DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE CONSENSUS COMMISSION.

SEC. 2853. DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE CONSENSUS COMMISSION. (a) Primary Responsibility.— The Board of Education and the Superintendent shall have primary responsibility for developing and implementing the long-term reform plan for education in the District of Columbia. (b) Duties.— The Consensus Commission shall— (1) identify any obstacles to implementation of the long-term reform plan and suggest ways to remove such obstacles; (2) assist in developing programs that— (A) ensure every student in a District of Columbia public school achieves basic literacy skills; (B) ensure every such student possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically and communicate effectively by the completion of grade 8; and (C) lower the dropout rate in the District of Columbia public schools; (3) assist in developing districtwide assessments, including individual assessments, that identify District of Columbia public school students who lack basic literacy skills, with particular attention being given to grade 4 and the middle school years, and establish procedures to ensure that a teacher is made accountable for the performance of every such student in such teacher’s class; (4) make recommendations to improve community, parent, and business involvement in District of Columbia public schools and public charter schools; (5) assess opportunities in the District of Columbia to increase individual student involvement and attention through such activities as arts or athletics, and make recommendations on how to increase such involvement; and 110 STAT. 1321–154 (6) assist in the establishment of procedures that ensure every District of Columbia public school student is provided the skills necessary for employment, including the development of individual career paths. (c) Powers.— The Consensus Commission shall have the following powers: (1) To monitor and comment on the development and implementation of the long-term reform plan. (2) To exercise its authority, as provided in this subtitle, as necessary to facilitate implementation of the long-term reform plan. (3) To review and comment on the budgets of the Board of Education, the District of Columbia public schools and public charter schools. (4) To recommend rules concerning the management and direction of the Board of Education that address obstacles to the development or implementation of the long-term reform plan. (5) To review and comment on the core curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12 developed under subtitle C. (6) To review and comment on a core curriculum for prekindergarten, vocational and technical training, and adult education. (7) To review and comment on all other educational programs carried out by the Board of Education and public charter schools. (8) To review and comment on the districtwide assessments for measuring student achievement in the core curriculum developed under subtitle C. (9) To review and comment on the model professional development programs for teachers using the core curriculum developed under subtitle C. (d) Limitations.— (1) In general.— Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the Consensus Commission shall have no powers to involve itself in the management or operation of the Board of Education with respect to the implementation of the long-term reform plan.