82R10670 VOO-F
By: Watson S.B. No. 1499
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to advancement of college readiness in the public school
curriculum through evaluations and recommendations of vertical
teams composed of faculty members of institutions of higher
education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.008, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections
(c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows:
(a) To ensure that students are able to perform
college-level course work at institutions of higher education, the
commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education
shall establish vertical teams composed of faculty members [public
school educators and institution] of institutions of higher
education and private or independent institutions of higher
education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003 [faculty].
(b) The vertical teams shall:
(1) recommend for approval by the commissioner of
education and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, on the
same cycle as the essential knowledge and skills of subjects of the
required curriculum are reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002,
college readiness standards and expectations that address what
students must know and be able to do to succeed in entry-level
courses offered at institutions of higher education;
(2) evaluate, on the same cycle as the essential
knowledge and skills of subjects of the required curriculum are
reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002, whether the high school
curriculum requirements identified under Section 28.002 and other
instructional requirements serve to prepare students to
successfully perform college-level course work;
(3) recommend, on the same cycle as the essential
knowledge and skills of subjects of the required curriculum are
reviewed for purposes of Section 28.002, how the public school
curriculum requirements can be aligned with college readiness
standards and expectations;
(4) develop instructional strategies for teaching
courses to prepare students to successfully perform college-level
course work; and
(5) develop or establish minimum standards for
curricula, professional development materials, and online support
materials in English language arts, mathematics, science, and
social studies, designed for students who need additional
assistance in preparing to successfully perform college-level
course work.
(c) The commissioner of education and the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board by rule shall establish the
composition and duties of the vertical teams established under this
section. The rule establishing the composition of the vertical
teams must comply with Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3).
(c-1) In making appointments for a vertical team, the
commissioner of education and the commissioner of higher education
shall attempt to achieve a balanced combination of educational
perspectives.
(c-2) To ensure that each vertical team is composed of
faculty members who are experts in a subject area under review by
that team, each team member must have:
(1) at least five years of higher education teaching
experience in a subject area under review and a terminal degree in
the subject area; or
(2) at least five years of higher education teaching
experience in the field of education and a doctoral degree in
education.
(c-3) If a vertical team is making evaluations or
recommendations concerning career and technical education:
(1) at least one member of the vertical team must be a
faculty member from the Texas State Technical College System; and
(2) at least one member of the vertical team must be a
faculty member from Lamar Institute of Technology.
(d) The State Board of Education shall incorporate college
readiness standards and expectations recommended by a vertical team
and approved by the commissioner of education and the Texas Higher
Education Coordinating Board under Subsection (b) into the
essential knowledge and skills identified by the board rule under
Section 28.002(c) and may, by majority vote of the board, approve
other recommendations of a vertical team.
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, 2011.