81R3360 PAM-D

By: Branch H.B. No. 4238

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a state master plan for closing academic achievement gaps in public primary and secondary education.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter A to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A. STATE MASTER PLAN FOR CLOSING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

GAPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION

Sec. 39.001. SELECT COMMITTEE ON STATE MASTER PLAN. (a) The Select Committee on the State Master Plan for Closing the Gaps in Public Education is established to develop and adopt a state master plan for closing gaps in student participation, student success, and overall educational excellence among public schools and school districts in this state and between public schools in this state and public schools in other states.

(b) The committee is composed of the following 15 members:

(1) the presiding officers of the standing committees of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over public education;

(2) one member of the senate, appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(3) one member 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 member of the State Board of Education, appointed by the chair of the board;

(7) one public school teacher, one public school principal, and one 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;

(8) one person who is currently employed as an educator in a public school in this state, other than as a teacher, principal, or superintendent, and appointed jointly by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives;

(9) one representative from the business community or the public, appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(10) one representative from the business community or the public, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(11) one representative from the business community and one representative from the public, at least one of whom has one or more children who currently attend public school in this state, appointed by the governor.

(c) The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall make the appointments required by Subsection (b) in a timely manner to permit the committee to comply with Section 39.002(a).

Sec. 39.002. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) Not later than October 1, 2009, the committee shall hold an organizational meeting.

(b) The presiding officers described by Section 39.001(b)(1) serve as co-chairs of the committee.

(c) Committee meetings shall be held at the joint call of the co-chairs.

Sec. 39.003. 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 committee.

Sec. 39.004. COMMITTEE STAFF. Staff members of the standing committees described by Section 39.001(b)(1) shall serve as the staff of the committee.

Sec. 39.005. OBJECTIVES OF MASTER PLAN. (a) The committee shall conduct a comprehensive review of the public primary and secondary educational system in this state and develop a master plan that includes goals and strategies for closing gaps in:

(1) student participation;

(2) student success; and

(3) overall educational excellence.

(b) In conducting its review and designing goals and strategies, the committee shall study the mission, organizational structure, design, processes, and practices of educational systems in other states and relevant educational requirements established by federal law.

(c) The master plan developed under this section must:

(1) include specific goals for:

(A) improving student achievement;

(B) reducing academic achievement gaps among students in this state and between students in this state and students of other states;

(C) reducing student dropout rates;

(D) increasing high school completion rates; and

(E) increasing readiness for postsecondary learning and employment; and

(2) be consistent with:

(A) each element of the accountability system prescribed by this chapter, with special emphasis on:

(i) the indicators used to determine accreditation status;

(ii) rewards and incentives for campus and school district excellence; and

(iii) the responsibilities of the commissioner in assisting and, if necessary, imposing sanctions on school districts and campuses that do not meet state performance standards; and

(B) the goals in "Closing the Gaps," the state's master plan for higher education.

(d) The master plan developed under this section must specifically address strategies for achieving the goals described by Subsection (c)(1) in an educational environment characterized by a rapid growth in the number of educationally disadvantaged students and of students of limited English proficiency as defined by Section 29.052.

(e) The committee shall conduct public hearings throughout this state and solicit testimony concerning the public education system from parents of public school students and other interested persons. At least one public hearing must be held at a public school during a time that public school students are generally able to attend the hearing.

(f) The commissioner shall ensure that, subject to state and federal educational privacy laws, the committee has access to any documentation and agency personnel the committee requests.

(g) The Legislative Budget Board, comptroller, state auditor, and any other state agency, official, or personnel shall cooperate with the committee in carrying out its duties under this subchapter.

Sec. 39.006. MASTER PLAN. (a) Not later than December 1, 2010, the committee shall:

(1) adopt a master plan that includes goals and strategies prescribed by Section 39.005; and

(2) prepare a report to the legislature with, as necessary, any recommendations for statutory changes consistent with the master plan.

(b) The master plan and report must be approved by a majority of the committee members.

Sec. 39.007. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January 11, 2011.

SECTION 2. 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.