By Park H.B. No. 187
74R1334 KKA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the mission of public education.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 35.001, Education Code, as added by
1-5 Chapter 347, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, 1993, is amended to read
1-6 as follows:
1-7 Sec. 35.001. MISSION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION <GOALS>. The
1-8 mission of public education in Texas is to ensure student literacy
1-9 and provide students with a basic knowledge in the core curriculum
1-10 areas of language arts, mathematics, science, history, geography,
1-11 and computer science. <The objective of state support and
1-12 maintenance of a system of public education is education for good
1-13 citizenship and is grounded on the conviction that a general
1-14 diffusion of knowledge is essential for the welfare of Texas and
1-15 for the preservation of the liberties and rights of citizens. The
1-16 goals of public education are as follows:>
1-17 <GOAL A: All students shall have access to an
1-18 education of high quality that will prepare them to participate
1-19 fully now and in the future in the social, economic, and
1-20 educational opportunities available in Texas.>
1-21 <GOAL B: The achievement gap between educationally
1-22 disadvantaged students and other populations will be closed.
1-23 Through enhanced dropout prevention efforts, the graduation rate
1-24 will be raised to 95 percent of students who enter the seventh
2-1 grade.>
2-2 <GOAL C: The state shall demonstrate exemplary
2-3 performance in comparison to national and international standards
2-4 for student performance.>
2-5 <GOAL D: A well-balanced and appropriate curriculum
2-6 will be provided to all students.>
2-7 <GOAL E: Qualified and effective personnel will be
2-8 attracted and retained. Adequate and competitive compensation
2-9 commensurate with responsibilities will be ensured. Qualified
2-10 staff in critical shortage areas will be recruited, trained, and
2-11 retained.>
2-12 <GOAL F: The organization and management of all levels
2-13 of the education system will be productive, efficient, and
2-14 accountable.>
2-15 <GOAL G: Instruction and administration will be
2-16 improved through research that identifies creative and effective
2-17 methods. Demonstration programs will be developed and local
2-18 initiatives encouraged for new instructional arrangements and
2-19 management techniques. Technology will be used to increase the
2-20 equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of student learning,
2-21 instructional management, staff development and administration.>
2-22 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
2-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-27 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-1 passage, and it is so enacted.