By Shapleigh S.B. No. 911
76R7464 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to sanctions imposed on low-performing public school
1-3 campuses.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 39.131, Education Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to
1-7 read as follows:
1-8 (b) If a campus performance is below any standard under
1-9 Section 39.073(b), the campus is considered a low-performing campus
1-10 and the commissioner shall [may] take one or more [any] of the
1-11 following actions, listed in order of severity, as [to the extent]
1-12 the commissioner determines necessary:
1-13 (1) issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
1-14 of trustees;
1-15 (2) order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
1-16 at the campus for the purpose of notifying the public of the
1-17 unacceptable performance, the improvements in performance expected
1-18 by the agency, and the sanctions that may be imposed under this
1-19 section if the performance does not improve within a designated
1-20 period of time and of soliciting public comment on the initial
1-21 steps being taken to improve performance;
1-22 (3) order the preparation of a student achievement
1-23 improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
1-24 for which the campus's performance is unacceptable, the submission
2-1 of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and implementation of
2-2 the plan;
2-3 (4) order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
2-4 or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
2-5 of trustees, the superintendent, and the campus principal shall
2-6 appear and explain the campus's low performance, lack of
2-7 improvement, and plans for improvement; or
2-8 (5) appoint a special campus intervention team to:
2-9 (A) conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation
2-10 of each low-performing campus to determine the cause for the
2-11 campus's low performance and lack of progress;
2-12 (B) recommend actions, including reallocation of
2-13 resources and technical assistance, changes in school procedures or
2-14 operations, staff development for instructional and administrative
2-15 staff, intervention for individual administrators or teachers,
2-16 waivers from state statute or rule, or other actions the team
2-17 considers appropriate;
2-18 (C) assist in the development of a campus plan
2-19 for student achievement; and
2-20 (D) assist the commissioner in monitoring the
2-21 progress of the campus in implementing the campus plan for
2-22 improvement of student achievement.
2-23 (b-1) If [; (6) if] a campus has been a low-performing
2-24 campus for a period of one year or more, the commissioner may
2-25 appoint a board of managers composed of residents of the district
2-26 to exercise the powers and duties of the board of trustees of the
2-27 district in 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.