Uh, academic goals and instructional improvement committee meeting. Uh, could we have a roll call, please? Mr. Appel >> here. >> Mr. Appel is present. Dr. Armstrong. Dr. Armstrong is present. Mr. Burkin, >> here. >> Mr. Burkin is present. Mr. Cow.
>> Mr. Cow is present. Mr. Castile. >> Mr. Castile is present. Yes, >> Miss Shamp >> here. >> Miss Shan Pan is present. Dr. Clark, >> Dr. Clark is present. Mr. Harris, Mr. Harris is not present. Miss Holloway.
Miss Holloway is present. Miss Melerin >> M. Melerin is present. Mr. Morris. Mr. Morris is not present. Miss Beja Lopez Morgan. Miss Basia Lopez Morgan is not present. You have a quum. >> Thank you. Uh first item,
>> your consent agenda is ready for approval. Adding item 4.1. >> Okay. Uh do we want to discuss what item 4.1 is? So what understands? We have a motion.
Uh Mr. Burken moves and uh Dr. Holloway I mean Miss Holloway uh second. So um could someone describe 4.1 for us so we know?
>> Uh 4.1 is relative to um some uh some policy shifts with the way in which uh we uh serve students with exceptionalities and some of the supports for parents. Um some of those are are technical, some are more
substantive. So these are tweaks to the existing set of of rules. >> Okay. Uh is there any questions um about the consent agenda including 4.1? Any comments? Anybody from the audience?
Hearing none. Uh there's no objections. The motion stands adopted. Next item. Your first item is on page 23, item 3.1, consideration of the alternative education programs and alternative
education schools for the 2026 2027 school year. The recommendation is to approve. >> Uh, President Shan Han moves and um
who? Well, Mr. Barkin seconds. I got too many hands waving. So, uh, okay. Who wants to present this? >> Uh, no presentation. U, Mr. Pel, this is just a listing of approved alternative schools and programs for the upcoming
year. Um, also you'll see uh that a few programs or schools uh for alternative education closed and a few were added. Um you'll also see where we have full approval of some sites as well as uh provisional approval for others where we
need to see some additional uh work happen within those systems to get those programs or schools up to uh the standard we expect. >> Okay. And uh is there any are there any questions or comments? Yes, sir. >> I don't have a question but I would like
to recuse as it relates to item 3.1 please. Okay, we got them. Okay. Uh, any further questions or comments? Anybody from the audience? Okay. Hearing no objections, then the
motion stands adopted. Next item. >> Your next item is on page 33, item 3.2, consideration of course choice providers for the fastforward summers program. The recommendation is to approve and receive
Okay. Uh, Miss Melerin moves and Miss Holloway seconds. >> Thank you. Yeah. Uh, Mr. Pel, so um, our Fast Forward Summers program uh is an opportunity for school systems to utilize funding uh to provide career and
and work-based learning opportunities uh for students. Um you'll see this particular year uh that we are uh supporting Benville Parish, DInnesota Parish, Caldwell Parish and East Louisiana Parish uh with a number of programs uh where they are helping
students to um get this experience uh this hands-on work-based learning experience and those students are receiving a stipen. So these are in areas of business management, hospitality, health science, architecture, construction, distribution, logistics, manufacturing,
um technology, communication. So those are some of the areas that these uh these systems are working with students over the over the course of this this particular year. you have the complete listing uh they're available and we recommend uh the continuation of this program where students earn work-based
learning opportunities uh and are paid for such opportunities >> and do we have any data on the demand uh for these programs and how how that because that aligns I guess with part of our accountability system. So, with the revised accountability system, one of
the I think important changes that this board uh made is that um for making determinations on the value of of credentials, whether they're basic or advanced, um that has been moved to Louisiana Works, which is formerly
Louisiana Workforce Commission. Um and so the Department of Education doesn't necessarily make those decisions on value anymore. Louisiana Works makes those um looking at the various economic development and workforce reports. So that is handled now at Louisiana Works.
>> I guess my question really was um demand for the programs. Is that something they would have the data on? We wouldn't have it. >> No, sir. It would be it would be more of a Louisiana words and happy to at any point um uh request specific information from them or have them uh come and
present information. But uh that that process is happening now at Louisiana Words which I think is the right place for that to be. >> I think after the after the year is over uh perhaps we do should have some data on that because it is an integral part of our accountability system and uh
maybe an acrosstheboard report on demand for and application of these kind of training programs. I think the um I think the the workforce demand whether it's statewide or regional is going to come from Louisiana Works.
Where we will have information and and we will see exponential growth this year is um on the internships that have been made available. We'll have data on that at at some point in the future. Um and then also the various levels of credentials. We will have that. But
whenever we're talking about that particular data, which is important, I I do think that's going to require us calling in Louisiana Works. >> Yeah. I just think um in order to guide the program, we need to know what's going on with the program. >> Yes, sir. I agree. >> Okay. Any um any other comments or
questions? Anyone from the audience? Any objection to the motion? The motion stands adopted. Next item. Your next item is on page 34, item 3.3, consideration of state certified world language immersion school. The
recommendation is to approve. >> Um, Mr. Castile moves and Miss Melerin seconds. Little description. >> Yes, sir. So uh what this particular item uh does for us is it allows for a
set of schools to earn their initial certification from the state to be a state certified world language immersion school or it is the renewal of a set of schools. And so you'll see um those those particular schools listed and just
for your information so for for a school to be certified by us there are certain state guidelines they have to follow. They have minimum time of instruction in the immersion language. They have to vow to protect the written and oral forms of that immersion language. Um they have to
provide professional development for the teachers in that language. They have to provide student remediation in that particular uh language and there has to be a visible recognition through the entire school that that school is is uh immersed in that particular language. So
you see a set of uh schools that are up for initial certification. Um Cashu schools, Jefferson schools primarily uh one in St. Landry, one in Vermillion. Um and so we're we're appreciative of these schools embarking on this process. Uh and then you also see a set of schools
that are up for us to continue to certify their immersion uh status um in Kashu, Lafayette, and New Orleans. Do you happen to know if any of these are international balarat schools or do we have a separate
>> um we we have IB um schools that meet the requirements for international baloria um I could cross reference them against the world language certification if that would be helpful for you but that's a that's a completely different >> No no it is but it's somewhat related um
but um no that's okay I was just curious if we do because it was Uh over the years international bakalaria has been has been recognized as a really strong educational foundation for especially for people in the international
desires to work in the international world. Uh and being a port a major port state uh it's always been important to us to have people that are engaged in international commerce >> and with the um with the revised
accountability program. Uh, Mr. Appel, we are recognizing college credit in high school through dual enrollment. Um, specific AP scores, um, uh, specific ACT scores as well as, uh, specific IB scores. So, that is
recognized of equal weight to uh, AP or DE in the accountability model. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? Mr. Berken. >> Are all of these uh French or they're different languages? >> There's a combination mostly of here.
This is a combination of French and Spanish. Anything else? Okay. Any objections to the motion? The motion stands adopted. Next item. Your next item is on page 38, item 5.1, consideration of revisions to
bulletin 140, Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Network, regarding observation schools. The recommendation is to approve. >> Uh, Mrs. Clark uh moves and uh Mr.
Burken seconds. Do we have a presentation here? >> Uh, no presentation, just a couple of comments. So basically what's happening here is that the instrument utilized for the observation in these early childhood settings has has gone to a a next
addition of that particular instrument. And so we're just making sure that that all of our language aligns with the change in that addition of the instrument. Uh I might say that in in discussions on this item before the uh before this meeting with
your staff, this this is unrelated to dibbles. >> Yes. >> So that we all understand this is a different uh animal and I just wanted to make that point clear to everyone. >> Okay. Any questions?
Any comments? If not, the motion uh stands adopted. Next item. Your next item is on page 41, item 5.2, consideration of revisions to bulletins regarding differentiated monitoring and support. The recommendation is to
approve. >> Uh, Miss Armstrong moves and uh, Mr. Ga seconds. Do we have a report? um not a presentation, but what this item does is we propose some targeted
revisions in multiple bulletins relative to IDA requirements. Uh as an example, um we used the terminology LEA um in policy to describe a school system. Um and um the feds would prefer for us to
use the the language public agency. everywhere where we have LEA, they would prefer it to say public agency. Another change is um we had in place an early resolution uh process for complaints where the system
and the families uh could begin an early resolution process to try to work through any complaints before it went formally uh to the to the state. Um and uh the feds would prefer that we not have um that process take away from the
timeline that exists. So um uh they don't want that process to shorten the timeline for families and so that that uh change in the bulletin allows for that. It still allows for the early resolution process um which we felt was a good process. It just says that it it
no longer basically is required um and that it can't cut into the 60-day complaint resolution that families have. So, this is a family I would say this is a familyfriendly um change on the early resolution process. So, those are a
couple of the changes that are uh mentioned here. >> Okay. Any questions or comments? Any objection to the motion? The motion stands adopted. Next item. Your next item is on page 50, item 6.1,
consideration of the recognition of Miss Beija Lopez Morgan, 2025 2026 student representative for the Bessie Academic Goals and Instructional Improvement Committee and the introduction of Miss Ava Galamos, 2026 2027 student
representative. The recommendation is to recognize and introduce. >> Uh, President Champan moves and Miss Holloway seconds. Um, at this time, if she'll get the big grin off her face, I'd like to read something into
I don't know if that's a grin of relief or happiness. Good morning. At this time, I'm honored to recognize an outstanding student leader who has served as the 2025 2026 student representative to the Bessie Academic Goals and in instruct in
Instructional Improvement Committee each year in partnership with the Louisiana Association of Student Councils. We have the privilege of welcoming a student voice to the committee, ensuring that the perspectives of Louisiana students are representative in our discussions represented in our discussions and
decisions. This year we were were fortunate to have Miss Beja Lopez Morgan of Mandville High School in St. Aony Parish serve in this important role. Throughout her time with us, Miss Ba Lopez Morgan has demonstrated professionalism,
thoughtfulness, and a strong commitment to representing her peers across the state. On behalf of the board, I'd like to thank you, Miss Lopez Morgan, for your service and your contributions to this committee. Your voice has been both valued and impactful. At this time, I
would like to invite Mr. Jose Gao, Bessie District 1 representative, to join me in presenting Miss Lopez Morgan with a token of appreciation. So, come on up. You want to say something?
>> Yeah, sure. I will. If you like a seat. >> Hi everyone. Um, I just want to express my sincere gratitude to Bessie, to everyone on this committee. Uh, when I tell you this has been the most incredible year of my life. I really mean it. Um, it feels like only yesterday when I was sitting right there
introducing myself. Um, this experience has been like no other. I feel like I've really gotten to learn about the workings of our state, of politics, and it's been just such an incredible opportunity. I'm so thankful for everyone's graciousness and willingness. Everyone has been so kind and accepting
and yeah, thank you so much. I'm really excited to continue to implement the lessons that I've learned here on Bessie and my college experience. So, thank you. >> Yes. Uh, I plan to go to Harvard University and I plan to concentrate in government and economics. So, I'm very
excited. >> I know. >> Stand on the chair. >> I know. >> Yeah. Mr. Chairman, looks like a very proud mom and dad over there, too.
Well, you got her back now for a little while. Want to just No, that's fine. >> So, now I guess my last official duty as representative is to introduce our new 2027 through 2028 Bessie representative.
Uh, this is Miss Ava Galamus. She is from Northwood High School in Shreport. And um, just like me, Ava had to undergo a rigorous application process and interview by the Louisiana Association of Student Councils. I'm so proud of Ava and I know she's going to do a great job. So, please join me in welcoming
Ava. >> Come on up here and we'll take a picture. That's the board. We'll see you next time. Well, I just wish them both well, I guess. Uh, what I
>> Oh, you want to make comments? >> Yeah, >> please. No, I would love you to go sit at the table. Either one. test. Okay, here. Okay, can y'all hear me? Okay. Um, I'm Ava Galamus from Northwood High School,
Shrefport, and I'm very excited to be here as the new student representative for the Bessie Board, and I'm excited to get to work representing my fellow students and teachers. Thank you. >> I think you're going to get pinned, so come on down.
Thank you both. >> Okay, we have >> that concludes the agenda. >> Mr. Propel, if I may just make one comment, I think it it um is something that would have been situated in uh school improvement turnaround, but it also makes sense in this committee. Just
want to acknowledge the work of the RSD um over the course of of of the spring. um we uh we um were able to intervene in four different uh school systems without
taking any school into the RSD. Um and so we made um through Dr. uh schooler and her work and her team. Uh we made progress in ensuring that students are in higher performing seats um in four different school systems which also in a
number of those cases uh help the school system be more efficient by right sizing as well. Um but for example we had RSD quiet RSD intervention in uh Madison Parish in St. Landry uh in Morehouse and in Richland and uh that has been ongoing
work uh for months upon months and you don't see it here today because there's no item for you to consider but um uh I really think that has been a win and so I just want to acknowledge Dr. schooler and her team's work. Um because you're not taking action on something, but as a
result of the action that the agency has been taking, uh we have um so many kids that are going to be in higher performing seats next year. Uh and that's a win for the state. So, I just want to acknowledge that, Mr. Bell. >> Thank you. And I I just let me second that. I mean, it is not
Bessie's intent nor the department's intent to have schools referred to the RSD. It's our intent the opposite. We want high-erforming schools that don't need intervention. So, I have to compliment the uh department in its
efforts. Even though some schools have failed over a long period of time, uh the intervention to move them to RSD is a last resort and that's something I think we can all agree with. So, thank you very much for that. Anything else? Okay, I think we stand a journ. Bye-bye.
Uh the next meeting Next meeting