83R9236 PAM-D

By: Villarreal H.B. No. 2012

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to collection, distribution, and use of information relating to salaries and working conditions of public school classroom teachers.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 7.038 to read as follows:

Sec. 7.038. CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARY STUDY. (a) The agency shall collect classroom teacher salary data from school districts through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS).

(b) The agency shall provide the data collected under Subsection (a) in summary form on the agency's Internet website in a manner that indicates, by school district, the average salaries of classroom teachers by subject and grade level.

(c) The agency shall use the data collected under Subsection (a) to conduct a cost-of-living salary comparability analysis in each region of the state to determine how classroom teacher salaries compare to salaries in similar professions. The commissioner shall delineate the geographic boundaries of the regions of the state and designate the professions that constitute similar professions for purposes of conducting the salary comparability analysis under this subsection. Not later than December 1, 2014, the agency shall prepare and deliver a report of the salary comparability analysis conducted under this subsection to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with primary jurisdiction over public education. The agency shall post a copy of the report on the agency's Internet website.

(d) The agency shall collect data and conduct the cost-of-living salary comparability analysis under this section using only available funds and resources from public or private sources.

(e) This section expires September 1, 2015.

SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 7.064 to read as follows:

Sec. 7.064. TEACHING AND WORKING CONDITIONS SURVEY. (a) The commissioner by rule shall develop an online survey to be administered statewide at least biennially to superintendents, principals, supervisors, classroom teachers, counselors, and other appropriate full-time professional employees who are required to hold a certificate issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21.

(b) In developing the survey under this section, the commissioner shall ensure that the survey is designed to elicit information relating to the following issues:

(1) teaching and working conditions as predictors of student achievement and growth;

(2) the relationship between teaching and working conditions and teacher retention;

(3) the influence of school leadership on teaching and learning conditions, including:

(A) meaningful involvement of teachers in determining professional development needs;

(B) meaningful involvement of teachers in campus decisions and initiatives; and

(C) support for teachers in student disciplinary matters;

(4) the relationship between teaching and working conditions and student attendance and graduation;

(5) the appropriate time during the day for collaborative instructional planning;

(6) facilities resources needs; and

(7) other supports needed for educators to be successful in the classroom.

(c) The commissioner shall contract with a third-party entity with appropriate research and evaluation expertise to administer the survey required by this section. The third-party survey administrator shall collect responses and protect the identity of the respondents. The third-party survey administrator shall provide the survey responses to the commissioner or a person designated by the commissioner not later than the 60th day after the date the survey is administered.

(d) After the administration of each survey, the commissioner may make the survey results available to the public. The commissioner shall provide the survey results to school districts and campuses.

(e) Each school district shall use the survey results to review and revise, as appropriate, district-level improvement plans and plans for each campus in the manner provided under Subchapter F, Chapter 11.

(f) The commissioner shall use the survey results to develop, review, and revise:

(1) agency professional development offerings;

(2) agency initiatives aimed at teacher retention; and

(3) standards for principals and superintendents.

(g) The commissioner shall carry out duties under this section, including contracting for the administration of the survey, using only available funds and resources from public and private sources.

SECTION 3. 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, 2013.