| TO: | Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on Education |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1643 by Shapiro (Relating to educator preparation programs and to training, continuing education, appraisal, and employment of public school teachers and administrators. ) ,Committee Report 1st House, Substituted |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds |
|---|---|
| 2008 | ($750,000) |
| 2009 | ($100,000) |
| 2010 | ($100,000) |
| 2011 | ($100,000) |
| 2012 | ($100,000) |
| Fiscal Year | Probable Savings/(Cost) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Probable Revenue Gain/(Loss) from GENERAL REVENUE FUND 1 |
Change in Number of State Employees from FY 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ($1,143,779) | $393,779 | 5.0 |
| 2009 | ($448,175) | $348,175 | 5.0 |
| 2010 | ($448,175) | $348,175 | 5.0 |
| 2011 | ($448,175) | $348,175 | 5.0 |
| 2012 | ($448,175) | $348,175 | 5.0 |
The bill would require the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to add student performance and perseverance for the first three years of beginning teachers trained by a given educator preparation program to criteria by which educator preparation programs are reviewed and approved by SBEC. The bill would direct SBEC to adopt rules imposing sanctions against educator prepration programs that do not meet accountability standards including the revokation of approval for a program or part of a program, after providing an opportunity for a hearing. The bill would allow educator preparation programs for which SBEC approval is revoked to seek renewed approval after a period of two years. The bill would allow SBEC to adopt a fee for the approval or renewal of approval of an educator preparation program up to the amount necessary to provide for the administrative cost of approving, renewing approval, and ensuring accountability of educator preparation programs.
The bill would require that SBEC and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) conduct biennial reviews and assessments of the performance of educator preparation programs. The reviews could be conducted in conjunction with an independent entity with expertise in the field of educator preparation.
The bill would require that continuing education for educators be evidence-based and be linked to areas identified in a teacher's appraisal as being in need of improvement, to the teacher's goals for improvement, and to the subject area taught by the teacher.
The bill would amend requirements related to teacher appraisal process by specifying teacher qualifications and training and student achievement as criteria for evaluation.
The bill would require that teachers whose performance is rated unsatisfactory in whole or in part under the appraisal process develop a performance improvement plan in cooperation with the appraiser and the teacher's supervisor. The bill would prohibit districts from renewing the contracts of or require the discharge of teachers whose performance is rated unsatisfactory overall for three consecutive years.
The bill would specifiy criteria by which the perfomance of principals and assistance principals must be rated, including student achievement, effectiveness in maintaining a safe and orderly environment, effectiveness in improving parental involvement, and instructional leadership and support.
The bill would require the revised appraisal process to be developed by the beginning of fiscal year 2009 and implemented by the beginning of fiscal year 2011. Training for school districts regarding its use must be provided by the beginning of fiscal year 2011. The bill would direct the Commissioner of Education to involve stakeholder groups in the development of the appraisal process.
The cost of revisions to the current Professional Development and Appraisal System and related training to meet the provisions of the bill is estimated at $250,000 in FY2008.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) estimates that sanctions related to accountability for educator preparation programs would require the services of one additional attorney at a cost of $78,021 in FY2008 and $73,021 in each subsequent year. One additional FTE would be required at TEA to implement provisions related to educator preparation program review and approval at a cost of $78,021 in FY2008 and $73,021 in each subsequent year. THECB estimates that 3 additional FTEs would be required to support the biennial review of educator preparation programs at a cost of $237,737 in FY2008 and $202,133 in each subsequent year. For purposes of this estimate, it is assumed that sufficient revenue from fees charged for approval or renewal of approval for educator preparation programs as authorized by the bill would be generated to offset costs associated with educator preparation program review and related sanctions.
Technology upgrades required to track student and teacher data related to the appraisal system are estimated to cost about $500,000 in FY2008 and $100,000 in each subsequent year.
Technology upgrades required to track student and teacher data related to the appraisal system and are estimated to cost about $500,000 in FY2008 and $100,000 in each subsequent year.
| Source Agencies: | 701 Central Education Agency, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, JSp, UP, JSc
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