Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits placing a school under the Education Achievement Authority's supervision until January 1, 2015.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a school redesign officer who is supervising a public school that is listed in the lowest achieving 5 percent of state public schools from placing the school in a state school reform/redesign district earlier than January 1, 2015, and from that decision taking effect before July 1, 2015 (Sec. 1225). 

• Requires the redesign officer to choose if a public school under his or her control should be operated by another authorized public school or placed under the control of the Education Achievement Authority if he or she chooses to use the “restart model” for the school’s redesign plan (Sec. 1280).

• Requires the redesign officer to place the highest priority on unsatisfactory performance of schools with students in grades K through 8 when determining if a redesign plan is working (Sec. 1280). 

• Requires school boards, districts, and public governing bodies to disclose annual financial audits on a public website if the Department of Treasury determines that these groups are subject to the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act (Sec. 1225). 

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands the Education Achievement Authority.

Highlights:

• Requires superintendents to place public schools that are listed in the lowest achieving 5 percent of all state public schools for 3 consecutive years under the supervision of a redesign officer (Sec. 1280).

• Authorizes a school in the lowest achieving 5 percent to remain under control of the school board if the redesign officer and the chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority determine that keeping the school under the control of the school board will improve the educational outcome (Sec. 1280).

• Requires the redesign officer to develop a plan to directly address the reasons the public school is low-achieving and incorporate measures to improve student performance (Sec. 1280).

• Authorizes the redesign officer to place public schools that are under the redesign officer’s supervision in the state reform district and under the control of the Education Achievement Authority (Sec. 1280).

• Specifies that any collective bargaining agreement applicable to employees at a public school does not apply after the school is under the control of the Education Achievement Authority (Sec. 1280).

• Authorizes a public school that is in the state reform district to leave the district if it has not been listed in the lowest achieving 5 percent for 4 consecutive years (Sec. 1280).

Full Bill Text