By Matt Hess, PLS, October 8, 2013.

Department of Education Acting Secretary Carolyn Dumaresq held a conference call [this morning] with members of the media to give a progress report on the state’s new School Performance Profile website.

Sec. Dumaresq explained that the site has received more than 60,000 visits since it was launched last Friday and provided a demographic breakdown of visitors to the website:

                40 percent identified themselves as parents

                14 percent identified themselves as school administrators

                23 percent identified themselves as teachers.

                10 percent identified themselves as taxpayers

                One percent identified themselves as business leaders

                Two percent identified themselves media

                One percent identified themselves school board members

                One percent identified themselves students.

Sec. Dumaresq remarked that “a lot of traffic” on the site was generated through mobile devices. “It’s important to us because as we enhance the site, we want to make sure the view is accurate,” she stated.

Sec. Dumaresq explained that she is aware of the criticism from some school administrators and media who questioned why the department rolled out the website without complete data from every school district. “We did have deadlines with the US Department of Education for the waiver to identify the Priority and Focus schools in particular,” she stated. “As a condition of the waiver, we need to start to drive out that targeted assistance to our Priority and Focus schools this fall. That was one of the major reasons we decided to launch. The majority of school buildings and the vast majority of the data was already collected and verified.”

Turning to the issue of correcting Keystone Exam data, Sec. Dumaresq indicated that the department will include the data from 51 additional school buildings later today and all of the information will be “refreshed in December.”

Sec. Dumaresq then responded to questions from the media.

When will you be hiring Academic Recovery Liaisons?

We are in the process of procuring those folks now and we hope to have them operational by November.

Which schools will be getting those liaisons?

If you look at the Priority schools, they would be the school districts that will be receiving the Academic Recovery Liaisons. We want to place those liaisons regionally and that’s what we’re identifying now.

So one liaison is going to be working at multiple schools?

Yes.

Who will be paying the liaisons’ salaries?

The state.

What information will you be releasing later today?

Three things will be coming out this afternoon. First will be a list by county, district, building, and score. Secondly will be a list of the Priority schools. Third will be 51 new building scores where superintendents asked to have their data released.

Can you define Priority schools?

Priority schools are defined as the lowest five percent of our Title I schools based on the aggregate math and reading proficiency for PSSA or Algebra I/Literature for Keystone Exams or a Title I school who is receiving School Improvement funds.

What responsibilities will Academic Recovery Liaisons will have at those schools?

Their role is really to work with the principals of the Priority schools to help them access the interventions they listed in their School Improvement Grants. They serve as an intermediary to make sure those principals are able to make contact with and get access to a variety available through our IUs and have the ability to work through our SAS portal to get the resources they need.

How many liaisons will you hire for the 92 Priority schools?

We’re looking right now at eight to ten folks.

What will be the cost?

That will vary based on how often they work because it’s not a one-size-fits-all intervention. What that person will be paid will vary based on the context they are working in and how many days they spend with each principal.

What’s the budget for this?

About $800,000 for the Academic Liaisons.

Is that state money?

That’s federal money.

Are you looking for the liaisons to have education experience?

Oh yes. We’re looking for folks for at least ten years administrative experience. These folks will also be supplemented with staff available through our Intermediate Units and the three centers across the state that specialize in interventions for special needs students.

Do you foresee an effort by the state to drive money to the Priority Schools?

The governor will be presenting his budget in the spring and I think you will see some efforts at targeted assistance.

Can you talk about those targeted efforts?

That’s for the governor to release. I’d love to share but you’re going to have to have some patience with me on that one.