Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 10, 2017 11:51 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Seth M. Grove |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Innovation Schools |
| I will soon be introducing legislation that will establish a school accountability system to provide tools and interventions aimed at improving our Commonwealth’s lowest-performing schools. Under my legislation, the 15% of school district buildings with the lowest School Performance Profile scores will be designated as “Innovation Schools.” Innovation Schools will remain under the governance of their elected school boards, but will be given additional tools and guidance to help them succeed, under the oversight of a statewide Innovation School Board. By maintaining each Innovation School under the direct governance of its local school board, my bill ensures that each local community remains involved in, and informed of, the Innovation School’s progress toward academic achievement. The school board governing each Innovation School must conduct a diagnostic review of the school district’s academic programs, management and operations. The school board must also form an Academic Advisory Team for the Innovation School, consisting of experts in all facets of school management, as well as a Community Advisory Team, consisting of community members and parents. These teams will assist the local school board in developing a school improvement plan that will establish both performance goals and strategies for achieving them. The Innovation School Board must review the plan and either approve it or request modifications. Once the school improvement plan is in place, the school board must submit to the Innovation School Board biannual reports detailing the implementation and progress of the school improvement plan. To keep the community informed of the school’s progress, the school board must post these reports on the district website. After having been designated as an Innovation School, a school building will remain an Innovation School for at least five years, to be extended if the school has not shown sufficient improvement, if parents of at least 51% of students enrolled in the school petition for the school to remain an Innovation School, or if the school board adopts a resolution requesting that the school remain an Innovation School. Members of the Innovation School Board will be appointed by legislative leaders as well as the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees, with one member appointed by the Secretary of Education. Innovation School Board members will receive no compensation but will be reimbursed only for reasonable and necessary expenses. As the General Assembly debates the appropriate level of education funding over the coming weeks, it is critically important that we also put in place policy measures to ensure that hard-earned taxpayer dollars are invested in a quality education for our students. The system of school improvement established under my legislation will provide the accountability our taxpayers and students deserve. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation. Should you have any questions contact Jordan Grant by phone at 717-767-3947 or by email at jgrant@pahousegop.com |
||
| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB995