PREFILED JAN 04 2021
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REFERENCE TITLE: public schools; innovation plans |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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HB 2032 |
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Introduced by Representative Udall
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AN ACT
repealing title 15, chapter 1, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 15, chapter 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding a new article 9; relating to public schools.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Repeal
Title 15, chapter 1, article 9, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.
Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new article 9, to read:
ARTICLE 9. SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION
15-191. 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 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 15‑191.01 and that the board has approved as a school of innovation.
15-191.01. 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 on or before april 15 of each year unless the board has approved the school's innovation plan for an initial five-year period.
B. The board shall prescribe the requirements for an innovation plan, which shall include, at a minimum, 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 in order 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. A copy 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.
6. Documentation that shows meaningful parental, educator and community engagement and capacity for the changes identified in the innovation plan.
7. A description of 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. A description of 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, subdivisions (a) and (b), or any rules or policies that might hinder the full implementation of the school's innovation plan and propose alternative solutions, except that a school may not request a reduction in the total number of instructional hours prescribed in section 15-901 for the school year. 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 15‑191.02, 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 on 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.
15-191.02. 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 15‑191.01, subsection C and the exemptions granted pursuant to section 15‑191.01, subsection E.
5. The statutes that hindered schools in fully implementing innovation plans and for which exemptions are not allowed under section 15‑191.01 as reported under section 15‑191.01, 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 15-191.01, subsection C, all exemptions granted pursuant to section 15-191.01, subsection E and all STATUTES THAT HINDERED SCHOOLS IN FULLy IMPLEMENTing INNOVATION PLANS AND FOR WHICH EXEMPTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 15-191.01 AS REPORTED UNDER SECTION 15-191.01, 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.
15-191.03. 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 if the student has already demonstrated mastery of that coursework or content 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.
15-191.04. Rules
The board shall adopt any rules necessary to implement this article.