A. 3190 2
sense of ownership over the approach implemented, and help ensure their
continued involvement in the process. When considering how to best
address their individual situation, parents will have to become organ-
ized and informed about the different challenges the school faces.
Parental involvement is the only aspect of education reform that the
state and the local educational authorities have little to no control
over, yet it is a requirement for many programs and grants designed to
assist in these much needed reforms.
Therefore, this legislation will provide a pilot program that allows
parents, in a portion the state identified as having persistently lowest
achieving schools, to collectively come together and provide direction
on how to correct and ensure the adequate education of their children.
S 2. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"parent empowerment pilot program".
S 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3614 to read
as follows:
S 3614. PARENT EMPOWERMENT PILOT PROGRAM. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL MEAN:
A. "PERSISTENTLY LOWEST-ACHIEVING SCHOOL" MEANS A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT
HAS FAILED TO MAKE ANNUAL YEAR PROGRESS FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW OR MORE
AS IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
B. "INTERVENTION MODEL" MEANS FEDERAL EDUCATION INTERVENTION MODELS,
WHICH INCLUDE THE TURNAROUND MODEL, RESTART MODEL, TRANSFORMATION MODEL
OR CLOSURE MODEL.
C. "TURNAROUND MODEL" MEANS THAT A SCHOOL MUST REPLACE THE PRINCIPAL
AND REHIRE NO MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL'S STAFF, ADOPT A NEW
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE, PROVIDE JOB-EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
OFFER STAFF FINANCIAL AND CAREER-ADVANCEMENT INCENTIVES, IMPLEMENT A
RESEARCH-BASED, ALIGNED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, EXTEND LEARNING AND
TEACHER PLANNING TIME, CREATE A COMMUNITY-ORIENTATION, AND PROVIDE OPER-
ATING FLEXIBILITY.
D. "RESTART MODEL" MEANS THAT A SCHOOL CLOSES AND REOPENS UNDER A
CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATOR, A CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION (CMO) OR AN
EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN SELECTED THROUGH A
RIGOROUS REVIEW PROCESS. A RESTART MODEL MUST ENROLL, WITHIN THE GRADES
IT SERVES, ANY FORMER STUDENT WHO WISHES TO ATTEND.
E. "TRANSFORMATION MODEL" MEANS THAT A SCHOOL MUST REPLACE THE PRINCI-
PAL, PROVIDE JOB-EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENT A RIGOROUS
TEACHER-EVALUATION AND REWARD SYSTEM, OFFER FINANCIAL AND CAREER
ADVANCEMENT INCENTIVES, IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONAL REFORM,
EXTEND LEARNING- AND TEACHER-PLANNING TIME, CREATE A COMMUNITY-ORIENTA-
TION, AND PROVIDE OPERATING FLEXIBILITY AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT.
F. "CLOSURE MODEL" MEANS THAT THE SCHOOL IS CLOSED AND ITS STUDENTS
ARE ENROLLED IN OTHER, HIGHER-ACHIEVING SCHOOLS.
G. "SCHOOL DISTRICT" MEANS A LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY WITH JURISDIC-
TION OVER A SUBJECT SCHOOL.
H. "FINAL DISPOSITION" MEANS A DECISION BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH
REGARD TO A PETITION SEEKING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERVENTION MODEL
AT A SUBJECT SCHOOL UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION.
I. "PETITION" MEANS A DOCUMENT USED BY PETITIONERS SEEKING SUPPORT FOR
AN INTERVENTION MODEL AT A SUBJECT SCHOOL CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS SECTION.
J. "PETITIONER" MEANS A PARENT OR OTHER PERSON WORKING WITH PARENTS OF
A SUBJECT SCHOOL TO COLLECT SIGNATURES IN SUPPORT OF A PETITION SEEKING
TO IMPLEMENT AN INTERVENTION MODEL AT A SUBJECT SCHOOL.
A. 3190 3
K. "LEAD PETITIONER" MEANS UP TO FIVE PARENTS WITH STUDENTS ENROLLED
IN A SUBJECT SCHOOL WHO INITIATE AND LEAD A PETITION DRIVE SEEKING TO
IMPLEMENT AN INTERVENTION MODEL IN THAT SUBJECT SCHOOL.
L. "CONTACT PERSON" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL LEAD PETITIONER DESIGNATED TO
BE THE OFFICIAL CONTACT PERSON WITH REGARD TO OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS
REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION.
M. "PARENT" MEANS A PARENT, LEGAL GUARDIAN, OR FOSTER PARENT RESPONSI-
BLE FOR EDUCATION DECISIONS FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT ENROLLED IN A
SUBJECT SCHOOL.
N. "SUBJECT SCHOOL" MEANS A PERSISTENTLY LOWEST-ACHIEVING SCHOOL THAT
IS THE SUBJECT OF A PETITION SEEKING TO IMPLEMENT AN INTERVENTION MODEL.
O. "ELIGIBLE STUDENT" MEANS A STUDENT ENROLLED AT A SUBJECT SCHOOL ON
THE DATE WHEN A PETITION SEEKING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERVENTION
MODEL IS COMMENCED.
2. A. ANY SCHOOL IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS PERSISTENTLY
LOWEST-ACHIEVING SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PARENT
EMPOWERMENT PILOT PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW PARENTS OF A SUBJECT
SCHOOL TO CIRCULATE PETITIONS IN SUPPORT OF AN INTERVENTION MODEL, WHICH
A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL ACT UPON PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IF FIFTY-ONE
PERCENT OR MORE OF THE PARENTS OF THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SUBJECT
SCHOOL SIGN A PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERVENTION MODEL. SUCH PETI-
TION SHALL BE PREPARED AND SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISIONS
THREE, FOUR AND FIVE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH PETITION SHALL IDENTIFY ONLY
ONE INTERVENTION MODEL, AND ALL ELIGIBLE PARENTS SHALL BE AFFORDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.
B. A SCHOOL DISTRICT MUST PROVIDE IN WRITING TO ANY PERSON WHO
REQUESTS IT TOTAL SUBJECT SCHOOL ENROLLMENT DATA AND THE NUMBER OF
SIGNATURES THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT AN INTERVENTION MODEL
PURSUANT TO THE STANDARD PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
C. UPON SUBMISSION OF A PETITION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH THE
SUBJECT SCHOOL IS LOCATED SHALL BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE SPECIFIED
INTERVENTION MODEL OR AN ALTERNATIVE INTERVENTION MODEL PURSUANT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION.
D. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, A SUBJECT
SCHOOL WHICH IS DESIGNATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION TO RESTART AS
A CHARTER SCHOOL SHALL APPLY FOR A CHARTER AND OPERATE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ARTICLE FIFTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED HOWEVER:
(I) A CHARTER SCHOOL CREATED UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL SERVE THE
SAME POPULATION AND GRADES AS THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL;
(II) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED
AT THE TIME THE PETITION PROCESS COMMENCES SHALL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTU-
NITY TO ENROLL IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE ADMISSION OF OTHER
STUDENTS; AND
(III) THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION THREE AND SUBPAR-
AGRAPH (I) OF PARAGRAPH (B-1) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION
TWENTY-EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL NOT APPLY TO CHAR-
TER SCHOOLS OPENED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
3. A. A PETITION SHALL ONLY CONTAIN SIGNATURES OF PARENTS OF STUDENTS
ATTENDING THE SUBJECT SCHOOL.
B. ONLY ONE PARENT PER STUDENT MAY SIGN A PETITION.
C. A PETITION MAY BE SIGNED BY A PARENT ONCE FOR EACH OF HIS OR HER
STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SUBJECT SCHOOL, PROVIDED HOWEVER A SEPARATE PETI-
TION BOX MUST BE COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR EACH OF HIS OR HER
STUDENTS.
D. A PETITION MAY BE CIRCULATED AND PRESENTED IN SECTIONS, SO LONG AS
EACH SECTION COMPLIES WITH REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBDIVISION
A. 3190 4
AND SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION REGARDING THE CONTENT OF THE PETI-
TION.
E. SIGNATURE GATHERERS MAY NOT OFFER GIFTS, REWARDS, OR TANGIBLE
INCENTIVES TO PARENTS TO SIGN A PETITION. NOR SHALL SIGNATURE GATHERERS
MAKE ANY THREATS OF COERCIVE ACTION, FALSE STATEMENTS OR FALSE PROMISES
OF BENEFITS TO PARENTS IN ORDER TO PERSUADE THEM TO SIGN A PETITION,
EXCEPT THAT SIGNATURE GATHERERS, SCHOOL SITE STAFF OR OTHER MEMBERS OF
THE PUBLIC MAY DISCUSS EDUCATION RELATED IMPROVEMENTS HOPED TO BE REAL-
IZED BY IMPLEMENTING ANY INTERVENTION DESCRIBED IN THESE REGULATIONS.
SIGNATURE GATHERERS, STUDENTS, SCHOOL SITE STAFF, SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF,
MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND PARENTS SHALL BE FREE FROM HARASSMENT,
THREATS, AND INTIMIDATION RELATED TO CIRCULATION OF OR SIGNING A PETI-
TION, AND FROM BEING DISCOURAGED TO SIGN OR BEING ENCOURAGED TO REVOKE
THEIR SIGNATURE ON A PETITION. SIGNATURE GATHERERS SHALL DISCLOSE IF
THEY ARE BEING PAID AND SHALL NOT BE PAID PER SIGNATURE.
F. SUBJECT SCHOOL OR DISTRICT RESOURCES SHALL NOT BE USED TO IMPEDE,
ASSIST OR IN ANY WAY INFLUENCE THE PETITION SIGNATURE GATHERING PROCESS
OTHER THAN AS SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.
4. A. THE PETITION AND EACH SECTION OF THE PETITION SHALL CONTAIN THE
FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
(I) A HEADING WHICH STATES THAT IT IS A PETITION OF PARENTS TO REQUEST
THAT A MODEL INTERVENTION BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE SPECIFIED SUBJECT SCHOOL
AND TO BE SUBMITTED TO A SPECIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT;
(II) A STATEMENT THAT THE PETITION SEEKS THE SIGNATURES OF THE PARENT
OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SUBJECT SCHOOL;
(III) THE NAME AND PUBLIC CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE CONTACT PERSON
WHO IS TO BE CONTACTED BY PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE PETITION OR BY THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT;
(IV) IDENTIFICATION OF THE INTERVENTION MODEL;
(V) A DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVENTION MODEL USING THE LANGUAGE SET
FORTH IN PARAGRAPHS C, D, E, OR F OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
WITHOUT OMISSION, TO ENSURE FULL DISCLOSURE OF THE IMPACT OF THE INTER-
VENTION MODEL;
(VI) THE NAME OF THE SUBJECT SCHOOL;
(VII) BOXES THAT ARE CONSECUTIVELY NUMBERED COMMENCING WITH NUMBER 1,
WITH SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR THE SIGNATURE OF EACH PETITION SIGNER AS WELL
AS HIS OR HER PRINTED NAME, DATE, STUDENT'S NAME, THE STUDENT'S DATE OF
BIRTH, AND THE STUDENT'S CURRENT GRADE. THE BOXES MAY ALSO HAVE SPACE
FOR THE SIGNER'S ADDRESS, CITY OR UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY NAME, AND ZIP
CODE, OR REQUEST OTHER INFORMATION, AND, IF SO, THE PETITION SHALL MAKE
CLEAR THAT PROVIDING SUCH INFORMATION IS VOLUNTARY AND CANNOT BE MADE A
CONDITION OF SIGNING;
(VIII) AN AFFIRMATION THAT THE SIGNING PARENT IS REQUESTING THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT TO IMPLEMENT THE IDENTIFIED INTERVENTION MODEL AT THE SUBJECT
SCHOOL;
(IX) IF REQUESTING THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT IMPLEMENT THE RESTART MODEL
AND THAT THE SUBJECT SCHOOL BE REOPENED UNDER A SPECIFIC CHARTER SCHOOL
OPERATOR, CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION, OR EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
ORGANIZATION, A CLEAR STATEMENT CONTAINING THAT INFORMATION ON THE FRONT
OF THE PETITION, INCLUDING CONTACT INFORMATION OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL
OPERATOR, CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION OR EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP
ORGANIZATION; AND
(X) THE NAMES OF ANY AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE
PETITION, EITHER THROUGH DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR IN-KIND CONTRIB-
UTIONS OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, MUST BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON
THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PETITION.
A. 3190 5
B. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP A SAMPLE PETITION, WHICH SHALL BE
AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE THE
SAMPLE PETITION AVAILABLE IN THE LANGUAGES PREDOMINANTLY SPOKEN IN THE
AFFECTED COMMUNITY UPON REQUEST. A PETITIONER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO
USE THE SAMPLE PETITION; HOWEVER, ALTERNATE PETITIONS MUST CONTAIN ALL
REQUIRED COMPONENTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND REGULATORY REQUIRE-
MENTS.
5. A. COMPLETED PETITIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BY
THE LEAD PETITIONERS. LEAD PETITIONERS MAY NOT SUBMIT A PETITION TO THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT UNTIL THEY HAVE COLLECTED THE SIGNATURES OF FIFTY-ONE
PERCENT OR MORE OF THE SUBJECT SCHOOL PARENTS. THE DATE OF SUBMISSION OF
THE PETITION SHALL BE THE START DATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL STATUTORY
AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
B. CONSISTENT WITH PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION,
LEAD PETITIONERS SHALL BE ALLOWED TO RESUBMIT THEIR PETITION ONCE TO
CORRECT ERRORS IDENTIFIED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, VERIFY SIGNATURES
AFTER A GOOD FAITH EFFORT IS MADE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DO SO FIRST,
OR SUBMIT ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES. THE START DATE FOR A RESUBMITTED PETI-
TION SHALL BE THE DATE IT IS RESUBMITTED. NO ROLLING PETITIONS SHALL BE
ACCEPTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
C. AT THE TIME OF PETITION SUBMISSION THE PETITIONERS SHALL SUBMIT A
SEPARATE DOCUMENT THAT IDENTIFIES THE LEAD PETITIONERS AND THE CONTACT
PERSON WITH THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL SUBSE-
QUENTLY PROCESS ALL OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
THROUGH THE CONTACT PERSON.
6. A. UPON RECEIPT OF THE PETITION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY MAKE
REASONABLE EFFORTS TO VERIFY THAT THE SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION CAN BE
COUNTED CONSISTENT WITH THESE REGULATIONS. A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL NOT
INVALIDATE THE SIGNATURE OF A PARENT OF AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT ON A MINOR
TECHNICALITY, AND SHALL ASSUME THAT THE PARENT IS ENTITLED TO SIGN THE
PETITION UNLESS THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO CONTACT PARENTS
WHEN A SIGNATURE IS NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE INCLUDING PHONE CALLS TO
THE PARENT.
B. IF, ON THE DATE THE PETITION IS SUBMITTED, A SUBJECT SCHOOL IS
IDENTIFIED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,
IT SHALL REMAIN A SUBJECT SCHOOL UNTIL FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE PETITION
UNLESS THAT SCHOOL HAS CEASED TO BE IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN IMPROVEMENT
STATUS.
C. IN CONNECTION WITH THE PETITION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY ONLY
CONTACT PARENTS TO VERIFY ELIGIBLE SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION. THE LEAD
PETITIONERS FOR THE PETITION SHALL BE CONSULTED TO ASSIST IN CONTACTING
PARENTS WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILS TO REACH A PARENT.
D. UPON RECEIPT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY, WITHIN FORTY CALENDAR DAYS,
RETURN THE PETITION TO THE CONTACT PERSON IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DETER-
MINES ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) LESS THAN FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE PARENTS OF STUDENTS MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF PARAGRAPH A OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION HAVE
SIGNED THE PETITION;
(II) THE SCHOOL NAMED IN THE PETITION IS NOT A SUBJECT SCHOOL; OR
(III) THE PETITION DOES NOT SUBSTANTIALLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS SPECI-
FIED IN SUBDIVISIONS THREE AND FOUR OF THIS SECTION. IN SUCH A CASE, THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL IMMEDIATELY PROVIDE THE CONTACT PERSON WRITTEN
NOTICE OF ITS REASONS FOR RETURNING THE PETITION AND ITS SUPPORTING
FINDINGS.
A. 3190 6
E. IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FINDS THAT SUFFICIENT SIGNATURES CANNOT BE
VERIFIED, IT SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE CONTACT PERSON AND PROVIDE THE
CONTACT PERSON WITH THE NAMES OF THOSE PARENTS IT CANNOT VERIFY. THE
LEAD PETITIONERS SHALL BE PROVIDED SIXTY CALENDAR DAYS TO ASSIST THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN VERIFYING THE SIGNATURES. A NUMBER OF METHODS MAY BE
USED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AN OFFICIAL NOTARIZATION PROCESS OR
HAVING THE PARENT APPEAR AT THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT OFFICE.
F. IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FINDS ERRORS OR PROBLEMS WITH A SUBMITTED
PETITION OTHER THAN THE NUMBER OF VALID PETITION SIGNATURES, IT SHALL
NOTIFY THE CONTACT PERSON IN WRITING OF SUCH ERRORS OR PROBLEMS AND
REQUEST THAT THEY BE CORRECTED OR CLARIFIED PRIOR TO THE FINAL DISPOSI-
TION OF THE PETITION.
G. IF THE PETITION IS RETURNED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH D, E OR F OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, THE SAME PETITION MAY BE RESUBMITTED ONCE TO THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT WITH VERIFIED SIGNATURES OR OTHER NECESSARY CORRECTIONS,
PROVIDED THAT NO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES MAY BE MADE TO THE PETITION. THE
RESUBMISSION MUST BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN SIXTY CALENDAR DAYS AFTER
THE RETURN OF THE PETITION PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION. UPON RESUBMIS-
SION OF THE PETITION, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL HAVE TWENTY-FIVE CALEN-
DAR DAYS TO VERIFY THE RESUBMITTED SIGNATURES, ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES OR
CORRECTIONS TO THE PETITION.
H. IF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE PETITION, IT MUST BE RECIR-
CULATED FOR SIGNATURES BEFORE IT MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND IT SHALL BE DEEMED A NEW PETITION.
I. IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES NOT RETURN THE PETITION, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT SHALL HAVE FORTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE DATE THE PETITION
IS RECEIVED TO REACH A FINAL DISPOSITION. THE DATE MAY BE EXTENDED BY AN
ADDITIONAL TWENTY-FIVE CALENDAR DAYS IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE LEAD
PETITIONERS AGREE TO THE EXTENSION IN WRITING.
J. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING WITHIN
FIFTEEN CALENDAR DAYS OF ITS RECEIPT OF A PETITION, AND WITHIN FIVE
CALENDAR DAYS OF THE FINAL DISPOSITION OF THE PETITION. THE NOTICE OF
FINAL DISPOSITION SHALL STATE:
(I) THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL IMPLEMENT THE MODEL INTERVENTION IN
THE PETITION; OR
(II) THE REASON IT CANNOT IMPLEMENT THE INTERVENTION MODEL IN THE
PETITION, DESIGNATE WHICH INTERVENTION MODEL IT WILL IMPLEMENT INSTEAD,
AND HOW THE INTERVENTION MODEL SELECTED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL
ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL WILL MAKE ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS.
K. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REVIEW THE FINAL DISPOSITION AS SUBMITTED BY
A SCHOOL DISTRICT. IF THE COMMISSIONER CONCLUDES THAT THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT HAS NOT PRESENTED SUFFICIENT GROUNDS FOR REJECTING THE RECOM-
MENDED INTERVENTION MODEL IN THE PETITION, OR HAS NOT PROVIDED SUFFI-
CIENT GROUNDS FOR CHOOSING AN ALTERNATIVE INTERVENTION MODEL, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL REJECT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S DECISION. SUCH REJECTION
SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE LEAD PETITIONER IN
WRITING WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF RECEIPT OF THE FINAL DISPOSITION FROM THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT, INCLUDING ISSUES THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY ADDRESS
IN RECONSIDERING THEIR DECISION. UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMMISSIONER'S
DECISION TO REJECT THEIR FINAL DISPOSITION, A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL HAVE
THIRTY DAYS TO RESUBMIT AN AMENDED FINAL DISPOSITION. IF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT DOES NOT SUBMIT AN AMENDED FINAL DISPOSITION WITHIN THE THIRTY
DAY PERIOD, THE INTERVENTION MODEL IN THE PETITION SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED
BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. IF THE COMMISSIONER CONCLUDES THAT A RE-SUBMIT-
TED FINAL DECISION BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STILL INSUFFICIENT, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL, WITHIN THIRTY DAYS, ISSUE A FINAL DISPOSITION AFTER
A. 3190 7
CONSULTING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE LEAD PETITIONERS, AND THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL IMPLEMENT THAT INTERVENTION MODEL ON A TIMETABLE
SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER.
7. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO CITIES HAVING
A POPULATION OF MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND AND LESS THAN
THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
8. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY
TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING TO ENSURE THE
TRANSITION IN SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND OTHER CHANGES RELATED TO IMPLEMENTA-
TION OF THE TURNAROUND MODEL IN A MANNER THAT RESULTS IN MINIMAL
DISRUPTION TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
9. BY JANUARY FIRST OF THE YEAR IN WHICH THIS ACT EXPIRES, THE DEPART-
MENT SHALL SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE,
THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND THE ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION A REPORT OF
THE USAGE, IMPLEMENTATION, COST AND ALL RELEVANT STUDENT PERFORMANCE
DATA FOR SCHOOLS WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE PARENT EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law, provided, however, that
this act shall expire and be deemed repealed ten years after the date of
enactment, and provided further that the commissioner of education shall
be immediately authorized and directed to promulgate rules and regu-
lations and take any and all other actions necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on such date.