REPORT to the SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY and THE
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REPORT to THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY and THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION from THE SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE March 1, 2004 COMMITTEE MEMBERS The State of South Carolina COMMITTEE MEMBERS Robert E. Staton Hugh K. Leatherman, Sr. Chairman EDUCATION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Harry Lightsey, III Susan Marlowe Alex Martin George Martin Vice Chairman Joseph H. Neal Harold C. Stowe Traci Young Cooper Inez M. Tenenbaum Robert C. Daniel Robert E. Walker Dennis Drew Judy H. Williams Mike Fair G. Larry Wilson Warren Giese Robert W. Harrell, Jr. P. O. Box 11867 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Room 227 · Blatt Building Columbia, South Carolina 29211 Jo Anne Anderson (803) 734-6148 Fax (803) 734-6167 March 1, 2004 TO: Members, General Assembly of South Carolina Members, State Board of Education FROM: Robert Staton RE: Report from the Education Oversight Committee In 1998 the South Carolina General Assembly created the Education Accountability Act. The Act sets South Carolina on a bold path leading toward high levels of achievement for all of South Carolina's children. The members of the Education Oversight Committee (EOC) are proud to be on this journey with you. We believe in South Carolina, the schools we provide our students, and the future today's students are building. Through a series of publications and presentations our members and staff inform the various constituencies of South Carolina's progress toward this vision. Each year we summarize activities related to the EOC's major responsibilities and provide them to you in the enclosed annual report. Should you have questions or wish additional information, please call the members or staff of the EOC. We appreciate your support and the commitment you have made to a strong, public education system. Table of Contents Page Letter of Transmittal ......................................................................................................................... i Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 Membership Members of the EOC and terms ............................................................................................. 2 Former members and volunteers............................................................................................ 3 Development, Establishment, Implementation and.............................................................................. 6 Maintenance of the Accountability System Implementation of State Standards and Assessments........................................................................ 37 The Functioning of the Public Education System ............................................................................... 46 Other Studies and Reviews as Required by Law ................................................................................ 51 The 2010 Goal and Academic Performance....................................................................................... 63 Recommended Education Accountability Act and EIA Program Changes to State Agency and Other Entities as Necessary ................................................................. 73 iii Introduction By 2010, South Carolina's student achievement will be ranked in the top half of states nationally. To achieve the goal we must become one of the five fastest improving systems in the country. The Education Accountability Act of 1998 establishes the Education Oversight Committee (EOC). This report from the EOC frames progress toward the 2010 goal with data on student performance and results of several studies examining SC’s progress. The report is organized around the statutory responsibilities of the EOC. As outlined in §59-6-10, the EOC shall accomplish the following: 1. Review and monitor the implementation and evaluation of the Education Accountability Act and Education Improvement Act programs and funding; 2. Make programmatic and funding recommendations to the General Assembly; 3. Report annually to the General Assembly, State Board of Education and the public on the progress of the programs; and 4. Recommend Education Accountability Act and EIA program changes to state agencies and other entities, as it considers necessary. While SC schools, districts and state entities have maintained their commitment to high standards, we are experiencing both the success and frustrations of early implementation. As in previous years, the data presented in this report indicate that while we continue to make incremental improvements, the gains must be accelerated to be “one of the five fastest improving states in the country.” Each year Education Week publishes Quality Counts. This publication rates each of the states on a number of measures and identifies policies linked to gains. South Carolina rated very well in comparisons with other states earning the grades shown below. 2002 2003 2004 Standards and Accountability B+ B A Improving Teacher Quality B B+ A- School Climate not graded D+ C+ Resources: Adequacy B- B B- Resources: Equity C C- C 1 Membership Members of the Committee and their appointed positions on the Committee are listed below: MEMBER REPRESENTATION APPOINTMENT APPOINTMENT TERM OF DATE Robert E. Staton Business Chairman, Senate 1998 2000-2004 Chairman Education reappointed 2000 Committee Alex Martin Education Speaker of the 1998 2001-2005 Vice Chairman House reappointed 2001 Traci Young Cooper Education Chairman, Senate 2002 2002-2006 Education Committee Robert Daniel Business Chairman, House 2000 2000-2004 Education and Public Works Committee Dennis Drew Education Governor 2003 2003-2006 Mike Fair Designee President Pro 2001 Coterminous Tempore, Senate Warren Giese Chairman, Senate 2001 Coterminous Education Committee Wallace Hall, on leave Education Chairman, House 2002 2002-2006 of absence, military Education and service Public Works Robert W. Harrell, Jr. Chairman, House 1998 Coterminous Ways and Means Committee Hugh Leatherman, Jr. Chairman, Senate 2001 Coterminous Finance Committee Harry Lightsey, III Business President Pro 2001 Coterminous Tempore, Senate Susan Marlowe Education President Pro 2001 2001-2005 Tempore, Senate George Martin Education Chairman, House 2003 In place of Education and Wallace Hall Public Works Joseph Neal Designee Speaker of the 2004 Coterminous House Harold C. Stowe Business Speaker of the 2002 2002-2006 House Inez M. Tenenbaum State Superintendent 1999-2002 invited Coterminous of Education participant 2002 appointment Robert E. Walker Designee Chairman, House 2002 Coterminous Education and Public Works Judy Williams Designee Governor 2003 Coterminous G. Larry Wilson Business Governor 1998 2002-2006 reappointed 2002 2 FORMER MEMBERS MEMBER REPRESENTATION APPOINTMENT OF TERM William Barnet, III Business Speaker of the House 1998-2002 James Bennett Business Chairman, House 1998-1999 Education and Public Works Committee Rosie Berry Education President Pro Tempore, 1998-2001 Senate James Bryan Designee President Pro Tempore, 1998-2000 Senate Barbara Everson Education Chairman, House 2000-2002 Education and Public Works Committee William Gummerson Education Governor 1998-2003 Clara Heinsohn Designee Governor 1998-1999 Susan Hoag Designee Speaker of the House 1998-2004 John Matthews Designee Chairman, Senate 1998-2003 Finance Committee and Governor Doug McTeer, Jr. Designee Governor 1999-2002 Nikki Setzler Chairman, Senate 1998-2000 Education Committee Joel A. Smith, III Business President Pro Tempore, 1998-2002 Senate Henry Spann Education Chairman, House 1998-2000 Education and Public Works Committee Lynn Thompson Education Chairman, Senate 1998-2002 Education Committee Ronald P. Townsend Chairman, House 1998-2002 Education Committee Stefan Wilson Business Chairman, House 1999-2000 Education and Public Works Committee Volunteers The EOC uses advisory groups to inform its decisions and to ensure that the policies and practices are in the best interests of South Carolina. We deeply appreciate the work of these individuals and value their contributions. Data Quality Advisory Group Dr. David Burnett, SC Department of Education, Columbia, SC Dr. Glen Carson, Spartanburg County School District Four, Woodruff, SC Dr. Min Ching, Richland County School District One, Columbia, SC Dr. Lee D’Andrea, Anderson County School District Four, Pendleton, SC 3 Mr. Tom Pritchard, Horry County Schools, Conway, SC Mr. Cleo Richardson, Marion County School District One, Marion, SC Dr. Janet Rose-Beale, Charleston County School District, Charleston, SC Dr. Teri Siskind, SC Department of Education, Columbia, SC Ms. Barbara Teusink, SC Department of Education, Columbia, SC Dr. Missy Wall-Mitchell, Richland/Lexington School District Five, Ballentine, SC Public Information Advisory Group Mr. Bill Baker, Anderson County School District Five, Anderson, SC Ms. Teal Britton, Horry County Schools, Conway, SC Ms. Tammy Butler, Allendale County Schools, Allendale, SC Mr. Greg Carson, Orangeburg County School District Five, Orangeburg, SC Ms. Audrey Childers, Darlington County School District, Darlington, SC Ms. Tricia Crimminger, Charleston County Schools, Charleston, SC Ms. Michelle Foster, Richland /Lexington School District Five, Ballentine, SC Mr. Brian Huckabee, Florence County School District Three, Lake City, SC Mr. Oby Lyles, Greenville County Schools, Greenville, SC Ms. Tammie Newman, Aiken County Schools, Aiken, SC Mr. Bob Ormseth, Fort Mill School District Four, Fort Mill, SC Ms. Cathleen Skelley, Clarendon County School District One, Summerton,