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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas High Performance Schools |
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Consortium. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 7.0561, Education Code, is added to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 7.0561. TEXAS HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM. |
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(a) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is created for |
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the purpose of informing the governor, legislature, and |
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commissioner about ways to transform public schools to improve |
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student learning through the development of innovative, |
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next-generation learning standards and assessment and |
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accountability systems. |
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(b) One or more school districts, up to a maximum of 20, may |
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apply to the commissioner to be included in the consortium of school |
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districts. The districts selected shall include a representative |
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range of district types and sizes and diverse student populations. |
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The commissioner may select upon application an exemplary |
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open-enrollment charter school to participate in the consortium. |
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(c) The commissioner may waive one or more requirements, |
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restrictions, or prohibitions under |
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(1) Subchapter B, Chapter 28; |
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(2) Sections 31.1011 and 31.073(b)(1) (state textbook |
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credits); and |
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(3) Chapter 39. |
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(d) With input from interested school districts and other |
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stakeholders, the commissioner shall adopt rules to create the |
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consortium, according to the following principles for a next |
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generation of higher performing public schools: |
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(1) engagement of students in digital learning, |
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including the use of electronic textbooks and instructional |
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materials adopted under Subchapters B and B-1, Chapter 31, and |
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courses offered through the state virtual school network under |
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Subchapter 30A; |
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(2) emphasis on learning standards that focus on |
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high–priority "power standards" identified in coordination with |
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districts participating in the consortium; |
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(3) use of multiple assessments for learning that have |
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meaning and importance and that continuously inform students, |
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parents, campuses, and districts about the extent to which learning |
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is occurring and what schools are doing to improve; |
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(4) an effective and efficient accountability system |
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that: |
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(A) balances academic excellence and local |
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values to inspire learning; and |
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(B) at the state level, uses a stratified random |
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sampling of students or other objective methodology to hold |
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districts and schools accountable while reducing the number of |
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state assessments that students are required to take; and |
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(5) local control that enables communities and parents |
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to be involved in the important decisions regarding the education |
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of their children. |
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(e) The application shall include a detailed plan for |
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assessments and accountability, which will both support improved |
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instruction and learning and provide evidence of the accurate |
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evaluation of the quality of the campuses, and which shall include: |
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(1) a thorough plan for accountability for student |
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learning, including issues regarding compliance with federal law; |
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(2) clear descriptions of each assessed curricular aim |
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in the "power standards"; |
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(3) a plan for resources to support teachers in |
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improving student learning; and |
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(4) other provisions that may be established by the |
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commissioner. |
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(f) The commissioner shall convene consortium leaders |
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periodically to discuss ways to transform learning opportunities |
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for all students, build cross-district support systems and |
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training, and share best practice tools and processes. |
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(g) The commissioner or a school district that participates |
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in the consortium may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any |
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source, including a foundation, private entity, or governmental |
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entity for the implementation of this section. |
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(h) To cover administration costs, the commissioner may |
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charge a fee to a school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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that is selected to participate in the consortium. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules under |
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Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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December 1, 2011. The commissioner shall seek a federal waiver, if |
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needed, for implementation. |
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(b) The commissioner shall make the application available |
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not later than January 1, 2012, for school districts to apply not |
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later than March 1, 2012 and to begin the consortium not later than |
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the 2012-13 school year. |
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(c) With the assistance of the consortium, the commissioner |
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shall submit progress reports to the Legislature by December 1, |
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2012, and December 1, 2014. |
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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. |