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.