1998 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 506 – Schools, accountability

HOUSE BILL NO. 506

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0506..........................................................by EDUCATION
SCHOOLS - ACCOUNTABILITY - Adds to existing law to provide for academic and
financial accountability of school districts that operate schools
demonstrating chronically low academic performance or which operate in a
fiscally deficient position, through the development of a school academic
achievement improvement plan or a district school finance plan in
accordance with the requirements and procedures specified by the Department
of Education.

01/26    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
01/27    Rpt prt - to Educ

Bill Text


H0506


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fourth Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 1998
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 506

                                  BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICT ACADEMIC AND  FINANCIAL  ACCOUNTABILITY;  AMENDING
 3        CHAPTER  13,  TITLE  33,  IDAHO  CODE,  BY  THE  ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION
 4        33-1305, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL  ACCOUNTABILITY
 5        OF  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS  THAT  OPERATE SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATING CHRONICALLY LOW
 6        ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OR WHICH OPERATE IN A FISCALLY DEFICIENT POSITION.

 7    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 8        SECTION 1.  That Chapter 13, Title 33, Idaho Code, be,  and  the  same  is
 9    hereby  amended  by  the addition thereto of a  NEW SECTION , to be
10    known and designated as Section 33-1305, Idaho Code, and to read as follows:

11        33-1305.  SCHOOL DISTRICT ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL  ACCOUNTABILITY.  (1)  In
12    order  to  improve  accountability of school districts within the framework of
13    protecting local control and fulfilling state  responsibility  of  assuring  a
14    minimum standard of education for all students, the state department of educa-
15    tion shall require school improvement plans to be developed in accordance with
16    the provisions of this section. State funds shall be withheld from school dis-
17    tricts that do not comply with the provisions of this section.
18        (2)  All  school  districts, including specially chartered districts, that
19    operate schools demonstrating chronically low academic achievement or  perfor-
20    mance  shall  be required to develop a school academic achievement improvement
21    plan. The criteria for determining a low achieving school shall be defined  by
22    the  state  department  of education and shall include, but not be limited to,
23    the following:
24        (a)  Results of standardized tests;
25        (b)  Results of other tests;
26        (c)  Loss of school accreditation;
27        (d)  High school dropout percentages;
28        (e)  School attendance percentages; and
29        (f)  Percentage of students meeting district exiting standards.
30        (3)  All school districts, including specially chartered  districts,  that
31    operate  in  a fiscally deficient position for more than one (1) year shall be
32    required to develop and implement a district school  finance  plan.  The  plan
33    shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
34        (a)  Revenue sources that will be utilized to eliminate the deficit; and
35        (b)  The time line for elimination of the deficit.
36        (4)  The  school  district shall be required to notify patrons of the dis-
37    trict whenever a school academic achievement improvement plan  or  a  district
38    school  finance  plan  has been prepared and that copies will be provided upon
39    request.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


    





    l
    
                          STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
    
                                RS 07445
    
    New Statute-Idaho Code 33-1304. Academic and Financial 
    Accountability Act. Idaho has no law requiring school districts 
    that have schools demonstrating chronically-low achievement to 
    improve the level of achievement and performance. Further, there 
    is no Idaho law requiring a school district that operates in a 
    financially deficit position to develop a plan of action to 
    eliminate the deficit. Idaho law states that a district cannot 
    operate in a deficit position, but no corrective action is 
    required.
    
    The intent of this proposed legislation is to assure that 
    schools achieve at an even higher level and to provide more 
    accountability. The legislation will be developed maintaining a 
    balance of local control and the state's responsibility to 
    assure a minimum level of education for all Idaho students.
    
                              FISCAL NOTE
    
    There could be a fiscal impact as a district budgets funds to 
    eliminate chronically-low performance or to require the 
    District budget to eliminate a financially-deficit position.
    
    CONTACT: Dr. Darrell K. Loosle
             State Department of Education
             208-332-6810
    
    STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE
    
    Bill H506