New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 6A - EDUCATION › Chapter 30 - EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS › Subchapter 5 - IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS › Section 6A:30-5.3 - In-depth evaluation

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) Upon completion of the comprehensive
				review, the Commissioner will notify the school district as to whether the
				Department will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the school district pursuant
				to the following:
1. The Department shall
				conduct an in-depth evaluation of school districts that satisfy less than 50
				percent of the weighted quality performance indicators in one or more of the
				five key components of school district effectiveness, as determined by the
				comprehensive review, unless the Commissioner determines a comprehensive
				evaluation of the school district by the Department or directed by it has
				occurred within the last year;
2.
				The Department may conduct an in-depth evaluation for school districts that
				satisfy between 50 and 79 percent of the weighted quality performance
				indicators in one or more of the five key components of school district
				effectiveness, as determined by the comprehensive review. In making this
				determination, the Commissioner shall consider:
i. Whether other evaluations of the school
				district address the area(s) of deficiency or limited capacity identified
				through the comprehensive review process and whether the other evaluations
				obviate the need for an additional in-depth evaluation; or
ii. Whether the school district can
				demonstrate, through documentation or other data, it is engaged in efforts to
				address the area(s) of deficiency or limited capacity identified through the
				comprehensive review process; and
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of
(a)1 and 2 above, the Commissioner may decide
				not to conduct an in-depth evaluation of a school district if the Department
				conducted in a prior year an in-depth evaluation that was the basis for a
				district improvement plan currently in operation in the school
				district.
(b) The Commissioner
				shall designate, secure, or appoint appropriate persons or entities to conduct
				the in-depth evaluation. The evaluation team may consist of Department
				personnel, highly skilled professionals, or other appropriate persons as
				determined by the Commissioner, who also shall appoint a team leader. In all
				instances, the members of the evaluation team shall be qualified by training
				and experience to examine the specific conditions within the school district
				identified through the comprehensive review.
(c) The evaluation team, in consultation with
				Department staff, shall determine the scope of the in-depth evaluation. The
				evaluation may include, but need not be limited to:
1. The deficiency(ies) or area(s) of limited
				capacity within the school district identified by the comprehensive review as
				the component(s) of school district effectiveness for which the school district
				satisfied less than 80 percent of the weighted quality performance
				indicators;
2. Other
				deficiency(ies) or area(s) of limited capacity in school district effectiveness
				related to the deficiency(ies) or area(s) identified in (d)1 above;
				and/or
3. Conditions in the
				community that may adversely affect the students' ability to learn.
(d) The evaluation team leader, in
				consultation with the Commissioner and upon notice to the school district, may
				amend the evaluation's scope during the course of the evaluation if warranted
				based on the evaluation team's preliminary findings.
(e) The in-depth evaluation shall include,
				but need not be limited to, the following:
1.
				A pre-evaluation conference by the evaluation team with the CSA to discuss the
				review's scope and the procedures to be followed;
2. On-site visits to the public school
				district's central office and, at the discretion of the evaluation team, to one
				or more of the school district's schools. The dates for on-site visits shall be
				established in advance by the team leader in consultation with the school
				district's CSA;
3. A review of any
				document(s), data, or other written material(s) deemed relevant by the
				evaluation team. The CSA shall make available to the evaluation team, upon
				request, the relevant document(s), data, or other written
				material(s);
4. Interviews with
				individuals as determined appropriate by the evaluation team, including members
				of the school district committee responsible for completing the school
				district's District Performance Review, to obtain the individuals' perspectives
				regarding the circumstances that contributed to the area(s) of deficiency or
				limited capacity in the school district and to receive input and suggestions;
				and
5. Provision by the evaluation
				team for public input regarding the evaluation process.
(f) The review of school district practices
				conducted by the in-depth evaluation team shall be completed within 30 business
				days. The Commissioner may grant a reasonable extension(s) of time for
				completion of the in-depth evaluation.
(g) Within 45 days after conclusion of its
				review, the evaluation team shall submit a report to the Commissioner. The
				report shall include findings, conclusions, and recommendations for the school
				district to use in developing and implementing a district improvement
				plan.
(h) The Commissioner shall
				review the evaluation team's findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The
				Commissioner shall prepare a final report and shall transmit it to the CSA and
				the district board of education. The Commissioner may use his or her final
				report to re-evaluate the school district's placement on the performance
				continuum. The school district and the Department shall use the Commissioner's
				final report in developing the district improvement plan, pursuant to
				N.J.A.C.
				6A:30-5.4.
(i) Within 30 days of the issuance of the
				Commissioner's final report, the district board of education shall report the
				findings at a regular or special meeting.