By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 911
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to sanctions imposed on low-performing public school
1-2 campuses.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 39.131, Education Code, is amended by
1-5 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 (b) If a campus performance is below any standard under
1-8 Section 39.073(b), the campus is considered a low-performing campus
1-9 and the commissioner shall [may] take [any of] the following
1-10 actions, listed in order of severity, as [to the extent] the
1-11 commissioner determines necessary:
1-12 (1) issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
1-13 of trustees;
1-14 (2) order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
1-15 at the campus for the purpose of notifying the public of the
1-16 unacceptable performance, the improvements in performance expected
1-17 by the agency, and the sanctions that may be imposed under this
1-18 section if the performance does not improve within a designated
1-19 period of time and of soliciting public comment on the initial
1-20 steps being taken to improve performance;
1-21 (3) order the preparation of a student achievement
1-22 improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
1-23 for which the campus's performance is unacceptable, the submission
1-24 of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and implementation of
2-1 the plan;
2-2 (4) order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
2-3 or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
2-4 of trustees, the superintendent, and the campus principal shall
2-5 appear and explain the campus's low performance, lack of
2-6 improvement, and plans for improvement; or
2-7 (5) appoint a special campus intervention team to:
2-8 (A) conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation
2-9 of each low-performing campus to determine the cause for the
2-10 campus's low performance and lack of progress;
2-11 (B) recommend actions, including reallocation of
2-12 resources and technical assistance, changes in school procedures or
2-13 operations, staff development for instructional and administrative
2-14 staff, intervention for individual administrators or teachers,
2-15 waivers from state statute or rule, or other actions the team
2-16 considers appropriate;
2-17 (C) assist in the development of a campus plan
2-18 for student achievement; and
2-19 (D) assist the commissioner in monitoring the
2-20 progress of the campus in implementing the campus plan for
2-21 improvement of student achievement.
2-22 (b-1) If[; (6) if] a campus has been a low-performing campus
2-23 for a period of one year or more, the commissioner may appoint a
2-24 board of managers composed of residents of the district to exercise
2-25 the powers and duties of the board of trustees of the district in
2-26 relation to the campus.
3-1 (b-2) If[; or (7) if] a campus has been a low-performing
3-2 campus for a period of two years or more, the commissioner may
3-3 order closure of the school program on the campus.
3-4 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
3-5 school year.
3-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-12 passage, and it is so enacted.