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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to eligibility for designation as and to accountability |
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for districts of innovation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 12A.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) Subject to Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (d), a |
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school district may be designated as a district of innovation in |
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accordance with this chapter. |
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(b) A school district is eligible for designation as a |
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district of innovation only if the district's most recent |
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performance rating under Section 39.054 reflects at least |
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acceptable performance and the district satisfies the eligibility |
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standards established by the commissioner under Subsection (d). |
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(d) The commissioner shall establish objective eligibility |
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and performance standards in addition to those required under |
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Subsection (b), including academic performance standards and |
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financial accountability standards. The agency shall post the |
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eligibility standards established under this subsection on the |
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agency's Internet website. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) A local innovation plan must: |
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(1) provide for a comprehensive educational program |
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for the district, which program may include: |
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(A) innovative curriculum, instructional |
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methods, and provisions regarding community participation, campus |
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governance, and parental involvement; |
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(B) modifications to the school day or year; |
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(C) provisions regarding the district budget and |
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sustainable program funding; |
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(D) accountability and assessment measures that |
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exceed the requirements of state and federal law; and |
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(E) any other innovations prescribed by the board |
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of trustees; [and] |
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(2) identify requirements imposed by this code that |
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inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be |
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exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004; and |
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(3) establish performance objectives for the district |
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under the plan. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 12A.005(a) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board of trustees may not vote on adoption of a |
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proposed local innovation plan unless: |
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(1) the final version of the proposed plan has been |
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available on the district's Internet website for at least 30 days; |
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(2) the board of trustees has notified the |
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commissioner of the board's intention to vote on adoption of the |
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proposed plan; [and] |
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(3) the district-level committee established under |
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Section 11.251 has held a public meeting to consider the final |
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version of the proposed plan and has approved the plan by a majority |
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vote of the committee members, provided that the meeting required |
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by this subdivision may occur immediately before and on the same |
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date as the meeting at which the board intends to vote on adoption |
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of the proposed plan; and |
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(4) the commissioner has notified the board that the |
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district satisfies all eligibility standards adopted by the |
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commissioner. |
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(c) On adoption of a local innovation plan, the district: |
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(1) is designated as a district of innovation under |
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this chapter for the term specified in the plan, subject to Section |
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12A.006; |
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(2) shall begin operation in accordance with the plan; |
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[and] |
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(3) is exempt from state requirements identified under |
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Section 12A.003(b)(2); and |
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(4) shall notify the commissioner that the district |
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has adopted a local innovation plan. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 12A.008(a) and (c), Education Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The commissioner may terminate a district's designation |
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as a district of innovation if the district [receives for two
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consecutive school years]: |
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(1) receives an unacceptable academic performance |
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rating under Section 39.054; |
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(2) receives an unacceptable financial accountability |
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rating under Section 39.082; or |
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(3) for two of the preceding three school years, fails |
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to satisfy any eligibility standard established by the commissioner |
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under Section 12A.001 [an unacceptable academic performance rating
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under Section 39.054 for one of the school years and an unacceptable
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financial accountability rating under Section 39.082 for the other
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school year]. |
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(c) The commissioner shall terminate a district's |
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designation as a district of innovation if the district receives |
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for two of the preceding three [consecutive] school years: |
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(1) an unacceptable academic performance rating under |
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Section 39.054; |
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(2) an unacceptable financial accountability rating |
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under Section 39.082; or |
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(3) any combination of one or more unacceptable |
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ratings under Subdivision (1) and one or more unacceptable ratings |
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under Subdivision (2). |
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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, 2017. |