81R11177 CS-F

By: Olivo H.B. No. 3569

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to plans and procedures encouraging parental involvement in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 26.016 to read as follows:

Sec. 26.016. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT PLAN. (a) Each public school district shall establish a parental involvement plan for each district school that reflects the needs of students and their families. Parents of children enrolled in the district shall be consulted as the district develops the plan.

(b) The parental involvement plan for a school shall:

(1) involve parents of students at all grade levels in a variety of roles;

(2) be comprehensive and coordinated; and

(3) recognize that communication between a student's home and school should be regular, two-way, and meaningful.

(c) A school shall encourage communication with parents by preparing and distributing age- and grade-appropriate family kits describing:

(1) the school's parental involvement plan;

(2) the recommended role of the parent, student, teacher, and school;

(3) ways for parents to become involved in school and in their childrens' education;

(4) activities planned throughout the school year to encourage parental involvement; and

(5) a system to allow the parent to communicate with teachers and the principal in a regular, two-way, and meaningful manner.

(d) A school shall schedule at least two parent-teacher conferences for each student during a school year.

(e) A school shall create a parent center to:

(1) welcome parents to the school and provide parental support and assistance;

(2) provide access to community resources to strengthen school programs, family practices, and student learning;

(3) provide parents access to teachers and key school personnel; and

(4) provide students and parents with a space to build relationships with other students, parents, teachers, and school personnel.

(f) A school shall aid parents in assisting a student by scheduling regular "Parents Make the Difference" evenings where parents are given a report on the state of the school and an overview of:

(1) the material students will learn;

(2) how students will be assessed;

(3) what parents should expect for their childrens' education; and

(4) how parents can assist in their childrens' education.

(g) A school may not adopt policies or procedures that discourage a parent from visiting the school, including policies:

(1) requiring a parent to pick up a child outside the school building;

(2) requiring a parent to present personal identification to gain entrance to the school building; or

(3) prohibiting a parent from visiting a child's classroom during school events.

(h) A school shall survey parents who want to volunteer in school and determine:

(1) what types of volunteer work parents want to do;

(2) how frequently a volunteer wants to participate; and

(3) options for parents who want to volunteer from home.

(i) After completing the survey under Subsection (h), a school shall publish a volunteer resource book and distribute the book to school employees.

(j) A school shall encourage parents to participate in the decisions that affect their children by:

(1) routinely publishing the school's procedure for resolving parental concerns, including how to define the problem, who the parent should approach first, and how to develop solutions; and

(2) sponsoring seminars to inform the parents of high school students about how to be involved in the decisions affecting course selection, career planning, and preparation for post-secondary opportunities.

(k) A school shall take advantage of community resources by:

(1) contacting alumni from the school and creating an alumni advisory commission to provide advice and guidance for school improvement;

(2) developing cards with tips for fostering a child's success in school and recruiting local employers to include the cards in employee paycheck envelopes; and

(3) engaging in partnership with institutions of higher education located in the community.

(l) The principal of each school shall designate one educator for every 300 students enrolled in the school to serve as a parent facilitator to organize meaningful training for staff and parents promoting parental involvement in the school and to promote parental involvement as an asset to the school. An educator designated as a parental facilitator is entitled to receive supplemental pay for the assigned duties.

(m) The State Board for Educator Certification shall require at least two hours each year of continuing education for educators other than administrators designed to enhance understanding of effective parental involvement strategies.

(n) The State Board for Educator Certification shall require at least three hours each year of continuing education for administrators to enhance understanding of effective parental involvement strategies and the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parental participation.

(o) Each school district shall review and update the district's parental involvement plan each school year and file a copy of the plan with the agency. The agency shall review each parental involvement plan for compliance with this section. The agency shall send written notification to a district whose plan is not in compliance with Subsection (a) and shall allow the district an opportunity to correct its plan.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, a school district shall adopt a parental involvement plan as required by Section 26.016, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. 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, 2009.