Education Matters: Looking Ahead to Leandro Implementation (Part 2)

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Welcome to Education Matters presented by the public school forum

of north Carolina

I'm your host Maryanne Wolf

This week we will continue to delve into our second

in a two part series about the leandro comprehensive remedial

plan

We will talk with leaders about what we need in

order to meet the needs of all of our students

and ensure that they all have access to a high

quality and equitable education

We're delighted to welcome back to our show Jeff Coltrane

the senior education advisor to Governor Roy Cooper and dr

Beth Emery the executive Director for the Office of district

and school transformation for the north Carolina department of public

instruction and the state Board of Education

Welcome bev with so much discussion right now about covid

19 transition and recovery

I'd love to start by asking you how does the

Leandro school funding case and the subsequent plans fit into

this context I think they're so aligned

Uh you know we we've been saying all along and

I think West Ed report really confirmed that it isn't

that we don't really know what to do

It's the will and the resource and support to make

it happen

And so I think uh those priorities in the plan

really on steroids would be a way for us to

quickly recover and accelerate

And so we're you know I think we're very aligned

in what we're looking for particularly at the department um

with recovery and um as we get out across the

state and coach and guide districts with S or two

and s or three applications really trying to look at

these key areas that we know are real levers for

improvement Jeff

I know there's been a lot of work going on

but one of those areas has been leandro eight year

comprehensive remedial plan and That builds on the report and

also the short term action plan

I wonder if you can talk a little bit about

how it does lay out the systemic investments that are

needed to make sure we are meeting our constitutional obligation

for every student

The plan uh lays out actions across the seven key

areas that judge Lee identified in his January 2020 order

Um That and I know that your show has been

talking a lot about over the last couple of months

Uh an effective teacher in every classroom and effective principle

in every school um finance system that provides adequate equitable

and predictable funding and assessment accountability system that reliably assess

is multiple measures of student performance And assistance and turnaround

function that provides supports the low-performing schools and districts a

system of early education that make sure our students enter

kindergarten ready for school success and then uh an alignment

of high school to postsecondary and career expectations

Um the actions are laid out across uh eight years

so beginning this year through fiscal year 28 With the

idea that the goals and the plan will be achieved

by 2030

Um So the plan includes a range of actions that

require budget so funding appropriations as well as policy actions

and included as an appendix that provides cost estimates for

each of the actions that require funding

So for instance on the the budgetary side the plan

recommends expanding funding supplemental funding to school districts to support

are most at risk students like our students from low

income families are students with disabilities are english language learners

which would require budget action

But the plan also envisions realigning our assessment accountability system

to better meet the leandro goals and helps schools identify

areas for improvement which would be mostly policy related

So that would require action by the General Assembly in

the State Board of Education as well

Right and bev I know you've been traveling across the

state and many schools and districts and have an opportunity

to really see the most critical needs

How do you think those needs including this year align

with the leandro plan What I want to connect to

in terms of sort of what Jeff spelled out in

the plan is The districts that we've been blessed with

S or one money to begin working in

So we're working with six districts and 44 schools are

approach really has tried to align to those seven areas

and which pieces or action steps can we um can

we use but also be need based

So accountability for example we won't measure the impact of

our work on growth or proficiency

We have two years worth of funding we're not even

there but we are looking at what are those common

trends across let's say the six districts that we could

show measurable improvement in turnover

Right

These districts have tremendous issues with teacher and principal turnover

So what training or what kinds of attractions can we

build into these places that make them keep retain sustained

And uh we're really creating our indicators based on common

needs across these schools and districts

So we're starting sort of blind if that makes sense

But in the end we know we'll have some common

indicators and our goal in that is to really support

the work you know this is all really connected

So Superintendent just launched Operation Polaris and one of those

workgroups is accountability

So there is great commitment to sort of looking at

this differently in a multifaceted way much like to find

in in West End and then what we're doing is

sort of piloting or experimenting with

Can you really demonstrate measurable outcome in an area like

teacher turnover um and draw that back to improve student

outcomes

So a mouthful

But you know our coaching and guidance and training and

development is really aligned to those seven areas and of

course we're not hitting all of them in every place

but based on their need

Really trying to um Used to years of funding to

demonstrate that there are there are ways we can make

improvements that are tied to some measures

Thank you

And Jeff

I know last month the governor released his recommended budget

for 21 22 which certainly plays a role in all

of this

Would you share a little bit more about the areas

identified in the governor's budget for pre K 12 education

So um specifically around the Andhra the governor is committed

pursuing the policy and programmatic changes outlined in the comprehensive

remedial plan and making sure that the state um and

our school districts have the resources necessary to achieve those

actions not just over the next two years of the

plan but over the next eight years as well

So in his recommended budget proposal for the next biennium

he's proposed nearly $600 million dollars in additional funding for

pre K

12 education um and a little over a billion dollars

for the next fiscal year for 22 23

Um to improve things like teacher quality and support provide

additional resources for students who are most at risk and

have the greatest need increasing budgetary flexibility for our local

education agencies which is another key area that both our

superintendents have outlined as well as West add that they

need to be able to better meet the needs of

their students um ensure students or career in college ready

and then of course to strengthen our early education and

support um specifically um in some key areas that are

outlined in the comprehensive remedial plan and and of course

we're in the West End and the commission's recommendations

The governor's proposing over the next two years an additional

$80 million to help hire more school nurses psychologists social

workers and counselors which we know are critical positions in

supporting the mental and physical health needs of our students

Um He's proposing a 10% increase in salary for educators

and then bringing our non certified staff up to $15

per hour minimum wage

Um He's proposing $230 million over the two years to

expand funding for Children with disabilities english language learners low

income students

Um And we know from what we've heard in districts

those students are likely to be the ones who have

been most impacted by covid and the time away from

in person learning

So not only will this funding begin to lay the

foundation for building a more equitable education system over the

long term but will also play a role in helping

those students to recover from covid um As well as

$78 million in new investment for early childhood N

C

Pre

K

Including additional slots in the second year of the biennium

and then beginning to uh increase what's called the reimbursement

rate for N

C

Pre K

We know a number of local counties have not been

able to take advantage of expanding pre K

Because of the required match and so trying to make

it much more equitable for them to be able to

expand so that they can serve more students over the

long term

Thank you both so much for being here and for

lifting up these critical issues

There is so much to think about but I'm grateful

that both of you are out there working on this

every day and helping to guide us and after the

break we will be joined by dr Tony Jackson and

brad Wilson Education matters is brought to you each week

in part by town bank serving others enriching lives

We are thrilled to have back with us today

Dr Anthony Jackson the Superintendent Advance County Schools and brad

Wilson chair of the Leandro commission and former ceo of

blue cross blue shield north Carolina

Thank you both so much for being here last week

You shared about how important the leandro cases now in

terms of COVID-19 Recovery and transition but also into the

future and how we have this seminal moment to make

sure that we move forward in ways that will make

a difference for all of our students as well as

our economy

We'd love now to transition to diving into some of

those specific issues we're going to have to invest in

ensuring that the leadership pipeline is also addressed

Um I've seen a lot of great uh schools and

every time I found a great school I found a

great leader who is able to marshal resources and to

prioritize the needs of that school in that organization

So I really do believe that that pipeline for leadership

and that pipeline for uh those people who stand in

front of our students uh represents I think our greatest

leverage points right now for moving this forward as well

as the ability to to fairly fund and and close

some of those funding gaps between those districts like mine

who sit in a very competitive region uh and I

have to compete uh and and understanding the financial realities

of my community

I think we're going to have to really talk about

what equity really means for us as a state and

what it means for us in terms of marshalling resources

Uh so that my students who live 35 miles away

from the Research Triangle Park recognized that that place uh

includes their hopes and can be included in their hopes

and dreams as well

So I think it's just a matter of really making

sure that we have good leaders in place good teachers

in place and great opportunities uh at the disposal of

our schools and our students there has been quite a

bit of conversation around our school buildings

And yet another place I think that has become more

obviously people want to be back in schools and want

their students back in schools

There are some exceptions but we know that's been an

overwhelming interest of our families and it has come up

both in the budget but also when leandro just the

importance of investing in those buildings and that our state

does have a significant gap and I just wanted to

give either of you an opportunity to comment on that

and why this might also be the right time to

invest there

Thank you for raising that issue

That's one of the many ingredients that coming together in

the recipe of successful education

Yes the inventory is clear that there are buildings that

need to be replaced uh maintenance keeping up the assets

that we have

Uh and so that is a very very important part

of it

And we shouldn't go also over likewise as we think

about that capital investment and the bricks and mortar

If you will we should also uh continue to realize

that the infrastructure inside that building now we are are

learning just how important ventilation is

I mean it wouldn't even have been in the conversation

two years ago but those kinds of things that don't

necessarily attract our our our imagination but the interest of

the technology the technological infrastructure for our for our buildings

and building them so that they can flex and grow

as the needs

Uh and uh times change multipurpose use which we now

know our school buildings are used for what we've always

known many many many different things

And of course the key is how do we pay

for all of that and bringing a rational and thoughtful

process by which we can begin to meet the needs

that capital needs that are a critical part of access

to a sound basic education which the constitution requires

I would echo that that You know in my district

we have several buildings that are well beyond their their

life expectancy 50 years or more

Uh and the the the ability to with local dollars

to replace or improve those facilities are sometimes a challenge

And I think we're going to have to think differently

about how we support those uh investments

Um but I don't want to miss

Uh and I appreciate you saying that that that bread

around the infrastructure uh in terms of broadband uh that

that's now going to have to be considered along with

the facilities the actual bricks and mortar

Now the expansion uh and the extension of broadband as

a utility out to our families

Again Covid taught us that if we're not prepared for

that we're going to cut off a significant amount of

our kids from the learning process

And then we're going to take steps back from that

commitment to a sound basic education for all Children

They have to be able to do that

So I think we're gonna have to really think about

a new 21st century definition of infrastructure as well in

terms of what we what we consider that

And then I think we're going to have to make

bold uh investments along the way brad mentioned about facilities

typically as I built schools

One of the first things when we start chiseling back

that budget is generally the mechanical systems uh the H

V

A

C

Systems and we try to buy the ones because we

think well in 10 years we'll be able to replace

it

So we're not gonna do a 20 year system will

downgrade just a little bit

We'll still have good air filtration and and we tend

those are the places because you can't see them you

begin to start uh cutting away at

And we're finding that those things are going to be

important in terms of creating the right environment for kids

to learn

Uh and I think we're gonna have to just be

very bold about making those investments understanding that they're going

to impact not only um the aesthetics of a facility

or the comfort level but the educational capacity of those

facilities to meet those needs that we've been challenged to

meet

What advice do you have for our state including leaders

who may come from different political parties with different priorities

in terms of how we come together to ensure that

all students have equitable access to a sound basic education

Tony

I would encourage uh those two who are decision makers

to come to the table Recognizing or at least embracing

the fact that 50 of what you think you know

might be wrong

Uh and that we can in fact reach consensus uh

if we first agree on the things we agree on

I think we all can agree uh that our Children

that that that their futures are are important to us

Let's just start there and then I believe that you

then start to build out those small pieces find where

you agree And get those things moving

You don't have to have 100 perfect uh to get

started

I would say that once we begin to see success

together then let success build upon success

Don't try to plan the full successful journey uh even

if it means having to go piece by piece but

by all means let's get started

Uh one observation that I would make again is to

urge us to think about uh the Leandro case just

for a second in response to your question

It began as a confrontation a conflict there was a

plaintiff and there was a defendant and there were arguments

about many components of the questions that were being debated

in a courtroom

But the point is it was a controversy and it

was a conflict

We now find ourselves in the course of the history

of Leandra where the adverse it's the plaintiff and the

defendant defendants have come together and have agreed among themselves

with the guidance of the court and a lot of

outside experts if you will and input that the plan

that we can now all read as reflected by the

court order is an agreement about the path forward

And so I would urge now that we move from

the judicial process or continue through the judicial process

But it moves into the public form and the policy

development marina that that emotion that feeling that atmosphere of

compromise of consensus of coming together to fulfill the moral

and moral imperative and the legal obligations as required by

our constitution be the north star in the guiding light

And I think that as this important and complex conversation

continues that if we can keep that in the front

of our minds we will be able to achieve the

goals that Tony had just so so eloquently articulated in

response to your question

And I'm optimistic and hopeful that that's exactly what north

Carolina will do yet again because that's who we are

Well thank you both so much for sharing today

I am also optimistic and hopeful and that when we

talk about the issues and we talk about what we

need to do we again and again here these common

themes and we know we can do them

They're just going to take back to I think what

Tony said is the will to really carry this through

So thank you both for joining us today and being

here

Thank you

Thank you

And after the break this week's final word we know

that our students need high quality well prepared teachers and

principals

We know that our students need access to early childhood

education

We know that we must address the academic social and

emotional learning of our students which includes access to schools

support personnel such as counselors social workers and psychologists

We know that we need accountability and assessment systems that

provide us with the data and information

We need to meet the needs and support all Children

and their growth and learning

We know that we need safe learning environments for our

students

And we also know that having these critical components in

place in each of our schools across the state requires

resources

The interesting thing about these foundational priorities is that there

is general agreement that they are important for our schools

regardless of role political party or area across the state

Despite that general agreement we have not been able to

meet our constitutional obligation as a state to provide every

student with the sound basic education that aligns with the

tenants of the leandro case

It has been 25 years since the beginning of North

Carolina School funding case known as Leandro

Since that time it has been repeatedly found that our

state has not been providing the resources or public policies

required to meet the fundamental needs of all of our

students the last year and a half however have given

us renewed hope even during a time of incredible adversity

and uncertainty

The independent research and powerful action plans submitted by parties

involved in the Leandro case have provided a roadmap around

which our state leaders can coalesce to make systemic investment

in policy changes that will ensure we finally meet our

constitutional obligation to equitably provide each and every child a

sound basic education building upon a january 2020 court order

and a short term action plan for fiscal year 2021

that offered specific steps are states could take to ensure

that we meet the needs of all students parties to

the Leandro case submitted to Judge David Lee in March

an eight year comprehensive plan that offers detailed and sound

directives for the years ahead

Much of this plan mirrors policy goals in key areas

of investment found in the independent nonpartisan research report conducted

by West Ed

During the past few months

On end matters are regular viewers may have noticed that

we've sought to highlight these important policy areas that serve

as the building blocks for a high quality educational experience

for all from revising school finance and accountability systems to

developing robust initiatives around teacher and principal recruitment and retention

The long term leandro comprehensive remedial plan offers strong directives

in these areas and many stakeholders have come on our

show to explain how to turn these ideas into action

The plan also emphasizes the need to focus investment on

the whole child by providing funding that increases the number

of school instructional support personnel to begin to meet national

guidelines initially prioritizing high poverty schools

This is an important area of investment that we have

highlighted repeatedly as we know that students basic physical and

emotional needs bust me met before they can be ready

to learn

And throughout the key areas addressed in the eight year

action plan

The investments in subsequent work that is laid out will

ultimately serve to take important steps toward addressing the systemic

inequities that exist for so many of our students especially

students of color and low income students addressing each of

these and other critical issues requires resources and funding With

the appropriate policies and resources

The investments will help with the immediate needs of our

schools and districts as we begin the recovery from COVID-19

and they will also support critical areas for long term

efforts to ensure that every child in north Carolina will

graduate prepared for college career and citizenship

Our state is fortunate to have resources available to address

the needs of our schools and students the understanding of

what is needed and the will of education stakeholders and

policymakers

To enact purposeful and effective policies

We must we must use this critical point in time

to lay the groundwork for accelerating investments and innovations in

education for all of our students

Our schools districts and communities do not just need or

ask for more money they need

It has been for decades is for investments in these

critical areas

That research has shown makes a difference for students

Thank you for taking time with us to learn and

think about education

That's all for today

And we'll see you next week

Mhm