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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to additional optional training and course work for public |
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school principals. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.0461 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0461. SCHOOL TURNAROUND SPECIALIST ENDORSEMENT TO |
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PRINCIPAL CERTIFICATE. (a) The board shall propose rules |
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establishing the training requirements and course work a principal |
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must successfully complete to receive a school turnaround |
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specialist endorsement as an addendum to a principal certificate. |
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In proposing the rules, the board shall ensure that each person who |
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receives the endorsement demonstrates the knowledge and skills |
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necessary to significantly improve teacher and student performance |
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at a campus assigned a rating of unacceptable performance under |
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Section 39.054. |
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(b) The board shall solicit proposals for a school |
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turnaround specialist endorsement program from appropriate |
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educator preparation programs. From among school turnaround |
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specialist endorsement programs proposed to the board that are |
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capable of satisfying the requirements prescribed by Subsection |
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(c), the board may select not more than three of the programs that |
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may be offered to principals. |
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(c) A school turnaround specialist endorsement program |
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under this section must: |
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(1) partner with one or more school districts that |
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need principals with the training and education necessary to |
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significantly improve teacher and student performance at one or |
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more campuses assigned a rating of unacceptable performance under |
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Section 39.054; |
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(2) have appropriately qualified faculty to: |
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(A) conduct a campus leadership-needs analysis; |
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(B) develop and provide the training and course |
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work required by rules proposed under this section; and |
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(C) provide necessary support to program |
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candidates; |
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(3) establish a selective admissions process to ensure |
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that each principal admitted to the program: |
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(A) possesses a significant knowledge of |
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educational organizations, educational instruction, and teacher |
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professional development; |
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(B) demonstrates the ability to develop and |
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implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity |
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for improving student learning; and |
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(C) demonstrates the attributes of principals |
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who have significantly improved teacher and student performance at |
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underperforming campuses; |
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(4) offer a full-time internship that continues for at |
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least one semester and provides meaningful interaction with the |
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central administrative office of a school district; and |
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(5) collaborate with school districts to provide |
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program participants who complete the program continued support for |
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at least two years after the participants' initial assignment to a |
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campus. |
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(d) To be eligible for admission to a school turnaround |
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specialist endorsement program under this section, a principal |
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must: |
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(1) hold a principal certificate; |
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(2) have served as a principal or assistant principal |
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for at least three school years before applying to the program; |
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(3) demonstrate significant knowledge of educational |
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organizations, educational instruction, and teacher professional |
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development; |
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(4) demonstrate the attributes of principals who have |
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significantly improved teacher and student performance at |
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underperforming campuses; and |
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(5) provide evidence of the ability to develop and |
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implement campus-based systems that result in increased capacity |
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for improving student learning. |
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(e) The board shall periodically evaluate school turnaround |
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specialist endorsement programs selected under this section. For |
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purposes of evaluating the programs, the board shall require each |
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program to submit data, as determined appropriate by the board, for |
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each year and at each five-year interval. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the State |
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Board for Educator Certification shall propose rules relating to |
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the school turnaround specialist endorsement to the school |
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principal certificate as provided by Section 21.0461, Education |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than March 1, 2012, the State Board for |
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Educator Certification shall solicit proposals for a school |
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turnaround specialist endorsement program as provided by Section |
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21.0461, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2011. |