§ 143B-146.5.  Identification of low-performing schools.

(a) The State Board shall design and implement a procedure to identify low-performing schools on an annual basis. Low-performing schools are those participating schools in which there is a failure to meet the minimum growth standards, as defined by the State Board, and a majority of students are performing below grade level.

(b) By July 10 of each year, the Secretary shall do a preliminary analysis of test results to determine which participating schools the State Board may identify as low-performing under this section. The Secretary then shall proceed under G.S. 143B-146.7. In addition, within 30 days of the initial identification of a school as low-performing by the Secretary or the State Board, whichever occurs first, the Secretary shall develop a preliminary plan for addressing the needs of that school. Before the Secretary adopts this plan, the Secretary shall make the plan available to the residential school personnel and the parents and guardians of the students of the school, and shall allow for written comments. Within five days of adopting the plan, the Secretary shall submit the plan to the State Board. The State Board shall review the plan expeditiously and, if appropriate, may offer recommendations to modify the plan. The Secretary shall consider any recommendations made by the State Board.

(c) Each identified low-performing school shall provide written notification to the parents of students attending that school. The written notification shall include a statement that the State Board of Education has found that the school has "failed to meet the minimum growth standards, as defined by the State Board, and a majority of students in the school are performing below grade level." This notification also shall include a description of the steps the school is taking to improve student performance. (1998-131, s. 5.)