NCSSA Work Groups

TheNCSSAExecutive Board has decided to formworkgroupsfor our Winter Superintendents Leadership Conference in the following areas. We will have a three-hour time block for each group to meet and develop strategies and then report to the entire group. You will be able to sign up for theworkgroupof your choice.

· Budget/Adequate Resources– Will focus on: 1) key line items to initially restore; 2) information on how the per-pupil investment has fallen and needs to be restored; 3) ties to an economic rebound for NC

· Teacher Compensation– Will focus on recommendations for: 1) revamping the teacher salary schedule to improve the base pay before any merit pay is considered; 2) restoring master’s and doctoral pay and looking at how this has placed North Carolina at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring states

· Student Accountability System– Will focus on additional revisions needed to A-F grading of schools and summary information on what has happened in other states with similar models.

· Local Control and Flexibility– This group could continue work begun by the Regulatory ReformWorkgroupfrom 2013 and could continue to focus on needed changes in the school calendar, the testing calendar, and limitations on who can serve as testing coordinator.

· Accountability in School Choice Options– This group could combine previous efforts from the Charter School andVoucher/Tax CreditWorkgroupsfrom 2013.

· Tenure Law Revisions– Will focus on: 1) developing solutions for the 25% issue (% of teachers for four-year contracts) as well as a recommended framework/model for districts to implement for consistency; 2) evaluating other problems created by the new tenure law and making recommendations for changes to the law

· Respect for Public Education– This group needs to develop a communications plan to identify all law and policy changes in recent years (dating back to Democratic control) that have diminished respect for public education and educators and develop talking points on reasons the state cannot succeed without a strong public education system