House Bill 798 - Low-Performing Schools Summary

• Expands qualifying school criteria for the North Carolina Innovative School District to include Title I schools in the lowest 5% of performance grades, secondary schools failing to graduate one-third or more of students, and schools identified as needing comprehensive support and improvement under federal law.

• Establishes a three-tiered selection process (qualifying, watch, and warning lists) requiring public hearings and notifications before schools can be selected as innovative schools, with local boards of education presenting information to county commissioners.

• Creates alternative support options by allowing innovative schools to be assigned either an IS operator (direct management) or an IS consultant (continued local operation with requirements), providing flexibility based on school needs.

• Requires local boards of education to annually submit academic performance information to county commissioners, including school performance grades and status on ISD lists, upon request.

• Mandates a joint study by the State Superintendent and ISD Superintendent on innovative school structures and partnerships, and alignment of low-performing school reform models under state and federal law, with recommendations due to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 15, 2020.