In the Rhythm of the School
A very important date that can have a substantial effect on improving student achievement is quickly approaching. By March 1, according to 702 KAR 3:246, districts are required to supply each school council with allocations for staff and instructional materials and a tentative professional development allocation. The importance is not simply in making the allocations but in providing the support and assistance to your school councils in ensuring that they utilize those allocations in the most effective manner to improve teaching and learning. The key pieces to the allocation puzzle are as follows:
· Staff Allocations – Each council receives a staffing allocation that provides a total number of certified (Section 4) and classified (Section 5) positions. The staffing levels in the allocation are based on the class cap size requirements found in KRS 157.360. Remember that the council’s role is to determine the number of staff in each job classification and not in assigning staff to those positions.
· Instructional Materials – Each council also receives a funding allocation for instructional materials (Section 6). For 2007-08 this allocation is $133.77 per pupil. How this allocation is utilized is key in student success.
· Professional Development – While the district does not receive its final allocation for professional development until a later date, the regulation requires the district to estimate the amount of funds the school will have available for professional development. In most cases, that estimate is based on the current year’s allocation.
The bottom line is that each of the decisions councils make regarding these elements of the funding regulations must be based on an analysis of student needs. If you have further questions about the allocation process e-mail Judith Littleton or call her at (502) 564-4201 or e-mail Sydney Lawson or phone her at (502) 564-3846.
Adolescent Literacy Coaching
The Adolescent Literacy Coaching Project (ALCP) is a professional development initiative offered by the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development in collaboration with the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) and Kentucky's eight public universities. The ALCP will provide professional development for teachers of grades 4-12 in content-area literacy and coaching strategies. The eight day summer academies use the Standards for Middle and High School Literacy Coaches, an International Reading Association (2006) publication, as a framework and focused on the following core content:
- literacy coaching and mentoring
- strategic planning
- effective literacy instruction
- content area literacy strategies
In addition to the summer academies, the participants attend a two-day content literacy professional development sponsored by KDE. Throughout the academic school year, literacy coaches will participate in monthly professional development and coaching networking sessions. Over the course of two years, the participating literacy coaches earn 12 hours of graduate credit. For more information and to apply for this program, please go to CCLD: Adolescent Literacy Coaching Project (ALCP).
KTLC Registration Still Available
Time is running out! But, registration for the 2007 Kentucky Teaching and Learning Conference is still open. The focus for KTLC 2007 will be to help schools and districts address rigor, relevance and relationships as they plan learning opportunities for all students. Registration information can be found by going to KTLC Conference Registration.
Quotable Quotes
“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe. ” Abraham Lincoln