BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 2014

By: Parker

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties emphasize the importance of improving the mathematical reasoning skills of Texas students to ensure the continued growth of the Texas economy but also note that few schools adopt new, innovative programs for such improvement because of the start-up costs. H.B. 2014 seeks to address this issue by providing for grants to encourage mathematics innovation zones.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTIONS 1 and 2 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

H.B. 2014 amends the Education Code to authorize the commissioner of education, on application of a public school district or open-enrollment charter school, to designate a campus of the district or school as a mathematics innovation zone and award, from funds appropriated or donated for the purpose, a grant to support implementation of innovative mathematics instruction at the campus. The bill requires a campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone to implement with fidelity an innovative mathematics instructional program approved by the commissioner that addresses the essential knowledge and skills of the required mathematics curriculum; comply with objectives, metrics, and other mathematics innovation zone requirements imposed by commissioner rules; and provide all data relating to the mathematics innovation zone requested by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

 

H.B. 2014 exempts a campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone from certain interventions under the state accountability system for the first two years of the designation, provided that the campus implements the instructional program with fidelity and complies with each mathematics innovation zone requirement to the satisfaction of the commissioner. The bill establishes that the period that a campus is so exempt is not included in calculating consecutive school years of unacceptable ratings or considered a break in consecutive school years of unacceptable ratings for purposes of determining the need for an intervention. The bill authorizes the commissioner to revoke designation of a campus as a mathematics innovation zone and suspend associated grant funding if the commissioner determines that the campus has failed to implement the instructional program with fidelity or comply with any requirements imposed by the bill. The bill authorizes the commissioner to accept gifts, grants, or donations from any public or private source and to adopt rules as necessary to administer mathematics innovation zone designations. The bill establishes that a decision or determination by the commissioner regarding such designations is final and may not be appealed.

 

H.B. 2014 authorizes the commissioner to structure and approve, for use by a district or charter school, pay for success programs involving private financing under which payments are dependent on achievement of measurable outcomes. The bill authorizes a district or charter school to use a pay for success program approved by the commissioner to pay costs associated with designation of a campus as a mathematics innovation zone. The bill authorizes the commissioner to evaluate and approve as participants in a pay for success program a private investor, an education service provider, and a third-party evaluator and authorizes the commissioner to require an approved participant to comply with the objectives, metrics, and other pay for success program requirements prescribed by the commissioner. The bill authorizes the commissioner, in evaluating a potential participant, to verify the availability and liquidity of the investment funds of a private investor, evaluate the credentials and effectiveness of an education service provider, and evaluate the credentials and independence of a third-party evaluator.

 

H.B. 2014 exempts a district or charter school that uses a pay for success program approved by the commissioner from state procurement requirements that would otherwise apply to the activity funded through the program. The bill grants the commissioner, TEA, and TEA employees immunity from liability for actions associated with the structuring, approval, or implementation of a pay for success program. The bill authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary to implement pay for success programs.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2017.