A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to modify the definition of low‑PERFORMING schoolS and to make associated changes to the types of schools that may be approved for a reform model.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑105.37 reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑105.37.  Identification of low‑performing schools.
(a)	Identification of Low‑Performing Schools. – The State Board of Education shall identify low‑performing schools on an annual basis. Low‑performing schools are those that earn an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "not met expected growth" as defined by G.S. 115C‑83.15.
…
(b)	Parental Notice of Low‑Performing School Status. – Each school that the State Board identifies as low‑performing shall provide written notification to the parents and guardians of students attending that school within 30 days of the identification that includes the following information:
(1)	A statement that the State Board of Education has found that the school has earned an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "not met expected growth" and has been identified as a low‑performing school as defined by G.S. 115C‑105.37. The statement shall include an explanation of the school performance grades and growth scores.
…."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 115C‑105.37B reads as rewritten:
"§ 115C‑105.37B.  Reform of continually low‑performing schools and certain other schools.
(a)	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the State Board of Education is authorized to approve a local board of education's request to reform any school in its administrative unit which the State Board of Education has identified as having earned, for at least two of three consecutive years, an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "met expected growth" or "not met expected growth," as defined by G.S. 115C‑83.15.
If the State Board of Education approves a local board of education's request to reform a school, the State Board of Education may authorize the local board of education to adopt one of the following models in accordance with State Board of Education requirements:
(1)	Transformation model, which would address the following four specific areas critical to transforming a continually low‑performing school or improving a school that is not exceeding expected growth:
a.	Developing and increasing teacher and school leader effectiveness.
b.	Comprehensive instructional reform strategies.
c.	Increasing learning time and creating community‑oriented schools.
d.	Providing operational flexibility and sustained support.
…."
SECTION 3.  G.S. 115C‑105.39A(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Parental Notice of Low‑Performing Local School Administrative Unit Status. – Each local school administrative unit that the State Board identifies as low‑performing shall provide written notification to the parents and guardians of all students attending any school in the local school administrative unit within 30 days of the identification that includes the following information:
(1)	A statement that the State Board of Education has found that a majority of the schools in the local school administrative unit have earned an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "not met expected growth" and have been identified as low‑performing schools as defined by G.S. 115C‑105.37. The statement shall also include an explanation of the school performance grades and school growth scores.
(2)	The percentage of schools identified as low‑performing.
(3)	Information about the preliminary plan developed under subsection (b) of this section and the availability of the final plan on the local school administrative unit's Web site.
(4)	The meeting date for when the preliminary plan will be considered by the local board of education.
(5)	A description of any additional steps the local school administrative unit and schools are taking to improve student performance.
(6)	For notifications sent to parents and guardians of students attending a school that is identified as low‑performing under G.S. 115C‑105.37, a statement that the State Board of Education has found that the school has earned an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "not met expected growth" and has been identified as a low‑performing school as defined by G.S. 115C‑105.37. This notification also shall include the overall school performance grade and school growth score the school earned and an explanation of the school performance grades and school growth scores."
SECTION 4.  G.S. 115C‑218.94(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Identification of Low‑Performing Charter Schools. – The State Board of Education shall identify low‑performing charter schools on an annual basis. Low‑performing charter schools are those that earn an overall school performance grade of D or F and a school growth score of "not met expected growth" as defined by G.S. 115C‑83.15."
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2019‑2020 school year.