81R3360 PAM-D
By: Branch H.B. No. 4238
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing a state master plan for closing academic
achievement gaps in public primary and secondary education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 39, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter A to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A. STATE MASTER PLAN FOR CLOSING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION
Sec. 39.001. SELECT COMMITTEE ON STATE MASTER PLAN.
(a) The Select Committee on the State Master Plan for Closing the
Gaps in Public Education is established to develop and adopt a state
master plan for closing gaps in student participation, student
success, and overall educational excellence among public schools
and school districts in this state and between public schools in
this state and public schools in other states.
(b) The committee is composed of the following 15 members:
(1) the presiding officers of the standing committees
of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
public education;
(2) one member of the senate, appointed by the
lieutenant governor;
(3) one member of the house of representatives,
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(4) the commissioner;
(5) the commissioner of higher education;
(6) one member of the State Board of Education,
appointed by the chair of the board;
(7) one public school teacher, one public school
principal, and one school district superintendent, each currently
employed in this state and each appointed jointly by the lieutenant
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives;
(8) one person who is currently employed as an
educator in a public school in this state, other than as a teacher,
principal, or superintendent, and appointed jointly by the
lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(9) one representative from the business community or
the public, appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(10) one representative from the business community or
the public, appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives; and
(11) one representative from the business community
and one representative from the public, at least one of whom has one
or more children who currently attend public school in this state,
appointed by the governor.
(c) The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall make the appointments required by
Subsection (b) in a timely manner to permit the committee to comply
with Section 39.002(a).
Sec. 39.002. COMMITTEE MEETINGS. (a) Not later than
October 1, 2009, the committee shall hold an organizational
meeting.
(b) The presiding officers described by Section
39.001(b)(1) serve as co-chairs of the committee.
(c) Committee meetings shall be held at the joint call of
the co-chairs.
Sec. 39.003. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A member
of the committee is entitled to reimbursement for actual and
necessary expenses incurred in performing committee duties.
(b) A legislative member of the committee is entitled to
reimbursement from the appropriate fund of the house of the
legislature in which the member serves.
(c) A member other than a legislative member is entitled to
reimbursement from funds appropriated to the committee.
Sec. 39.004. COMMITTEE STAFF. Staff members of the
standing committees described by Section 39.001(b)(1) shall serve
as the staff of the committee.
Sec. 39.005. OBJECTIVES OF MASTER PLAN. (a) The committee
shall conduct a comprehensive review of the public primary and
secondary educational system in this state and develop a master
plan that includes goals and strategies for closing gaps in:
(1) student participation;
(2) student success; and
(3) overall educational excellence.
(b) In conducting its review and designing goals and
strategies, the committee shall study the mission, organizational
structure, design, processes, and practices of educational systems
in other states and relevant educational requirements established
by federal law.
(c) The master plan developed under this section must:
(1) include specific goals for:
(A) improving student achievement;
(B) reducing academic achievement gaps among
students in this state and between students in this state and
students of other states;
(C) reducing student dropout rates;
(D) increasing high school completion rates; and
(E) increasing readiness for postsecondary
learning and employment; and
(2) be consistent with:
(A) each element of the accountability system
prescribed by this chapter, with special emphasis on:
(i) the indicators used to determine
accreditation status;
(ii) rewards and incentives for campus and
school district excellence; and
(iii) the responsibilities of the
commissioner in assisting and, if necessary, imposing sanctions on
school districts and campuses that do not meet state performance
standards; and
(B) the goals in "Closing the Gaps," the state's
master plan for higher education.
(d) The master plan developed under this section must
specifically address strategies for achieving the goals described
by Subsection (c)(1) in an educational environment characterized by
a rapid growth in the number of educationally disadvantaged
students and of students of limited English proficiency as defined
by Section 29.052.
(e) The committee shall conduct public hearings throughout
this state and solicit testimony concerning the public education
system from parents of public school students and other interested
persons. At least one public hearing must be held at a public
school during a time that public school students are generally able
to attend the hearing.
(f) The commissioner shall ensure that, subject to state and
federal educational privacy laws, the committee has access to any
documentation and agency personnel the committee requests.
(g) The Legislative Budget Board, comptroller, state
auditor, and any other state agency, official, or personnel shall
cooperate with the committee in carrying out its duties under this
subchapter.
Sec. 39.006. MASTER PLAN. (a) Not later than December 1,
2010, the committee shall:
(1) adopt a master plan that includes goals and
strategies prescribed by Section 39.005; and
(2) prepare a report to the legislature with, as
necessary, any recommendations for statutory changes consistent
with the master plan.
(b) The master plan and report must be approved by a
majority of the committee members.
Sec. 39.007. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires January
11, 2011.
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.