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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a program to improve public education |
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through partnerships between certain public school campuses and |
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public universities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.106(f), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, |
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if the commissioner determines that a campus for which an |
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intervention is ordered under Subsection (a) is not fully |
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implementing the campus intervention team's recommendations or |
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targeted improvement plan or updated plan, the commissioner may: |
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(1) approve a university partner, as defined by |
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Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or |
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improving the campus; or |
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(2) order the reconstitution of the campus as provided |
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by Section 39.107. |
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SECTION 2. The heading to Section 39.107, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.107. RECONSTITUTION, REPURPOSING, UNIVERSITY |
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PARTNERSHIP, ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT, AND CLOSURE. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 39.107(d), (e), and (e-2), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(d) If the commissioner determines that the campus is not |
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fully implementing the updated targeted improvement plan or if the |
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students enrolled at the campus fail to demonstrate substantial |
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improvement in the areas targeted by the updated plan, the |
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commissioner may [order]: |
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(1) order repurposing of the campus under this |
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section; |
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(2) order alternative management of the campus under |
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this section; [or] |
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(3) approve a university partner, as defined by |
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Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or |
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improving the campus; or |
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(4) order closure of the campus. |
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(e) If a campus is considered to have an unacceptable |
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performance rating for three consecutive school years after the |
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campus is reconstituted under Subsection (a), the commissioner, |
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subject to Subsection (e-1) or (e-2), shall [order]: |
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(1) order repurposing of the campus under this |
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section; |
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(2) order alternative management of the campus under |
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this section; [or] |
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(3) approve a university partner, as defined by |
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Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or |
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improving the campus; or |
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(4) order closure of the campus. |
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(e-2) For purposes of this subsection, "parent" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 12.051. If the commissioner is |
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presented, in the time and manner specified by commissioner rule, a |
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written petition signed by the parents of a majority of the students |
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enrolled at a campus to which Subsection (e) applies, specifying |
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the action described by Subsection (e)(1), (2), [or] (3), or (4) |
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that the parents request the commissioner to order or approve, the |
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commissioner shall, except as otherwise authorized by this |
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subsection, order or approve the specific action requested. If the |
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board of trustees of the school district in which the campus is |
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located presents to the commissioner, in the time and manner |
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specified by commissioner rule, a written request that the |
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commissioner order or approve specific action authorized under |
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Subsection (e) other than the specific action requested in the |
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parents' petition and a written explanation of the basis for the |
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board's request, the commissioner may order or approve the action |
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requested by the board of trustees. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.360 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.360. SCHOOL TURNAROUND EDUCATION PROGRAM: |
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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS (STEP UP). (a) The School Turnaround |
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Education Program: University Partnerships (STEP UP) is created. |
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(b) The purpose of the program is to raise student |
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performance at public school campuses through partnerships with |
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universities. The program offers an opportunity to avoid school |
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reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure. |
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(c) In this section: |
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(1) "University partner" means each university system |
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and Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin State |
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University, Texas Southern University, and Texas Woman's |
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University. |
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(2) "University system" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 61.003. |
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(d) Each university partner shall establish a task force for |
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the improvement of public school campuses. |
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(e) The task force shall conduct research and construct |
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models to identify best practices for school improvement to assist |
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school districts in this state with more effective management and |
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operation of campuses. |
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(f) A school district board of trustees, on behalf of a |
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campus, and a university partner that it selects may enter into a |
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contract for school improvement initiatives or for a local |
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partnership as approved by the commissioner of education under |
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Section 39.106 or 39.107. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2015. |