(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "Eligible district" means a school district that has been identified by rule of the state board as having a significant achievement gap. (b) "Eligible school" means a public school that has been identified by rule of the state board as having a significant achievement gap. (2) There is hereby established in the department the closing the achievement gap program, referred to in this section as the "program", to provide extensive assistance to eligible districts and eligible schools. (3) The department shall prepare and distribute to each eligible district and eligible school an outline of different strategies the eligible district or eligible school may implement to improve academic achievement. The department shall provide the outline by April 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the eligible district or eligible school intends to participate in the program. The outline may include, but need not be limited to, the following strategies: (a) Using disaggregated student data to set academic improvement targets in reading, writing, mathematics, and science; (b) Using improvement targets to define professional development needs related to content, instruction, differentiation, and best practices in educating special education students, gifted and talented students, English language learners, and other student subgroups, as needed; (c) Developing interim district-level and building-level assessments to monitor student progress toward proficiency on the state model content standards and developing a plan to immediately address gaps in learning; (d) Examining and realigning, as needed, school scheduling, academic support systems, and assignments of personnel; (e) Designing a plan for increasing parental knowledge and skill to support academic objectives; and (f) Identifying leaders who specialize in rehabilitating failing schools and who may serve as school principals. (4) (a) An eligible school that chooses to apply for participation in the program shall provide to its district school board a list of the strategies selected from the outline provided by the department that the eligible school intends to implement to improve academic achievement among the students enrolled in the eligible school. The eligible school shall provide the list by May 1 of the school year preceding the school year in which the eligible school intends to participate in the program. If the district school board chooses to allow the eligible school to apply for participation in the program, the district school board shall, in accordance with timelines adopted by rule of the state board, provide to the department a list of the strategies that the district school board and the eligible school have chosen to implement to improve academic achievement among the students enrolled in the eligible school. (b) An eligible district that chooses to apply for participation in the program shall, in accordance with timelines adopted by rule of the state board, provide to the department a list of the strategies selected from the outline provided by the department that the eligible district has chosen to implement to improve academic achievement within the eligible district. (5) The state board shall determine the criteria by which eligible districts and eligible schools shall be selected to participate in the program and shall promulgate rules that set forth the criteria. (6) Subject to available appropriations or gifts, grants, and donations, and upon the request of a participating eligible district or eligible school, the department shall provide assistance through the program to the participating eligible district or eligible school. The assistance may consist of, but is not limited to, information, personnel, and program and technical support. (7) The state board may promulgate all reasonable and necessary rules to implement this section. (8) The department may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section.
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