C.S.H.B. 1024 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1024 By: Crownover Public Education Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND In the 1995 rewrite of the Education Code, the Texas Legislature supported a state accountability system that focused on outcomes and left the methods up to the discretion of local school districts. Currently, the Education Code, Section 21.451, mandates at least five types of staff development and enables the local school districts to determine the scope of the staff development. These mandates often restrict local school districts' ability to focus staff development on other issues, such as student learning and educational improvement. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 1024 removes state mandated types of staff development, removes the authority of the commissioner of education to develop minimum staff development standards, and provides school districts the discretion to establish the standards and the types of staff development. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1024 amends the Education Code by providing that staff development provided by a school district must be conducted in accordance with minimum standards developed by the district rather than the commissioner of education. The bill deletes the provisions requiring the commissioner of education to develop minimum public school staff development requirements. The bill requires that staff development be designed to improve education in the district. The bill deletes provisions that describes what is required to be included in staff development programs. The bill also deletes provisions that list what activities may be included in campus staff development programs. These provisions apply beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1024 modifies the original version by deleting provisions in Section 21.451(b) that list activities campus staff development may include. C.S.H.B. 1024 modifies the original version by removing the repeal of Sections 21.451(b) and (c), Education Code. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.