Pilot Schools

CATEGORIES	PILOT SCHOOLS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION	Local Contract
APPROVAL PROCESS AND OVERSIGHT
Approval Process	Pilot Schools require approval of the local district superintendent and school committee.
Oversight/ Evaluation	In Boston, the superintendent and the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) Steering Committee have oversight authority.
Authority to Conduct School Evaluation	The governing board with local superintendent has final authority.
Accountability	A School Quality Review is conducted every five years, and the BPS/BTU have developed an intervention process for schools of concern.
Audit	There is no requirement for an annual audit, as general school funds are managed by the local district.
APPROVAL PROCESS AND OVERSIGHT
Contractual Work Conditions	These schools are exempt from most work conditions in local contract. In Boston, the contract requires compensation for time worked over 95 hours above the BTU contract. All other work conditions at the school level are defined in a work agreement.
UNION AND DISTRICT
School Committee/ District Policies	Pilot Schools are exempt from school committee policies and district regulations.
Grievances	Each Pilot School must have in place an dispute resolution process, approved by the governing board, that a teacher and staff members may use.
FUNDING
Facilities	Pilot Schools do not pay for the facility if housed in city-owned building, but they must pay for the facility if housed in a non-city owned building.
Teacher Hiring/ Salary Level	Certified teachers are employed at the district salary level.
State/Federal Grants	State and federal grants, such as Title I and IDEA grants, will be received through the local school district.
Funding Formula	Pilot Schools receive a lump sum per pupil funding formula based on district average cost per pupil for all students, excluding out-of-district placements and students with extraordinary needs.
Central Discretionary Services	Select discretionary central office services may be purchased, or the per pupil funds may be added to its lump sum budget.
PERSONNEL
Teacher Evaluation System	Pilot Schools voluntarily agreed to use the BPS evaluation procedure for teachers, but they may also establish separate and additional teacher evaluation processes.
Lay-offs	Lay-offs are affected by personnel “bumping” during time of lay-off.
ENROLLMENT
Projected enrollment	If a Pilot School falls below 5% of its projected enrollment, it must repay the district the per pupil differential below the 5%. Likewise, if a Pilot School exceeds its projected enrollment by 5%, the BPS adds to its budget the per pupil differential above 5%.
Admissions	Elementary and middle schools must use the district lottery process. High schools may use a common Pilot application and their own admissions process, but may not screen for academic achievement.
SCHOOL DATA
MCAS	MCAS results are published as school within district.
Report Cards & Diplomas	Report cards and diplomas are administered by the school district.