Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 170 - Boards of Education
Section 10-223h. - Commissioner's network of schools. Turnaround committees. Operations and instructional audit. Turnaround plans. Reports.

(a) The Commissioner of Education shall establish, within available appropriations, a commissioner's network of schools to improve student academic achievement in low-performing schools. The commissioner may select not more than twenty-five schools in any single school year that have been classified as a category four school or a category five school pursuant to section 10-223e to participate in the commissioner's network of schools. The commissioner shall issue guidelines regarding the development of turnaround plans, and such guidelines shall include, but not be limited to, annual deadlines for the submission or nonsubmission of a turnaround plan and annual deadlines for approval or rejection of turnaround plans. The commissioner shall give preference for selection in the commissioner's network of schools to such schools (1) that volunteer to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, provided the local or regional board of education for such school and the representatives of the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b mutually agree to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, (2) in which an existing collective bargaining agreement between the local or regional board of education for such school and the representatives of the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees chosen pursuant to section 10-153b will have expired for the school year in which a turnaround plan will be implemented, or (3) that are located in school districts that (A) have experience in school turnaround reform, or (B) previously received a school improvement grant pursuant to Section 1003(g) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 USC 6301 et seq. The commissioner may select not more than five schools in any single school year from a single school district to participate in the commissioner's network of schools. Each school so selected shall begin implementation of a turnaround plan, as described in subsection (d) of this section. Each school so selected shall participate in the commissioner's network of schools for three school years, and may continue such participation for an additional year, not to exceed two additional years, upon approval from the State Board of Education in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this section. The commissioner shall provide funding, technical assistance and operational support to schools participating in the commissioner's network of schools and may provide financial support to teachers and administrators working at a school that is participating in the commissioner's network of schools. All costs attributable to developing and implementing a turnaround plan in excess of the ordinary operating expenses for such school shall be paid by the State Board of Education.

(b) (1) Upon the selection by the Commissioner of Education of a school for participation in the commissioner's network of schools, the local or regional board of education for such school shall establish a turnaround committee for the school district. The turnaround committee shall consist of the following members: (A) Two appointed by the local or regional board of education, at least one of whom shall be an administrator employed by such board of education and at least one of whom shall be the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district for such board of education; (B) three appointed by the exclusive bargaining unit for teachers chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, at least two of whom shall be teachers employed by such board of education and at least one of whom shall be the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school district for such board of education; and (C) the Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee. The superintendent of schools for the district, or the superintendent's designee, where such school is located shall be a nonvoting ex-officio member and serve as the chairperson of the turnaround committee.
(2) The turnaround committee, in consultation with the school governance council, as described in section 10-223j, for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, shall (A) assist the Department of Education in conducting the operations and instructional audit pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, (B) develop a turnaround plan for such school in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this section and guidelines issued by the commissioner, and (C) monitor the implementation of such turnaround plan.
(c) Following the establishment of a turnaround committee, the Department of Education shall conduct, in consultation with the local or regional board of education for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, the school governance council for such school and such turnaround committee, an operations and instructional audit, as described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 10-223e, for such school. Such operations and instructional audit shall be conducted pursuant to guidelines issued by the department and shall determine the extent to which the school (1) has established a strong family and community connection to the school; (2) has a positive school environment, as evidenced by a culture of high expectations, a safe and orderly workplace, and that address other nonacademic factors that impact student achievement, such as students' social, emotional, arts, cultural, recreational and health needs; (3) has effective leadership, as evidenced by the school principal's performance appraisals, track record in improving student achievement, ability to lead turnaround efforts, and managerial skills and authority in the areas of scheduling, staff management, curriculum implementation and budgeting; (4) has effective teachers and support staff as evidenced by performance evaluations, policies to retain staff determined to be effective and who have the ability to be successful in the turnaround effort, policies to prevent ineffective teachers from transferring to the schools, and job-embedded, ongoing professional development informed by the teacher evaluation and support programs that are tied to teacher and student needs; (5) uses time effectively as evidenced by the redesign of the school day, week, or year to include additional time for student learning and teacher collaboration; (6) has a curriculum and instructional program that is based on student needs, is research-based, rigorous and aligned with state academic content standards, and serves all children, including students at every achievement level; and (7) uses evidence to inform decision-making and for continuous improvement, including by providing time for collaboration on the use of data. Such operations and instructional audit shall be informed by an inventory of the following: (A) Before and after school programs, (B) any school-based health centers, family resource centers or other community services offered at the school, including, but not limited to, social services, mental health services and parenting support programs, (C) whether scientific research-based interventions are being fully implemented at the school, (D) resources for scientific research-based interventions during the school year and summer school programs, (E) resources for gifted and talented students, (F) the length of the school day and the school year, (G) summer school programs, (H) alternative education, as defined in section 10-74j, if any, offered to students at the school, (I) the number of teachers employed at the school and the number of teachers who have left the school in each of the previous three school years, (J) student mobility, including the number of students who have been enrolled in and left the school, (K) the number of students whose primary language is not English, (L) the number of students receiving special education services, (M) the number of truants, (N) the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches, (O) the number of students who are eligible for HUSKY A, (P) the curricula used at the school, (Q) the reading curricula and programs for kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, if any, at the school, (R) arts and music programs offered at the school, (S) physical education programs offered and periods for recess or physical activity, (T) the number of school psychologists at the school and the ratio of school psychologists to students at the school, (U) the number of social workers at the school and the ratio of social workers to students at the school, (V) the teacher and administrator performance evaluation program, including the frequency of performance evaluations, how such evaluations are conducted and by whom, the standards for performance ratings and follow-up and remediation plans and the aggregate results of teacher performance evaluation ratings conducted pursuant to section 10-151b and any other available measures of teacher effectiveness, (W) professional development activities and programs, (X) teacher and student access to technology inside and outside of the classroom, (Y) student access to and enrollment in mastery test preparation programs, (Z) the availability of textbooks, learning materials and other supplies, (AA) student demographics, including race, gender and ethnicity, (BB) chronic absenteeism, and (CC) preexisting school improvement plans, for the purpose of (i) determining why such school improvement plans have not improved student academic performance, and (ii) identifying governance, legal, operational, staffing or resource constraints that contributed to the lack of student academic performance at such school and should be addressed, modified or removed for such school to improve student academic performance.
(d) Following the operations and instructional audit for the school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools, the turnaround committee shall develop a turnaround plan for such school. The school governance council for each turnaround school may recommend to the turnaround committee for the school district one of the turnaround models described in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, of subdivision (3) of this subsection. The turnaround committee may accept such recommendation or may choose a different turnaround model for inclusion in the turnaround plan submitted under this subsection. The turnaround plan for such school shall (1) include a description of how such turnaround plan will improve student academic achievement in the school, (2) address deficiencies identified in the operations and instructional audit, and (3) utilize one of the following turnaround models: (A) A CommPACT school, as described in section 10-74g, (B) a social development model, (C) the management, administration or governance of the school to be the responsibility of a regional educational service center, a public or private institution of higher education located in the state, or, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, an approved educational management organization, (D) a school described in section 10-74f, (E) a model developed by the turnaround committee that utilizes strategies, methods and best practices that have been proven to be effective in improving student academic performance, including, but not limited to, strategies, methods and best practices used at public schools, interdistrict magnet schools and charter schools or collected by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, (F) a community school, as described in section 10-74i, or (G) a model developed in consultation with the commissioner or by the commissioner subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section. The turnaround plan shall not assign the management, administration or governance of such school to a (i) for-profit corporation, or (ii) a private not-for-profit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, other than a public or private institution of higher education located in the state or, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, an approved not-for-profit educational management organization, as defined in subsection (e) of this section. Such turnaround plan may include proposals changing the hours and schedules of teachers and administrators at such school, the length and schedule of the school day, the length and calendar of the school year, the amount of time teachers shall be present in the school beyond the regular school day and the hiring or reassignment of teachers or administrators at such school. If a turnaround committee does not develop a turnaround plan, or if the commissioner determines that a turnaround plan developed by a turnaround committee is deficient, the commissioner may develop a turnaround plan for such school in accordance with the provisions of this subsection and, if the commissioner deems necessary, the commissioner may appoint a district improvement officer for such school to implement the provisions of the turnaround plan developed by the commissioner. The turnaround plan shall direct all resources and funding to programs and services delivered at such school for the educational benefit of the students enrolled at such school and be transparent and accountable to the local community. The State Board of Education shall approve the turnaround plan developed by a turnaround committee before a school may implement such turnaround plan.
(e) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Education shall develop one turnaround plan for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools. Such turnaround plan shall be implemented for the school year commencing July 1, 2012. Such plan may assign the management, administration or governance of such school to an approved not-for-profit educational management organization, and shall negotiate matters relating to such turnaround plan in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-153s.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2012, the Commissioner of Education may approve a turnaround plan for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools that assigns the management, administration or governance of such school to an approved not-for-profit educational management organization, and shall negotiate matters relating to such turnaround plan in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-153s. Such turnaround plan shall be implemented for the school year commencing July 1, 2012.
(3) The commissioner shall permit not more than four total turnaround plans for schools selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools implementing turnaround plans beginning in the school year commencing July 1, 2013, or July 1, 2014, to assign the management, administration or governance of such school to an approved not-for-profit educational management organization, provided the commissioner shall not permit such assignment in a turnaround plan to more than three schools in a single school year. If the commissioner does not approve a turnaround plan under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the commissioner may approve one additional turnaround plan for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools that assigns the management, administration or governance of such school to an approved not-for-profit educational management organization to be implemented in the school year commencing July 1, 2013, or July 1, 2014.
(4) For purposes of this section, and section 10-223i, “approved not-for-profit educational management organization” means a not-for-profit organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, that (A) operates a state charter school located in the state that has a record of student academic success for students enrolled in such state charter school, or (B) has experience and a record of success in improving student achievement for low income or low performing students through measures, including, but not limited to, reconstituting schools while, if applicable, respecting existing contracts of employees of such schools.
(f) The Commissioner of Education may partner with any public or private institution of higher education in the state, for a period not to exceed twelve months, to assist the Department of Education in collecting, compiling and replicating strategies, methods and best practices that have been proven to be effective in improving student academic performance in public schools, interdistrict magnet schools and charter schools. The commissioner shall make such strategies, methods and best practices available to local and regional boards of education and turnaround committees for use in developing a turnaround model, pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, and in implementing the turnaround plan for a school that is participating in the commissioner's network of schools.
(g) Nothing in this section shall alter the collective bargaining agreements applicable to the administrators and teachers employed by the local or regional board of education, subject to the provisions of sections 10-153a to 10-153n, inclusive, and such collective bargaining agreements shall be considered to be in operation at schools participating in the commissioner's network of schools, except to the extent the provisions are modified by any memorandum of understanding between the local or regional board of education and the representatives of the exclusive bargaining units for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, or are modified by a turnaround plan, including, but not limited to, any election to work agreement pursuant to such turnaround plan for such schools and negotiated in accordance with the provisions of section 10-153s.
(h) Each school participating in the commissioner's network of schools shall participate for three school years, and may continue such participation for an additional year, not to exceed two additional years, upon approval from the State Board of Education. Before the end of the third year that a school is participating in the commissioner's network of schools, the commissioner shall conduct an evaluation to determine whether such school is prepared to exit the commissioner's network of schools. In determining whether such school may exit the commissioner's network of schools, the commissioner shall consider whether the local or regional board of education has the capacity to ensure that such school will maintain or improve its student academic performance. If the commissioner determines that such school is ready to exit the commissioner's network of schools, the local or regional board of education for such school shall develop, in consultation with the commissioner, a plan, subject to the approval by the State Board of Education, for the transition of such school back to full control by the local or regional board of education. If such school is not ready to exit the commissioner's network of schools and participates in the commissioner's network of schools for an additional year, the commissioner shall conduct an evaluation in accordance with the provisions of this subsection. Before the end of the fifth year that a school is participating in the commissioner's network of schools, the commissioner shall develop, in consultation with the local or regional board of education for such school, a plan, subject to the approval by the State Board of Education, for the transition of such school back to full control by the local or regional board of education.
(i) Not later than thirty days after the approval of the turnaround plan for a school selected to participate in the commissioner's network of schools by the State Board of Education, the Commissioner of Education shall submit the operations and instructional audit and the turnaround plan for such school to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(j) (1) Not later than February 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall annually submit a report on the academic performance of each school participating in the commissioner's network of schools to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, (A) the accountability index score, as defined in section 10-223e, for such school, (B) trends for the accountability index scores during the period that such school is participating in the commissioner's network of schools, (C) adjustments for subgroups of students at such school, including, but not limited to, students whose primary language is not English, students receiving special education services and students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches, and (D) performance evaluation results in the aggregate for teachers and administrators at such school.
(2) Not later than February 1, 2018, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall annually submit a report comparing and analyzing the academic performance of all the schools participating in the commissioner's network of schools to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, (A) the accountability index score, as defined in section 10-223e, for the school, (B) trends for the accountability indices during the period that such schools are participating in the commissioner's network of schools, (C) adjustments for subgroups of students at such schools, including, but not limited to, students whose primary language is not English, students receiving special education services and students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches, and (D) performance evaluation results in the aggregate for teachers and administrators at such schools.
(3) Not later than February first following the expiration of the turnaround plan for each school participating in the commissioner's network of schools, the commissioner shall submit a final report that (A) evaluates such turnaround plan and the academic performance of such school during the period that such turnaround plan was in effect, and (B) makes recommendations for the operation of such school to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(4) Not later than January 1, 2020, the commissioner shall submit a report (A) evaluating the commissioner's network of schools and its effect on improving student academic achievement in participating schools, and (B) making any recommendations for the continued operation of the commissioner's network of schools to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.
(5) Not later than February first each year, the Commissioner of Education shall present the items submitted pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education.
(P.A. 12-116, S. 19; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 14, 15; P.A. 13-31, S. 18; 13-64, S. 2; 13-245, S. 17; P.A. 15-69, S. 2; 15-133, S. 7; 15-215, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 258, 331; P.A. 17-173, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 12-116 effective May 14, 2012; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “application” with “turnaround plan” re turnaround committee's acceptance of recommendation or choice of different model and amended Subsec. (e) by adding new Subdiv. (2) re approval of a turnaround plan for school year commencing July 1, 2012, redesignating existing Subdivs. (2) and (3) as Subdivs. (3) and (4), replacing “five total turnaround committees” with “four total turnaround plans” and adding provision re approval of one additional turnaround plan in redesignated Subdiv. (3) and deleting reference to school located out of state and making a technical change in redesignated Subdiv. (4)(B), effective June 15, 2012; P.A. 13-31 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective May 28, 2013; P.A. 13-64 amended Subsec. (d) by adding new Subpara. (F) re community schools, redesignating existing Subpara. (F) as Subpara. (G) and making a conforming change, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-245 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (3) re schools located in districts that have experience in turnaround reform or previously received a school improvement grant, effective July 2, 2013; P.A. 15-69 amended Subsec. (c) to replace “HUSKY Plan, Part A” with “HUSKY A” in Subpara. (O), effective June 19, 2015; P.A. 15-133 amended Subsec. (c)(H) by replacing “the alternative high school” with “alternative education, as defined in section 10-74j” and “available” with “offered”, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 15-215 amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “special master” with “district improvement officer”, effective July 1, 2015; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “within available appropriations”, replacing “On or before July 1, 2014, the” with “The” and adding “in any single school year” re commissioner may select not more than 25 schools, replacing provision re commissioner not to select more than 2 schools from a single school district in a single school year and not more than 4 schools in total from a single district with provision re commissioner may select not more than 5 schools in any single school year from a single school district to participate in commissioner's network of schools, and deleting “not later than the school year commencing July 1, 2014” re implementation of turnaround plan, and amended Subsec. (j) by replacing references to school performance index scores with references to accountability index scores and making conforming changes in Subdivs. (1) and (2), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 17-173 amended Subsec. (j) by adding “Not later than February 1, 2018, and annually thereafter” in Subdivs. (1) and (2), replacing “Following” with “Not later than February first following” in Subdiv. (3), adding Subdiv. (5) re Commissioner of Education to present items to education committee, and making conforming changes, effective July 1, 2017.

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