2015 Utah Code
Title 53A - State System of Public Education
Chapter 1 - Administration of Public Education at the State Level
Part 12 - School Turnaround and Leadership Development Act
Section 1204 - Required action to turn around a low performing district school.

Effective 5/12/2015
53A-1-1204. Required action to turn around a low performing district school.

• (1) On or before October 1 of an initial remedial year, a local school board of a low performing school shall establish a school turnaround committee composed of the following members:
  • (a) the local school board member who represents the voting district where the low performing school is located;
  • (b) the school principal;
  • (c) three parents of students enrolled in the low performing school appointed by the chair of the school community council;
  • (d) one teacher at the low performing school appointed by the principal; and
  • (e) one teacher at the low performing school appointed by the school district superintendent.

• (2)
  • (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b), on or before October 15 of an initial remedial year, a local school board of a low performing school shall partner with the school turnaround committee to select an independent school turnaround expert from the experts identified by the board under Section 53A-1-1206.
  • (b) A local school board may not select an independent school turnaround expert that is:
    • (i) the school district; or
    • (ii) an employee of the school district.

• (3) A school turnaround committee shall partner with the independent school turnaround expert selected under Subsection (2) to develop and implement a school turnaround plan that includes:
  • (a) the findings of the analysis conducted by the independent school turnaround expert described in Subsection 53A-1-1206(1)(a);
  • (b) recommendations regarding changes to the low performing school's personnel, culture, curriculum, assessments, instructional practices, governance, leadership, finances, policies, or other areas that may be necessary to implement the school turnaround plan;
  • (c) measurable student achievement goals and objectives;
  • (d) a professional development plan that identifies a strategy to address problems of instructional practice;
  • (e) a detailed budget specifying how the school turnaround plan will be funded;
  • (f) a plan to assess and monitor progress;
  • (g) a plan to communicate and report data on progress to stakeholders; and
  • (h) a timeline for implementation.

• (4) A local school board of a low performing school shall:
  • (a) prioritize school district funding and resources to the low performing school; and
  • (b) grant the low performing school streamlined authority over staff, schedule, policies, budget, and academic programs to implement the school turnaround plan.

• (5)
  • (a) On or before March 1 of an initial remedial year, a school turnaround committee shall submit the school turnaround plan to the local school board for approval.
  • (b) Except as provided in Subsection (5)(c), on or before April 1 of an initial remedial year, a local school board of a low performing school shall submit the school turnaround plan to the board for approval.
  • (c) If the local school board does not approve the school turnaround plan submitted under Subsection (5)(a), the school turnaround committee may appeal the disapproval in accordance with rules made by the board as described in Subsection 53A-1-1206(5).

Enacted by Chapter 449, 2015 General Session