A closer look at how the legislation would work,

It would create an Opportunity School District, which would pick up 20 failing schools each year. The overall number would be capped at 100, and the program would start in the 2017 school year.

Schools that score below a 60 on the state’s College and Career Performance Index three years running would be eligible for the program, but “other considerations” such as community engagement and feedback from the families of students would also factor into the decision. Once the decision to intervene is made, the superintendent of the new district, who would report to the governor, can choose among four options: Direct state management of the school Shared governance with a local school board Conversion to a charter school Closure of the school The Opportunity School District’s superintendent would pick the school leadership team. And each opportunity school would have a nonprofit board to oversee its governance, although it’s unclear who would tap the members.

The funding of the program, which would start in the 2017 school year, would come from several streams of revenue. Each school would still receive its regular allotment of state grants, funding from the state’s education formula and federal dollars.

It also would receive a “proportional share” of state grants and local funding determined by the new district based on the number of students enrolled. And the General Assembly would be allowed, at the governor’s urging, to set aside additional money for the school district. Private donations would also be accepted.

To pay for the administrative side of the new school district, its superintendent would be allowed to withhold up to 3 percent of a school’s funding.

Under the proposal, the state school district would pick up the tab for routine maintenance and repairs. Local boards of education would pay for more extensive repairs and any capital construction projects.

An opportunity school would purchase services from the state district, a local board of education or another provider for routine student support and operations. Local school boards would be required to “cooperate fully” with the districts and make the services available at a reasonable cost.