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(I) To ensure a new, fair, demanding eval-
uation process and more and better opportunities
for teacher preparation.
(J) To generate a sense of urgency in the
business and philanthropic community and en-
list them in targeted support for very particular,
concrete school reform goals.
(K) To address the school governance issue,
and to recommend, within 1 year from the date
of the appointment of the members of the Com-
mission constituting a quorum, to the Council,
the Mayor, and the relevant committees of the
Congress an alternative to the current structure
that will eliminate the division of responsibility
and accountability among the Board of Edu-
cation, the District Council and the Mayor.
(2) Each Educational Plan shall include specific
provisions to ensure the best possible utilization of
public school space, including provisions—
(A) to prepare a plan for adaptive reuse of
schools and consolidation;
(B) to develop a five-year capital improve-
ment plan to carry out an approved facilities
master plan which provides for a system-wide
modernization of public schools;
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(C) to institute management systems to sup-
port the implementation of the capital plan, in
consultation and cooperation with the Mayor
and Authority; and
(D) to identify and develop revenue sources
for the approved capital improvement plan.
SEC. 205. ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM-WIDE EDUCATIONAL
REFORM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PLAN.
(a) PLAN GOALS.—Each Educational Plan shall con-
tain a detailed description, including estimates of financial
costs and expected dates of completion, of—
(1) the Board’s school reform goals and objec-
tives;
(2) the Board’s strategy for implementing its
school reform goals and objectives;
(3) the Board’s plans and strategy for imple-
menting applicable District laws enacted to affect
school reform;
(4) the Board’s strategy for developing and im-
plementing district-wide guidelines, rules, and proce-
dures with respect to local school decision making as
provided by applicable District law enacted as part
of any school reform legislation;
(5) the Board’s goals and objectives for the 2-
year period subsequent to the school year for which
267
the Educational Plan applies, as prescribed by the
Commission; and
(6) such other information and detail as may be
prescribed by the Commission.
(b) STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES.—The Commission
may prescribe any reasonable time, standards, procedures,
or forms for preparation and submission of the Educational
Plan.
(c) APPROVAL CRITERIA.—The Commission shall ap-
prove an Educational Plan submitted by the Board if, in
the Commission’s judgment, the Educational Plan is—
(1) complete;
(2) reasonably capable of being achieved;
(3) supported by demonstrably sufficient and
available funding;
(4) responsive to any Commission directives or
requirements;
(5) consistent with applicable District laws en-
acted to affect school reform; and
(6) reasonably capable of achieving substantial
progress toward improving the educational achieve-
ment of the students and is consistent with the Bring-
ing Educational Services to Students (BESST) agen-
da, the District of Columbia Reform Agenda, and the
District of Columbia Public Schools Goals 2000 Plan.
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(d) REJECTION AND REVISION.—If the Commission re-
jects an Educational Plan submitted by the Board, the
Commission may prescribe a procedure and standards for
revision and resubmission of the Educational Plan by the
Board. If, within 60 days after the Commission notifies the
Board of the Commission’s rejection of the Board’s Edu-
cational Plan and of the procedures and standards for revi-
sion and resubmission, the Board fails to approve and re-
submit a revised plan acceptable to the Commission, the
Commission may make revisions and adopt a final Edu-
cational Plan and direct the Superintendent to implement.
(e) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—The Board shall re-
port to the Commission, at such times and in such manner
as the Commission may direct, concerning the Board’s im-
plementation of each approved Educational Plan. The Com-
mission may review the Board’s operations, obtain edu-
cational and financial data, require the Board to produce
reports, and have access to any other information in the
possession of the Board that it deems relevant. The Commis-
sion may issue recommendations or directives within its
powers to the Board for the implementation of the approved
Educational Plan. The Board shall produce such reports
and other information and comply with such directives.
(f) NOTICE OF MODIFICATION.—After approval of each
Educational Plan, the Board shall promptly notify the
269
Commission of any material change in any matter con-
tained in the approved Educational Plan. The Board may
submit to the Commission or the Commission may require
the Board to submit, a modified Educational Plan based
upon revised information. The Commission shall approve
or reject each modified Educational Plan pursuant to sub-
section (c).
SEC. 206. CONSISTENCY WITH SYSTEM-WIDE EDUCATIONAL
REFORM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PLAN.
(a) LIMITS ON CONTRACTING.—The Board shall not
enter into any contract, agreement, or other obligation un-
less it is consistent with the Educational Plan in effect.
(b) COMMISSION AUTHORITY OVER CONTRACTING.—
The Commission shall have no power to impair any exist-
ing contract or obligation of the Board; except, however,
that the Commission may direct the Board to modify or
amend the Board rules or policies that the Commission
deems necessary to facilitate development or implementa-
tion of the Educational Plan.
(c) REVIEW OF CONTRACTS.—The Commission may
request that the Authority review proposed or existing con-
tracts or leases pursuant to section 203(b) of the District
of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management As-
sistance Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–8; 109 Stat. 118).
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SEC. 207. EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCE AUDITS.
The Commission may examine and audit records of
the Board or require the Board to examine and audit its
records at such time and in such manner as the Commis-
sion may prescribe to assure, monitor, and evaluate the per-
formance of the Board with respect to compliance with an
approved Educational Plan and its overall educational
achievement. The Commission shall conduct an annual
audit of the educational performance of the Board with re-
spect to meeting the goals of the Educational Plan for such
year. The audit technique, content, and procedures shall be
determined by the Commission. The Board shall cooperate
and assist in the audit as requested by the Commission.
SEC. 208. INVESTIGATIVE POWERS.
The Commission may investigate any action or activ-
ity which may hinder the progress of any part of an ap-
proved Educational Plan. The Board shall cooperate and
assist the Commission in any investigation. Reports of the
findings of any such investigation shall be provided to the
Board, Superintendent of the District of Columbia Public
Schools, the Mayor, the Council, the Authority, the Commit-
tees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Rep-
resentatives.
SEC. 209. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may at any time
submit recommendations to the Board, Mayor, the Council,