Bill Summaries: S 597 DROPOUT PREVENTION AND RECOVERY PILOT.

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  • Summary date: Apr 2 2013 - View Summary

    Amends SL 2011-259 to direct the State Board of Education (SBE) toimplement a Dropout Prevention and Recovery Pilot Program (pilot program)in New Hanover County Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and two additional local school administrative units (LEAs) selected by the SBE(was, directed the SBEto implement a three-year Dropout Recovery Pilot Programin New Hanover County and three LEAs selected by the SBE). Directs the SBE to also select four charter schools, one of which is located in Mecklenburg County,at which to establish pilot programs. Makes conforming changes toreflect the addition of the charter schools to the pilot program.Requires the participating schools to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as an indicator of quality instructional programming.

    Adds to the minimal requirements for the pilot program that it must include (1) a focus on serving a defined population of at-risk students who have dropped out of school or are likely to dropout in the future; (2) support services including professionals trained to assist students in removing barriers to attending school and graduating; (3) instructional models that are self-paced and mastery-based; and (4) individualized graduation plans to guide students to high school graduation.

    Amends the requirements for collecting student performance data to direct the SBE to develop and implement an alternative student performance accountability method to evaluate the performance effectiveness ofthe schools in thepilot program (was, collect data and student performance results from the pilot program and the participating LEA to use in evaluating the success of the pilot program as a whole). Directs the SBE to use the data and student results collected from the pilot program schools in developing an alternative accountability method to apply statewide and in evaluating the success of the pilot program as a whole. Specifies requirements to be included in thealternative accountability method developed by the SBEregarding the application of the method to eligible schools.

    Directs theSBE to develop and implement the alternative method of accountability to assess the performance of pilot program schools to applybeginning with the 2014-15 school year.

    Authorizes the SBE to provide, if available, an additional per pupil funding allotment to LEAsto transfer to schools participating in the pilot program which demonstrate that the average daily membership (ADM) is at minimum 30% higher than the ADM of the first month of the school year. Requires that any additional allotments made before the end of the first semester of the school year are to be based on December's ADM.

    Provides thata pilot program may be operated through a charter school authorized by the SBE, as well as through the SBE or as a program of the contracting LEA. Clarifies that the pilot program may be an alternative school within the LEA.

    Amends the effective date of SL 2011-259 toJuly 1, 2013 (was, July 1, 2011).

    Adds reporting requirement directing the SBE to report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on the implementation of the pilot program and the alternative student performance accountability method required by Section 5A(a) of SL 2011-259, as amended by this act, on orbefore March 15, 2014.

    Provides that this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to schools selected by the SBE on or after July 1, 2013.