behind Professional Development Funds.

Hotel Reservations: Hyatt Regency Hotel San Francisco Airport.
1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA 94010, 650-347-1234.
Request special rates for CCEA.

List of 2003 Conference              [ top ]
Presenters, Topics, and Strand

If Airlines Sold Paint              [ top ]

Customer: Hi.   How much is your paint?

Clerk: Well, sir, that all depends on quite a lot of things.

Customer: Can you give me a guess?  Is there an average price?

Clerk: Our lowest price is $12 a gallon, and we have 60 different prices up to $200 a  gallon.

Customer: What's the difference in the paint?

Clerk: Oh, there isn't any difference; it's all the same paint.

Customer: Well, then I'd like some of that $12 paint.

Clerk: When do you intend to use the paint?

Customer: I want to paint tomorrow.  It's my day off.

Clerk: Sir, the paint for tomorrow is the $200 paint.

Customer: When would I have to paint to get the $12 paint?

Clerk: You would have to start very late at night in about 3 weeks. But you will have to agree to start painting before Friday of that week and continue painting until at least Sunday.

Customer: You've got to be kidding!

Clerk: I'll check and see if we have any paint available.

Customer: You have shelves FULL of paint!  I can see it!

Clerk: But it doesn't mean that we have paint available.  We sell only a certain number of gallons on any given weekend.  Oh, and by the way, the price per gallon just went to $16.  We don't have any more $12 paint.

Customer: The price went up as we were talking?

Clerk: Yes, sir.  We change the prices and rules hundreds of times a day,and since you haven't actually walked out of the store with your paint yet,we just decided to change. I suggest you purchase your paint as soon as

possible.  How many gallons do you want?

Customer: Well, maybe five gallons.  Make that six, so I'll have enough.

Clerk: Oh no, sir, you can't do that.  If you buy paint and don't use it, there are penalties and possible confiscation of the paint you already have.

Customer: WHAT?

Clerk: We can sell enough paint to do your kitchen, bathroom, hall and north bedroom, but if you stop painting before you do the bedroom, you will lose your remaining gallons of paint.

Customer: What does it matter whether I use all the paint?  I already paid you for it!

Clerk: We make plans based upon the idea that all our paint is used, every drop. If you don't, it causes us all sorts of problems.

Customer: This is crazy!!  I suppose something terrible happens if I don't keep painting until after Saturday night!

Clerk: Oh yes!  Every gallon you bought automatically becomes the $200 paint.

Customer: But what are all these, "Paint on sale from $10 a liter" signs?

Clerk: Well that's for our budget paint. It only comes in half-gallons. One $5 half-gallon will do half a room. The second half-gallon to complete the room is $20. None of the cans have labels, some are empty and there are no

refunds, even on the empty cans.

Customer: To heck with this!  I'll buy what I need somewhere else!

Clerk:  I don't think so, sir. You may be able to buy paint for your bathroom and bedrooms, and your kitchen and dining room from someone else, but you won't be able to paint your connecting hall and stairway from anyone

but us. And I should point out, sir, that if you paint in only one direction, it will be $300 a gallon.

Customer: I thought your most expensive paint was $200!

Clerk: That's if you paint around the room to the point at which you started.  A hallway is different.

Customer: And if I buy $200 paint for the hall, but only paint in one direction, you'll confiscate the remaining paint.

Clerk: No, we'll charge you an extra use fee plus the difference on your next gallon of paint.  But I believe you're getting it now, sir.

Customer: You're insane!

Clerk: Thanks for painting with United.

Call For Articles             [ top ]

The Newsletter always needs interesting new  material, so if you have something you would like to say to your colleagues in the Continuation Education Field -  write it!  We reserve the right to edit all material for form, fit and function. Chances are that your article will be printed “as is”. Then you can tell your friends that you have been “Published”.

Pictures of a relevant nature and graphics of all kinds are likewise encouraged. As mentioned elsewhere, we would like to receive articles in Word format, since that allows easy insertion into the desk top publishing program that we use to create the newsletter. Articles can be emailed, or if that is not a comfortable method for any of you  writers, mail a diskette to Nancy Christopher, Secretary. The address is: Willow Park High School, 21905 Nisqually Road, Apple Valley, CA 92308.  Phone: (760) 240-4252 (Work). Email: nchristopher@eee.org

Become a Member of CCEA            [ top ]

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