BILL ANALYSIS
By: McReynolds
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Current law permits school districts to use non‑instructional days for planning and preparation or staff development. Site‑based decision‑making committees have the authority to approve the content of staff development instruction but are not authorized to decide the number of non‑instructional days dedicated to staff development. These committees are closely connected to faculty members, and possess an understanding of whether non‑instructional days should be used for planning and preparation or staff development. Providing the committees with the authority to decide the number of days to devote to staff development enables schools to develop comprehensive, high‑quality instruction for staff development. HB 902 provides for the site‑based decision-making committee’s approval of the use of educators' non‑instructional days on campuses that receive exemplary status under Chapter 39.
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
HB 902 amends the Education Code to require the campus‑level committee to approve the use of educators' days of service for which instruction is not required, if the campus is rated exemplary under Chapter 39.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act applies beginning with the 2005 - 2006 school year.
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, 2005.