School System Operating Models and Flexibility Options Advisory Committee Meeting August 21, 2014

School System Operating Models and Flexibility Options

Advisory Committee MeetingAugust 21, 2014

Welcome and Introductions

2Atlanta Public Schools

Building Stronger Schools Today

Meeting Overview• Welcome and Introductions• Meeting Overview, Objectives and Norms• Role of the Advisory Committee• Community Input and Feedback Station• Waivers and Innovation• Case Study: Fulton County Schools• Questions• Transition to Community Input• Closing



Meeting Objectives

• Review Agenda, Minutes and Meeting Protocol

• Review Team Expectations and Norms• Develop understanding of Waivers and

Innovation• Review Case Study: Fulton County Schools• Receive Community Input



Norms (DRAFT)• We will assume good intentions.

• We will have a positive attitude.

• We will listen actively.

• We will come prepared for each meeting.

• We will participate fully in each meeting.

• We will invite the contributions of every member and listen to each other.

• We will operate in a collegial and friendly atmosphere.

• We will make decisions that are in the best interest of students and learning.

• We will be guided by the Atlanta Public Schools mission statement which is to

educate all students through academic excellence, preparing them for success

in life, service and leadership.



Advisory Committee External Role

• Provide Active, Visible and Tangible Support• Serve as Program Champion• Encourage Engagement and Participation• Share Information Neutrally



Community Input & Feedback Station

• Community input will take place after the meeting• During the meeting, anyone can provide input at the

computer located in the back of the room or go to the following link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Operating_Models_for_School_System_Flexibility_Options_August_14

• We ask that the public honor meeting decorum• Applause, commentary, outbursts, jeering, or speech

that defames individuals or stymies or blocks meeting progress is not permitted



https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Operating_Models_for_School_System_Flexibility_Options_August_14




Waivers and Innovation



Innovation through Flexibility

What’s really possible?

Innovation through Flexibility

What’s really possible?

Presented by

Laura Lashley, Esq.Senior Policy Advisor

Education Law Group

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

[email protected]

Presented by

Laura Lashley, Esq.Senior Policy Advisor

Education Law Group

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

[email protected]

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Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

What do we really mean by “flexibility”?

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Basically, “flexibility” refers to the measured amount of freedom

earned by districts to operate outside of the educational framework

established by the state.


Okay, what do we specifically mean by “flexibility”?

A district or school’s ability to waive, i.e., not observe:

A large amount of Georgia’s education code (located in Title 20);

State Board of Education Rules, Regulations, Policies, and Procedures;

Department of Education Policies and Procedures

Local Board of Education Rules, Policies, and Procedures

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Audience Poll:

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How many textbook-sized

pages is Georgia’s

Educational Code?


So, what’s inside those 499 pages?

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State Board of Education Rules & RegsPrime Waiver Country

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What can’t we waive?

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Audience Poll #2To Waive or Not to Waive?

1. SBOE Rule entitled “Infectious Diseases”

2. GA Law requiring Local School Advisory Councils at each school

3. No Child Left Behind (federal law) requirement that all teachers must be “highly qualified”

4. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA—federal) which governs how to treat students with disabilities requiring special education and all related SBOE rules

5. GA law requiring certain student-to-teacher ratios

6. End-of-Course testing

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So, what is really possible, then?

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Innovation at Every Level of the District

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Put your Innovator Hat on.

Imagine you are responsible for suggesting some ideas for how to improve a specific school’s situation. The school, we’ll call it Sorry Central High, has major issues.

Student attendance is low, and student dropout is high—graduation rates are in the 30%s. Very low number of students are attending college or entering workforce after graduation or dropout.

Teacher attendance is low (high number of sick leave days/PLO used each year)

Program funding for all non-essential courses has been cut to put into place large remediation programs that are currently unsuccessful.

What are some ideas for the way a Seat Time waiver could help? Class size? Teacher credentialing? School Day/School year? Expenditure controls?

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What’s the trick?

Coming up with

1)Good Ideas

2) That specifically require a waiver of some law or rule.

If you cannot show that the state’s educational framework is holding you back from your idea, then you do not need a

Charter System or an IE2 Model to do it.

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Flexibility in a Charter System vs. IE2 Model

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Any questions? Any questions?

Thank you for your attention and participation! Thank you for your attention and participation!

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Case Study: Fulton County Schools



Questions/Discussion



Community Input



Closing



Documents

School System Operating Models and Flexibility Options Advisory Committee Meeting August 21, 2014