From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Wed Dec 2 08:30:30 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2020 14:30:30 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SARA Update for December 2, 200 Message-ID: SREB Update SREB Webinar Expanding Work-based Learning Experiences Tools and Mechanisms: Reach More Students Using Technology Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11:00AM Eastern Time Registration: Partnerships to Align Education and Careers Webinar Series Registration *****This webinar is open to the public***** Preparing students to be career-ready is important and complex work. Educators, workforce development leaders, and industry representatives need simulated workplace programs and other virtual solutions to expand work-based learning opportunities in rural and hard-to-serve communities. Hear from a speaker with the West Virginia Department of Education about the WV Simulated Workplace program. Also, Kelli Diemer, ACTE Work-Based Learning Consultant, will provide an overview of the ACTE WBL Section and its many resources. NC-SARA Updates NC-SARA Webinar COVID-19 State and Accreditor Waivers for Distance Education Monday December 14, 2020 at 2:00PM Eastern Time Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WGjNUD3hSliBzSvG-s97kQ *****This webinar is NOT OPEN to the public***** NC-SARA will share its findings concerning the board's request to create a public listing by state of the statutes of remote learning waivers for non-SARA activity along with a listing of institutional accreditors' waivers, to provide a service to institutions seeking a repository of this information. This webinar will include state information as well as accrediting agencies' information, and will discuss the next steps and communication plans for posting this repository of information on the NC-SARA website. This webinar is ONLY for board members, regional compact staff, NC-SARA staff, and State Portal Entities. Board Meeting Recap and Resources NC-SARA staff hosted a webinar on November 19th to provide an overview of the NC-SARA board actions taken during the October board meeting. View the webinar recording and slides to learn more about the rationale for policy changes and to listen to board meeting discussions. The Board Welcomes New Members NC-SARA announced the appointment of three new board members: * Lanna Dueck, Executive Director of the Arizona SARA Council * Angela Lee, Executive Director of the DC Higher Education Licensure Commission * Carlos Morales, President of Tarrant County Colleges Connect Campus These new appointments are a result of three board members stepping down. View the press release to learn more about the new board members and to see the tribute to outgoing board members. A current list of board members and their biographies can be found on the NC-SARA website. Updated Administrative Forms Newly updated versions of NC-SARA's administrative forms are now available. The new Provisional Form reflects the most recent SARA policy update from the October board meeting. To ensure you use the new versions of these forms, go to the NC-SARA website under Resources, then Administrative Forms. Institutional Renewal and Payments NC-SARA is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had adverse effects on both institutional and state staffing. If an institution's participation in SARA lapses due to COVID-19, please notify info at nc-sara.org so the organization can work to ensure that the institution remains active. For a smooth renewal process, NC-SARA encourages members to submit payments through one of two online methods: credit card or e-check. WCET Updates WCET Leadership Election Results WCET is thrilled to announce the results of their recent leadership elections. WCET, the WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies, recently held an annual election for its two leadership groups: the WCET Executive Council and the WCET Steering Committee. This election process helps WCET fill seats in those groups that have become vacant due to members who reached the end of their terms, as well as allows the members to vote on the chair and vice chair positions for each group. We encourage you to learn more about WCET leadership groups, including bios of the new leadership team members by visiting WCET's Executive Council and Steering Committee. If you are not already a member, click Join Us for more information about WCET SAN and membership. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 870-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Thu Dec 3 08:42:01 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2020 14:42:01 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SREB Update Message-ID: A Holistic View of Teacher Compensation View this email in your browser [Forward] Forward [Tweet] Tweet [Share] Share [Share] Share [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/bae3a5d5-9fd5-42a7-95d3-a039e3c733d0.png] Teacher Compensation Dashboard Publishes Pay, Benefits Data by State Insights to help policymakers combat teacher shortages As state leaders prepare for the 2021 legislative sessions, a new teacher-compensation dashboard from the Southern Regional Education Board provides policymakers and educators a trove of information on how 16 states compensate teachers. A click on the interactive map brings together — for the first time, and for each of the 16 SREB states ─ data on teacher salaries, health insurance costs, retirement plans and the resulting take-home pay. “Our aim is to help policymakers and educators see the full picture of teacher compensation so they can make decisions that improve our teacher workforce,” said SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt. “Our teachers — and their students — need this now more than ever.” See data for your state > Regional findings Salaries * Teachers in the South are paid nearly 21% lower on average than professionals with similar education levels — worse than the national teacher-wage penalty of 19%. * Average salaries, when adjusted for inflation, are lower than in the 1980s. * The average salary for teachers in the SREB region was $53,340, compared with $62,304 nationally. Health insurance * On average, costs for teachers are lower than for other professionals, but in many states, premiums for family coverage are higher. * All SREB states, except Maryland, offer two or more state-sponsored health plan options. Retirement benefits * All states offer defined benefit (pension) plans. * Five states offer defined contribution (investment) plan or hybrid plan options. * Most SREB states have multiple pension tiers with benefits that differ depending on hire date. * Not all teachers will be able to save more for retirement in pension plans than in investment plans. Take-home pay [Take-Home Pay for Teachers table]SREB analyzed what the average teacher brings home in their first, 15th and 35th year of teaching deducting required retirement contributions, health insurance premiums and taxes. A set of strategies In New Ideas in Teacher Compensation, SREB showed that teacher salaries had barely recovered from cuts and stagnation after the Great Recession a decade ago. The report urges states to build long-term plans to improve teacher pay, benefits, training and support. It also outlines moderate-, low- and no-cost strategies to improve teacher working environments in the short term. “Band-aid solutions won’t improve the teaching profession. Now is the time for policymakers to meet this challenge head-on for the years to come,” said Megan Boren, SREB program specialist, who leads the organization's efforts on on teacher workforce. Going forward, SREB plans to add additional years of data and hopes to add analysis such as differences in salaries among rural, urban and suburban school districts. Teacher Compensation at SREB.org Teacher Workforce Policy Resources From SREB Education Human Capital Roundtables SREB is helping education leaders in several states — Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma — hold challenging conversations to improve teacher pipeline, preparation, licensure and support. January 2021 Webinars A series of three sessions on pathways into teaching, licensure and compensation with lessons from several states. Licensure and Certification Policies and strategies on alternative certification, reciprocity, pandemic flexibility and more. Teacher Preparation Research, blog posts and the report of the SREB Teacher Preparation Commission. Find these and more at SREB.org/TeacherWorkforce A nonprofit, nonpartisan interstate compact, SREB was created in 1948 by governors and legislators who recognized the link between education and economic vitality. SREB states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. More at SREB.org. Copyright © 2020 Southern Regional Education Board, All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because of your interest in news from the Southern Regional Education Board. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org [Website] [Twitter] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Email] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From lykuhn at pa.gov Mon Dec 7 12:19:59 2020 From: lykuhn at pa.gov (Kuhn, Lynette) Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 18:19:59 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] Dual Credit Inquiry Message-ID: Good Afternoon, In Pennsylvania, we are receiving some questions from institutions regarding utilizing credit in both baccalaureate and master degree programs (i.e. "double dipping"). I am reaching out to see how other states handle/regulate dual credit offerings. Our regulations regarding minimum credits for baccalaureate and master degrees are as follows: * A baccalaureate degree must require the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 120 semester credit hours or a minimum of 180 quarter credits. Of the total baccalaureate degree program course requirements, at least 40 semester credit hours or 60 quarter credit hours must be in general education and represent a broad spectrum of disciplines in general education. * A master's degree must require the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours beyond the baccalaureate level. The argument we make in disallowing the practice of awarding the same credit in both a bachelor and master's program is that the credits awarded in a master's degree program must be BEYOND the baccalaureate level - therefore, a course taken in an undergraduate program cannot be counted towards the student's master's degree program as well. However, we are exploring if awarding dual credit is becoming a generally accepted practice in higher education. Any input on how your state handles this would be greatly appreciated. Best Regards, Lynette Kuhn | Division Chief Department of Education | Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity Bureau of Postsecondary and Adult Education 333 Market Street | 12th Floor | Harrisburg, PA 17126 Phone: 717.783.8228 | www.education.pa.gov PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender and then delete the communication from your electronic mail system. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Dec 8 12:04:00 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2020 18:04:00 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SREB Webinar Series Message-ID: Webinar series: Rethinking Teacher Workforce Solutions View this email in your browser [Share] Share [Tweet] Tweet [Share] Share [Forward] Forward [https://mcusercontent.com/c67c5841e2df804cf1c9ea093/images/b596e8ac-458b-4f32-876f-26775eaf1f11.png] Rethinking Teacher Workforce Solutions Webinar Series Join SREB for a three-part series to explore how states can rethink teacher workforce solutions for the short term, while the pandemic challenges state economies, and for the long term, to combat teacher shortages holistically. Learn how a wide range of education leaders in a state can collaborate to revitalize the teaching profession. Full details Expanding and Diversifying Pathways in Teaching For a More Inclusive Workforce Wednesday, January 13, 2021 10:30 a.m. to noon Eastern This webinar will explore policy ideas to recruit and prepare a more diverse teacher workforce and open more pathways to those who want to teach. Panelists from SREB’s Education Human Capital Roundtables will discuss topics such as early recruitment and dual preparation partnerships, rethinking preparation curricula and schedules to meet today’s challenges, and revamping student teaching from A to Z. Register Redesigning Teacher Licensure Wednesday, January 20, 2021 10:30 a.m. to noon Eastern This webinar will explore revolutionary policy ideas from several Education Human Capital Roundtable panelists, such as how to: * Remove unnecessary and ill-fitting barriers to licensure * Redesign licensure as a clear career trajectory from apprenticeship to advanced roles * Move away from licensing based on inputs and toward outcomes * License student teaching for all pathways * Learn from other states’ mistakes on tiered certification Register Better Teacher Supports and Compensation Wednesday, January 27, 2021 10:30 a.m. to noon Eastern This webinar will focus on innovative policy strategies for supporting teachers in their practice and creating sustainability models to maintain these supports permanently. It will also feature an analysis of teacher compensation packages and methods. SREB will debut its new Teacher Compensation Dashboard and research brief. Panelists will include members of SREB’s Education Human Capital Roundtables Register [Twitter] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [YouTube] [Website] Copyright © 2020 Southern Regional Education Board, All rights reserved. You are receiving this message because of your interest in news from the Southern Regional Education Board. SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Dec 15 09:53:18 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:53:18 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SARA Update Message-ID: NC-SARA Update Courtesy of Marianne Boeke NC-SARA finalized the Federal Financial Responsibility Composite Scores & Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM) Process Document (see attachment #1). State feedback was greatly appreciated and the edits are incorporated into the document. Also attached is the compact's letter to NC-SARA outlining the S-SARA RSC's suggested/proposed policy modifications. This letter was submitted on your behalf on November, 30, 2020. WCET Update Courtesy of Lindsey Downs The WCET State Authorization Network (SAN) is pleased to celebrate our sixth year recognizing the outstanding efforts of SAN member institutions and organizations by awarding SANsational Awards. Institutions often ask, "Who is doing good work with state authorization compliance?" The SANsational Awards are given for the development of high-quality, comprehensive solutions for challenging state authorization issues. Each summer, SAN members may self-nominate their institution or organization to share their practices, processes, or institution policy developed and implemented to manage state authorization compliance. This year an SREB institution is a SANsational Award winner! Congratulations to the University of Kentucky for outstanding efforts providing innovative solutions to state authorization challenges with its work with Licensure Disclosure Project and Field Placement Coordination. * 2020 SANsational Award Winning Projects - Webpage with recording presentations and slide decks of each award winner * SANsational Topic Area Landing Page - Also accessible from the home page of the SAN website where you can learn about previous years' winners. Click Join Us for more information about WCET SAN and membership. SREB Update 2020 is almost over and we survived! We thank you for your continued support of SREB and SARA. We are honored to work with you year after year and look forward to continued good work with you. We wish you a safe, healthy, happy, restful holiday season. See you next year! SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 elisa.jaden at sreb.org From: Wanda Barker Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2020 11:53 AM To: Elisa Jaden Subject: FW: HCM Process Document Hi Elisa, Has this gone out to the SPEs yet? I'm still working on email - but haven't made much progress because of meetings! Thanks, Wanda From: Marianne Boeke > Sent: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 11:43 AM To: Wanda Barker >; Elisa Jaden >; Christina Sedney >; Shelley Plutto >; Rachael Stachowiak >; Sheridan Miller >; emilyj at mhec.org; saraa at mhec.org Cc: mlarson at nc-sara.org; Melanie Booth >; Jeannie Yockey-Fine > Subject: HCM Process Document Greetings - Attached please find the Federal Financial Responsibility Composite Scores & Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM) Process Document. We got a lot of good feedback from the states back in August and we have incorporated all edits in this document. There were three requests for edits that we did not include - those are listed below with the rationale for non-inclusion. This list and rationale is not intended to be sent out to the states, but rather gives you the information in case you are asked about it. 1. Is HCM in the SARA manual? Yes - SARA Manual 20.3 - 3.2 1. Should the FFRCS process be like the HCM process? No - reviewing the FFRCS directly is important to SPE work. 1. Please create a form that a SPE completes to remove an institution from SARA membership if FFRCS is below 1.0 at the time of "the U.S. Department of Education's periodic publication of Composite Scores." This is based upon our understanding that a SPE must take that action to remove the institution from membership within 90 days of notification. Yes - we have this already. See SARA Institution Provisional Participation Form (AF3) Let me know if you have any questions - otherwise, please share with your states. Thanks! MB --- Marianne Boeke, Ph.D. Senior Director for Research and State Support NC-SARA 3005 Center Green Drive, Suite 130 Boulder, Colorado 80301 Office: 303-242-5037 Email: mboeke at nc-sara.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Process Document for HCM and FFRCS_FINAL.docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 56831 bytes Desc: Process Document for HCM and FFRCS_FINAL.docx URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: SREB-SARA RSC Policy Recommendations_Nov302020.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 137208 bytes Desc: SREB-SARA RSC Policy Recommendations_Nov302020.pdf URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Dec 15 10:00:23 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:00:23 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] Recall: SARA Update Message-ID: Elisa Jaden would like to recall the message, "SARA Update". From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Tue Dec 15 10:00:42 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Tue, 15 Dec 2020 16:00:42 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] SARA Update Message-ID: NC-SARA Update Courtesy of Marianne Boeke NC-SARA finalized the Federal Financial Responsibility Composite Scores & Heightened Cash Monitoring (HCM) Process Document (see attachment #1). State feedback was greatly appreciated and the edits are incorporated into the document. Also attached is the compact's letter to NC-SARA outlining the S-SARA RSC's suggested/proposed policy modifications. This letter was submitted on your behalf on November, 30, 2020. WCET Update Courtesy of Lindsey Downs The WCET State Authorization Network (SAN) is pleased to celebrate our sixth year recognizing the outstanding efforts of SAN member institutions and organizations by awarding SANsational Awards. Institutions often ask, "Who is doing good work with state authorization compliance?" The SANsational Awards are given for the development of high-quality, comprehensive solutions for challenging state authorization issues. Each summer, SAN members may self-nominate their institution or organization to share their practices, processes, or institution policy developed and implemented to manage state authorization compliance. This year an SREB institution is a SANsational Award winner! Congratulations to the University of Kentucky for outstanding efforts providing innovative solutions to state authorization challenges with its work with Licensure Disclosure Project and Field Placement Coordination. * 2020 SANsational Award Winning Projects - Webpage with recording presentations and slide decks of each award winner * SANsational Topic Area Landing Page - Also accessible from the home page of the SAN website where you can learn about previous years' winners. Click Join Us for more information about WCET SAN and membership. SREB Update 2020 is almost over and we survived! We thank you for your continued support of SREB and SARA. We are honored to work with you year after year and look forward to continued good work with you. We wish you a safe, healthy, happy, restful holiday season. See you next year! SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 elisa.jaden at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: SREB-SARA RSC Policy Recommendations_Nov302020.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 137208 bytes Desc: SREB-SARA RSC Policy Recommendations_Nov302020.pdf URL: From Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org Wed Dec 16 09:19:50 2020 From: Elisa.Jaden at SREB.org (Elisa Jaden) Date: Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:19:50 +0000 Subject: [S-SARA] COVID-19 Guidance and Updates Message-ID: National Policy Update Courtesy of SHEEO and NASFAA US ED Extends End Dates for COVID-19-Related Waivers and Issues New Flexibilities On Friday, December 11, 2020, the Department of Education (ED) issued a Federal Register (FR) notice extending the end dates of COVID-19-related waivers and modifications, and also introduced several new flexibilities using its authority granted by the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act of 2003. Visit the NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) website for the full press release and details. WCET SAN Policy Update Courtesy of Cheryl Dowd A Note to States and Institutions Regarding the US ED COVID-19-Related Waivers How does the U.S. Department of Education's newly released update to its COVID-19 Guidance affect states and institutions? The December 11, 2020 guidance indicates that the waivers and modifications in this updated document expire as noted within each of the provisions, except those that are extended by the Secretary in the document published in the Federal Register. Specific to state authorization-related work, you will find a continuation of the waiver we have discussed since March 5, 2020. Effective Dates: >From March 5, 2020 through the date that the federally declared national emergency related to COVID-19 is rescinded. Relevant Regulation: 34 CFR 600.9(c) State Authorization of Distance Education is waived for purposes of participation in Title IV HEA programs. However, the announcement indicates, as we have discussed for months, that the waiver ONLY applies to the Department of Education requirements. The institutions must continue to comply with applicable state requirements. Implications: Institutions are still required to be in compliance with the states even though the federal regulation is temporarily waived for purposes of Title IV. Therefore, for institutions that do not participate in SARA to obtain state authorization, they must seek individual state approval for their institutions in each state where their students are located in order to meet state compliance. Institutions should review this updated guidance that extends waivers and flexibilities noting some variance in effective dates. The affected regulations are listed below: * 34 CFR 600 * 34 CFR 602 * 34 CFR 668 * 34 CFR 673 * 34 CFR 674 * 34 CFR 682 * 34 CFR 685 SARA Southern Regional Education Board (404) 879-5517 SARA at sreb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: