Georgia state legislators have just introduced HB 338 to create a “system of supports and assistance for low-performing schools in the greatest need.” Take a moment to look over the 12-page bill that Republican lawmakers dropped yesterday, and let me know your thoughts.
My initial impression is that this “plan B” school improvement plan (as opposed to Governor Deal’s Opportunity School District) is better, but I would like to know what indicators the Chief Turnaround Office will be using to determine which schools are “low-performing.”
As Code Section 20-14-25 of the bill states, the factors are a bit vague: “(a) The Chief Turnaround Officer shall annually identify the low-performing schools that are in the greatest need of assistance based on the number of years such schools have received an unacceptable rating and any other factors deemed appropriate by the Chief Turnaround Officer. The number of schools identified annually shall be at the sole discretion of the Chief Turnaround Officer, based on the capacity and resources available to the Chief Turnaround Officer.”
Please comment below or feel free to email me at rebekahcmorris@gmail.com.
February 12, 2017 at 12:15 pm
I have a long list of questions, but will begin with a couple of first impressions:
1. What is the methodology the State BOE will follow for choosing the Chief Turnaround Officer?
2. Will parents/communities have input into the process?
3. The Chief Turnaround Officer shall choose the Turnaround Coaches.
4. Again, what is the process and methodology?
5. “Turnaround coaches shall assist in creating local collaborations” This is very vague. Clarification is needed.
6. How much, if any, input and/or conversations will be held within the school communities affected?
It is my opinion that parents of children in persistently failing schools (again, we need to clearly define a “failing school”) would welcome help in “turning around” those schools. However, those parents also want a voice in those efforts and will be not be silenced. In my view this was one of the reasons for the failure of the OSD. It allowed for little to no partnership with parents/school communities. If that partnership is not part of any legislation it will fail as badly as the OSD.
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