SB 341 - This creates provisions establishing accountability measures for all public elementary and secondary schools. Under this act, the State Board of Education shall establish and implement an accountability system for all public schools and school districts and shall provide an annual accreditation status for each school and school district. Each charter school sponsor shall provide an annual accreditation status for each school it sponsors based on policies that are consistent with accreditation standards used by the State Board of Education. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as each charter school sponsor, shall annually, prior to July 1st, determine the annual accreditation status for each school and school district based on verifiable accreditation data from the previous school year. The annual accreditation status of each school and school district shall be based on compliance with best practice standards, as defined in the act. After assignment of the school's or district's status, the Department and each charter school sponsor shall monitor the schools and districts to determine the status of the schools or districts for the following school year. If the Department or a sponsor determines during the course of the monitoring that a school or district may be in violation of a best practice standard, the head of the school as well the school board or governing body of a charter school shall be notified and given an opportunity to correct the violation.
Schools and school districts shall be assigned an annual accreditation status based on a determination by the State Board of Education or the charter school sponsor of the school's or district's compliance with any policies or rules establishing accreditation policies and best practice standards. Such status shall include "accredited", "provisionally accredited", or "unaccredited".
The State Board of Education shall develop a simplified annual school report card for each school district, public school, and charter school for the purpose of providing information about the school's or district's academic performance. The act repeals the current provision of law regarding report cards for schools. The State Board shall assign the duties of implementing the report to the Department or to a contracted private entity.
The State Board shall assign each public school, charter school, and school district a letter grade of "A", "B", "C", "D", or "F". The school's or school district's grade shall be based on evaluation of a number of factors described in the act relating to student scores on the annual statewide assessment, the percentage of students demonstrating growth towards proficiency on assessment of English language arts and mathematics, the percentage of students in high school earning a high school diploma in four years, and measures of college and career readiness. The act further sets forth the student assessment data to be utilized in determining the school's or school district's grade.
If a school or school district earns a grade of "D" or "F" for a school year, the Department or the charter sponsor shall provide the school or school district with a list of organizations that can provide specific, evidence-based turnaround services. The school or school district shall implement a plan for improvement that is approved by the Department or charter sponsor. If a school or school district earns a "D" or "F" for three consecutive years, then students shall have the option of transferring to a nonresident school or district. For schools or school districts that earn a "D" or "F" for four consecutive years, the Department or charter sponsor shall choose a managing partner to lead the reorganization of the school or school district. Finally, if a school or school district earns a "D" or "F" for five consecutive years, the Department or charter sponsor shall consider school closures.
The Department shall prepare annual reports of the results of the accountability measures contained in this act.
This act is identical to HB 558 (2023).
OLIVIA SHANNON