The bill amends Section 16-97.1-1 of the General Laws under the "Education Accountability Act" to enhance the evaluation system for local education agencies (LEAs) and individual public schools. It introduces a requirement for the board of education to adopt an annual evaluation system that assesses the performance of schools and LEAs. This includes the incorporation of the department of elementary and secondary education's SurveyWorks school climate indicators, or any future system used as a replacement or substitute for SurveyWorks, to measure school climate indicators disaggregated by LEAs and individual public schools.

The bill also mandates that each school district submit comprehensive improvement plans and annual action plans aimed at enhancing student achievement and addressing achievement gaps. Districts with significant numbers of students not meeting grade-level expectations are required to develop RICAS success plans, detailing strategies for student support. The legislation aims to streamline reporting requirements and improve the overall effectiveness of educational programs by consolidating various plans and reports into a coordinated framework. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5162: 16-97.1-1