Senate, House approve changes to Innovative School District

The ISD, formerly known as the Achievement School District, was created in 2016 with the goal of taking five struggling schools from across the state and handing them over to charter school operators in an effort to improve their academic performance.

In year one, schools would be placed on a qualifying list, and the local school board and superintendent would be notified. If the school still qualified in year two, it would be put on a watch list. Following that, the local school board would hold a public hearing with parents and employees to explain the impact of being put on the watch list and improvement plans for the school.

If the school still qualified in year three, it would be put on a warning list. Another public hearing would be held, and the school board would have to present to the county commissioners about the school’s status.

If the school still qualified after the third year and was one of the lowest five qualifying schools in the state, it would be selected by the State Board of Education to join the ISD.

Lawmakers debated Tuesday whether the changes would help the program, which has not managed to turn around Southside-Ashpole Elementary after one year.

Sen. Deanna Ballard, R-Watauga, said the State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson requested changes to the law and worked with the legislature on the bill. Still, some lawmakers opposed the bill, including Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, D-Wake, who said it "props up a failing program."

"It doesn't work in other states, and it certainly doesn't work here," he said.

Sen. Rick Horner, R-Johnston, called the bill "a good attempt to salvage the program" and praised the ISD for trying to help struggling schools.

"That's the reason for this bill here, as I say, to put bubble gum on this thing and try to fix it," he said.

The Senate voted 33-16 for the bill, and the House voted 64-48 for the bill.