H677: School Accountability Recommendation Comm. Latest Version

Session: 2021 - 2022

House
Passed 1st Reading
Committee
Rules
Passed 3rd Reading
Senate
Passed 1st Reading
Rules



AN ACT to establish a committee to create a graduate profile and school accountability system with multiple measures for North Carolina public Schools.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  There is established the Joint Select Committee on School Accountability Systems (Committee). The purpose of the Committee is to lead in the creation of a Graduate Profile and an enhanced accountability system for the public schools. The Committee shall evaluate information and recommendations provided by the Stakeholder Group (Group) created by the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction pursuant to this act. The Committee shall also evaluate any other recommendations from other sources as it deems appropriate. Based on its evaluation, the Committee shall provide its recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on or before April 15, 2022.

Members of the Committee shall receive per diem, subsistence, and travel allowance as provided in G.S. 120‑3.1. All expenses of the Committee shall be paid from the General Assembly's budget. The Legislative Services Officer shall assign professional and clerical staff to assist the Committee in its work. The Committee shall terminate on May 1, 2022, or upon the filing of its final report, whichever occurs first.

The membership of the Committee is as follows:

(1)        Three members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, each being a member of the Senate with two members from the majority party and one member from the minority party.

(2)        Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each being a member of the House of Representatives with two members from the majority party and one member from the minority party.

SECTION 2.(a)  The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction shall establish the Group referenced in Section 1 of this act. The Group shall create a method to receive continuous public input from educators, families, business leaders, and other interested parties across the State and shall incorporate the input into its work and collaborative process. In appointing persons to the Group, the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction shall ensure that the Group represents the geographic and cultural diversity of the State.

SECTION 2.(b)  The Group shall recommend a Graduate Profile. The profile recommended shall reflect a unified definition of what public school students need to know and be able to do to be prepared for college, career, and civic life beyond high school.

SECTION 2.(c)  The Group shall consider multiple measures of accountability, with consideration of the following:

(1)        Academic achievement, including:

a.         Balancing between growth and proficiency measures.

b.         Encouraging growth relative to proficiency.

c.         Opportunities to measure achievement throughout the year and summative achievement measures.

(2)        Social and emotional learning.

(3)        Postgraduation outcomes, including percentages of students attending postsecondary education, pursuing employment, and any other factor the Group finds relevant.

(4)        Early literacy and numeracy.

(5)        Skills acquisition opportunities, including career and technical education pathway completion, apprenticeships, internships, extracurricular activities, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, and any other opportunities the Group finds relevant.

(6)        Any other factors the Committee or Group finds relevant.

SECTION 2.(d)  The Group shall determine the accountability measures that accurately reflect the effectiveness of each school in moving students to success in achieving the Graduate Profile. The Group shall recommend to the Committee at least two accountability systems that demonstrate alignment with the overall measures described in subsection (c) of this section in a comprehensive way. At least one of the accountability systems recommended by the Group shall incorporate an A–F school performance grade system.

SECTION 3.  The State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction shall provide information on the Group's progress as requested by the Committee and shall submit a final report of the Group's recommended Graduate Profile and enhanced accountability systems to the Committee on or before February 15, 2022.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.