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Amend CSHB 3 (house committee printing) as follows:
(1) On page 20, strike line 13 and substitute the following:
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS; STATE MASTER PLAN TO CLOSE
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
(2) On page 20, between lines 15 and 16, insert the
following:
Sec. 39.002. SELECT COMMITTEE ON CLOSING THE GAPS IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION. (a) The select committee on closing the gaps in public
education is established to:
(1) advise the governor, the legislature, the
commissioner of higher education, and the commissioner, and to
inform the public, regarding progress toward achieving the
educational objectives and goals of the state; and
(2) serve as a public forum for the discussion of ideas
regarding public education.
(b) The committee is composed of 19 members appointed as
follows:
(1) the presiding officers of the standing committees
of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
public education;
(2) two members of the senate, appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(3) two members of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(4) the commissioner;
(5) the commissioner of higher education;
(6) one public school teacher, one primary school
principal, one secondary school principal, one open-enrollment
charter school representative, and one public school district
superintendent, each currently employed in this state and each
appointed jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the
house of representatives;
(7) one representative of the Texas Workforce
Commission, appointed by the governor;
(8) one representative of the State Board of
Education, appointed by the governor;
(9) one representative from the business community who
has at least one child who attends public school in this state,
appointed by the governor;
(10) one representative of the public who has at least
one child who attends public school in this state, appointed by the
governor;
(11) one representative from the college of education
at an institution of higher education, appointed by the governor;
and
(12) one student enrolled in a public school or
open-enrollment charter school, appointed by the governor.
(c) Appointed members of the committee serve two-year terms
that expire August 31 of each odd-numbered year. An appointed
member of the committee may be reappointed.
(d) The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall make the first appointments required
by Subsection (b) in a timely fashion to permit the committee to
comply with Section 39.003(a). This subsection expires January 1,
2010.
Sec. 39.003. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) Not later than
October 1, 2009, the committee shall hold an organizational
meeting.
(b) The presiding officers described by Section
39.002(b)(1) serve as co-chairs of the committee.
(c) Committee meetings shall be held at least quarterly at
the written call of the co-chairs.
Sec. 39.004. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member
of the committee is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing committee duties.
(b) A legislative member of the committee is entitled to
reimbursement from the appropriate fund of the house of the
legislature in which the member serves.
(c) A member other than a legislative member is entitled to
reimbursement from funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative
Council for the committee's operations.
Sec. 39.005. COMMITTEE STAFF. (a) The co-chairs of the
committee may appoint a committee director and staff to support the
work of the committee.
(b) The director and staff members are employees of the
Texas Legislative Council and shall be paid from funds appropriated
to the council for the committee's operations.
Sec. 39.006. MASTER PLAN FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. (a) The
committee shall develop, adopt, and periodically review and revise
a master plan for public education. In adopting and revising the
plan, the committee shall periodically conduct public hearings
throughout the state and solicit testimony from public school
students, parents of public school students, educators, employers,
and other interested persons.
(b) The plan adopted by the committee must identify specific
short-term goals that will assist the state in meeting the
objectives and goals for public education as described in Chapter
4. The plan must include:
(1) methods to:
(A) close achievement gaps between students in
this state and students in other states;
(B) reduce dropout rates;
(C) increase completion rates;
(D) define and measure readiness for college and
employment;
(E) strengthen partnerships between primary and
secondary education and higher education;
(F) implement revisions to the state public
education accountability system; and
(G) promote efficient and effective support
structures for public schools; and
(2) specific recommendations for passing standards
for students, schools, and school districts that will ensure that
the state will rank among the top 10 states by 2020 in terms of
students' readiness for college.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2011, and January 1 of each
following year, the committee shall adopt and publish a report that
describes the progress toward accomplishing the educational
objectives and goals of the state. The report must include specific
recommendations for:
(1) passing standards on state achievement tests;
(2) school accreditation for the next academic year;
and
(3) statutory changes as appropriate.
(d) The committee may commission external analyses and
reviews as appropriate to support the committee's work.
(e) Nothing in this section may be construed to infringe on
the responsibilities and duties of the governor, the legislature,
the commissioner of higher education, or the commissioner as
otherwise required by this code.
(f) The agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board, the comptroller, the Legislative Budget Board, the Texas
Workforce Commission, and any other state agency shall assist the
committee, including by responding to requests for information and
participating in discussions regarding the future of public
education in this state.