N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:33-2.5 - Regional Achievement Center interventions

(a) School and school district leaders shall commit to and be held accountable for the high-quality implementation of the intervention strategies identified in the SIP with the support of the RAC team. District boards of education that have a Priority or Focus School shall submit assurances to the Department ensuring that:

1. Priority and Focus Schools will work with the RAC to develop and implement a SIP that delineates the interventions for which the school and district will be held accountable; and

2. Each Priority and Focus School has sufficient operational flexibility in areas of budgeting, staffing, and calendars/time to implement the approved SIP with fidelity.

(b) If a Priority or Focus School fails to implement the SIP either in whole or in part, or if the SIP does not lead to an adequate increase in student performance outcomes, the Commissioner may take, upon recommendation of the EDRA and/or the RACs, appropriate action to ensure the SIP's meaningful implementation. The action may include, but is not limited to:

1. Directing all educational expenditures in the school district to be spent effectively and efficiently pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-60 to enable students to achieve the NJSLS; and/or

2. Exercising powers pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-6.b, including, but not limited to:

i. Restructuring the curriculum if the Department determines that a Priority or Focus School's curriculum does not satisfy QSR criteria, which may require the school to:

(1) Implement a curriculum, assessment, and intervention system to meet QSR requirements;

(2) Provide training on the new curriculum to staff or to participate in training provided by the Department; or

(3) Comply with other appropriate actions associated with (b)1 and 2 above;

ii. Directing staff retraining or reassignment, including the following:

(1) If the Commissioner determines that a Priority or Focus School's leadership is insufficient to successfully improve the school's performance, the Department may reassign its principal. In such cases, the Department shall approve the school district's replacement selection before he or she is installed. The removed principal shall not be reassigned to another Priority or Focus School to serve in the role as a principal.

(2) Priority and Focus Schools shall utilize a staffing model that meets QSR-established criteria. Priority and Focus Schools shall demonstrate sufficient support for students and school staff in the areas of literacy, mathematics, data, and climate and culture. If a school does not meet the requirements, the Department may take the following actions or other staff-related actions deemed necessary by the Commissioner:

(A) Require the hiring or appointing of staff to fill roles associated with identified school needs, including, but not limited to: school literacy leader; school math leader; school data leader; and school climate and culture leader;

(B) Require staff to participate in training or professional development activities;

(C) Require the school district to purchase resources associated with appropriate training or professional development;

(D) Conduct a comprehensive budget evaluation;

(E) Redirect expenditures; and

(F) Enforce spending at full adequacy budget;

iii. Withholding Federal funds from a school district consistent with authority under Federal or State law;

iv. Altering the budget if, through the QSR process and analysis of other information, the Commissioner determines a Priority or Focus School's budget and/or expenditures are contributing to the school's poor performance, which may include:

(1) Altering the school's budget;

(2) Altering the school district's budget;

(3) Redirecting school spending; or

(4) Redirecting school district spending in ways associated with the Priority or Focus School; and/or

v. Appointing a QTP to assist with the SIP's development and implementation, including, but not limited to, the implementation in Priority Schools of one or more turnaround principles or any intervention authorized through this chapter.

(c) To gather necessary information to determine implementation of a SIP or whether a Priority or Focus School has made adequate progress, Department staff may conduct at least the following:

1. Enter Priority or Focus Schools;

2. Enter school district administrative offices;

3. Interview school or school district staff;

4. Conduct classroom walkthroughs, upon advance notice to the school principal;

5. Conduct surveys of school and/or school district staff, students and families;

6. Request data from the school and/or the school district;

7. Request access to reports and other documents deemed relevant to the Priority or Focus School's performance; or

8. Require and/or provide professional development to school or school district staff.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:33-2.5

Administrative Change, 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).