SENATE RESEARCH OFFICE

2017 SessionMarch 20, 2017

Bill: HB 338 / Sponsor: Representative Tanner of the 9th
Version:LC 33 7058S / Amends: Title 20
Status:As Passed Senate Comm. by Sub. / Committee:Education and Youth

System of Supports and Assistance for Lowest-Performing Schools

SUMMARY

  • Creates a management of a system of supports and assistance for the lowest-performing schools identified as in the greatest need of assistance.

ANALYSIS

Chief Turnaround Officer & Turnaround Coaches

The State Board of Education must appoint a Chief Turnaround Officer (Officer) who must manage and oversee a system of supports and assistance for the lowest-performing schools identified as in the greatest need of assistance. The Officer must identify, each year, the lowest-performing schools that are deemed to be in the greatest need of assistance based on a list of turnaround eligible schools[1] prepared by the Office of Student Achievement. Local boards of education must be given an opportunity to amend the contract for strategic waivers school systems, for the purpose of agreeing to receive assistance under this bill.

Under this bill, the Officer must recommend individuals to serve as turnaround coaches to serve as the liaison in the school improvement process. The coaches must conduct individual assessments of those students who have been identified as low-performing and coordinate with the school to provide various interventions. Based on funding availability, they must diagnose the factors causing the low-performance and provide the identified students with academic support and enrichment activities. The Office of Student Achievement is authorized to provide grants to assist in retaining a specialist to assist in implementing a school improvement plan, assessing low-performing students, and obtaining specified supports.

Evaluation and Intervention

Within 30 days of entering into a contract with the State Board of Education, a local board of education must select, and the Officer must approve, a third-party specialist to assist with a review of the school.Within 90 days of entering into the contract,a local board of education and the third-party specialist must conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation to determine the causes of the low performance and lack of progress. Based on this on-site evaluation, the coach must recommend actions such as changes in school procedures, intervention of individual teachers, and other actions deemed appropriate.

Based on the evaluation and coach recommendations, and after public input, the school must develop an intensive school improvement plan. After three years of implementing this plan, if the school is not improving, the Officer must require one of the following interventions:

  • Continued implementation of the intensive school improvement plan;
  • Removal of school personnel;
  • Implementation of a state charter school;
  • Complete reconstitution of the school and hiring all new staff;
  • Operation of the school by a private nonprofit entity;
  • Mandatory parental option to relocate the student to another school in the local system;
  • Complete restructuring of the school’s governance arrangement;
  • Operation of the school by a successful school system; or
  • Any other intervention or requirements deemed appropriate.

This does not apply to schools in substantial compliance with the improvement plan and who exhibit ongoing cooperation. Prior to the implementation of these interventions, the local board of education may request a hearing to show cause as to why an intervention is not required.

Education Turnaround Advisory Council

This council is created to submit to the State Board, a list of candidates for the position of Chief Turnaround Officer and turnaround coaches. Additionally, this Council will recommend turnaround resources and experts, advise on the development of state-wide assessment tools, and recommend the request for proposals process for the third-party specialists. The bill specifies that the council does not have authority and its role is advisory in nature. The council is composed of the following:

  • The Director of the Georgia School Boards Association;
  • The Director of the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association;
  • The Director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators;
  • The Director of the Georgia Association of Educators;
  • The Director of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders;
  • The President of the Georgia Parent Teacher Association;
  • The Director of the Educators First; and
  • Four education leaders (appointed as follows: two Lieutenant Governor and two Speaker of House).

Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process

Under this bill, a committee is created to study thepotential establishment of a state accreditation process for public schools and school systems.The committee must submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees by December 1, 2017.

Joint Student Committee on the Establishment of a Leadership Academy

Under this bill, a committee is created to study the possibility of establishing a leadership academy to provide opportunities for principals and other school leaders to expand their leadership skills. A report of findings and recommendations must be submitted by December 1, 2017 to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and Chairs of the Senate and House Education Committees.

Suspension of Local Board of Education Members

After July 1, 2017, if at least half of the schools in a local school system are turnaround eligible for five or more years in a row, the State Board of Education must conduct a hearing and recommend to the Governor whether to suspend all eligible members of the local board of education with pay. This hearing will be tolled for a local board of education while an intervention contract is in place and the board is complying with the contract.

Analyst:Megan Andrews/EH

House Vote: 138-37 (As Passed House Version)

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[1] ‘Turnaround eligible schools’ means the schools that have performed in the lowest five percent of schools in this state identified in accordance with the statewide accountability system established in the state plan pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.