Alternative schools.

WORKING DRAFT
2013
STATE OF
WYOMING
13LSO-0208

HOUSE BILL
NO.

HB0164

Alternative schools.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Freeman, Baker, Patton, Paxton and Sommers and Senator(s) Cooper, Craft and 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
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13
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309(
m)(v)(B) by creating a new subdivision (IV) is amended to read:

21
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13
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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
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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
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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
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301 through 21
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3
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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, 2013, and if not qualifying under subdivision (I) of this subparagraph, be approved by the state
department of education
subject to the following:

(1)

Completion of a formal evaluation of the school district's proposed programs to ensure provision of a continuum of learning supports and classroom interventions addressing the needs of children
in need of academic support
within the district which is comprised of the following:

a.

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

b.

A
school-wide plan that defines interventions, programs and services required to address special needs or individual learning plans for each
identified student. All plans shall be continuously monitored by the district;

c.

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

d.

Data
based predictors to identify students
which may drop
out of school and learning supports and classroom strategies to address this student population.

(2)

A formal evaluation of the school's programs is conducted by the district not less than twice within three (3) years, which is comprised of the continuum of learning supports and classroom interventions specified under subdivision (IV)(1) of this subparagraph. 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
department of education
together with action plans addressing necessary program improvements;

(3)

Student achievement within the school is reported annually by the district to the state
department of education
, 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 subdivision (IV)(1) of this subparagraph;

(4)

Educational space for the school is provided through facilities operated and maintained by the district and approved by the school facilities department as meeting statewide adequacy standards. After two (2) evaluations by the state
department of education
under subdivision (IV
)(
3) of this subparagraph that demonstrate academic progress or success of an alternative school's educational program, the alternative school shall be included in the district's five (5) year plan required by W.S. 21
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116 and the school's long term facility needs shall be evaluated by the school facilities department.

Section 2.

This act is effective July 1, 2013.

(END)

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HB0164