DeKalb County-Draft-AppendixA (3) - May 29, 2024 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
This contract is a draft and is not finalized. It has not been approved by the State Board of Education. Please be aware that
this contract is subject to revisions.
Appendix A – Flexibility Component of Contract
Under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-80 and State Board Rule 160-5-1-.33, DeKalb County is seeking flexibility for all schools included in this
Contract from the following state laws, rules, and regulations in exchange for greater accountability.

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-82 mandates that the goal for each waiver and variance shall be the improvement of student performance. This
Appendix delineates the specifically identified state laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures for which a waiver is requested
and the expected impact of such waivers on student performance.

Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 20-2-84, the SWSS must request a waiver or variance of at least one of the following areas:
• Class size requirements in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-182;
• Expenditure controls in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-171 and categorical allotment requirements in Article 6 of Title 20;
• Certification requirements in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-200; or
• Salary schedule requirements in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-212.

Waiver areas selected:
Class size requirements in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-182
Expenditure controls in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-171 and categorical allotment requirements in Article 6 of Title 20

Academic Programs Flexibility Rationale:
At the heart of the district's continuous improvement framework is a focus on the instructional core. By leveraging access to grade-
level, State Standards-aligned tasks for Tier 1 instruction, the district can ensure that all students receive rigorous instruction
designed to improve their learning outcomes. One of the key components of this framework is a focus on cognitively rigorous and
culturally responsive instructional practices. By providing system-wide professional learning and implementation support, the district
can ensure that teachers have the tools and knowledge they need to help all students engage with challenging academic content.
The culture and climate pillar of the district's comprehensive continuous improvement framework represents the idea that school
culture plays a significant role in shaping students’ academic and social outcomes. The culture of a school influences everything from
student behavior to teacher job satisfaction. Educators in DeKalb County School District recognize that developing a supportive and
inclusive culture is vital to creating a pathway towards equity. By leveraging system-wide professional learning and implementation
support of restorative practices, the district is working to create intellectually and socially safe environments for learning. Flexibility in
this area aligns with the following strategic priorities: student success with equity and access, stakeholder engagement and
communications, and culture and climate.

Competencies and Core Implement courses that focus on content mastery in lieu of seat time.
Curriculum, Online §20-2-140.1
Learning
Competencies and Core Implement courses that focus on content mastery in lieu of seat time.
Curriculum, Online §20-2-142
Learning
General and career Implement courses that focus on content mastery in lieu of seat time.
§20-2-151
education programs
Instruction in social graces Flexibility allows the district to waive the requirement to offer instruction in social graces
and etiquette may be §20-2-187(b) and etiquette.
waived
Organization of Schools; DeKalb County School District does not employ School Administrative Managers. The
School Administrative §20-2-290 District follows PSC guidelines and locally determines the highly qualified
Managers administrative staff required to ensure high quality instruction.
The District has developed a comprehensive compliance monitoring system to assess
implementation of governance teams (Principal Advisory Councils). Increased
opportunities for inter-school collaboration and cross-council structures result in higher
School Councils §20-2-85
levels of community engagement in targeted and district-wide initiatives. Flexibility in
this area allows for community and local business partners' participation on governance
teams.
The District has developed a comprehensive compliance monitoring system to assess
implementation of governance teams (Principal Advisory Councils). Increased
opportunities for inter-school collaboration and cross-council structures result in higher
School Councils §20-2-86
levels of community engagement in targeted and district-wide initiatives. Flexibility in
this area allows for community and local business partners' participation on governance
teams.
Health & Physical Flexibility allows the district to adjust minimum contact hours for PE.
160-4-2-.12
Education Program
Flexibility in this area allows for the substitution of equivalent or higher-level graduation
Graduation Requirements 160-4-2-.48
requirements. DeKalb County School District requires 24 credits for graduation.

DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
This contract is a draft and is not finalized. It has not been approved by the State Board of Education. Please be aware that
this contract is subject to revisions.
Flexibility allows the district to award credit for course completion upon mastery of
course standards at any time during the semester and waive the clock hour
Awarding Credit 160-5-1-.15
requirements for students to earn a Carnegie Unit of credit during the regular school
year and summer school.

Human Resources Flexibility Rationale:
The District's comprehensive approach to continuous improvement is changing the teaching and learning landscape in DeKalb
County School District. One of the key components of this framework is a focus on attracting and retaining high-quality staff. By
putting structures and processes in place to support communication with staff about district level decisions and actions, the district
can ensure that its teachers, leaders, and staff are engaged, empowered, and motivated to provide high-quality instruction to all
students. Flexibility in this area aligns with the district's strategic priority to increase staff effectiveness by recruiting, developing, and
retaining highly effective staff.

HUMAN RESOURCES FLEXIBILITY Implementation Details

Biannually, the District engages various stakeholder groups in the development of
school calendars to tailor instruction to students' diverse learning needs. This waiver
School Day and Year for
§20-2-151 allows the District the flexibility to implement school days and calendars designed for
Students and Employees
increased collaborative planning time, professional development, and instructional
enrichment.
Biannually, the District engages various stakeholder groups in the development of
school calendars to tailor instruction to students' diverse learning needs. This waiver
School Day and Year for
§20-2-160(a) allows the District the flexibility to implement school days and calendars designed for
Students and Employees
increased collaborative planning time, professional development, and instructional
enrichment.
Biannually, the District engages various stakeholder groups in the development of
school calendars to tailor instruction to students' diverse learning needs. This waiver
School Day and Year for
§20-2-168(c) allows the District the flexibility to implement school days and calendars designed for
Students and Employees
increased collaborative planning time, professional development, and instructional
enrichment.

DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
This contract is a draft and is not finalized. It has not been approved by the State Board of Education. Please be aware that
this contract is subject to revisions.
Creatively group students in ways that serve larger groups of students in innovative
Class-size and Reporting
§20-2-182 instructional models. Increased class size is offset with additional support services
requirements
provided to students.
Flexibility allows the district to allocate categorical funding earned though the QBE
Professional Learning §20-2-182(h)
formula to areas that support our strategic plan.
Flexibility allows the district to allocate categorical funding earned though the QBE
Instructional Extension §20-2-184.1
formula to areas that support our strategic plan.
Due to the nationwide teacher shortage, situations may dictate having teachers to
provide class coverage during lunch periods. As best as possible the district will
Employment, Conditions of
§20-2-218 provide duty free lunch. However in times of staff shortages, students must be properly
Employment
supervised. Administration will employ other incentives to teachers who are requested
to cover classes during their duty free lunch time.

HUMAN RESOURCES FLEXIBILITY Student Improvement Outcomes
Class-size and §20-2-182 The District's "plus 2 waiver" provides schools a built-in, maximum class size buffer.
Reporting This flexibility helps protect against the risk of exceeding maximum class sizes when
requirements enrolling new students into classes and/or courses. The waiver also provides additional
flexibility during the master scheduling process. While school leaders are not
encouraged to routinely use the maximum class size when creating the master
schedule, they may utilize the flexibility to maximize the efficiency of their allotted staff.
Without this waiver, the district would either allot more staff at an additional cost,
reschedule and redistribute students, or limit the classes and/or courses which students
can enroll. Flexibility in this area aligns to the following district academic performance
objectives: increase the 4-year graduation rate to meet the state average; and increase
content mastery achievement rates to meet the state average for all tested areas.
Employment, §20-2-218 The provision of class coverage increases students' access to high-quality, certified
Conditions of instructional staff and aligns to the following district academic performance objectives:
Employment increase the 4-year graduation rate to meet the state average; and increase content
mastery achievement rates to meet the state average for all tested areas.

DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.
This contract is a draft and is not finalized. It has not been approved by the State Board of Education. Please be aware that
this contract is subject to revisions.
Financial Flexibility Rationale:
DeKalb County School District's comprehensive approach to improving the school district’s education quality and student
achievement is outlined in its locally designed continuous improvement framework. In DeKalb County School District, the framework
has had a successful impact on multiple target areas, including the area of sound fiscal stewardship. The district requires flexibility in
this area to leverage long-term financial planning to ensure it has the necessary funding for its instructional core and operational
priorities, resulting in a significant overall improvement in academic performance. Flexibility in this area aligns with the district's
strategic priority to increase organizational effectiveness by ensuring excellent financial management and efficient use of resources.

FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY Implementation Details

Increase the financial transparency at the district, regional and school levels through
the use of the district allocation formula (RAMP). Decentralize Business Services; and
Categorical Allotment
§20-2-167 create more efficient purchasing processes. Allocate a higher degree of resources
requirements
towards social emotional learning; safety, security, and other wrap around services; and
support for the whole child.
Increase the financial transparency at the district, regional and school levels through
the use of the district allocation formula (RAMP). Decentralize Business Services; and
Direct Classroom
§20-2-171 create more efficient purchasing processes. Allocate a higher degree of resources
Expenditure Control
towards social emotional learning, safety and security and other wrap around services
and support the whole child.
Allocate additional local funding to support the maintenance and operational needs that
Categorical Allotment
§20-2-183 have been historically deferred in excess of what is provided through the QBE program
requirements
weight.

As the authorized representative of DeKalb County, I hereby certify and provide legal assurance that DeKalb County understands
that it is requesting increased flexibility from identified state laws, rules, and regulations in exchange for increased accountability and
defined consequences. DeKalb County further understands that the purpose of seeking a waiver or variance from identified state
laws, rules, and regulations is to increase student performance. I also certify that DeKalb County:

 Ensures that all information submitted to the Georgia Department of Education in connection with this strategic waiver
application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge;

 Adopted a district strategic plan within the last five years, linked below, for improving the performance of its schools; and

 For each waiver or variance request included in Appendix A of the Strategic Waiver School System Contract, a waiver
explanation is provided. Where there is not an explanation provided for a requested waiver or variance, I understand that the
waiver or variance request will not be granted.

_________________________________ ____________________________ ___________
(Printed Name) Superintendent (Signature) Superintendent Date

DRAFT CONTRACT – NOT FINAL.

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