HB 4787 - Prospective Education Reforms

SHORT SUMMARY:
• Would amend the Revised School Code to include failing school reforms, raise the drop-out age and modify high school graduation requirements.

BILL HIGHLIGHTS:
• Reform Failing Schools* - Would allow the state to impose reforms on or take over the lowest achieving 5% of all public schools. In the process, some collective bargaining agreements could be modified or eliminated.
• Raise Drop-out Age** - Would raise the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18
• Modify Graduation Requirements*** - Would allow a student to modify math requirements through a Personal Curriculum earlier in their high school career.

BILL CONTENT: Would amend the Revised School Code to:

Reform Failing Schools:
• Starting with Fall 2010, each year the State Superintendent must publish a list identifying the lowest achieving 5% of all public schools. Includes high schools with a graduation rate lower than 60 percent.
• The State Superintendent would issue an order placing those schools under the state school reform/redesign officer (SRRO).
• Within 90 days, the school board must submit a redesign plan to the SRRO requiring implementation under one of four failing school intervention models provided for under ARRA (Turnaround, Restart, Closure and Tranformation). The plan must allow for modification of collective bargaining agreements.
• Within 30 days, the SRRO must approve or change the redesign plan.
• If the SRRO changes the plan, the school board has 30 days to resubmit.
• If the SRRO approves a redesign plan, the school board must implement it at the start of the next school year.
• If the SRRO does not approve a plan, or determines the plan is not working, the school may be placed into the state school reform/redesign district. The SRRO may impose one of the four intervention models beginning with the next school year, and may impose a modification of collective bargaining agreements.
• The SRRO may appoint a CEO for a school or multiple schools. The CEO would have similar powers to impose reforms and modify collective bargaining agreements.
• Under a restart or turnaround model, the SRRO or CEO may contract with an educational management company to run a school; under these models collective bargaining agreements would not be maintained.
• The SRRO could recommend a school be released from the above requirements if significant improvement in student achievement is made.
• The SRRO would be hired by and directly responsible to the State Superintendent. The position would be exempt from classified civil service. The SRRO would submit a report annually to the Legislature.

Raise Drop-Out Age:
• Beginning with current sixth graders, the compulsory attendance age would be increased from age 16 to age 18. All existing exceptions (private schools, homeschoolers, etc.) would still apply. Parents would be able to sign a waiver to allow a student to stop attending school at age 16.

Modify Graduation Requirements:
• Would allow a student to modify math requirements through a Personal Curriculum after ninth grade and after having attempted 1.5 math credits (currently, they must successfully complete 2.5 math credits in order to modify).