82R9484 T
By: Carona S.B. No. 1557
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas High Performance Schools
Consortium.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 7.0561, Education Code, is added to read
as follows:
Sec. 7.0561. TEXAS HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM.
(a) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is created for
the purpose of informing the governor, legislature, and
commissioner about ways to transform public schools to improve
student learning through the development of innovative,
next-generation learning standards and assessment and
accountability systems.
(b) One or more school districts, up to a maximum of 20, may
apply to the commissioner to be included in the consortium of school
districts. The districts selected shall include a representative
range of district types and sizes and diverse student populations.
The commissioner may select upon application an exemplary
open-enrollment charter school to participate in the consortium.
(c) The commissioner may waive one or more requirements,
restrictions, or prohibitions under
(1) Subchapter B, Chapter 28;
(2) Sections 31.1011 and 31.073(b)(1) (state textbook
credits); and
(3) Chapter 39.
(d) With input from interested school districts and other
stakeholders, the commissioner shall adopt rules to create the
consortium, according to the following principles for a next
generation of higher performing public schools:
(1) engagement of students in digital learning,
including the use of electronic textbooks and instructional
materials adopted under Subchapters B and B-1, Chapter 31, and
courses offered through the state virtual school network under
Subchapter 30A;
(2) emphasis on learning standards that focus on
high–priority "power standards" identified in coordination with
districts participating in the consortium;
(3) use of multiple assessments for learning that have
meaning and importance and that continuously inform students,
parents, campuses, and districts about the extent to which learning
is occurring and what schools are doing to improve;
(4) an effective and efficient accountability system
that:
(A) balances academic excellence and local
values to inspire learning; and
(B) at the state level, uses a stratified random
sampling of students or other objective methodology to hold
districts and schools accountable while reducing the number of
state assessments that students are required to take; and
(5) local control that enables communities and parents
to be involved in the important decisions regarding the education
of their children.
(e) The application shall include a detailed plan for
assessments and accountability, which will both support improved
instruction and learning and provide evidence of the accurate
evaluation of the quality of the campuses, and which shall include:
(1) a thorough plan for accountability for student
learning, including issues regarding compliance with federal law;
(2) clear descriptions of each assessed curricular aim
in the "power standards";
(3) a plan for resources to support teachers in
improving student learning; and
(4) other provisions that may be established by the
commissioner.
(f) The commissioner shall convene consortium leaders
periodically to discuss ways to transform learning opportunities
for all students, build cross-district support systems and
training, and share best practice tools and processes.
(g) The commissioner or a school district that participates
in the consortium may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any
source, including a foundation, private entity, or governmental
entity for the implementation of this section.
(h) To cover administration costs, the commissioner may
charge a fee to a school district or open-enrollment charter school
that is selected to participate in the consortium.
SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules under
Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than
December 1, 2011. The commissioner shall seek a federal waiver, if
needed, for implementation.
(b) The commissioner shall make the application available
not later than January 1, 2012, for school districts to apply not
later than March 1, 2012 and to begin the consortium not later than
the 2012-13 school year.
(c) With the assistance of the consortium, the commissioner
shall submit progress reports to the Legislature by December 1,
2012, and December 1, 2014.
SECTION 3. 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.