By: Shapiro, Shapleigh S.B. No. 26
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to restaffing certain low-performing schools.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subsection (b), Section 39.131, Education Code,
1-5 is amended to read as follows:
1-6 (b) If a campus performance is below any standard under
1-7 Section 39.073(b), the campus is considered a low-performing campus
1-8 and the commissioner may take any of the following actions, listed
1-9 in order of severity, to the extent the commissioner determines
1-10 necessary:
1-11 (1) issue public notice of the deficiency to the board
1-12 of trustees;
1-13 (2) order a hearing conducted by the board of trustees
1-14 at the campus for the purpose of notifying the public of the
1-15 unacceptable performance, the improvements in performance expected
1-16 by the agency, and the sanctions that may be imposed under this
1-17 section if the performance does not improve within a designated
1-18 period of time and of soliciting public comment on the initial
1-19 steps being taken to improve performance;
1-20 (3) order the preparation of a report regarding the
1-21 parental involvement program at the campus and a plan describing
1-22 strategies for improving parental involvement at the campus;
1-23 (4) order the preparation of a report regarding the
1-24 effectiveness of the district- and campus-level planning and
1-25 decision-making committees established under Subchapter F, Chapter
2-1 11, and a plan describing strategies for improving the
2-2 effectiveness of those committees;
2-3 (5) order the preparation of a student achievement
2-4 improvement plan that addresses each academic excellence indicator
2-5 for which the campus's performance is unacceptable, the submission
2-6 of the plan to the commissioner for approval, and implementation of
2-7 the plan;
2-8 (6) order a hearing to be held before the commissioner
2-9 or the commissioner's designee at which the president of the board
2-10 of trustees, the superintendent, and the campus principal shall
2-11 appear and explain the campus's low performance, lack of
2-12 improvement, and plans for improvement;
2-13 (7) appoint a special campus intervention team to:
2-14 (A) conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation
2-15 of each low-performing campus to determine the cause for the
2-16 campus's low performance and lack of progress;
2-17 (B) recommend actions, including reallocation of
2-18 resources and technical assistance, changes in school procedures or
2-19 operations, staff development for instructional and administrative
2-20 staff, intervention for individual administrators or teachers,
2-21 waivers from state statute or rule, or other actions the team
2-22 considers appropriate;
2-23 (C) assist in the development of a campus plan
2-24 for student achievement; and
2-25 (D) assist the commissioner in monitoring the
2-26 progress of the campus in implementing the campus plan for
3-1 improvement of student achievement;
3-2 (8) if a campus has been a low-performing campus for a
3-3 period of one year or more, appoint a board of managers composed of
3-4 residents of the district to exercise the powers and duties of the
3-5 board of trustees of the district in relation to the campus; or
3-6 (9) if a campus has been a low-performing campus for a
3-7 period of two years or more, order:
3-8 (A) closure of the school program on the campus;
3-9 or
3-10 (B) reassignment to other appropriate positions
3-11 in the district of some or all of the educators employed for at
3-12 least the two preceding years on the campus.
3-13 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately and applies
3-14 beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.