(a)
It is the intent of the Legislature to contract for an independent evaluation of education restructuring implemented pursuant to this chapter.
(b)
The purposes of evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) an assessment of the nature, scope, and quality of implementation of education restructuring; (2) recommendations regarding any needed modifications in state statutes, policies, or procedures in order to support and assist implementation of local education restructuring; and (3) assessments of the effectiveness of each of the restructuring elements in shifting from a rule-oriented to a pupil performance-oriented accountability system for public education measured by authentic measures of pupil performance, and in pupil, parent, and school employee satisfaction with pupil learning, school organization, and governance and management.
(c)
The evaluation shall include all the following:
(1)
A measure of pupil progress in attaining subject matter standards assessed. The evaluation shall determine any changes in learning outcomes of pupils in participating schools and school districts, and in particular, the learning outcomes for pupils performing below their potential and for all pupils by race, ethnicity, gender, linguistic, and socioeconomic background, and any other appropriate characteristic.
(2)
An assessment of the nature and quality of instruction to pupils in participating schools and school districts.
(3)
An assessment of the school environment, as measured by school attendance, discipline, and dropout data.
(4)
Information regarding any changes in roles or responsibilities among participating individuals, including teachers, administrators, other school staff, parents, pupils, and participating entities, such as businesses, colleges and universities, and educational organizations.
(5)
An assessment of the degree of implementation, and measures of effectiveness, of restructuring components implemented, particularly as implementation affects measures of pupil learning and pupil, parent, teacher, administrator, and community satisfaction with participating schools.
(6)
An assessment of the funding level required to support the restructuring, including identification of an appropriate funding level to support both initial planning and ongoing costs, an assessment of whether and to what extent existing resources may fund ongoing costs of restructuring, and an evaluation of the use and integration of federal, state, local, and private funding to support restructuring.
(d)
The demonstration of restructuring in education shall be deemed to be effective for the purposes of this section if there is a sustained increase in the learning outcomes of pupils for pupils of all levels of achievement and pupil, parent, and staff satisfaction with participating schools.
(e)
It is the intent of the Legislature that the evaluation commence upon the implementation of the demonstration of restructuring in education, and continue for the five-year demonstration period.