Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS)

In February of 2024, notice was given to school systems that those wishing to continue operating as a Strategic Waiver School System (SWSS) beyond their current contract end date must apply for a new contract with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). The new streamlined application process took place between February and March of 2024, with GaDOE review, analysis and feedback conducted in April and May, and final State Board of Education approval taking place at the State Board of Education Meeting held June 13, 2024.

SWSS Contract Stages:

Glynn County School System's (GCSS) updated application included overarching rationales for each waiver category: academic programs flexibility, human resources flexibility, and financial flexibility. Additionally, specific state laws and/or State Board Rules which were selected were listed, along with implementation details that included an explanation of the intended use and anticipated impact of the waiver. For certain waivers, as determined by GaDOE, GCSS also provided additional explanation regarding the anticipated improvement in student outcomes through the use of the requested waiver.

The new GaDOE streamlined application also demonstrated an alignment with the Georgia Vision Project (GVP) in the following areas:

Recommendation Area 7: Governance, Leadership, and Accountability

7.3 - Change and streamline the process by which local school district obtain flexibility from state mandates so it is based on school and district performance expectations outlined in the district's strategic improvement plan and takes into account the needs, resources, and characteristics of the local community.

Recommendation Area 9: Financial Resources

9.4 - Provide a high level of flexibility to local school districts in decision-making authority about the most effective strategies for the expenditure of funds to enable all students to be successful in school, coupled with appropriate methods for evaluating school and district success and for implementing positive state interventions where they are found to be needed.

The SWSS Flexibility Contract will run from July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2030.

Annual Monitoring will be done cooperatively with GaDOE to ensure GCSS meets the goals outlined within our SWSS Flexibility Contract.

Annual Reports will be provided to GaDOE as per our SWSS Flexibility Contract, which will indicate progress toward meeting goals as well as the implementation and impact of the selected waivers outlined in Appendix A of our SWSS Flexibility Contract.

Glynn County SWSS Contract: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2030

Historic/Archived Information Regarding SWSS/IE2

Overview:

Posted August 21, 2015

The State Board of Education unanimously approved Glynn County’s Strategic Waivers School System/IE2 (SWSS/IE2) contract at its regular monthly meeting held Thursday, Aug. 20 in Atlanta.

Local school districts that operate under the terms of an SWSS/IE2 contract with the State Board of Education receive flexibility in the form of waivers of certain state laws, rules and guidelines in exchange for greater accountability for increased student performance. This district flexibility option was created by House Bill 1209, which provided "increased flexibility for local school systems" when it passed in 2008. Originally, school districts that choose this option were known as IE2, or Investing in Educational Excellence Systems. Now they are known as Strategic Waivers School Systems (SWSS/IE2).

“We’re excited about the State Board’s approval of our Strategic Waivers contract because ultimately it will help us to better serve our students,” said Former Glynn County Schools Superintendent Howard Mann. “With the flexibility granted by the contract, we’ll be able to tailor our curriculum, programs and services to meet the needs of Glynn County students, rather than having these things dictated to us from Atlanta.”

Mann said that the Glynn County Board of Education and district staff monitored the accountability program closely as numerous changes were made at the state level in the years leading up to the June 30, 2015 deadline for local systems to select an accountability model. The state’s original five options were narrowed to three – Status Quo, Charter System or Strategic Waivers/IE2. Mann said that the SWSS/IE2 option aligned better with the district’s strategic plan, organization of schools and governance philosophies.

“After carefully analyzing each option and gathering feedback from the community over the past two years, we determined that the Strategic Waivers/IE2 model was the best choice for Glynn County,” Mann said. “With graduation rates and test scores steadily improving, and students successfully transitioning into higher education and the workforce after graduation, there are a lot of positive things going on in Glynn County. We expect that these trends will continue to improve under our new contract with the state as we have the flexibility to target and address issues that are unique to our community.”

Glynn County’s SWSS/IE2 flexibility began retroactively on July 1, 2015 and will run through June 2022. The contract requires the Glynn County School System to improve baseline CCRPI scores by three percent annually at each Glynn County school. Schools developed strategic plans that align with the district strategic plan to promote attainment of school and district improvement goals.

Posted February 26, 2015

The Glynn County School System is seeking input from parents, employees and community members during the process of selecting the appropriate School System Operating Model and Flexibility Options as required by Georgia law.

School System Operating Models and Flexibility Options refer to the state law that requires all school systems in Georgia to select one of three "flexibility options" by June 30, 2015. These operating models and flexibility options are:

Investing in Educational Excellence System, also know as IE2;
Charter System; and
Status Quo System.

Both IE2 and the Charter System offer school district flexibility from certain state rules and regulations in exchange for greater accountability. Local school systems are encouraged to seek waivers from Title 20 statutes, which will enable districts to exercise flexibility in educational innovation and in the reallocation of resources to increase student achievement. These flexibility options will be linked to district and school-level decision-making and governance.

In deciding the appropriate System Operating Model, it is imperative that the model aligns with both the GCSS district strategic plan and the district's AdvancED/SACS accreditation review. The model must support district vertical alignment in key areas including the GCSS district strategic plan and school improvement status, AdvancEd/SACS accreditation, the Georgia Department of Education Teacher and Leader Evaluation Platform (TKES and LKES), the GSBA Quality Board Recognition program and the superintendent's annual evaluation by the Glynn County Board of Education.

Please use the subpage links in the left-hand column to learn more about this important initiative. [Archived information is now posted below. Links are no longer applicable.] This site has been designed to keep you informed as we move through this process. Your active engagement is welcomed and encouraged!

Operating Models and Flexibility Options:

What is an Investing in Educational Excellence (IE2) System?

Definition: A local district that has a performance contract with the State Board of Education (SBOE) that grants flexibility from specific Title 20 provisions, SBOE rules, and Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) policies and regulations.
Facts and Features: A local district has a contract with the SBOE, and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) monitors performance. The system gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability.
Relative Advantages/Disadvantages: A local district has the flexibility to innovate and benefits from possible savings from waivers. The local district will lose governance over schools that fail to meet targets after five years.
Federal/State Compliance: A local district must comply with all federal laws and regulations, and all state laws, rules and regulations that are not waived by the IE2 contract.

What is a Charter System?

Definition: A local district that has an executed charter from the SBOE that grants the district flexibility from almost all of Title 20, SBOE rules, and GaDOE policies and regulations.
Facts and Features: The charter is a contract between district and SBOE. The district gains flexibility to innovate in exchange for increased academic accountability, and the district must provide each school with school-based leadership and decision-making authority.
Relative Advantages/Disadvantages: A local district has school-level autonomy, and accountability is required. The district benefits from possible savings from waivers and additional per-pupil funding in QBE, if appropriated.
Federal/State Compliance: A local district must comply with all federal laws and regulations, and with all state laws, rules and regulations that cannot be waived (e.g., health and safety).

What is a Status Quo System?

Definition: A local district that has elected not to request increased flexibility in exchange for increased accountability and defined consequences and opted to remain under all current laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Facts and Features: No performance contract; no district flexibility from Title 20, SBOE rules, or GaDOE guidelines. No waivers granted by the state unless extraordinary circumstances exist.
Relative Advantages/Disadvantages: No change is required; no financial savings from waivers.
Federal/State Compliance: Must comply with all federal laws and regulations; must comply with ALL state laws, rules and regulations.

GCSS Flexibility Options Presentation - 2015

GCSS Flexibility Options Presentation - 2015

Dr. Shelly Nelson

Director of Accountability and Compliance

912-267-4100 ext. 1538

[email protected]