education standards advisory panel

Education Standards Advisory Panel

Moving toward an open, consensus-based

standards development processPresented by Pamela Dillon, BLA, Ohio

NASBLA Spring BLA Workshop, Thursday, March 3, 2011

Implement a process for standards development that conforms to American National Standards Institute Essential Requirements


Primary Objectives

Gauge efficacy of Standards based on risk assessments, accident and participation data analyses, other research studies and scientific resources


Primary Objectives

Openness Lack of dominance Balance Coordination and harmonization Notification of standards

development

Standards Development Process

ANSI’s Ten Essential Requirements

Consideration of views & objections Consensus vote Appeals (procedural) Written procedures Compliance



Openness Participation open to all persons directly and materially affected by the Standards



Lack of dominance Process not dominated by any single interest, individual or organization



Balance Process has participants from diverse interest categories to achieve balance



Coordination and harmonization Good faith effort to resolve potential conflicts between and among existing standards and candidate standards



Notification of standards development

Standards development activity must be announced in suitable media to give opportunity for participation



Consideration of views & objections

Prompt consideration of written comments on proposed standards – and effort to resolve all expressed objections



Consensus vote Procedures for reaching consensus must be stated

Evidence of consensus vote on standards by ‘consensus body’ must be documented



Appeals Written procedures to afford due process

Center on procedural issues – actions or inactions of Panel – not content/substance of the standards



Written procedures Govern methods used for standards development

Must be made available to any interested person



Compliance With normative policies and administrative procedures established by ANSI



NASBLA Executive Board authorizes ANSI-based approach to standards development (Sept. 2010); clarifies goals (Nov. 2010)

Board appoints Panel chairperson (Nov. 2010) NASBLA staff workgroup and Panel chairperson,

begin drafting Panel Rules (Dec. 2010) Initial Board review of draft Rules (Feb. 2011) Panel rules approved as revised, interest

categories determined (March 1, 2011)

Developing the Panel & Operating Guidance

Distribution of ESAP Rules

Written Rules define Panel’s objectives, authority, organization,

interest categories, and all procedures governing standards

development and procedural appeals


Panel serves as ‘consensus body’ All Panel members appointed by Board for

3-year terms, with chance for reappointment. Term limits.

Maximum 15 members, including chairperson.

Application process open to all persons directly & materially affected by standards

Advisory Panel – Key features

Stakeholder representation across ‘interest categories,’ with no category represented by more than 1/3 of total Panel members. State Boating Agency – maintained at 5 members.

Panel participation not conditional on NASBLA or other organizational membership

Members must comply with attendance, balloting, conduct, performance requirements stated in Rules

Advisory Panel – Key features

Interest Category Definition/ExampleCommercial Any person or representative from a for-profit

company or organization offering NASBLA-approved/sanctioned courses. Also covers boat and boat accessory manufacturers, insurance companies, boat dealers, marina owners, towing and salvage companies, trade association representatives, etc.

Non-Governmental Organization

Non-profit organizations offering boating safety courses or having an interest in boating and water safety.

Federal Boating Agency U.S. Coast Guard, international government agency, etc.

State Boating Agency (5 seats)

Members of the state boating agencies

Public Boaters, researchers, boating writers or others that have an interest in boating and water safety.

5 Interest Categories

Status Change addressed in Part IV, Parts 11 and 12 Part V. General (1)

Members shall “adhere to the NASBLA Conflict of Interest Policy and to an Advisory Panel Code of Ethics…”

Members shall “function independently as individuals and not as agents or representatives of organizations with which they are or may be associated or employed when engaged in the work of the Panel.”

Status Changes/ Conflict of Interest & Ethical Conduct

5-year cycle for Standards review

Drafts of proposed Standards must be published for review, with publicized ‘call for comments’

Panel must dispose of each comment received and communicate disposition to each commenter

Standards Development – Procedures

Upon Panel approval, proposed Standards move to ‘consensus ballot’ stage, with recorded votes and efforts to resolve all negative comments

Then on to ‘public review draft’ stage, with publicized comment period and efforts to resolve comments received


Substantive changes to Standards document – as result of consensus ballot or public review – require Panel to reconsider document and loop through procedures again…


First Panel will be selected by application by NASBLA Board. Will be named, trained, and given time to organize its workInitiate ‘call for revisions’ (in lieu of ‘call for comments’)Use most currently approved version of the National Boating Education Standards (with effective date Jan. 1, 2012) as basis for first review

Standards Development – First Cycle

Panel Rules are a living, breathing document. We anticipate that revisions will be recommended as the panel is seated, trains, and begins the process.

Planned to achieve ANSI certification in the future.

Moving Forward……

Most importantly, this process (if successful) will result in a heightened level of national agreement and consistency in boating education program content and delivery for the nation’s boaters.

Moving Forward……

Questions?