Bill > H444

This bill aims to improve public schools and reduce the achievement gap by introducing new provisions for identifying and supporting underperforming schools, as well as expanding public school choice through charter schools. It modifies existing laws to allow for the designation of "priority schools" based on student performance data, even before they are officially labeled as underperforming or chronically underperforming, and requires these schools to develop comprehensive "priority plans" that address academic needs, social services, and workforce development, with measurable goals for improvement. The bill also adjusts regulations concerning charter schools, including the number of charter schools allowed, the process for granting new charters, and how charter schools can access facilities, with provisions to prioritize charter schools that have demonstrated academic success when excess school facility capacity is available.