81R11986 CBE-D
By: Dutton H.C.R. No. 113
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Texas is home to 1,035 school districts, each of
which is represented by a board of trustees that charts the
direction of educational programs and services, establishes
operating policies, and ensures the financial viability of the
district; although school boards are integral to the state's public
education system, they are not subject to accountability by the
Texas Education Agency; and
WHEREAS, The current accountability system for public
education in Texas holds students, teachers, schools, and districts
responsible for their performance; and
WHEREAS, Students must demonstrate academic ability on
standardized statewide tests and end-of-course assessments;
classroom teachers are held accountable for the collective
performance of their students through a system of appraisals and
incentives; and
WHEREAS, Individual campuses and districts are held
accountable for their overall school or district performance
through an accreditation system that rewards excellence and
provides interventions for those rated academically unacceptable;
and
WHEREAS, Currently, there is no system in place for
evaluating the performance of school boards, those organizations
charged with the essential task of ensuring that each student, each
classroom teacher, each campus, and each district have the best
possible opportunity to succeed; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby request the Texas Education Agency to develop a rating
system for the performance of local school boards; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That requirements for the rating system include the
following provisions: (1) each school board is to receive a rating
every two years; (2) the system is to include a measurement to
assess the allocation of personnel to low-performing schools; (3)
the system is to include a measurement to assess the allocation of
financial resources to low-performing schools; and (4) reports of
the ratings are to be made available to the Texas Legislature by
September of each even-numbered year; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
copy of this resolution to the commissioner of education of the
Texas Education Agency.