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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends the criteria for a low performing school to exit the school turnaround
10 program.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ amends the criteria for a low performing school to exit the school turnaround
14 program.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53E-5-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 186
22 53E-5-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 186
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24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 53E-5-301 is amended to read:
26 53E-5-301. Definitions.
27 As used in this part:
28 (1) "Charter school authorizer" means the same as that term is defined in Section
29 53G-5-102.
30 (2) "Cohort" means all district schools and charter schools identified as low performing
31 schools based on school accountabilty results from the same school year.
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34 initial remedial year, as determined by the state board.
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36 person identified by the state board under Section 53E-5-305.
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38 is designated as a low performing school under Section 53E-5-302.
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40 governing board.
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42 been designated a low performing school by the state board because the school is:
43 (a) for two consecutive school years in the lowest performing 3% of schools statewide
44 according to the percentage of possible points earned under the school accountability system;
45 and
46 (b) a low performing school according to other outcome-based measures as may be
47 defined in rules made by the state board.
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49 established in Part 2, School Accountability System.
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51 school's overall rating under the school accountability system.
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53 (a) for a district school, Section 53E-5-303; or
54 (b) for a charter school, Section 53E-5-304.
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56 (a) for a district school, Section 53E-5-303; or
57 (b) for a charter school, Section 53E-5-304.
58 Section 2. Section 53E-5-306 is amended to read:
59 53E-5-306. Implications for failing to improve school performance.
60 (1) As used in this section, "high performing charter school" means a charter school
61 that:
62 (a) satisfies all requirements of state law and state board rules;
63 (b) meets or exceeds standards for student achievement established by the charter
64 school's charter school authorizer; and
65 (c) has received at least a B grade under the school accountability system in the
66 previous two school years.
67 (2) (a) The state board shall make rules establishing:
68 (i) the final remedial year for a cohort;
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72 the school's final remedial year or the last school year of the extension period described in
73 Subsection (3).
74 (b) In establishing exit criteria for a low performing school identified based on school
75 accountability results from the 2018-19 school year and later, the state board shall:
76 (i) determine for each low performing school the number of points awarded under the
77 school accountability system [
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79 accountability system in the school year immediately preceding the initial remedial year; and
80 (ii) establish a method to [
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83 (c) The state board shall through a competitively awarded contract engage a third party
84 with expertise in school accountability and assessments to verify the exit criteria adopted under
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86 (3) (a) A low performing school may petition the state board for an extension to
87 continue school improvement efforts for up to two years if the low performing school does not
88 meet the exit criteria established by the state board as described in Subsection (2).
89 (b) A school that has been granted an extension under this Subsection (3) is eligible
90 for:
91 (i) continued funding under Section 53E-5-305; and
92 (ii) (A) the school teacher recruitment and retention incentive under Section
93 53E-5-308; or
94 (B) the School Recognition and Reward Program under Section 53E-5-307.
95 (4) If a low performing school does not meet exit criteria after the school's final
96 remedial year or the last school year of the extension period, the state board may intervene by:
97 (a) restructuring a district school, which may include:
98 (i) contract management;
99 (ii) conversion to a charter school; or
100 (iii) state takeover;
101 (b) restructuring a charter school by:
102 (i) terminating a school's charter agreement;
103 (ii) closing a charter school; or
104 (iii) transferring operation and control of the charter school to:
105 (A) a high performing charter school; or
106 (B) the school district in which the charter school is located; or
107 (c) other appropriate action as determined by the state board.