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(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to SB89,HB78 and HB272

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

State Department of Public Education (SDE)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 225 amends that section of the Public School Code pertaining to essential competencies. This section relates to student retention and promotion and mastery of standards and benchmarks.

Significant Issues

This bill requires school remediation programs, academic improvement programs and promotion policies to align with content standards and based on statewide assessment results, alternative school district assessment results and student performance in school.

SDE indicates that this bill requires school districts to notify parents, by the end of the second grading period, that their child is failing to attain appropriate grade level content standards. Students that do not attain specific grade level content standards are placed on an academic improvement plan that addresses specific areas of deficiency.

At the end of grades 1 through 7, three options are available: 1) the student may enter the next higher grade 2) if the student has not attained the required level of proficiency, the student must participate in remediation until he/she has overcome the area(s) of deficiency and 3) if the student has not attained the level of proficiency required after remediation, then he/she is retained in the same grade for no more than one school year. The student is then promoted to the next grade if they attain proficiency of content standards. They may also be promoted if they do not attain proficiency of content standards and the parent or guardian refuses to allow the child to be retained.

Currently, if a student is recommended for retention by a school, a parent or guardian may sign a waiver to promote the student to the next grade.

Remediation programs and academic improvement programs are required to be part of the school district's educational plan for student success.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The cost of remediation programs and academic improvement programs shall be borne by the school district.

The cost of summer and extended day remediation programs and academic improvement programs offered in grades 9 through 12 shall be borne by the parent or guardian. If the parents are determined to be indigent, the local school board shall bear those costs.

Currently, districts are required to bear the cost of remediation programs. SDE indicates that districts may incur additional costs associated with developing individual remediation plans.

ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS

This bill requires districts to develop individual remediation plans for students whereas local boards are currently required to develop district wide remediation programs.

CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP

This bill relates to HB78, SB89 and HB272. HB78 and SB89 are duplicates. All bills address educational standards, promotion and retention issues. See attach table for a comparison.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This bill implements short-term recommendations of the Education Initiatives and Accountability Task Force.

CTF/gm

Attachment