(1) (a) Based on the completed practices assessment, by a date specified by rule of the state board, but not later than October 1, 2010, each high priority local education provider shall adopt a student graduation and completion plan for the schools operated or approved by the high priority local education provider. Each priority local education provider shall adopt a student graduation and completion plan by a date specified by rule of the state board, but not later than October 1, 2011. Following adoption of the initial student graduation and completion plan, each high priority and priority local education provider shall review and update the student graduation and completion plan in accordance with timelines adopted by rule of the state board. In setting the dates for adoption of the initial student graduation and completion plans and the timelines for reviewing and updating the student graduation and completion plans, the state board shall ensure that the dates coincide with the dates by which each local education provider is required to adopt the plan required by its accreditation category or its annual performance review. (b) Each local education provider that is not a high priority or priority local education provider is encouraged to adopt a student graduation and completion plan and to periodically review and update the plan. A local education provider that chooses to adopt a student graduation and completion plan pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall comply with the provisions of subsection (6) of this section. (c) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) to the contrary, if a high priority or priority local education provider has authorized one or more existing charter high schools pursuant to article 30.5 of this title, each charter high school shall adopt its own student graduation and completion plan in accordance with the deadlines specified in paragraph (a) of this subsection (1) and submit the plan to the department pursuant to subsection (6) of this section. A student graduation and completion plan adopted by a charter high school shall conform to the requirements specified in subsection (2) of this section. (2) At a minimum, each high priority and priority local education provider's student graduation and completion plan shall include: (a) The percentage by which the high priority or priority local education provider anticipates reducing the student truancy rate and dropout rate and the timeline for achieving the reductions; (b) The percentage by which the high priority or priority local education provider anticipates increasing the student attendance, graduation, and completion rates and the timeline for achieving the increases; (c) Other objectives that the high priority or priority local education provider identifies that are designed to result in improved dropout prevention, improved student attendance, and improved student engagement and re-engagement within the schools operated or approved by the high priority or priority local education provider; (d) The manner in which the high priority or priority local education provider will measure success in achieving the goals and objectives of the student graduation and completion plan; (e) The manner in which school staff and parents will work together to address the risk factors and remedies for students; and (f) A description of the supports that the high priority or priority local education provider will provide to a student who leaves a public school prior to graduation or completion, which supports, at a minimum, shall include an explanation of the educational alternatives available to the student to assist him or her in re-engaging in school and other information to assist with his or her transition into other educational settings, including but not limited to an adult basic education, general educational development, or English-as-a-second-language program, or into the workforce or job training. (3) In designing its student graduation and completion plan, each high priority or priority local education provider is encouraged to: (a) Include a variety of innovative dropout reduction efforts in the plan, including new schools and programs that provide educational environments that are specifically designed to promote student re-engagement, including policies and programs that create alternative pathways to high school graduation; (a.5) Expand the availability of visual arts and performing arts courses and opportunities through the regular school curriculum and through increased access to extracurricular activities, including but not limited to entering into agreements with nonprofit or for-profit community arts organizations to provide expanded visual arts and performing arts educational programs; and (b) Review existing supports and resources that the high priority or priority local education provider may leverage to support implementation of the plan, including but not limited to grants for expelled and at-risk student services available pursuant to section 22-33-205, grants available through the school counselor corps grant program created in article 91 of this title, assistance available through the closing the achievement gap program pursuant to section 22-7- 611, and federal moneys available pursuant to the "Safe and Drug-free Schools and Communities Act", 20 U.S.C. sec. 7101 et seq. (4) Each high priority or priority local education provider, in adopting its student graduation and completion plan, shall also adopt a process by which annually to review and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. Each high priority or priority local education provider that is a school district shall include its practices assessment and its student graduation and completion plan with the plan the school district is required to adopt based on its accreditation category. (5) The office shall provide technical assistance to high priority local education providers to assist them in completing their student graduation and completion plans. The office may provide technical assistance to priority local education providers as allowable within available appropriations. (6) Upon adopting its student graduation and completion plan or any updates to the plan, each high priority or priority local education provider shall transmit the plan to the department for publication on the internet. (7) (a) Beginning in the 2011-12 academic year, the office shall annually evaluate each high priority local education provider's student graduation and completion plan as part of the accreditation review process. The office shall evaluate the components of each student graduation and completion plan, the high priority local education provider's implementation of the plan, and the results achieved. In evaluating the student graduation and completion plans, the office shall generally ensure that the high priority local education provider applies best practices and strategies and employs rigorous ongoing program evaluation and oversight in implementing the plan. On completion of the evaluation, the office may provide recommendations to the high priority local education provider concerning improvements in the plan design and implementation. (b) The office may evaluate, as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (7), the student graduation and completion plans of priority local education providers as allowable within available appropriations.
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