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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of home-rule school districts and certain |
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school campuses and programs to adopt alternative accountability |
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plans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 12.013, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(3)(P), a home-rule |
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school district is not subject to provisions of this title relating |
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to public school accountability under Subchapters B, C, D, and G, |
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Chapter 39, or to rules adopted under those provisions if: |
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(1) the district submits to the commissioner an |
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alternative accountability plan developed by the district that: |
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(A) includes use of assessment instruments |
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developed or adopted by the district to measure individual student |
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progress; and |
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(B) provides for accountability indicators that |
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are consistent with the goals identified in the district's charter; |
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and |
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(2) the alternative accountability plan is approved by |
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the commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12.016, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.016. CONTENT. Each home-rule school district |
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charter must: |
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(1) describe the educational program to be offered; |
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(2) provide that continuation of the home-rule school |
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district charter is contingent on: |
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(A) acceptable student performance on assessment |
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instruments adopted under Subchapter B, Chapter 39, or alternative |
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assessment instruments approved for that purpose under Section |
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12.013(c); and |
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(B) compliance with other applicable |
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accountability provisions under Chapter 39 or an alternative |
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accountability plan approved under Section 12.013(c); |
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(3) specify any basis, in addition to a basis |
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specified by this subchapter, on which the charter may be placed on |
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probation or revoked; |
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(4) describe the governing structure of the district |
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and campuses; |
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(5) specify any procedure or requirement, in addition |
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to those under Chapter 38, that the district will follow to ensure |
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the health and safety of students and employees; |
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(6) describe the process by which the district will |
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adopt an annual budget, including a description of the use of |
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program-weight funds; |
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(7) describe the manner in which an annual audit of |
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financial and programmatic operations of the district is to be |
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conducted, including the manner in which the district will provide |
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information necessary for the district to participate in the Public |
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Education Information Management System (PEIMS) to the extent |
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required by this subchapter; and |
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(8) include any other provision the charter commission |
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considers necessary. |
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SECTION 3. Section 12.056, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(2)(I), a campus or |
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program for which a charter is granted under this subchapter is not |
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subject to provisions of this title relating to public school |
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accountability under Subchapters B, C, D, and G, Chapter 39, or to |
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rules adopted under those provisions if: |
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(1) the campus or program submits to the commissioner |
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an alternative accountability plan developed by the campus or |
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program that: |
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(A) includes use of assessment instruments |
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developed or adopted by the campus or program to measure individual |
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student progress; and |
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(B) provides for accountability indicators that |
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are consistent with the goals identified in the charter of the |
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campus or program; and |
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(2) the alternative accountability plan is approved by |
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the commissioner. |
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SECTION 4. Section 12.059, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.059. CONTENT. Each charter granted under this |
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subchapter must: |
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(1) describe the educational program to be offered, |
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which may be a general or specialized program; |
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(2) provide that continuation of the charter is |
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contingent on satisfactory student performance under Subchapter B, |
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Chapter 39, or under an alternative accountability plan approved |
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under Section 12.056(c) and on compliance with other applicable |
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accountability provisions under Chapter 39 or the alternative |
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accountability plan; |
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(3) specify any basis, in addition to a basis |
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specified by this subchapter, on which the charter may be placed on |
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probation or revoked; |
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(4) prohibit discrimination in admission on the basis |
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of national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, or disability; |
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(5) describe the governing structure of the campus or |
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program; |
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(6) specify any procedure or requirement, in addition |
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to those under Chapter 38, that the campus or program will follow to |
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ensure the health and safety of students and employees; and |
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(7) describe the manner in which an annual audit of |
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financial and programmatic operations of the campus or program is |
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to be conducted, including the manner in which the campus or program |
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will provide information necessary for the school district in which |
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it is located to participate, as required by this code or by State |
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Board of Education rule, in the Public Education Information |
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Management System (PEIMS). |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |