Section 4.06.872. State system of support; interventions.

	(a)  For purposes of determining the level of state support and oversight to be provided to a district, no later than October 1 of each year, the department will designate each district in the state as a tier I, tier II, or tier III district. A tier III district receives the most state support and oversight; a tier I district the least.  
	(b)  Before determining the level of state support and oversight for a school or the district under (a) of this section, the department  
		(1) will conduct a desk audit of each school in the state that is designated a one- or two-star school under 4 AAC 06.835;  
		(2) may conduct a desk audit of a district in which a one- or two-star school is located;  
		(3) may conduct a desk audit of a school that is designated a three-star school under 4 AAC 06.835 or the district in which a three-star school is located; and  
		(4) may conduct an instructional audit of a district in which a one-, two-, or three-star school is located.  
	(c)  A district may request that the department conduct a desk audit or an instructional audit at one or more schools in the district, or of the district as a whole. As part of either the desk audit or instructional audit process, the department may require a school or district to provide additional information, including a self-assessment. To the extent permitted under federal law, the department may use federal programmatic funds allocated to the district to pay the cost of an instructional audit. If a district requests a desk or instructional audit, the department may require that the district pay some or all of the cost of the audit.  
	(d)  The department will base a district's tier designation under (a) of this section on  
		(1) the scores of schools and subgroups in the district on the Alaska school performance index and the growth and proficiency index under 4 AAC 33.540, including whether the scores of schools or subgroups have improved or decreased over a period of years;  
		(2) the results of a desk audit or instructional audit at the district or a school in the district, including any information provided by the superintendent of the district during the consultation with the superintendent during the audit;  
		(3) other evidence that relates to the district's need for support and oversight.  
	(e)  After the department has determined under (a) of this section that a district is a tier III district, the department will send notice of this determination to the district. In the notice, the department will inform the district of the deficiencies that need to be remedied and a timetable for implementation and amendment of the district improvement plan developed under 4 AAC 06.850. Not later than 30 days after receiving the notice, the district shall take action under the timetable as required by the department, and shall verify in writing to the department that it has taken that action.  
	(f)  The state level of support and oversight provided by the department to a tier II or tier III district will be tailored to the needs of the district or a school. The department will provide technical assistance to a tier III district regarding the implementation of the district improvement plan at a school in the district, unless the commissioner determines that technical assistance is not required. The department may provide technical assistance to a tier II district. Technical assistance may be provided by department personnel or by a contractor, and may include a site visit. The department may redirect money from the district's funding under AS 14.17  to pay for services by a contractor that the commissioner determines are necessary under this section. A district improvement plan for a tier III district must include  
		(1) adoption and implementation of reading and mathematics programs that are aligned to the state content standards adopted under 4 AAC 04.140;  
		(2) processes in place to facilitate teaching staff having collaborative discussions of individual student progress at least weekly; a superintendent of a tier III district shall verify that the collaborative meetings occurred;  
		(3) regular use of assessments that provide feedback for adjustment of ongoing teaching and learning in order to improve achievement of intended instructional outcomes; and  
		(4) school-level instructional management that provides professional development and technical assistance to staff and addresses instruction in the state content standards.  
	(g)  The department may intervene in a school or district under AS 14.07.030(14) and (15), including redirecting funding or replacement of personnel with supervisory authority over the instructional practices at the school or district if  
		(1) a school's Alaska school performance index score that the department identified as a reason for implementing a program for improvement does not improve;  
		(2) a school or district is not meeting or making progress towards its annual measurable objectives for either the all-students group or any individual subgroup;  
		(3) an instructional audit at the district reveals deficiencies in the district in the domains under 4 AAC 06.845(b); or  
		(4) a district or school does not fully and timely implement with commitment a program that is required under  
			(A) this section;  
			(B) a school improvement plan under 4 AAC 06.845;  
			(C) a district improvement plan under 4 AAC 06.850;  
			(D) a priority school intervention under 4 AAC 06.864; or  
			(E) a focus school intervention under 4 AAC 06.868.  
	(h)  The department will undertake an action under (g) of this section only after  
		(1) giving the district notice and opportunity to be heard;  
		(2) consideration of alternatives; and  
		(3) the department determines in writing that the action will likely increase student achievement at the school or district.  
	(i)  The department will cease an intervention under AS 14.07.030(14) or (15) at a district if the district demonstrates three consecutive years of not less than two percent increases in student proficiency on the standards-based assessments in reading, writing, and mathematics described in 4 AAC 06.737. A district may petition the department at any time to cease or continue an intervention taken by the department or a designation of a district as a tier III district under this section. In considering whether to grant a petition under this subsection, the department will consider the  
		(1) factors described in (a) and (b) of this section; and  
		(2) public interest.  

Authorities

14.03.123;14.07.020;14.07.030;14.07.060;14.50.080

Notes

Reference

4 AAC 06.864
4 AAC 06.868

Authority

AS 14.03.123 AS 14.07.020 AS 14.07.030 AS 14.07.060 AS 14.50.080 Editor's note: Effective 10/25/2008, Register 188, the State Board of Education and Early Development readopted 4 AAC 06.872, without change, to affirm the validity of that section following statutory amendments made to AS 14.07.020 and 14.07.030 by ch. 70, SLA 2008.

History

Eff. 9/12/2008, Register 187; readopt 10/25/2008, Register 188; am 10/16/2013, Register 208

References

4.06.872