School Boa ‘Supertndnt ofSoote Saar Sern tna "Radeon Gove ‘Saya Tak PRO, Hillsborough County Kater Pane PUBLIC SCHOOLS sey Preparing Sidenote Sanvary 24,2022 Commissioner Richard Coren Florida Department of Eduction ‘arlington Building, Suite 1514 325 West Gaines Street Tallassoe, Fovida 32399 Dear Commissioner Corcoran, ‘Thank you for your steudfst and pragmatic leadership during these tumultuous times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hillborough County Public Schools understands that the safest place for ou students to aceleate leaning sin the schoolhouse. We were encouraged by how you championed the effort to ensure that studentsretur to in-person learning atthe beginning ofthis school year to address the Teaming loss incurred sins March 2020. Unfortunately, just as the onset of the virus unfolded "unpredictably, the Delta and Dnicron variant has emerged thoughout this school yea, disrupting learning, and is significantly impacting our ability to provide equitable leaning opportunities consistent ‘After reviewing student atterdance data, we are discouraged that the COVID variant spikes have resulted jnmore than a 10% inerease of students with ten days or more missed days of instruction compared to the 2020-2021 school year. Furtaermore, the average teacher absence often day more to date has already increased by more than 10% compared tothe entire 2020-21 school yea. By the end ofthe current school ‘year, this percentage will carainly inerese significantly. When accounting forthe increased vacancies and historically low substitute fill rate, you can see how the challenges are, in many ways, even mor, Jnsurmountable than when we frst entered this pandemic A this time, we ate asking the Florida Department of Education to hol dstets and individal schools harmless by allowing schools to opt-in "A to F* grades forthe 2021-2022 academic yea. Allowing districts {o open was prudent in 2020-2021 and even moreso 35 we approach the end ofthe 2021-2022 school year. Hillsborough County Public Schools supports extending assessments to our students as we recognize that those assessments are esseutial in evaluating educational goals, determining comprehension of state Standards, building manor abodes, determining reainozs vel of studonts identifying acadomie gina, Feviewing whether or not achievement gaps have buen reduced, validating if adopted and selected supplemental curiculums have had positive impacts on student performance, and which students need tiered inventions odifferenate instruction. However, asa state, schoo! district, and community we will undoubtedly continue to seethe academie impact ofthe COVED: 19 disruption tearing in the Spring of| 2002 ‘As you can imagine, these persistent challenges will affect state assessment results, which will not ‘aserately reflect the progress made by individual schools, nor wilt fll illustrate the commendable work ‘four teachers. Additionally, nother potential variant spike would only compound these issues and impact the overall 98% assessment participation, which will result in “Incomplete” school grades. Connect with Ut Hithrugh Scoot. +0. Box 248 «Tang, FL 3261-408 819) 2724000 Raymond, Shon ohel Rammstatve Caner i0! Eat rammed) Bs Tanga F082 007Commissioner Richard Corexran Sanary 24,2022 Page? ‘We applaud the Department of Education's leadership in allocating the necessary financial resources provide by the Elementary znd Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER), Hillsborough County Public School strategically utilize ths funding to provide extended leaning opportunities and evidence based interventionslenrichment experiences to achieve grade-level expectations. While we ae encouraged to se tha our progress moni oring data is rending higher than lst yar, we remain significantly below our profcieney demonstrated ding uninterrupted school yeas. The same attendance and staffing challenges petsis as we implement ourmulifceted approach to address learning gaps beyond the waditional school aw. ‘Aaitonally, we would lke requesthe department reevaluate the timeline oimplement new concordant Scores for this years graduating cohort. Specialy, we ak that the previous concordant scores be applied this year. As you know, the current graduating cohort was not provided the opportunity to be administered the [Oth grade English Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment de o school closures in March of | 2020. As these students matrieulated to llth grade during the 2020-2021 school year, many did not participate in a state assessment administration due to the unsafe conditions posed bythe vinus. The loss of| these opportunities has significantly impacted several students in mesting this evteal graduation requirement and is compounded by the increased cut scores that ae tobe implemented beginning with this cohort. Curently, Hillshocugh has over 1,000 seniors (7%) that would meet this requirement if the previous cut scores wee in effet, Finally, we are encouraged thatthe Govemors proposed budget for iseal year 202-2023 includes an ditional $50 milion, for otal of $600 milion, to continue increasing the minimum teacher salary for {all-time public classroom teachers, We urge you to champion teacher compensation inthe 2022 legislative session and consider additional funding for our veteran teachers, particularly given the monumental task that classroom teachers ara the stat perform daily under extraordinary circumstances, Overall, this continues to be some of the most challenging yeats for School Board members, superintendent, principals, achers, suppor professionals, parents, and most importantly, students, The inabiliy to provide consists instuction has erated inequitable conditions to ensure tha students close the exacerbated learning gaps and understand grade-level concepts. While Hillsborough County school- based leaders and teachers hive worked tirelessly to create a world-lass education, this year should not be about sanctioning schools according tothe state accountability rule. Instead, it must centr on wsing student performance information to support futher building the capacity of all learners though prescribed ‘sducational pathways ‘As demonstrated by your previous decision for an opt-in provision, these recommendations align with the Florida Department of Education’ core values, goals, and priorities, They wil help schools best mee the noeds of Ford's leas Please contat me f you or your team have any questions oF would ike adional information Respectfully, Superintendent of Schools Schoo! Board Chair