Restart Schools

Successful school reform requires intentional and effective strategic planning and aims for systemic change through the removal of barriers that would otherwise hinder student achievement. Indeed, “school reform can be a complex undertaking that requires careful thought and administration” (U.S. Department of Education).

For Restart Schools, the school's authorization to use charter-like flexibility is intended to provide more opportunities for school reform. Flexibility may provide the ability to address specific needs and barriers to school improvement. The use of flexibility will result in strengthening the systems and structures of the school, and in turn, result in positive student outcomes. 

As of July 2024, there are 174 State Board of Education (SBE) approved Restart Schools in North Carolina across multiple cohorts (see table below). 

Being a Restart School offers an incredible opportunity to be innovative and think outside of the box. The Restart Team provides support for the use of charter-like flexibility and school improvement planning through a variety of professional learning opportunities. 

Words and definitions important to Restart include the following: 

• Restart Definitions
  • Flexibility – Ability to operate with an exemption from a specific statute and rule.
  • Flexibility Categories – Groupings of flexibilities available to Restart schools that include Budget, Employment Requirement, Calendar, Standard Course of Study, Assessment, and Class Size. Please note that the categories are meant to provide a common language and there may be other uses of flexibility. 
  • Flexibility Outcome – School defined measurable outcome used to identify progress in the implementation or evaluation of the flexibility(s) used. 
  • Academic Gain – Academic progress of a school demonstrated through established performance assessments and the systems that impact student achievement from utilized flexibilities. 

Reporting: By statute, all Restart Schools are required to submit a Restart Annual Report. All Restart Annual Reports are due by December 1st where schools report on the previous year’s implementation of Restart by describing Flexibility Outcomes and provide evidence for these outcomes. A Restart school’s first report is due the following December after their first year of implementation (i.e., December 1st during the second year of implementation). 

Reporting Feedback: All Restart schools receive feedback on their Restart Annual Report by the end of January of every year. Schools not meeting Academic Gain by the end of Year 2 of implementation receive required support, which begins with a review of reporting feedback provided.

Evidence of Flexibility in the School Improvement Plan (NCStar): After the initial application is approved by the SBE, schools document their use of flexibility within the School Improvement Plan in NCStar. To document any use of flexibility or change in the use of flexibility, all Restart schools are required to add action steps with both a reference to the flexibility and the year in which the flexibility was implemented.  

School Improvement Plan (SIP) Review and Feedback:  All low-performing Restart Schools receive feedback in NCStar on their School Improvement Plan by the end of February. 

To support the continued authorization of Restart schools, Comprehensive Support Specialists are assigned to specific schools and can offer a range of supports such as professional development, networking opportunities with other Restart Leaders, access to an online informational platform (Restart Canvas Hub), check-ins, assistance with the Annual Report and planning with flexibilities, School Improvement support, NCStar technical assistance, and more. 

• Reporting & School Improvement for Restart Schools Support Options

  • Restart Annual Report Review – One-on-one review of feedback on the December Restart Annual Report. 
  • SIP Feedback Review - If the Restart school is Low Performing, one- on-one review of feedback on the Comprehensive Report (SIP) in NCStar. 
  • Flexibility Planning Professional Development – Training on how to plan using Restart flexibilities, including brainstorming strategies, creation of incremental goals, selection of School Defined Measures, and documentation in the NCStar Comprehensive Report (SIP). This PD session is offered individually (e.g., for single Restart schools in a district) or district wide (e.g., for multiple Restart schools in a district). 
  • Flexibility Planning Assistance – One-on-one planning assistance as needed using the Flexibility Planning Template. 
  • NCStar Platform Assistance – One-on-one assistance regarding use of the NCStar platform and creating a School Improvement Plan in NCStar. 

   

• Additional Key Restart Support Options

  • Professional Learning Networks (PLN) – Monthly PLNs create informal opportunities and formal structures for principals to discuss best practices as related to the Restart Model & school improvement, network and work together, encourage one another, and to celebrate Restart achievements and successes. 
  • Collaborative District and Schools Meetings – These collaborative meetings are sessions where individual school teams & district leaders (CFO, HR, CAO, etc.) discuss where they are with Restart implementation and how each department/office has supported schools in their use of flexibilities. Restart schools and district leaders identify procedural gaps in their use of flexibilities and discuss ways to close these gaps and to address concerns. 
  • Leading and Learning Days Program – Multiple times per year, Restart Schools host other Restart Schools for a day of professional learning. The purpose of the Restart Leading and Learning Program is to highlight & celebrate schools who are ready to showcase exemplar practices and programs with their peers including innovative uses of flexibility & sound school improvement practices; promote collaboration and resource sharing throughout the state; and foster reflection for continuous improvement.