House to Consider Achievement School Districts | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's note: This post, by Bob Luebke, was originally published in Civitas's online edition.

    The House is scheduled to consider special school reform bill today, HB 1080. Rep. Rob Bryan (R-Mecklenburg) is championing legislation focused on giving our state more tools to help failing schools. Patterned largely on work going on in Tennessee, HB 1080 calls for the creation of a special pilot "Achievement School District." The district would be run by experienced turnaround specialists and give schools additional flexibility in how they are managed. The legislation also calls for Innovation Zones and the use of "Turnaround Principals." Too many children are trapped in failing schools. While charters and school choice provide these children with some options, HB 1080 provides lays out concrete steps to actually improve troubled schools. Best of all, the legislation does it in ways that not only respect local control but also the need for accountability. Find out more here.