By: Villarreal (Senate Sponsor - Patrick) H.B. No. 2012

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2013; May 9, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Education; May 20, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1; May 20, 2013, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2012 By: Patrick

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to collection, distribution, and use of information relating to salaries of and job openings for certain professional employees of school districts and to teaching and learning conditions in public schools.

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. POSTING TEACHER POSITIONS ON AGENCY WEBSITE; PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEE SALARY INFORMATION. (a) A school district may submit for posting on the agency's Internet website notices of openings for positions for classroom teachers and notices of teacher shortages.

(b) The agency shall post on the agency's Internet website open positions for classroom teachers, including relevant salary information, submitted by school districts under Subsection (a). The agency's website must allow a classroom teacher to access a clearinghouse of information relevant to open positions for classroom teachers in districts, including the salary information described by Subsection (d) and information relating to district or regional shortages of teachers.

(c) Using only available funds and resources from public or private sources, the agency in collaboration with the Teacher Retirement System shall collect information from school districts regarding salaries paid to employees entitled to the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402.

(d) The agency shall provide for public use of the information collected under Subsection (c) in summary form on the agency's Internet website in a manner that indicates, by school district, the average salaries of employees to whom Subsection (c) applies by position and for classroom teachers, also by subject and grade level.

(e) The agency shall use the data collected under Subsection (c) regarding salaries paid to classroom teachers 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.

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

(g) Subsections (e) and (f) and this subsection expire 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 LEARNING CONDITIONS SURVEY. (a) The commissioner 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 learning conditions as predictors of student achievement and growth;

(2) the relationship between teaching and learning 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;

(C) support for teachers in student disciplinary matters; and

(D) limiting required meetings for and noninstructional duties of teachers;

(4) the relationship between teaching and learning 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 shall:

(1) make the survey results available to the public; and

(2) provide the survey results to school districts and campuses.

(e) Each school district and campus shall use the survey results:

(1) to review and revise, as appropriate, district-level or campus-level improvement plans in the manner provided under Subchapter F, Chapter 11; and

(2) for other purposes, as appropriate to enhance the district and campus learning environment.

(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.

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