Lawmakers were clear from the beginning that an investment of this size in education must be accompanied by transparency and accountability to make sure the money is being spent properly and that our students are seeing results from the investment.
One important component of transparency is ensuring that plans are created and shared with the community. Districts and charter school plans must be:
- Approved by the board of the district or charter school with opportunity for the public to comment
- Available at the main office and on the website
Annual audits are also an important component of transparency. These audits must be:
- Available at the district
- Presented to the local board
- Reviewed by ODE
If the audit identifies issues, ODE may:
- Collaborate to identify and implement specific interventions
- Provide technical assistance
- Deduct amounts from future distributions
Each district plan contains performance growth targets to ensure accountability that the increased funding is working. When a district does not meet these targets, districts provide an explanation. ODE may then require participation in a coaching program or direct the expenditure of future funds. Also, districts must conduct performance reviews every four years and ODE may conduct random or risk-based audits of districts.
How Are We Helping Districts?
District supports in the Student Success Act include coaching and an intensive program.
Coaching
- ODE shall establish a coaching program for districts that do not meet the performance growth targets.
- A public charter school may participate in the coaching program only if the public charter school received a grant directly from the department and did not meet the performance growth targets.
- Participation in the coaching program must be for at least one year, unless the department allows for a shorter period of time. Under the program, the department shall advise and counsel grant recipients on how to meet performance growth targets and shall assist grant recipients with ongoing professional development and peer collaboration.
Intensive Program
ODE shall identify and select school districts to participate in the intensive program. A school district that agrees to participate in the intensive program:
- Must participate in the program for at least four years.
- Shall be eligible for additional funding.
- Commit to regular student success plan meetings to monitor practices.
- Use data to track student progress.
- Ensure school employees receive appropriate professional development and training.
- Create safe and inclusive learning environments.
- Improve school and school district practices and structures to support teaching and learning.
- Improve the skills of the members of the school board.
ODE shall establish student success teams composed of personnel with expertise in school and school district improvement strategies, including the use of differentiated instruction and inclusionary practices. Student success teams shall:
- Advise and counsel school districts on how to improve performance outcomes.
- Develop recommendations for meeting performance growth targets.
School districts participating in an intensive program must:
- Accept all recommendations of the student success teams related to the use of Student Investment Account grant moneys and additional funding.
- Consider all recommendations of the student success teams.