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By:  Lucio                                                        S.B. No. 1786


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.