Public Act 12-116 establishes a Commissioner’s Network to provide new resources and flexibilities to improve student achievement in the state’s lowest performing schools. The Commissioner’s Network is designed as a partnership between local stakeholders and the state and will serve as a vehicle for innovative initiatives, a platform for sharing effective practices, and a model for other schools and districts throughout the state.

Statute permits the Commissioner to select up to 25 schools for the Network over the next three years: most schools will be selected to join the Network for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, but a limited number of schools will be considered to join the Network for 2012-13. Network turnaround plans will include intensive and transformative strategies that are necessary to turnaround schools that, to date, have been insufficiently successful in their improvement efforts.

___________________________________________________