Amend CSHB 6 as follows:
(1) On page 1, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:
SECTION 1. Section 8.002, Education Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 8.002. PURPOSE. Regional education service centers
shall:
(1) assist school districts and open-enrollment
charter schools in improving student performance in each region of
the system;
(2) enable school districts and open-enrollment
charter schools to operate more efficiently and economically; and
(3) implement initiatives assigned by the legislature
or the commissioner.
SECTION 2. Section 8.003(b), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules to provide for the
local selection, appointment, and continuity of membership of
regional education service center boards of directors. The rules
must provide that if 500 or more students residing within the
service center region attend open-enrollment charter schools, the
commissioner shall appoint a representative of an open-enrollment
charter school located within the region to serve on the board of
directors.
SECTION 3. Sections 8.051, 8.053, and 8.054, Education Code,
are amended to read as follows:
Sec. 8.051. CORE SERVICES AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE
PERFORMANCE. (a) Each regional education service center shall use
funds distributed to the center under Section 8.121 to develop,
maintain, and deliver services identified under this section to
improve student, <and> school district, and open-enrollment charter
school performance.
(b) Each regional education service center shall annually
develop and submit to the commissioner for approval a plan for
improvement. Each plan must include the purposes and description
of the services the center will provide to:
(1) campuses identified as low-performing based on the
indicators adopted under Section 39.051, including campuses of
open-enrollment charter schools;
(2) the lowest-performing campuses in the region,
including campuses of open-enrollment charter schools; and
(3) other campuses, including campuses of
open-enrollment charter schools.
(c) Each regional education service center shall provide
services that enable school districts and open-enrollment charter
schools to operate more efficiently and economically.
(d) Each regional education service center shall maintain
core services for purchase by school districts, <and> campuses, and
open-enrollment charter schools and campuses of those schools. The
core services are:
(1) training and assistance in teaching each subject
area assessed under Section 39.023;
(2) training and assistance in providing each program
that qualifies for a funding allotment under Section 42.151,
42.152, 42.153, or 42.156;
(3) assistance specifically designed for a school
district rated academically unacceptable under Section 39.072(a) or
a campus or open-enrollment charter school whose performance is
considered unacceptable based on the indicators adopted under
Section 39.051;
(4) training and assistance to:
(A) teachers;
(B)<,> administrators of school districts,
campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools;
(C)<,> members of district boards of trustees
and of governing bodies of open-enrollment charter schools;<,> and
(D) members of site-based decision-making
committees;
(5) assistance specifically designed for a school
district that is considered out of compliance with state or federal
special education requirements, based on the agency's most recent
compliance review of the district's special education programs; and
(6) assistance in complying with state laws and rules.
Sec. 8.053. ADDITIONAL SERVICES. In addition to the services
provided under Section 8.051 and the initiatives implemented under
Section 8.052, a regional education service center may:
(1) offer any service requested and purchased by any
school district, <or> campus, or open-enrollment charter school in
the state; and
(2) contract with a public or private entity for
services under this subchapter, including the provision of
continuing education courses and programs for educators.
Sec. 8.054. PROHIBITION ON REGULATORY FUNCTION. A regional
education service center may not perform a regulatory function
regarding a school district or open-enrollment charter school. This
section does not prohibit a regional education service center from
offering training or other assistance to a school district or
open-enrollment charter school in complying with a state or federal
law, rule, or regulation.
SECTION 4. Section 8.101, Education Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 8.101. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND INDICATORS. The
commissioner shall establish performance standards and indicators
for regional education service centers that measure the achievement
of the objectives in Section 8.002, including performance standards
and indicators that evaluate the assistance provided to
open-enrollment charter schools. Performance standards and
indicators must include the following:
(1) student performance in districts and
open-enrollment charter schools served;
(2) district and open-enrollment charter school
effectiveness and efficiency in districts and open-enrollment
charter schools served resulting from technical assistance and
program support;
(3) direct services provided or regionally shared
services arranged by the service center which produce more
economical and efficient school operations;
(4) direct services provided or regionally shared
services arranged by the service center which provide for
assistance in core services; and
(5) grants received for implementation of state
initiatives and the results achieved by the service center under
the terms of the grant contract.
SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Education Code, is
amended by amending Section 12.001 and adding Section 12.0011 to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.001. PURPOSES OF CHAPTER. (a) The purposes of this
chapter are to:
(1) improve student learning;
(2) increase the choice of learning opportunities
within the public school system;
(3) create professional opportunities that will
attract new teachers to the public school system;
(4) establish a new form of accountability for public
schools; and
(5) encourage different and innovative learning
methods.
(b) This chapter shall be applied in a manner that ensures
the fiscal and academic accountability of persons holding charters
issued under this chapter. This chapter may not be applied in a
manner that unduly regulates the instructional methods or
pedagogical innovations of charter schools.
Sec. 12.0011. ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF OPERATION. As an
alternative to operating in the manner generally provided by this
title, an independent school district, a school campus, or an
educational program may choose to operate under a charter in
accordance with this chapter.
(2) On page 21, line 9, between "ADMISSION." and "For",
insert "(a)".
(3) On page 21, strike lines 15-17 and substitute the
following:
(2) on receipt of more acceptable applications for
admission under this section than available positions in the
school:
(A) fill the available positions by lottery; or
(B) subject to Subsection (b), fill the
available positions in the order in which applications received
before the application deadline were received.
(b) An open-enrollment charter school may fill applications
for admission under Subsection (a)(2)(B) only if the school
published a notice of the opportunity to apply for admission to the
school. A notice published under this subsection must:
(1) state the application deadline; and
(2) be published in a newspaper of general circulation
in the community in which the school is located not later than the
seventh day before the application deadline.
(4) On page 26, strike lines 22-26 and substitute the
following:
(c) The governing body of an open-enrollment charter school
shall provide for appeals to the governing body or its designee
concerning student expulsions.
(5) Renumber the sections of the bill accordingly.