Session of 2024
HOUSE BILL No. 2612
By Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Requested by Representative Thomas
1-25
AN ACT concerning education; relating to school district accreditation;
requiring school districts to be in compliance with all state laws and
rules and regulations to be accredited; requiring school districts to
notify parents in writing if the school district is not accredited;
requiring the state board to establish a process to challenge a
determination of school district compliance with state laws and rules
and regulations; amending K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 72-5170 and repealing
the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 72-5170 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 72-5170. (a) (1) In order to accomplish the mission for Kansas
education, the state board shall design and adopt a school district
accreditation system based upon improvement in performance that equals
or exceeds the educational goal set forth in K.S.A. 72-3218(c), and
amendments thereto, and is measurable. The state board shall hold all
school districts accountable through the Kansas education systems
accreditation rules and regulations, or any successor accreditation system
and accountability plan adopted by the state board. The state board also
shall ensure that all school districts and the public schools operated by
such districts have programs and initiatives in place for providing those
educational capacities set forth in K.S.A. 72-3218(c), and amendments
thereto. On or before January 15 of each year, the state board shall prepare
and submit a report on the school district accreditation system to the
governor and the legislature.
(2) The accountability measures established pursuant to paragraph (1)
shall be applied both at the district level and at the school level. Such
accountability measures shall be reported by the state board for each
school district and each school. All reports prepared pursuant to this
section shall be published in accordance with K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 72-1181,
and amendments thereto.
(3) (A) The school district accreditation system shall require school
districts to be in compliance with all applicable state laws and rules and
regulations. Any school district not in compliance with such laws and
rules and regulations shall not be accredited. A school district that is not
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accredited for failing to comply with state laws or rules and regulations
shall notify each parent of a student enrolled in such school district in
writing that such school district is no longer accredited.
(B) After a school district is not accredited for failing to comply with
state laws and rules and regulations, such school district may only become
accredited if an audit conducted by the state department of education
determines that the school district made the changes necessary to be in
compliance with state laws and rules and regulations.
(C) The state board shall establish a process to allow an individual to
challenge a determination of school district compliance or noncompliance
with state laws and rules and regulations.
(4) If a school district is not fully accredited and a corrective action
plan is required by the state board, such corrective action plan, and any
subsequent reports prepared by the state board regarding the progress of
such school district in implementing and executing such corrective action
plan, shall be published on the state department of education's internet
website and such school district's internet website in accordance with
K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 72-1181, and amendments thereto.
(4)(5) If a school district is not accredited, the superintendent, or the
superintendent's designee, shall appear before the committee on education
of the house of representatives and the committee on education of the
senate during the regular legislative session that occurs during the same
school year in which when such school district is not accredited. Such
school district shall provide a report to such committees on the challenges
and obstacles that are preventing such school district from becoming
accredited.
(b) The state board shall establish curriculum standards that reflect
high academic standards for the core academic areas of mathematics,
science, reading, writing and social studies. The curriculum standards shall
be reviewed at least every seven years. Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed in any manner so as to impinge upon any school district's
authority to determine its own curriculum.
(c) The state board shall provide for statewide assessments in the core
academic areas of mathematics, science, reading, writing and social
studies. The board shall ensure compatibility between the statewide
assessments and the curriculum standards established pursuant to
subsection (b). Such assessments shall be administered at three grade
levels, as determined by the state board. The state board shall determine
performance levels on the statewide assessments, the achievement of
which represents high academic standards in the academic area at the
grade level to which the assessment applies. The state board should specify
high academic standards both for individual performance and school
performance on the assessments.
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(d) Each school year, on such date as specified by the state board,
each school district shall submit the Kansas education system accreditation
report to the state board in such form and manner as prescribed by the state
board.
(e) Whenever the state board determines that a school district has
failed either to meet the accreditation requirements established by rules
and regulations or standards adopted by the state board or provide
curriculum based on state standards and courses required by state law, the
state board shall so notify the school district. Such notice shall specify the
accreditation requirements that the school district has failed to meet and
the curriculum that it has failed to provide. Upon receipt of such notice,
the board of education of such school district is encouraged to reallocate
the resources of the school district to remedy all deficiencies identified by
the state board.
(f) Each school in every school district shall establish a school site
council composed of the principal and representatives of teachers and
other school personnel, parents of students attending the school, the
business community and other community groups. School site councils
shall be responsible for providing advice and counsel in evaluating state,
school district, and school site performance goals and objectives and in
determining the methods that should be employed at the school site to
meet these goals and objectives. Site councils may make recommendations
and proposals to the school board regarding budgetary items and school
district matters, including, but not limited to, identifying and implementing
the best practices for developing efficient and effective administrative and
management functions. Site councils also may help school boards analyze
the unique environment of schools, enhance the efficiency and maximize
limited resources, including outsourcing arrangements and cooperative
opportunities as a means to address limited budgets.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2023 Supp. 72-5170 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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