Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Turnaround Asd topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves bill to sunset Achievement School District and create tiered interventions for priority schools
Summary
House Bill 1307, as amended, would end the Achievement School District (ASD), create a three‑tier intervention system for the state’s lowest‑performing "priority" schools and expand local flexibility in choosing turnaround strategies; the measure passed the subcommittee 8‑0 after testimony from Department of Education staff.
Chairlady Moody introduced House Bill 1307 and moved an amendment (drafting code 4234) that the committee adopted. The Department of Education sent Assistant Commissioner Jack Powers and Robin Kopp, assistant commissioner for school turnaround, to explain the bill and answer questions.
Jack Powers described the bill as a replacement for the current ASD statute. He said the ASD was established in 2010 to intervene in priority schools — defined in statute as the bottom 5% of schools by performance — but that the ASD had produced limited systemwide change. "Although the ASD has achieved isolated instances of academic success… overall, it has not lived up to academic expectations," Powers said, noting six schools had exited priority status during the ASD’s tenure and that three schools remain in the ASD with no new placements since 2016.
Robin Kopp outlined the proposed three‑tier intervention system. Under the draft, schools newly identified as priority schools would enter tier 1 and the local education agency (LEA) would be permitted to choose from several evidence‑based interventions or contract with independent turnaround experts. Tier 2 options listed by Kopp include LEA‑implemented turnaround programs run by external experts, conversion to charter operation, transfer of operation to a public institution of higher education, or voluntary reconstitution. Tier 3 would be mandatory reconstitution with state planning and oversight or school closure. The department would review school performance annually and could recommend moving schools between tiers.
Committee members asked about the ASD’s record, the role of vendors and turnaround experts, and supports for schools that exit priority status. Kopp said the department’s pilot turnaround program contracted with outside vendors in some cases and cited Cognex as an example of a vendor used in the pilot. Members also asked for targeted data on the six schools that exited priority status; the department offered to provide that information.
The committee voted 8‑0 to pass the amended bill to full education.
Ending: The bill replaces the ASD statute with a tiered intervention framework that emphasizes LEA flexibility and a menu of options; the department will supply committee members with data on past ASD exits and vendor usage.
