Save Our Schools, a group dedicated to opposing school choice for Arizona kids and their parents, is calling on its members to speak up in favor of failing schools. The group is rallying against Rep. Michelle Udall’s bill, HB2808, which would force failing schools to eventually close if they are unable to adequately educate the children in their care.
The bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee chaired by Udall on Tuesday, February 15, at 2:00 p.m.
“Currently, if a school is assigned a D letter grade, the school district governing board or charter holder must develop an improvement plan for the school. If a school receives a D letter grade for three consecutive years, the school is assigned an F letter grade. The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the county educational service must collaborate to assign a solutions team to a school assigned a D or F letter grade based on academic need and available resources (A.R.S. § 15-241.02),” according to the House staff overview.
🚨 Urgent! #HB2808 will be heard this week in House Education Committee. Tell Chair Udall this “school takeover” bill harms low-income students & communities: mudall@azleg.gov, 602-926-4856 pic.twitter.com/xwrM24KIAh
— Save Our Schools AZ (@arizona_sos) February 13, 2022
HB2808 provisions:
1) Instructs the State Board of Education (SBE), beginning in FY 2028, to require any district school that has been assigned a D or F letter grade in any combination for two consecutive years to initiate either a district partnership school or a fresh start school.
2. States if SBE, beginning in FY 2028 and in consultation with the school district, determines that a district partnership school or a fresh start school is not practicable, the school district must:
a) Vote to install a new school district superintendent, subject to SBE approval; or
b) Close or consolidate the school.
3. Declares there is only one accountability system for the performance of schools.
4. Prohibits the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) from having a separate accountability system to identify the performance of schools.
5. Mandates SBE adopt rules, policies and procedures to ensure the state is classifying schools for school improvement consistent with federal law.
6. Specifies that if a charter school is assigned an F letter grade, the charter school’s sponsor must take action to restore the charter school to at least a C letter grade within one year or revoke the charter school’s charter.