By Garcia H.B. No. 1293
77R3601 BDH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to closing certain repeat low-performing schools.
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 Subsection (i) to read as
1-6 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 may take any of the following actions, listed
1-10 in order of severity, to the extent the commissioner determines
1-11 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 report regarding the
1-22 parental involvement program at the campus and a plan describing
1-23 strategies for improving parental involvement at the campus;
1-24 (4) order the preparation of a report regarding the
2-1 effectiveness of the district- and campus-level planning and
2-2 decision-making committees established under Subchapter F, Chapter
2-3 11, and a plan describing strategies for improving the
2-4 effectiveness of those committees;
2-5 (5) order the preparation of a student achievement
2-6 improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
2-7 for which the campus's performance is unacceptable, the submission
2-8 of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and implementation of
2-9 the plan;
2-10 (6) order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
2-11 or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
2-12 of trustees, the superintendent, and the campus principal shall
2-13 appear and explain the campus's low performance, lack of
2-14 improvement, and plans for improvement;
2-15 (7) appoint a special campus intervention team to:
2-16 (A) conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation
2-17 of each low-performing campus to determine the cause for the
2-18 campus's low performance and lack of progress;
2-19 (B) recommend actions, including reallocation of
2-20 resources and technical assistance, changes in school procedures or
2-21 operations, staff development for instructional and administrative
2-22 staff, intervention for individual administrators or teachers,
2-23 waivers from state statute or rule, or other actions the team
2-24 considers appropriate;
2-25 (C) assist in the development of a campus plan
2-26 for student achievement; and
2-27 (D) assist the commissioner in monitoring the
3-1 progress of the campus in implementing the campus plan for
3-2 improvement of student achievement;
3-3 (8) if a campus has been a low-performing campus for a
3-4 period of one [year] or two years [more], appoint a board of
3-5 managers composed of residents of the district to exercise the
3-6 powers and duties of the board of trustees of the district in
3-7 relation to the campus; or
3-8 (9) if a campus has been a low-performing campus for a
3-9 period of two years [or more], order closure of the school program
3-10 on the campus.
3-11 (i) If a campus has been a low-performing campus for any
3-12 three years in a five-year period, the commissioner shall order
3-13 closure of the school program on the campus, except that the
3-14 commissioner may allow the campus to continue to operate if the
3-15 commissioner approves a written report submitted by the school
3-16 district that includes:
3-17 (1) an explanation of the reasons for the campus's low
3-18 performance; and
3-19 (2) a proposed plan for improving the campus's
3-20 performance not later than the following school year.
3-21 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
3-22 applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.
3-23 (b) For purposes of Section 39.131(i), Education Code, as
3-24 added by this Act, a rating of a campus as low-performing for the
3-25 2000-2001 school year or an earlier school year is not aggregated
3-26 with ratings for the 2001-2002 school year and later school years.