OAR 581-020-0115: Application: 21st Century Schools Program

(1) All applications for the 21st Century Schools Program shall be submitted to the Department of Education, and shall contain the following: (a) A letter of support from the school board, and the exclusive representative of teachers in the buildings affected if waiver of a collective bargaining obligation over mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, a right or obligation under a collective bargaining contract or any right under ORS 243.650 to 243.782, 342.513, 342.545, 342.553, 342.608, 342.610, 342.613 or 342.650 is required; (b) An abstract of the nature and objectives of the project and a description of the changes projected to occur in the school or district, or any combination thereof, as a result of the proposal; (c) A description of the goals and major activities to be carried out as part of the project, including but not limited to the nature and extent of the restructuring of school operations and formal relationships as described in OAR 581-020-0100. The application shall also describe the process used to identify the goals and major activities of the project; (d) A list of the major student learning and educational outcomes that are projected to occur as a result of the project, including but not limited to: (A) The length and structure of the school day and the school year; (B) Curriculum requirements; (C) Graduation requirements; (D) The certification, assignment, and formal responsibilities of teachers, administrators, and other school personnel; (E) State statutes and rules and local policies and agreements relating to educational practices, with the exception of those that affect health, safety, or constitutional rights under state or federal law; (F) The formal and informal relationships between the school district; and other entities including community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, businesses, and other institutions; (G) The integration of traditional services to grades kindergarten through 12 with public and privately sponsored social services, such as early childhood education, day care, and assistance for teenage parents and other at-risk youth; (H) Student dropout rates; (I) District, state, and national standardized tests and other assessments of student learning and educational progress; (J) The extent and nature of parental involvement in school activities; (K) Student conduct and disciplinary actions; (L) Student expectations and attitudes towards learning; and (M) Student success in college, vocational, and other postsecondary programs. (e) A description of all statutes and rules to be modified or waived to complete the activities of the project. For each provision, the application shall include a statement describing why the modification or waiver is warranted; (f) A description of all district rules and agreements that are to be modified or waived. All such provisions shall be approved by a majority vote of each building site committee, the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the certificated teachers in the affected school buildings and the approval of the local district school board, and the exclusive representative of the teachers if waiver of a collective bargaining obligation over mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, a right or obligation under a collective bargaining contract or any right under ORS 243.650 to 243.782, 342.513, 342.545, 342.553, 342.608, 342.610, 342.613, 342.650; (g) A budget plan for the project and additional anticipated sources of funding, if any, including private grants and contributions; (h) A description of the process by which data will be collected and assessed to measure student learning and other educational performance attributable to the project; (i) Letters expressing support and a willingness to participate from community colleges and other postsecondary institutions, where appropriate; (j) The number of school years for which approval is sought. The period shall be no less than three years and no more than five years; and (k) A description of how the district intends to share and disseminate to other school districts those practices that prove effective. (2) Applications shall contain all the components of section (1) of this rule to be eligible for approval. (3) The application may also contain written statements of support from parents, citizens, local businesses, and other interested individuals and organizations. (4) A district shall submit its application to the Department of Education. (5) Within 60 days districts submitting applications and the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the applications. (6) No later than 90 days after receipt of an application by the Department of Education, the State Board of Education shall approve or deny any application submitted under this Act. (7) Along with its annual report, a district may submit proposed amendments to its approved program describing additional statutes, rules, or local policies and agreements that it proposes to waive. Such amendments must be accompanied by a statement of support from the local school board, the exclusive representative of teachers if waiver of a collective bargaining obligation over mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, a right or obligation over mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, a right or obligation under a collective bargaining contract or any right under ORS 243.650 to 243.782, 342.513, 342.545, 342.553, 342.608, 342.610, 342.613 or 342.650 is required, and each building site committee involved in the project. The advisory committee may recommend approval of such amendments upon a finding of satisfactory progress by the district and a determination that all other provisions of this Act have been met. (8) A district may terminate its application by submitting to the board a request for termination that has been approved by the school board, the exclusive representative of teachers if waiver of a collective bargaining obligation over mandatory subjects of collective bargaining, a right or obligation under a collective bargaining contract or any right under ORS 243.650 to 243.782, 342.513, 342.545, 342.553, 342.608, 342.610, 342.613, or 342.650 is required, and the building site committees. (9) Applications under this program shall be effective for the period of time identified in the application and are renewable. Applications may be renewed subject to reapplication, evaluation, and the approval by the Board of Education.