78R8732 T
By: Turner H.B. No. 2329
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to time management and other duties required of classroom
teachers in public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4011 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.4011. MAXIMUM WORK DAY. (a) A workday for a
classroom teacher is 30 minutes longer than the school day
established under Section 25.082.
(b) Except in emergencies, as defined by the commissioner,
employees will be given at least twenty-four hours notice of any
meeting that is not held during the regular work day, as defined in
subsection (a), above.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, a
classroom teacher shall not be required to attend more than one
meeting per week that is not held during the regular work day, as
defined in subsection (a), above.
SECTION 2. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Section 21.404,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Each classroom teacher is entitled to at least 450
minutes within each two-week period for instructional preparation,
including parent-teacher conferences, evaluating students' work,
and planning. A planning and preparation period under this section
may not be less than 45 minutes within the instructional day.
During a planning and preparation period, a classroom teacher may
not be required to participate in any other activity.
(b) Each school district shall schedule at least one
two-hour period per month, within the regular workday, for teachers
to plan and collaborate by subject or grade level.
(c) To assist teachers with additional preparation and
planning time, schools and school districts shall establish
volunteer programs to do most routine duties, including but not
limited to clerical duties, before and after school routine duties,
such as monitoring students at the bus stop or in the cafeteria.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Section 11.164.
Restricting Written Reports, Education Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 11.164. Restricting Written Reports The board of
trustees of each school district shall adopt a resolution directing
the superintendent, or designee, and the district-level committee
to mutually develop and agree on a policy about the number and
length of written reports that classroom teachers in the district
are required to prepare. Recommendations for additional reports to
be completed by classroom teachers will be considered using the
same process. [On an annual basis, the board of trustees of each
school district shall, after soliciting recommendations from each
campus-level committee and the district-level committee, consider
the number and length of written reports that employees of the
district are required to prepare.]
SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Section 39.075(a)
Special Accreditation Investigations, Education Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner shall authorize special accreditation
investigations to be conducted:
(1) when excessive numbers of absences of students
eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are
determined;
(2) when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions
from the required state assessment are determined;
(3) in response to complaints submitted to the agency
with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other
requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order;
(4) in response to established compliance reviews of
the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal
program requirements;
(5) when extraordinary numbers of student placements
in alternative education programs, other than placements under
Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined;
(6) in response to an allegation involving a conflict
between members of the board of trustees or between the board and
the district administration if it appears that the conflict
involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the
administration clearly defined by this code; [or]
(7) in response to complaints submitted to the agency
with respect to alleged violations of excessive paperwork required
of classroom teachers; or
(8) as the commissioner otherwise determines
necessary.
SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 7.060, to read as follows:
Section 7.060. Paperwork required by the agency. The
commissioner shall annually review and reduce, to the greatest
extent possible, reports and paperwork required of school districts
by the agency. The commissioner shall develop a policy limiting
reports and paperwork that building principals and classroom
teachers can be required to complete.
SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year.