SB 458 Summary: Educational Reform

• Establishes the Commissioner's Network of Schools program to improve low-performing schools (category four and five schools) through three-year turnaround plans with operations/instructional audits, dedicated funding, and technical assistance.

• Creates teacher evaluation and support programs with four performance designators (exemplary, proficient, developing, below standard) and requires schools to implement professional development tied to evaluation results.

• Increases funding for school readiness programs with 500 new slots in educational reform districts and creates grants for reading instruction improvements, including reading assessments for kindergarten through grade 3 and professional development in scientifically-based reading instruction.

• Raises teacher tenure requirements from 30 to 40 school months and changes professional educator certification to require a master's degree (effective July 1, 2016) instead of 30 graduate credit hours.

• Renames regional vocational-technical schools as "technical high schools" and establishes a new governance board with business and workforce representatives while maintaining state control of system operations and budgets.