(1) (a) If the state board, pursuant to section 22-11-210, directs a district public school to adopt a priority improvement plan, the local school board, in accordance with time frames specified in state board rules, shall adopt a school priority improvement plan, as described in subsection (4) of this section, for the district public school.

(b) The school accountability committee for the district public school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-32-142 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school priority improvement plan, advise the local school board concerning preparation of the school priority improvement plan, and make recommendations to the local school board concerning the contents of the school priority improvement plan, taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The local school board shall create and adopt the school priority improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Before adopting the school priority improvement plan, the local school board shall hold a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-32-142 (2). The department may require a school district to provide proof of compliance with the requirements of section 22-32-142 (2).

(c) The school district accountability committee shall include the adopted school priority improvement plan in the compilation prepared pursuant to section 22-11-302 (1), and the local school board shall consider the adopted school priority improvement plan in developing the budget required by section 22-44-108. The local school board shall ensure that the school priority improvement plan is in effect for the district public school within the time frames established in state board rules.

(2) (a) If the state board, pursuant to section 22-11-210, directs an institute charter school to adopt a priority improvement plan, the institute, in accordance with time frames specified in state board rules, shall adopt a school priority improvement plan, as described in subsection (4) of this section, for the institute charter school.

(b) The school accountability committee for the institute charter school shall hold a public meeting as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2) to receive input concerning possible strategies to be included in the school priority improvement plan, advise the institute concerning preparation of the school priority improvement plan, and make recommendations to the institute concerning the contents of the school priority improvement plan, taking into account recommendations received at the public meeting. The institute shall create and adopt the school priority improvement plan, taking into account the advice and recommendations of the school accountability committee. Before adopting the school priority improvement plan, the institute shall ensure that the institute charter school holds a public hearing to review the written plan as required in section 22-30.5-520 (2). The department may require the institute to provide proof of compliance with the requirements of section 22-30.5-520 (2).

(c) The institute shall include the adopted school priority improvement plan in the compilation prepared pursuant to section 22-11-303 (2)(b). The institute shall ensure that the school priority improvement plan is in effect for the institute charter school within the time frames established in state board rules.

(3) The commissioner, subject to available appropriations, may assign the state review panel to critically evaluate a public school's priority improvement plan and report to the commissioner any recommended modifications to the plan. The commissioner may recommend to the local school board or the institute modifications to the school priority improvement plan, taking into consideration any recommendations of the state review panel.

(4) A school priority improvement plan must be designed to ensure that the public school improves its performance to the extent that, following completion of the public school's next annual performance review, the public school attains a higher accreditation category. At a minimum, a school priority improvement plan must:

(a) Set or revise, as appropriate, ambitious but attainable targets that the public school shall attain on the performance indicators. The local school board or the institute shall ensure that the targets are aligned with the statewide targets set by the state board pursuant to section 22-11-201.

(a.5) If the public school serves students in kindergarten and first, second, and third grades, identify the strategies to be used in addressing the needs of students enrolled in kindergarten and first, second, and third grade who are identified pursuant to section 22-7-1205 as having significant reading deficiencies and set or revise, as appropriate, ambitious but attainable targets that the public school shall attain in reducing the number of students who have significant reading deficiencies and in ensuring that each student achieves grade level expectations in reading;

(b) Identify positive and negative trends in the levels of attainment by the public school on the performance indicators;

(c) Assess and prioritize the issues and needs at the public school that must be addressed to raise the levels of attainment on the performance indicators by the public school and to improve school readiness, if the public school serves students in preschool or kindergarten. The needs assessment for a public school that enrolls students in kindergarten or any of grades one through three shall include, but shall not be limited to, the early childhood learning needs assessment described in subsection (4.5) of this section.

(d) Identify specific, research-based strategies that are appropriate in scope, intensity, and type to address the needs and issues identified pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (4);

(e) Identify the local, state, and federal resources that the public school will use to implement the identified strategies with fidelity;

(e.5) Incorporate strategies to increase parent engagement in the public school; and

(f) Address any other issues required by rule of the state board or raised by the department through the performance review pursuant to section 22-11-210.

(4.5) An early childhood learning needs assessment must determine the extent to which:

(a) There are quality early childhood programs existing within the neighborhood of the public school; except that a public school must include this information in the early childhood learning needs assessment only if the information is readily available to the public school;

(b) Children are enrolled in publicly funded early learning and development programs within the neighborhood of the public school or in private early learning and development programs that participate in the school readiness quality improvement program created in section 26-6.5-106 and are located within the neighborhood of the public school; except that a public school must include this information in the early childhood learning needs assessment only if the information is readily available to the public school;

(c) The public school works with an early childhood council established pursuant to part 1 of article 6.5 of title 26 or early childhood community agencies existing within the neighborhood of the public school;

(d) The public school collaborates with early childhood providers and programs regarding students' transition from preschool to kindergarten;

(e) Teachers employed at or by the public school to teach kindergarten or one of grades one through three have early childhood teaching credentials;

(f) Joint professional development opportunities, including opportunities for educator collaboration, are available through the public school for early childhood providers, teachers, and principals;

(g) The public school has a current parent engagement plan and provides ample opportunities for parent and family engagement in preschool through third grade; and

(h) Other early childhood resources, such as home visitation, early intervention services, library programs for young children, and family resource centers, are available to families who reside in the neighborhood of the public school.

(5) The local school board, on behalf of a district public school, or the institute, on behalf of an institute charter school, shall submit the school priority improvement plan to the department for publication on the data portal. The public school shall make copies of the school priority improvement plan available to members of the public upon request.