Alabama § 16-13-367 - Raise Act Accountability and Implementation Board.

§ 16-13-367. Raise Act Accountability and Implementation Board.

(a) By July 1, 2028, the Legislature shall establish the RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board to establish a hearing process to monitor the progress of LEAs and schools to ensure that RAISE Act funds are spent effectively and hold them accountable for results.

(b) The RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall be led by the Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee and the Chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee.

(c) The membership of the RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall include the following:

(1) The Governor, or his or her designee.

(2) The State Superintendent of Education.

(3) The Chair of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.

(4) The Chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee.

(5) The Chair of the Senate Education Policy Committee.

(6) The Chair of the House Education Policy Committee.

(7) One member with school turnaround experience or education policy experience appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(8) One member with school turnaround experience or education policy experience appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(9) One member with school turnaround experience or education policy experience appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(10) One member with school turnaround experience or education policy experience appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(11) Two members of the Office of School Improvement team appointed by the State Superintendent.

(12) One member with experience in the charter school sector appointed by the Governor.

(13) Two members with school turnaround experience or education policy experience appointed by the Governor.

(d) If a member no longer meets the qualifications for the member’s position on the board, then the member’s position on the board shall be vacated and shall be replaced by the appropriate appointing authority.

(e) With the support of the department, the board shall annually monitor progress of LEAs and schools, and review and provide feedback on accountability plan and reports submitted pursuant to Section 16-13-365.

(f) By July 1, 2030, the department shall propose a hearing process to determine if RAISE Act funds are being used by LEAs to adequately improve student outcomes for student groups identified in this article. The hearing proposal shall include the process, timeline, and metrics used to determine adequate progress of LEAs. The RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall approve or amend the proposed hearing process.

(g) By July 1, 2033, at the end of a five-year period, the department shall identify LEAs, or individual schools under the jurisdiction of the LEA, that have not made adequate progress in reaching the goals of achievement established pursuant to Section 16-13-365, and shall recommend them for a hearing before the RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board. The RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall approve or amend the department’s list of recommended LEAs. With the support of the department, the RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall then hold the hearings.

(h) Following any hearings, the department shall recommend corrective action for LEAs or individual schools under the jurisdiction of the LEAs. The RAISE Act Accountability and Implementation Board shall approve or amend any proposed corrective action. Corrective action may include, but not be limited to, the loss of autonomy to make budgeting decisions with RAISE Fund allocations; state academic intervention; or other relevant academic interventions, such as those included in the Alabama Numeracy Act in Section 16-6H-12.