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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to designation of mathematics innovation zones by the |
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commissioner of education and to the establishment of pay for |
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success programs to provide necessary funding. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.020 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.020. MATHEMATICS INNOVATION ZONES. (a) The |
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commissioner may: |
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(1) on application of a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school, designate a campus of the district |
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or school as a mathematics innovation zone; and |
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(2) from funds appropriated or donated for purposes of |
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this section, award a grant to support implementation of innovative |
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mathematics instruction at the campus in accordance with this |
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section. |
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(a-1) The total amount of grants awarded under this section |
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during the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2019, may not |
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exceed $12.5 million. This subsection expires December 1, 2019. |
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(b) A campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone |
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must: |
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(1) implement with fidelity an innovative mathematics |
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instructional program approved by the commissioner for purposes of |
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this section that addresses the essential knowledge and skills of |
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the mathematics curriculum required by Section 28.002; |
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(2) comply with objectives, metrics, and other |
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mathematics innovation zone requirements imposed by the |
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commissioner through rules adopted under Subsection (g); and |
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(3) provide all data relating to the mathematics |
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innovation zone requested by the agency. |
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(c) A campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone is |
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not subject to interventions under the state accountability system |
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described by Section 39.107(a) or (e) for the first two years of the |
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designation, provided that the campus implements the instructional |
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program with fidelity and complies with each mathematics innovation |
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zone requirement to the satisfaction of the commissioner. The |
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period that a campus is exempt from interventions as provided by |
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this subsection is not: |
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(1) included in calculating consecutive school years |
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under Section 39.107(a) or (e); or |
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(2) considered a break in consecutive school years of |
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unacceptable ratings for purposes of determining the need for |
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intervention under Section 39.107(a) or (e). |
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(d) The commissioner may revoke designation of a campus as a |
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mathematics innovation zone and suspend associated grant funding if |
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the commissioner determines that the campus has failed to implement |
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the instructional program with fidelity or comply with any |
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requirement imposed under this section. |
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(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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use a pay for success program approved by the commissioner under |
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Section 44.904 to pay costs associated with designation of a campus |
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as a mathematics innovation zone. |
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(f) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, or donations |
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from any public or private source for purposes of this section. |
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(g) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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(h) A decision or determination by the commissioner under |
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this section is final and may not be appealed. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 44, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 44.904 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 44.904. PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAMS. (a) In this |
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section, "pay for success program" means a program involving |
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private financing under which payments are dependent on achievement |
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of measurable outcomes. |
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(b) The commissioner may: |
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(1) structure and approve pay for success programs for |
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use by a school district or open-enrollment charter school; |
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(2) evaluate and approve the following participants in |
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a pay for success program: |
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(A) a private investor; |
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(B) an education service provider; and |
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(C) a third-party evaluator; and |
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(3) require an approved participant to comply with the |
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objectives, metrics, and other pay for success program requirements |
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prescribed by the commissioner. |
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(c) In evaluating a potential participant under Subsection |
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(b)(2), the commissioner may: |
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(1) verify the availability and liquidity of the |
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investment funds of a private investor; |
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(2) evaluate the credentials and effectiveness of an |
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education service provider; and |
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(3) evaluate the credentials and independence of a |
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third-party evaluator. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school that uses a pay for success program |
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approved by the commissioner is not subject to state procurement |
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requirements that would otherwise apply to the activity funded |
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through the program. |
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(e) The commissioner, the agency, and agency employees are |
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immune from liability for actions associated with the structuring, |
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approval, or implementation of a pay for success program. |
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(f) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |