School finance-alternative schools.

WORKING DRAFT
2012
STATE OF
WYOMING
12LSO-0301

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0103

School finance-alternative schools.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Dockstader

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
school finance; eliminating the moratorium imposed upon alternative schools included within a district's configuration of schools under the block grant funding model, subject to specified conditions; granting rulemaking authority;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 21
‑
13
‑
309(m)(v)(B)
by creating a new subparagraph (IV)
is amended to read:

21
‑
13
‑
309.

Determination of amount to be included in foundation program for each district.

(m)

In determining the amount to be included in the foundation program for each district, the state superintendent shall:

(v)

Based upon ADM computations and identified school configurations within each district pursuant to paragraph (iv) of this subsection, compute the foundation program amount for each district as prescribed by the education resource block grant model adopted by the Wyoming legislature as defined under W.S. 21
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13
‑
101(a)(xiv), as contained within the spreadsheets and accompanying reports referenced under W.S. 21
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13
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101(a)(xvii), on file with the secretary of state and maintained by the state superintendent pursuant to W.S. 21
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2
‑
202(e). The following criteria shall be used by the state superintendent in the administration of the education resource block grant model:

(B)

Alternative schools qualifying for separate consideration under the education resource block grant model may be established by a school district for offering educational programs to students with educational needs which the district finds are not appropriately met by other schools in the district, excluding charter schools established under W.S. 21
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3
‑
301 through 21
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3
‑
314. Alternative schools included within a district's configuration of schools identified under paragraph (iv) of
this subsection shall for purposes of the education resource block grant model:

(IV)

On and after July 1, 2012, and if
not qualifying under subdivision (I) of this subparagraph, be approved by the
state superintendent
subject to the following:

(1)

C
ompletion of a formal evaluation of the school district's at-risk programs
to ensure provision of a continuum of learning supports and classroom interventions addressing the needs of at-risk children
within the district which is
comprised of the following
:

a.

Criteria for identifying at-risk students in accordance with and subject to research-based indicators;

b.

Use of individual learning plans for each identified at-risk student that define interventions, programs and services required to address that particular student's special needs and
the plans
are continuously monitored by the district;

c.

Use of quality learning supports and classroom interventions based upon the special needs of the student population served
by the district
and
the
supports and interventions are supported by and based upon research-based practices and strategies
;

d.

Evidence that the learning
supports and
classroom
strategies
identified under
sub
division
(IV)(1)c. of this
sub
paragraph
include data based predictors for identifying students at-risk of dropping out of school after reaching the age of compulsory attendance pursuant to W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
102
.

(2)

A formal
evaluation
is
conducted by the district not less
than
once every two (2) years
of the
school's programs, comprised of the
continuum of learning supports and classroom interventions
specified under sub
division
(IV)(1) of this
sub
paragraph. The evaluation shall measure the effectiveness of the school's programs in meeting the needs of those student populations attending the school. Formal evaluations conducted under this subparagraph shall be reported to and approved by the district board and reported to the
state superintendent

together with action plans addressing necessary program improvements;

(3)

Student achievement within the school
is
reported
annually
by the
district to the
state superintendent
, as measured by quality indicators specified by rule and regulation of the department which reflect the components of the continuum of learning supports and classroom interventions specified under sub
division
(IV)(1) of this
sub
paragraph;

(
4
)

Educational space for the school is p
rovided
through existing facilities operated and maintained
by the district
and approved by the school facilities department as meeting statewide adequacy standards.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2012.

(END)

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SF0103