SCS/HB 488 – This act modifies procedures for the lapse of a school district that has been classified as unaccredited by the State Board of Education for two successive school years. Current law provides that the corporate organization of a school district classified as unaccredited will lapse on June 30 of the second full school year of unaccredited classification. This act allows the State Board of Education to set a date for a school district's lapse. However, the school district cannot lapse prior to June 30 of the second full school year of unaccredited classification. When a school district lapses, current law requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to conduct a public hearing in the school district to review the district's plans to return to accredited status or to offer technical assistance to the district. This act changes the focus of the public hearing to be the accreditation status of the school district in general.
When a school district lapses, the State Board of Education may allow the school board to continue governing the district under terms and conditions established by the State Board of Education.
This act is identical to SB 491 (2009).
MICHAEL RUFF
SA 1: THIS AMENDMENT REPEALS THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE GOVERNING BODY OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT, UPON A CLASSIFICATION OF PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED OR UNACCREDITED, DEVELOP A PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS TO DIVIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT INTO NEW DISTRICTS IF THE DISTRICT CANNOT ATTAIN ACCREDITATION WITHIN THREE YEARS.
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE INTERIM UNTIL JANUARY 29, 2010, THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION WILL STUDY THE ISSUE OF GOVERNANCE IN URBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT MUST PREPARE A FINAL REPORT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BY JANUARY 29, 2010.
SA 2: Each local school district must set its opening date, which must be at least fourteen calendar days after notification of parents as to the determination of students' eligibility for public school choice options under the federal No Child Left Behind Act and regulations promulgated under it, but no earlier than ten calendar days prior to the first Monday in September. Any school district that sets its opening date more than ten days prior to the first Monday in September must still comply with the fourteen day notification period.
SA 3: ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT CLASSIFIED AS UNACCREDITED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL PROVIDE AN INCREASED STARTING SALARY FOR TEACHERS IN THE AREAS OF MATH, SCIENCE, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. THE INCREASE WILL BE BETWEEN $3000 AND $5000 MORE THAN THE STARTING SALARY FOR A TEACHER IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AS DETERMINED BY THE DISTRICT, AND IS SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION.