Autonomous Schools Act of 2003
Bill 15-522

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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 within the District of Columbia Public Schools a program that recognizes and rewards high achieving schools with a degree of autonomy within the public schools system so that they may be less restrained in applying their proven abilities in the continued improvement of their schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Autonomous Schools Act of 2003".

Sec. 2. Individual school stakeholder defined.

For the purposes of this act, the term "individual school stakeholders" means persons chosen to carry out the responsibilities of running a partially autonomous school, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Superintendent, in accordance with this act.

Sec. 3. Partially Autonomous Schools Program.

There is established within the District of Columbia Public Schools a Partially Autonomous Schools Program ("Program"). The purpose of the Program is to reward certain high achieving public schools with a degree of autonomy that will allow them to continue to improve their individual schools.

Sec. 4. Development of criteria for achieving partially autonomous school designation.

(a) The Superintendent shall develop achievement criteria that each school must attain in order to be recognized as a partially autonomous school. The criteria developed by the Superintendent shall encompass the following four requirement areas:

(1) School fiscal management;

(2) Stanford 9 test scores;

(3) Attendance; and

(4) Promotion to next grade levels, including high school graduation.

(b) The Superintendent shall develop criteria for acknowledging a partially autonomous school as a Level II partially autonomous school.

Sec. 5. Selection of Partially Autonomous Schools.

(a) Based on the criteria developed by the Superintendent pursuant to section 4, the Superintendent shall recognize a school that meets these qualifications as a partially autonomous school. The Superintendent shall then assess whether the partially autonomous school meets the additional requirements to be acknowledged as a Level H partially autonomous school.

(b) The Superintendent may revoke the recognition of a school as a partially autonomous school at any time if the Superintendent determines that the school no longer meets the standards established by the Superintendent pursuant to section 4.

Sec. 6. Areas of autonomy for partially autonomous schools.

(a) The individual school stakeholders of a public school that has been recognized as a partial autonomous school by the Superintendent shall have the following authority over the school:

(1) To determine the composition of the administrative, teaching, and facilities staff of the school;

(2) To determine the curriculum of the school;

(3) To set the school's calendar; and

(4) To have additional authority to run the school on a day-to-day basis as determined by regulations promulgated by the Superintendent.

(b) The individual school stakeholders shall be cognizant of, and abide, by all local and federal laws that impact on the operation of their school.

(c) Rules, regulations, and policies of the District of Columbia Board of Education that conflict with the policies of the individual school stakeholders established within their authority pursuant to this act, need not be followed by the individual school stakeholders.

(d) Except as provided in section 7, the responsibility of managing the operating budget of a partially autonomous school shall remain with the principal of the school.

Sec. 7. Additional areas of autonomous for Level II partially autonomous schools.

(a) In addition to the areas of autonomous listed in section 6, the individual school stakeholders of a Level 11 partially autonomous school shall have fiscal responsibility over the operating budget for the school.

(b) The Chief Financial Officer for the District shall allocate appropriated funds directly to each Level II partially autonomous school based on the funding calculation executed pursuant to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula for Public Schools and Public Charter Schools Act of 1998, effective March 26, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-207; D.C. Official Code § 38-2901 et seq.). No funds for the administration of a Level I1 partial autonomous school shall be allocated to the DCPS other than directly to the individual school stakeholders of the school.

Sec. 8. DCPS assistance to Partial Autonomous Schools.

Although partially autonomous schools are authorized to maintain a degree of autonomy within the DCPS system, if the individual school stakeholders of a partially autonomous school requests assistance in conducting any of their responsibilities under this act, the DCPS shall provide the requested assistance to the partial autonomous school. DCPS may require reasonable compensation for its assistance under this section.

Sec. 9. Superintendent to promulgate regulation.

Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the Superintendent shall promulgate regulations to carry out the purposes of this act pursuant to the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code §2-501 et seq.).

Sec. 10. 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.