District of Columbia Public Schools Performance and Accountability Act of 2003
Bill 15-519

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Councilmember Kevin P. Chavous introduced the following bill, which was referred to the Committee on Education, Libraries and Recreation

To establish a statewide comprehensive accountability and performance system to ensure that the District of Columbia Public Schools are providing all students an opportunity to receive an adequate public education, and that the school system is on target with all of the requirements, including accurately reporting all of the information, associated with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "District of Columbia Public Schools Performance and Accountability Act of 2003".

Sec. 2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this act, the term:

(1) "Adequate Yearly Progress" means student achievement of proficiency on the state assessment.

(2) "State assessment" means the District of Columbia state assessment.

District of Columbia public schools shall on a annual basis report District-wide school performance information to the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia. By August 1, 2004, and annually thereafter the Board of Education/Superintendent shall collect and report the following statistical and descriptive measurement, including the methodology associated with the calculation of all information, related to the performance of each student and each District of Columbia Public School to the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia:

(1) The number of pupils performing at below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced in reading/language arts and mathematics;

(2) The academic performance of all District of Columbia public schools;

(3) The graduation rates for high school which is defined as the number of graduates divided by the sum of the number of graduates and dropouts for the four preceding years;

(4) School attendance data; and

(5) The determination of adequate yearly progress.

Sec. 4. Student Assessment

By August 1, 2004, and annually thereafter, the District of Columbia Public Schools shall report the calculation of adequate yearly progress. Collecting and reporting must include the methodology associated with the calculation of student academic performance, and meet the following requirements:

(1) District of Columbia Public Schools shall ensure that at least 95% of the enrolled students in each subgroup participate in the statewide assessment;

(2) Statistical and descriptive measurement of the academic performance of each student;

(3) State assessment that is aligned with state standards in reading, language arts, and math;

(4) Annual state assessment in each of grades 3 through 8, and at least once in grades 10 through 12;

(5) Student achievement data must be disaggregated according to race, ethnicity, gender, English language proficiency, migrant status, disability status, and low-income status;

(6) Student assessment must be reliable and valid, and be consistent with relevant nationally recognized professional and technical standards; 

(7) Student assessment must involve multiple up-to-date measures of student academic achievement, including measures that assess higher-order thinking skills and learning comprehension;

(8) The reporting of intermediate goals and annual measurable objectives must meet all of the requirements stated in the June 3, 2003 submission to the Department of Education of the District of Columbia Public Schools consolidated state application accountability workbook; and

(9) On or before the 2013-2014 school year, District of Columbia public schools shall ensure that all pupils are performing at the proficient level or above in reading, language arts, and math on the statewide assessments.

The District of Columbia Public Schools shall report all data and decision about the achievement of all public schools and local education agencies. By August 1, 2004 and annually thereafter the Board of Education/Superintendent shall report to the Mayor and the Council of the District of Columbia pursuant to the District of Columbia Public Schools consolidated state application accountability workbook submission to the Department of Education all actions taken to ensure that all schools are in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

(1) All District of Columbia Public School students are included in the District of Columbia accountability system. This includes students in general education, public charter schools, special education, special education centers, and students in non-public day and residential centers;

(2) All District of Columbia Public Schools, local education agencies, and the state education agency are held accountable for the academic achievement of individual subgroups;

(3) All District of Columbia Public Schools are required to meet the stated adequate yearly progress;

(4) All District of Columbia Public Schools and local education agency recognition and interventions will be based on the achievement of adequate yearly progress or supplemental services may be offered; and

(5) Results on progress will be made public through annual student, school, and District-wide report cards.

Sec. 6. Fiscal Impact.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c) (3) of the District of Columbia Home Rue Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813: D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).

Sec. 7. Effective date.

This Act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c) (1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813: D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c) (1)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.