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REFERENCE TITLE: public schools;
innovation plans |
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State of
Arizona House of
Representatives Fifty-fourth
Legislature Second Regular
Session 2020 |
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HB 2448 |
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Introduced by Representatives Udall: Campbell, Dunn, Finchem, Lieberman, Payne,
Weninger |
AN ACT
amending Title
15, chapter 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 10; relating to
public schools.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 10, to read:
ARTICLE 10. SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION
15-192. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise
requires:
1. "Board" means the state
board of education.
2. "Department" means the
department of education.
3. "Innovation" means a new
or creative alternative to the existing instructional and administrative
practices that is intended to improve learning or enhance academic
opportunities for all students.
4. "School of innovation"
means a public school that has submitted an innovation plan in accordance with
section 15‑192.01 and that the board has approved as a school of
innovation.
15-192.01. Schools of
innovation; innovation plans; exemptions; revocation
A. To become a school of innovation,
a public school shall submit an innovation plan to the superintendent of public
instruction.
B. The board shall prescribe the
requirements for an innovation plan, which, at a minimum, shall include all of
the following:
1. A statement of the school's
mission and why designation as a school of innovation would enhance the
school's ability to achieve its mission and improve learning or enhance
academic opportunities for all students.
2. A description of the innovative
practices the school would like to implement and a plan for implementation.
3. A description of the school's
programs, policies or operations that would need to change to successfully
implement the innovative practice and a plan for how those would be addressed.
4. A detailed implementation timeline
that is not more than five years after board approval of the innovation plan.
5. Proof of a resolution adopted by
the school district governing board or charter school governing body that both:
(a) Supports
the innovation plan and the anticipated implementation timeline.
(b) Describes
the resources and support the school will receive from the governing board or
governing body in implementing the innovation plan, including any allowed
flexibility from local policies and procedures to support the implementation of
the innovation plan.
6. Documentation that shows
meaningful parental, educator and community engagement and capacity for the
changes identified in the innovation plan.
7. The formative, benchmark and
summative assessments that will be used to monitor the progress and outcomes of
the innovation plan.
8. A description of the goals,
identified performance indicators, implementation milestones and expected outcomes
of the innovation plan.
9. The long-term community outreach
goals and stakeholder communication plans.
10. Any other materials that the
board requires.
C. In its innovation plan, a school
may request an exemption from the instructional hours requirements
prescribed in section 15‑901, subsection A, paragraph 1, subdivision (b), or any rules or policies that may
hinder the full implementation of the school's innovation plan and propose
alternative solutions. Any request for
an exemption shall include a rationale of how each exemption will support
implementation of the innovation plan. A
school may not request exemptions from any rule or policy relating to
participation in the statewide assessment adopted pursuant to section 15‑741
and in any state or federal accountability system. The board shall prescribe a process for a
school of innovation to submit amendments to an approved innovation plan to
request an exemption as described in this subsection. A school of innovation is subject to all
statutes, rules and policies that are not explicitly exempted by the board As
described in subsection E of this section. Any exemption that the
board grants pursuant to this section applies for the duration of the
innovation plan and includes any subsequent amendment or redesignation of an
identified state statute, rule or policy, unless the subsequent amendment or
redesignation specifically applies to a school of innovation. If a statute hinders the full implementation of
a school's innovation plan and an exemption is not allowed under this
subsection, the school may request that the department include the statute in
the evaluation pursuant to section 15‑192.02, subsection A, paragraph 5.
D. Within sixty days after receiving
an innovation plan pursuant to subsection A of this section, the superintendent
of public instruction shall transmit the innovation plan to the board with a
recommendation for approval or resubmission.
E. The board shall approve or reject
an innovation plan within sixty days after the board receives the innovation
plan from the superintendent of public instruction. If the board
rejects the innovation plan, the board shall explain in writing the reasons for
rejection and the school may resubmit an amended plan at any time. If
the board approves the innovation plan, the board shall specify in writing
whether the board also approves any exemption requested pursuant to subsection
C of this section.
F. If the board approves an
innovation plan, the board shall approve the innovation plan for an initial
five‑year period. The board may
extend the approval period for up to five additional years if the school
complies with renewal procedures prescribed by the board, including meeting any
prescribed performance criteria on evaluations.
G. At any time at the recommendation
of the department or based on a finding of the board, the board may revoke a
school's innovation status if the goals, performance indicators or
implementation milestones identified in the school's approved innovation plan
are not met.
15-192.02. Schools of
innovation; evaluation; annual report
A. The department shall develop a
plan to evaluate schools of innovation.
The evaluation shall include all of the following:
1. Performance measures of the
schools of innovation in this state, including measures of the following:
(a) Student
engagement.
(b) Performance
on formative, benchmark and state assessments.
(c) High school
success.
(d) Postsecondary
success.
2. The instructional practices of the
schools of innovation in this state.
3. The communication strategies of
the schools of innovation in this state relating to parents, teachers and the
community.
4. The exemptions requested pursuant
to section 15‑192.01, subsection C and the exemptions granted pursuant to
section 15‑192.01, subsection E.
5. The statutes that hindered schools in fully implementing innovation plans and for which exemptions are not allowed under section 15‑192.01 as reported under section 15‑192.01, subsection C.
B. In developing the evaluation plan
pursuant to subsection A of this section, the department shall identify both:
1. The person that evaluates the
schools of innovation.
2. The data that schools of
innovation must submit to the department.
C. The department shall compile the evaluation data in an annual report that articulates the findings, implementation milestones and outcomes and any recommended statutory changes and lists all exemptions requested pursuant to section 15-192.01, subsection C, all exemptions granted pursuant to section 15-192.01, subsection E and all STATUTES THAT HINDERED SCHOOLS IN FULLy IMPLEMENTing INNOVATION PLANS AND FOR WHICH EXEMPTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 15-192.01 AS REPORTED UNDER SECTION 15-192.01, SUBSECTION C. The department shall submit this report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the board on or before September 1 and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
15-192.03. Student protections
A. A school may not penalize a
student who previously attended a school of innovation and who transfers to
another school within this state, including by either:
1. Requiring the student to repeat
coursework or content that the student has already demonstrated mastery of at
the school of innovation.
2. Changing any grade that the
student received at a school of innovation.
B. The Arizona board of regents and
each community college district governing board shall establish policies that
ensure both fair and equitable:
1. Admission of graduates of schools
of innovation or other graduates with nontraditional diplomas and transcripts
to community colleges and to universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona
board of regents.
2. Access to scholarships and financial aid for graduates of schools of innovation or other graduates with nontraditional diplomas and transcripts.
15-192.04. Rules
The board shall adopt any rules necessary to
implement this article.