53E-5-305. State board to identify continuous improvement experts — Review and approval of school improvement plans — Appeals process.
(1)
Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, and every three years thereafter, the state board shall identify two or more approved continuous improvement experts, through a standard procurement process, that a springboard school or elevate school may contract with to:
Terms Used In Utah Code 53E-5-305
Continuous improvement expert: means a person identified by the state board under Section 53E-5-305. See Utah Code 53E-5-301
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
District school: means a public school under the control of a local school board. See Utah Code 53E-1-102
Elevate school: means a district school or charter school that:
Initial remedial year: means the school year a district school or charter school is designated as a springboard school under Section 53E-5-302 or elevate school under Section 53E-5-302. See Utah Code 53E-5-301
Springboard school: means a district school or charter school that has been designated a springboard school by the state board because the school:
(a)
is not a Title I school; and
(b)
when ranked according to the percentage of possible points the state board awards under 2, averaged over three school years is:
(i)
one of the five lowest performing elementary, middle, or junior high schools statewide; or
(ii)
one of the two lowest performing high schools statewide. See Utah Code 53E-5-301
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
respond to the needs assessment conducted under Section 53E-5-302; and
(b)
provide the services described in Section 53E-5-303 or 53E-5-304, as applicable.
(2)
In identifying continuous improvement experts under Subsection (1), the state board shall identify experts that:
(a)
have a credible track record of improving student academic achievement in public schools with various demographic characteristics, as measured by statewide assessments described in Section 53E-4-301;
(b)
have experience designing, implementing, and evaluating data-driven instructional systems in public schools;
(c)
have experience coaching public school administrators and teachers on designing data-driven school improvement plans;
(d)
have experience working with the various education entities that govern public schools;
(e)
have experience coordinating the services provided to participating schools by other experts or providers;
(f)
have experience delivering high-quality professional development in instructional effectiveness to public school administrators and teachers; and
(g)
are willing to partner with any springboard school or elevate school in the state, regardless of location.
(3)
(a)
The state board shall:
(i)
review a proposal submitted for approval under Section 53E-5-303 or 53E-5-304 no later than 30 days after the day on which the proposal is submitted;
(ii)
review a school improvement plan submitted for approval under Subsection 53E-5-303(7)(b) or under Subsection 53E-5-304(9)(b) within 30 days of submission; and
(iii)
approve a school improvement plan that:
(A)
is timely;
(B)
is well-developed; and
(C)
meets the criteria described in Subsection 53E-5-303(5).
(b)
The state board may not approve a school improvement plan that is not aligned with the needs assessment conducted under Section 53E-5-302.
(4)
(a)
Subject to legislative appropriations, when a school improvement plan is approved by the state board, the state board shall distribute funds to each LEA governing board with a springboard school or elevate school to carry out the provisions of Sections 53E-5-303 and 53E-5-304.
a springboard district school or elevate district school that is not granted approval from the district school’s local school board under Subsection 53E-5-303(7)(b);
(ii)
a springboard charter school or elevate charter school that is not granted approval from the charter school’s charter school governing board under Subsection 53E-5-304(9)(b); and
(iii)
a local school board or charter school governing board that is not granted approval from the state board under Subsection (3)(a) or (b).
(b)
The state board shall ensure that rules made under Subsection (6)(a) require an appeals process described in:
(i)
Subsections (6)(a)(i) and (ii) to be resolved on or before July 1 of the initial remedial year; and
(ii)
Subsection (6)(a)(iii) to be resolved on or before August 15 of the initial remedial year.
(7)
Except as provided in Subsection (8), if the amount is approved by the state board in an open meeting, the state board may use a portion of the funds appropriated by the Legislature to carry out the provisions of this part for:
(a)
administration; or
(b)
other school improvement supports for all public schools, including for data resources.
(8)
For the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 school years, if the state board approves the use in an open meeting, the state board may use funds the Legislature appropriated in prior years to carry out the provisions of this part:
(a)
for administration;
(b)
up to $1,000,000 to contract with a provider, through a request for proposals process, to pilot complementary approaches to school improvement that draw on community resources and engagement; and
(c)
to analyze the effectiveness of supports provided:
