By: Shapiro, Patrick S.B. No. 1383
(Eissler)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an appraisal and professional development system for
public school principals.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 21.354, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 21.354. APPRAISAL OF CERTAIN ADMINISTRATORS.
SECTION 2. Section 21.354, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) This section does not apply to the appraisal of the
performance of a principal.
SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.3541 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.3541. APPRAISAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS. (a) The commissioner by rule shall
establish and shall administer a comprehensive appraisal and
professional development system for principals.
(b) The commissioner may establish a consortium of
nationally recognized experts on educational leadership and policy
to:
(1) assist the commissioner in effectively
researching and developing the comprehensive appraisal and
professional development system described by Subsection (a); and
(2) evaluate relevant research and practices and make
recommendations to the commissioner to improve the quality of the
training, appraisal, professional development, and compensation of
principals.
(c) If the commissioner establishes the consortium, the
commissioner shall select a presiding officer of the consortium.
The presiding officer:
(1) must be an expert on educational leadership and
policy;
(2) must have a demonstrated ability to lead a
statewide school leadership reform initiative; and
(3) may not be employed by a school district in this
state.
(d) The commissioner shall establish school leadership
standards and a set of indicators of successful school leadership
to align with the training, appraisal, and professional development
of principals.
(e) In carrying out the commissioner's powers and duties
under this section, the commissioner may use only money available
from private sources that may be used for that purpose.
(f) In appraising principals, each school district shall
use either:
(1) the appraisal system and school leadership
standards and indicators developed or established by the
commissioner under this section; or
(2) an appraisal process and performance criteria:
(A) developed by the district in consultation
with the district-level and campus-level committees established
under Section 11.251; and
(B) adopted by the board of trustees.
(g) Each school district shall appraise each principal
annually.
(h) Not later than December 1 of 2012 and 2014, the
commissioner shall submit a written report to the governor,
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with
primary jurisdiction over public education of:
(1) any action taken under this section; and
(2) any recommendations for legislative action
concerning the training, appraisal, professional development, or
compensation of principals.
(i) Subsection (h) and this subsection expire January 1,
2015.
SECTION 4. Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) through (d) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
read as follows:
(a) The staff development provided by a school district to
an educator other than a principal must be:
(1) conducted in accordance with standards developed
by the district; and
(2) designed to improve education in the district.
(a-1) Section 21.3541 and rules adopted under that section
govern the professional development provided to a principal.
(b) The staff development described by Subsection (a) must
be predominantly campus-based, related to achieving campus
performance objectives established under Section 11.253, and
developed and approved by the campus-level committee established
under Section 11.251.
(c) For staff development under Subsection (a), a [A] school
district may use district-wide staff development developed and
approved through the district-level decision process under Section
11.251.
(d) The staff development:
(1) may include training in:
(A) technology;
(B) conflict resolution; and
(C) discipline strategies, including classroom
management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; and
(2) subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541
and rules adopted under that section, must include training based
on scientifically based research, as defined by Section 9101, No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:
(A) relates to instruction of students with
disabilities; and
(B) is designed for educators who work primarily
outside the area of special education.
SECTION 5. Subsection (e), Section 21.354, Education Code,
is repealed.
SECTION 6. Notwithstanding Sections 21.354 and 21.451,
Education Code, as amended by this Act, until an appraisal and
professional development system for principals under Section
21.3541, Education Code, as added by this Act, is implemented,
public school principals shall be appraised under Section 21.354,
Education Code, as that section existed before amendment by this
Act, and the staff development of principals is governed by Section
21.451, Education Code, as that section existed before amendment by
this Act.
SECTION 7. 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, 2011.