SRC-JLB H.B. 1024 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1024 78R13944 BDH-FBy: Crownover (Shapiro) Education 4/30/2003 Committee Report (Amended) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, teachers are on 187-day contracts, which only leaves seven days for staff development. A district must divide its staff development time among several mandated areas, with little flexibility to customize training to meet the particular needs of that district's staff members. H.B. 1024 provides local school districts the discretion to establish their own standards and types of staff development. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 21.451(a) and (b), Education Code, as follows: (a) Requires the staff development provided by a school district to be conducted in accordance with standards developed by the district and designed to improve education in the district. Deletes existing text regarding the required content of staff development training. (b) Requires the staff development to be predominantly campus-based, related to achieving campus performance objectives established under Section 11.253, and developed and approved by the campus-level committee established under Section 11.251. Deletes existing text regarding the authorization of campus staff development to improve student achievement. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 school year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003. LIST OF COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1: On page 1, lines 4-5, strike "Sections 21.451(a) and (b), Education Code, are amended" and substitute "Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d)". On page 2, lines 18-19, insert the follow: (d) The staff development may: (1) include training in: (A) technology; (B) conflict resolution; and (C) discipline strategies, including classroom management, district discipline policies, and the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; (2) include training that: (A) relates to instruction of students with disabilities; and (B) is designed for educators who work primarily outside the area of special education; and (3) include instruction as to what is permissible under law, including opinions of the United States Supreme Court, regarding prayer in public school.