SB1457 schools;
improvements; turnaround plan (Allen) =
Changes the term “alternative operation plan” in
current statute to a “turnaround plan.” =
Allows the department to recommend a school
district for a turnaround plan if 50% or more of the schools in the district
are rated D or F. =
Allows the department to recommend an individual
school that has been assigned a letter grade of D or F for two of the last
three years for a turnaround plan. =
Allows the state board of education to initiate
a hearing on its own if the department does not make a recommendation within 90
days after the letter grades are assigned. =
Requires the department and/or the board to
include the following in the recommendation or call for a hearing: o
Whether the school district has previously participated
or is currently participating in a school improvement program. o
A listing of the school improvement strategies
that have previously been used or are currently in use by the district at its D
or F schools. o
The extent to which the school district administrators
and the district administrators and the school district governing board
impacted the assignment of D or F letter grades to the district’s schools. o
Information provided to the school principal or
head teacher on the factors that have contributed to the school that has been
assigned a letter grade of D or F. o
A listing of the curricula, assessments and
other instructional tools used by teachers in any of the schools assigned a
letter grade of D or F. o
A listing of professional development opportunities
provided by the school district to teachers in the schools that are assigned a
letter grade of D or F. o
Whether schools assigned a letter grade of D or
F have demonstrated reasonable academic growth. o
Whether the school is or has been placed in
financial receivership. =
Requires the board to develop a list of
governmental, non-profit, or private organizations that: o
Demonstrate proven results in school turnaround
or in operating public schools that have been assigned a letter grade of A or
B. o
Demonstrate above average growth for students
who are academically below at least one or two grade levels based on state
assessments. o
Proved a narrative on the person or
organization’s proven strategies for school improvement. o
Does not have any financial conflict of interest
pertaining to the school or school district that is subject to the turn around
plan. =
States if the board approves a turnaround plan,
the board shall allow the district to choose an provider from the list
developed by the board or submit an alternative provider who meets the
requirements. The board may approve or deny the alternative submission. =
Requires the turnaround provider selected to prepare
a detailed report including a school turnaround plan that details how the
school district or school will raise the level of academic achievement so that
all of the schools in the school district are assigned letter grades A, B, or
C. within 120 days of appointment. The plan must include: o
A proposed timeline for improving academic
achievement o
A proposed timeline and details concerning how
the turnaround provider will transition the administration of the school
district back to the school district governing board. =
Requires the state board to review the report
and plan. If approved, the board may authorize the turnaround provider to: o
Override any decisions of the school district
governing board, superintendent, or both, concerning the management and
operation of the school district or school. o
Initiate and make decisions concerning the
management and operation of the school district or school, including converting
the school to a charter school. o
Hire personnel, terminate personnel and cancel
existing employment contracts, including the district superintendent’s
contract, to the extent allowed by law. o
Refuse to reemploy any certificated teacher who
is currently employed at the school that is assigned a letter grade of D or F
or may require teachers to interview to retain employment. o
Attend any school district governing board and
staff meetings. o
Supervise the activities of the school district
or school’s staff, including reassigning the duties and responsibilities of
personnel. o
Cancel or renegotiate any contract, to the
extent allowed by law. o
Apply for and oversee any federal, state, or
local grants or other funding available to the school or school district for
school improvement activities. =
Requires the provider to present projected costs
to the school district to the board during the 120-day review, and requires
costs to be reviewed at least twice each year. =
Allows the board to authorize the continued
appointment of the turnaround provider if student achievement in the school
district or school improves to a letter grade of A, B or C and may do so for
all of the district schools or for individual schools within the district. =
Allows the school district to petition the state
board for control of the district or individual schools once the school or
schools have been assigned a letter grade of A and B. =
Allows the board to impose a transition plan if
the state board approves the petition or considers alternative providers. =
Prescribes that the board require turnaround
plans to demonstrate all of the following: o
The development of positive student-teacher
relationships o
A focus on achieving results o
The use of formative evaluations. o
The delivery of effective lessons and targeted
intervention o
Collaborative efficacy and instructional
expertise. =
Allows the board to take action for a district
in financial receivership |