Meeting-+October+2012

=Meeting Agenda= =10/22/2012=

Domestic Abuse Project Presenter: Katie Kenyon []

Presentation:

Presentation Handouts:

Reminder:

Provider Resource Fair  Sponsored by: Delaware County Office of Intellectual Disabilities October 23, 2012 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM   Room 171-172 Delaware County Intermediate Unit  200 Yale Ave.   Morton, PA 19070 Are you looking for a change? Are you making plans for services after graduation? Come and discover the many Services and Resources that are available throughout Delaware County  For more information please contact Paula Fawcett at 610-713-2463 News:

From Bernie Miller- The PSBA put out a nice short blurb on the __public comment period for Chapter 4 __. Chapter 4 regulations are changing with regards to Keystone Exams as a high stakes test/exit exams.

**Public comment period now open for Chapter 4 changes**

The State Board of Education’s to **draft revisions to Chapter 4 regulations** (Academic Standards and Assessment) were published in the Oct. 6, 2012 issue of the //Pennsylvania Bulletin//, marking the beginning of the public comment period that will end on Nov. 5, 2012. Comments may be sent to Karen Molchanow, executive director, State Board of Education, 333 Market St. Hbg., PA 17126 or emailed to her at **rapstateboardofed@pa.gov** **.**

The draft of Chapter 4 changes were approved by the State Board last May, with many of the changes relating to high school graduation requirements and Keystone Exams. Among the key provisions of the revised Chapter 4 proposal:

**Common Core Standards --** The proposal requires full implementation of the PA Common Core in English Language Arts and Mathematics by July 1, 2013.

**Strategic Planning --** The proposal removes the requirement for districts to complete state-prescribed strategic planning every six years. However, when a district’s current strategic plan is expired it will have to submit plans to PDE for approval as currently required under other regulations in these areas: teacher induction (Ch. 49), student services (Ch. 12), gifted education (Ch. 16), professional development (Ch. 49), and special education (Ch. 14).

**Graduation Requirements --** The proposal extends the current graduation requirements to the Class of 2016. New graduation requirements will begin with the Class of 2017, with students required to score proficient or above on Algebra I, Literature and Biology Keystone Exams in order to graduate. The exams will be stand-alone assessments and the requirement for a test score to count as one-third of the student’s grade is removed. The requirement for students to complete a culminating project in order to graduate is eliminated, beginning with the Class of 2017.

**Additional Keystone Exams --** Two additional Keystone Exams will be required in future years contingent upon state funds being available for development of them and the project based assessment with each. Beginning with the class of 2019, students will also have to pass a Composition Keystone Exam. Beginning with the class of 2020, students will also have to pass a Civics and Government Keystone Exam. The department will develop five additional Keystone Exams that will be available for //voluntary// use by districts, subject to funding by the state. The tests and schedule is as follows: In school year 2016-17: Geometry; in 2017-18: U.S. History; in 2018-19: Algebra II; in 2019-20: Chemistry; and in 2020-21: World History.

**Remediation/Project-based Assessments --** Students who do not demonstrate proficiency must participate in supplemental instruction until they demonstrate proficiency on the exam or complete a project-based assessment. Project-based assessments will not be developed for the non-required Keystone Exams.

**Emergency Waivers --** A new “emergency waiver” option is created for 12th grade students who were not successful in completing the Keystone Exams or the project-based assessment. A chief school administrator who requests waivers for more than 10% of students who participated in a project-based assessment must submit to PDE an action plan to identify improvements the school will implement to each course associated with the Keystone Exam content for which the waivers were requested.

Bernie's advice on public comment submissions:
 * PSEA will be submitting comments.
 * Members of the general public (that means you) are welcome to submit comments. I wanted to give you the information. What is nice is now they accept comments via email (do not have to make multiple copies). My suggestion is that any comments should be saved, converted into a pdf format and then sent as an attachment. Another pointer- you do not have to speak to every issues. You can focus your comments on one specific issue that bothers you.
 * You are always welcome to send me a draft for feedback if you want support.

TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO WORK

TRAINING SERIES

Networks for Training and Development Inc. and Works for Me are presenting a two-part training series, offering best practices and successful strategies to support young people in transition from high school to adult life. The focus of this series will be on facilitating successful outcomes through customized employment strategies. Participants are asked to attend both days. Discovery and profile manuals are included with registration. The event is free of charge, and refreshments will be provided. Parts I and II of this series will be held in each of the several locations around the state approximately four to six weeks apart. More information at

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The Social Security Administration will hold a webinar on October 31, 2012 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss volunteering and community service as a path to employment for Social Security disability beneficiaries. A panel of experts will provide information on ways to make community service a part of your career path. Register online or call 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD). []

===Transitions: The Journey from Adolescence to Adulthood for individuals with Autism ===  This two-course, expert-led, series is focused on the aspects and competencies necessary in order to navigate the transition process; preparing for the transition of individuals with autism towards adulthood. []