1-1 By: Dunnam, Reyna of Bexar (Senate Sponsor - Cain) H.B. No. 1104
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 1999;
1-3 May 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Education; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
1-5 Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to parental involvement programs in public schools.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Section 11.253(d), Education Code, is amended to
1-11 read as follows:
1-12 (d) Each campus improvement plan must:
1-13 (1) assess the academic achievement for each student
1-14 in the school using the academic excellence indicator system as
1-15 described by Section 39.051;
1-16 (2) set the campus performance objectives based on the
1-17 academic excellence indicator system, including objectives for
1-18 special needs populations;
1-19 (3) identify how the campus goals will be met for each
1-20 student;
1-21 (4) determine the resources needed to implement the
1-22 plan;
1-23 (5) identify staff needed to implement the plan;
1-24 (6) set timelines for reaching the goals; [and]
1-25 (7) measure progress toward the performance objectives
1-26 periodically to ensure that the plan is resulting in academic
1-27 improvement; and
1-28 (8) provide for a program to encourage parental
1-29 involvement at the campus.
1-30 SECTION 2. Section 39.131(b), Education Code, is amended to
1-31 read as follows:
1-32 (b) If a campus performance is below any standard under
1-33 Section 39.073(b), the campus is considered a low-performing campus
1-34 and the commissioner may take any of the following actions, listed
1-35 in order of severity, to the extent the commissioner determines
1-36 necessary:
1-37 (1) issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
1-38 of trustees;
1-39 (2) order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
1-40 at the campus for the purpose of notifying the public of the
1-41 unacceptable performance, the improvements in performance expected
1-42 by the agency, and the sanctions that may be imposed under this
1-43 section if the performance does not improve within a designated
1-44 period of time and of soliciting public comment on the initial
1-45 steps being taken to improve performance;
1-46 (3) order the preparation of a report regarding the
1-47 parental involvement program at the campus and a plan describing
1-48 strategies for improving parental involvement at the campus;
1-49 (4) order the preparation of a student achievement
1-50 improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
1-51 for which the campus's performance is unacceptable, the submission
1-52 of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and implementation of
1-53 the plan;
1-54 (5) [(4)] order a hearing to be held before the
1-55 commissioner or the commissioner's designee at which the president
1-56 of the board of trustees, the superintendent, and the campus
1-57 principal shall appear and explain the campus's low performance,
1-58 lack of improvement, and plans for improvement;
1-59 (6) [(5)] appoint a special campus intervention team
1-60 to:
1-61 (A) conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation
1-62 of each low-performing campus to determine the cause for the
1-63 campus's low performance and lack of progress;
1-64 (B) recommend actions, including reallocation of
2-1 resources and technical assistance, changes in school procedures or
2-2 operations, staff development for instructional and administrative
2-3 staff, intervention for individual administrators or teachers,
2-4 waivers from state statute or rule, or other actions the team
2-5 considers appropriate;
2-6 (C) assist in the development of a campus plan
2-7 for student achievement; and
2-8 (D) assist the commissioner in monitoring the
2-9 progress of the campus in implementing the campus plan for
2-10 improvement of student achievement;
2-11 (7) [(6)] if a campus has been a low-performing campus
2-12 for a period of one year or more, appoint a board of managers
2-13 composed of residents of the district to exercise the powers and
2-14 duties of the board of trustees of the district in relation to the
2-15 campus; or
2-16 (8) [(7)] if a campus has been a low-performing campus
2-17 for a period of two years or more, order closure of the school
2-18 program on the campus.
2-19 SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
2-20 school year.
2-21 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-27 passage, and it is so enacted.
2-28 * * * * *