By: Zaffirini, et al. S.B. No. 13
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to restricting written information required of public
school classroom teachers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 11.164, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 11.164. RESTRICTING WRITTEN INFORMATION [REPORTS].
(a) The [On an annual basis, the] board of trustees of each school
district shall limit redundant requests for information and[, after
soliciting recommendations from each campus-level committee and
the district-level committee, consider] the number and length of
written reports that a classroom teacher is [employees of the
district are] required to prepare. A classroom teacher may not be
required to prepare any written information other than:
(1) any report concerning the health, safety, or
welfare of a student;
(2) a report of a student's grade on an assignment or
examination;
(3) a report of a student's academic progress in a
class or course;
(4) a report of a student's grades at the end of each
grade reporting period;
(5) a textbook report;
(6) a unit or weekly lesson plan that outlines, in a
brief and general manner, the information to be presented during
each period at the secondary level or in each subject or topic at
the elementary level;
(7) an attendance report;
(8) any report required for accreditation review;
(9) any information required by a school district that
relates to a complaint, grievance, or actual or potential
litigation and that requires the classroom teacher's involvement;
or
(10) any information specifically required by law,
rule, or regulation.
(b) The board of trustees shall review paperwork
requirements imposed on classroom teachers and shall transfer to
existing noninstructional staff a reporting task that can
reasonably be accomplished by that staff.
(c) This section does not preclude a school district from
collecting essential information, in addition to information
specified under Subsection (a), from a classroom teacher on
agreement between the classroom teacher and the district.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.