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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to collection, distribution, and use of information |
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relating to salaries and working conditions of public school |
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classroom teachers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.038 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.038. CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARY STUDY. (a) The agency |
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shall collect classroom teacher salary data from school districts |
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through the Public Education Information Management System |
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(PEIMS). |
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(b) The agency shall provide the data collected under |
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Subsection (a) in summary form on the agency's Internet website in a |
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manner that indicates, by school district, the average salaries of |
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classroom teachers by subject and grade level. |
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(c) The agency shall use the data collected under Subsection |
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(a) to conduct a cost-of-living salary comparability analysis in |
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each region of the state to determine how classroom teacher |
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salaries compare to salaries in similar professions. The |
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commissioner shall delineate the geographic boundaries of the |
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regions of the state and designate the professions that constitute |
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similar professions for purposes of conducting the salary |
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comparability analysis under this subsection. Not later than |
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December 1, 2014, the agency shall prepare and deliver a report of |
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the salary comparability analysis conducted under this subsection |
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to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and presiding officer of each standing |
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legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public |
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education. The agency shall post a copy of the report on the |
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agency's Internet website. |
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(d) The agency shall collect data and conduct the |
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cost-of-living salary comparability analysis under this section |
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using only available funds and resources from public or private |
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sources. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.064 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.064. TEACHING AND WORKING CONDITIONS SURVEY. (a) |
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The commissioner by rule shall develop an online survey to be |
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administered statewide at least biennially to superintendents, |
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principals, supervisors, classroom teachers, counselors, and other |
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appropriate full-time professional employees who are required to |
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hold a certificate issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21. |
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(b) In developing the survey under this section, the |
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commissioner shall ensure that the survey is designed to elicit |
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information relating to the following issues: |
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(1) teaching and working conditions as predictors of |
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student achievement and growth; |
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(2) the relationship between teaching and working |
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conditions and teacher retention; |
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(3) the influence of school leadership on teaching and |
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learning conditions, including: |
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(A) meaningful involvement of teachers in |
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determining professional development needs; |
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(B) meaningful involvement of teachers in campus |
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decisions and initiatives; and |
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(C) support for teachers in student disciplinary |
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matters; |
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(4) the relationship between teaching and working |
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conditions and student attendance and graduation; |
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(5) the appropriate time during the day for |
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collaborative instructional planning; |
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(6) facilities resources needs; and |
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(7) other supports needed for educators to be |
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successful in the classroom. |
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(c) The commissioner shall contract with a third-party |
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entity with appropriate research and evaluation expertise to |
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administer the survey required by this section. The third-party |
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survey administrator shall collect responses and protect the |
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identity of the respondents. The third-party survey administrator |
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shall provide the survey responses to the commissioner or a person |
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designated by the commissioner not later than the 60th day after the |
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date the survey is administered. |
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(d) After the administration of each survey, the |
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commissioner may make the survey results available to the public. |
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The commissioner shall provide the survey results to school |
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districts and campuses. |
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(e) Each school district shall use the survey results to |
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review and revise, as appropriate, district-level improvement |
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plans and plans for each campus in the manner provided under |
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Subchapter F, Chapter 11. |
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(f) The commissioner shall use the survey results to |
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develop, review, and revise: |
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(1) agency professional development offerings; |
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(2) agency initiatives aimed at teacher retention; and |
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(3) standards for principals and superintendents. |
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(g) The commissioner shall carry out duties under this |
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section, including contracting for the administration of the |
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survey, using only available funds and resources from public and |
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private sources. |
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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, 2013. |