82R10670 VOO-F

By: Watson S.B. No. 1499

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to advancement of college readiness in the public school curriculum through evaluations and recommendations of vertical teams composed of faculty members of institutions of higher education.

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

SECTION 1. Section 28.008, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows:

(a) To ensure that students are able to perform college-level course work at institutions of higher education, the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education shall establish vertical teams composed of faculty members [public school educators and institution] of institutions of higher education and private or independent institutions of higher education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003 [faculty].

(b) The vertical teams shall:

(1) recommend for approval by the commissioner of education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, on the same cycle as the essential knowledge and skills of subjects of the required curriculum are reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002, college readiness standards and expectations that address what students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level courses offered at institutions of higher education;

(2) evaluate, on the same cycle as the essential knowledge and skills of subjects of the required curriculum are reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002, whether the high school curriculum requirements identified under Section 28.002 and other instructional requirements serve to prepare students to successfully perform college-level course work;

(3) recommend, on the same cycle as the essential knowledge and skills of subjects of the required curriculum are reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002, how the public school curriculum requirements can be aligned with college readiness standards and expectations;

(4) develop instructional strategies for teaching courses to prepare students to successfully perform college-level course work; and

(5) develop or establish minimum standards for curricula, professional development materials, and online support materials in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, designed for students who need additional assistance in preparing to successfully perform college-level course work.

(c) The commissioner of education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by rule shall establish the composition and duties of the vertical teams established under this section. The rule establishing the composition of the vertical teams must comply with Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3).

(c-1) In making appointments for a vertical team, the commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education shall attempt to achieve a balanced combination of educational perspectives.

(c-2) To ensure that each vertical team is composed of faculty members who are experts in a subject area under review by that team, each team member must have:

(1) at least five years of higher education teaching experience in a subject area under review and a terminal degree in the subject area; or

(2) at least five years of higher education teaching experience in the field of education and a doctoral degree in education.

(c-3) If a vertical team is making evaluations or recommendations concerning career and technical education:

(1) at least one member of the vertical team must be a faculty member from the Texas State Technical College System; and

(2) at least one member of the vertical team must be a faculty member from Lamar Institute of Technology.

(d) The State Board of Education shall incorporate college readiness standards and expectations recommended by a vertical team and approved by the commissioner of education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under Subsection (b) into the essential knowledge and skills identified by the board rule under Section 28.002(c) and may, by majority vote of the board, approve other recommendations of a vertical team.

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, 2011.