Bill Description: Senate Bill 1339 (S1339) would establish a new accountability framework for public school districts and charter schools with the goal of improving student performance and outcomes.
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S1339 would require all every public school district and charter school to develop a strategic performance plan for improving student performance, student academic growth, college and career readiness, the outcomes of at-risk and economically disadvantaged students, and the performance of local school boards in working towards those goals. The local governing board of the school district/charter school and the local superintendent or charter administrator shall be tasked with developing the plan. The plan must include various benchmarks, including “clear and measurable goals for student outcomes and postsecondary achievements,” a “clearly developed and articulated vision and mission,” and include “student outcomes and growth data in literacy, math, graduation rates, achievement of individual postsecondary goals, and any other metric required by the state board of education.”
School districts and charter schools will be required to submit annual progress reports that will be evaluated by the department of education. The top 10% of districts/charters will be recognized as “schools or districts of educational excellence,” with continually high performing districts/schools given the opportunity for increased flexibility within the accountability framework. Underperforming schools will be subject to an escalating series of actions, culminating in “a comprehensive review of school district and public charter school operations, including a review of instructional calendars,” which will have to receive final approval by the department of education for the following school year.
If successful, S1339 could improve accountability for Idaho’s K-12 public education system by holding districts and charters accountable to clear, measurable, standards of performance. Though real accountability would require introducing punitive measures for underperforming teachers, administrators, schools, and districts.
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