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Action 12.

Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting

County Schools

Meeting Date:: 01/26/2021
Title:: Approval Letter for Accommodation District
Submitted By:: Kimberly Madden, County Schools
Department:: County Schools

Presentation:

No A/V Presentation

Recommendation:

Approve

Document Signatures:

BOS Signature Required

# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:

NAME
of PRESENTER:

Jacqui Clay

TITLE
of PRESENTER:

School Superintendent

Docket Number (If applicable):

Mandated Function?:

Not Mandated

Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:

Information

Agenda Item Text:

Approve and sign letter to Arizona Department of Education recommending the establishment of an Accommodation District in Cochise County.

Background:

The Cochise County School Superintendent has partnered with GradSolutions LLC* to establish a Dropout Recovery Program for high risk students in the 6-12 grades, providing them a non-traditional alternative to complete their secondary education and move toward post-secondary opportunities, such as certification programs, licensures, internships, and college. However, in order to do so, an Accommodation District must first be established with the Arizona Department of Education.

Arizona defines opportunity youth as 16-24 year-olds who are NOT going to school or working. According to the AZ progress meter, our County's Opportunity Youth Rate is 16%. The state goal is to stay under 7%. This initiative will help reduce the County's Opportunity Youth Rate. This initiative will also assist school districts in supporting their schools’ A-F grade through Arizona's A-F accountability system. The A-F accountability system measures students' academic growth, proficiency in English language arts, math, and science, and the proficiency and academic development of English language learners. These indicators demonstrate when a student is ready to be successful in high school, and when high school students are prepared to succeed in a career or higher education, which ultimately results in higher high school graduation rates. Importantly, the A-F score also helps families decide which school their child/children should attend and/or which County in which to reside.

This online Accommodation Dropout Recovery School provides our high risk youth with motivation, direction, and purpose, giving them a spirit of significance as a Cochise County citizen. Cochise County's private, charter, and unified school districts support and welcome this initiative.

There is no cost to the County to establish an Accommodation District. The contract between the School Superintendent and Grad Solutions provides that the cost per student-funded to Grad Solutions will be the funding for students in the program.

*The contract with GradSolutions LLC was approved by the Board in November, 2020

Department's Next Steps (if approved):

Letter will be sent to ADE School Finance, who will approve/disapprove the Accommodation District.

Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:

The Dropout Recovery Program will not be able to move forward without setting up an Accommodation District.

To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:

Please sign 3 originals and forward 2 to the School Superintendent.

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