AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
One of the core functions of regional education service centers (ESCs) is to train and assist in teaching each subject area assessed under the public school accountability system. ESCs also have the ability to create products and services at a district's request. Under this purpose and authority, ESCs developed a curriculum management system known as CSCOPE. This curriculum management system was designed to assist school districts in teaching the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
The State Board of Education (SBOE) has oversight of instructional materials in Texas, but because a curriculum management system is not considered as instructional material, there has been no SBOE oversight over CSCOPE content since its inception in the mid-2000s.
S.B. 1406 amends current law relating to State Board of Education oversight of regional education service center activities concerning certain curriculum management systems.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 8, Education Code, by adding Section 8.0531, as follows:
Sec. 8.0531. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS DEVELOPED BY A COLLABORATION OF REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE CENTERS. Requires that instructional lessons developed as part of a curriculum management system by a regional education service center, acting alone or in collaboration with one or more other regional education service centers, notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter (Powers and Duties) or Section 8.001(c) (relating to authorizing the commissioner of education to decide any matter concerning the operation or administration of the regional education service centers), be subject to the same review and adoption process as outlined in Section 31.022 (Instructional Materials Review and Adoption).
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.