Bill Summary:

The bill directs the state board of education (state board) to identify by rule a list of statutes and rules for which a rural school district board of education (local board) may invoke an automatic waiver. A local board may invoke an automatic waiver by adopting a resolution and transmitting the resolution to the state board and the commissioner of education. The local board may invoke the automatic waiver on behalf of the entire rural school district or for one or more identified schools of the district. An automatic waiver remains in effect until revoked by the local board through adoption of a resolution. A rural school district that invokes an automatic waiver must identify the automatic waiver on its website and, starting July 1, 2021, provide a standardized description of and rationale for each automatic waiver of statute and the contact information for a school district employee who can explain the automatic waiver. The department of education, working with a statewide association that represents school districts, must adopt standardized descriptions of and rationales for each of the statutes included on the list of automatic waivers for rural school districts adopted by the state board. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

CEA Position Rationale: CEA does not support automatic waivers from law because they further inequity in the public school system. In addition these waivers mask transparency and accountability.

Legislative Priorities: Accountability and Evaluation System Reform, Prioritize Working Families and Union Values, Dismantle Inequitable and Racist Structures, Attract and Retain High Quality Educators and Improve Educator Workload

Tier: 2