(a) The general assembly finds and declares that teaching practices in educational institutions that receive public funding for kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) education should embrace and implement the best practices of models of K-12 education reform including those developed by charter schools, virtual schools, schools participating in voucher programs and other reform models that may arise. Such best practices should be implemented to:

(1) Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods proven to be effective through education reform models;

(2) Improve learning opportunities for all students; and

(3) Close the achievement gap between high-performing and low-performing students.

(b) In order to effectively identify and disseminate best practices of education reform, the state board of education, the department of education and the office of research and education accountability in the office of the comptroller of the treasury, shall confer with other education stakeholders and determine the best means of organizing and operating a best practices clearinghouse.

(c) The purpose of the best practices clearinghouse shall be to collaborate and cooperate with schools using models of education reform to identify their best practices, to implement a system for dissemination of such practices, to permit all public schools to learn from these best practices, and to assist public schools in the use of best practices. The best practices clearinghouse shall be charged with studying models of education reform to identify, develop and share best practices of these models with public schools.

(d) [Deleted by 2016 amendment.]