By: Carona S.B. No. 1557
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 7.0561 to read as follows:
Sec. 7.0561. TEXAS HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM.
(a) In this section, "consortium" means the Texas High Performance
Schools Consortium established under this section.
(b) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is
established to inform the governor, legislature, and commissioner
concerning methods for transforming public schools in this state by
improving student learning through the development of innovative,
next-generation learning standards and assessment and
accountability systems.
(c) From among school districts and eligible
open-enrollment charter schools that apply using the form and in
the time and manner established by commissioner rule, the
commissioner may select not more than 20 participants for the
consortium. The districts selected by the commissioner must
represent a range of district types, sizes, and diverse student
populations, as determined by the commissioner in accordance with
commissioner rule. To be eligible to participate in the
consortium, an open-enrollment charter school must have been
awarded an exemplary distinction designation under Subchapter G,
Chapter 39, during the preceding school year.
(d) The number of students enrolled in consortium
participants may not be greater than a number equal to five percent
of the total number of students enrolled in public schools in this
state according to the most recent agency data.
(e) The application process under Subsection (c) must
require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
applying to participate in the consortium to submit a detailed plan
designed to both support improved instruction of and learning by
students and provide evidence of the accurate assessment of the
quality of learning on campuses. The plan submitted by a school
district may designate the entire district or one or more district
campuses as proposed consortium participants. The plan submitted
by a district or open-enrollment charter school must include:
(1) a clear description of each assessed curricular
goal included in the learning standards adopted in accordance with
Subsection (f)(2);
(2) a plan for acquiring resources to support teachers
in improving student learning;
(3) a description of any waiver of an applicable
prohibition, requirement, or restriction the district or charter
school would want to apply for; and
(4) any other provisions required by the commissioner.
(f) In consultation with interested school districts,
open-enrollment charter schools, and other appropriate interested
persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules applicable to the
consortium, according to the following principles for a next
generation of higher performing public schools:
(1) engagement of students in digital learning,
including engagement through 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 standards identified in coordination with districts
and charter schools participating in the consortium;
(3) use of multiple assessments of learning capable of
being used to inform students, parents, districts, and charter
schools on an ongoing basis concerning the extent to which learning
is occurring and the actions consortium participants are taking to
improve learning; and
(4) reliance on local control that enables communities
and parents to be involved in the important decisions regarding the
education of their children.
(g) The commissioner shall convene consortium leaders
periodically to discuss methods to transform learning
opportunities for all students, build cross-district and
cross-school support systems and training, and share best practices
tools and processes.
(h) The commissioner or a school district or
open-enrollment charter school participating in the consortium
may, for purposes of this section, accept gifts, grants, or
donations from any source, including a private entity or
governmental entity.
(i) To cover the costs of administering the consortium, the
commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or
open-enrollment charter school participating in the consortium.
(j) With the assistance of the school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools participating in the consortium,
the commissioner shall submit reports concerning the performance
and progress of the consortium to the governor and the legislature
not later than December 1, 2012, and not later than December 1,
2014. The report submitted not later than December 1, 2012, must
include any recommendation by the commissioner concerning
legislative authorization for the commissioner to waive a
prohibition, requirement, or restriction that applies to a
consortium participant. That report must also include a plan for an
effective and efficient accountability system for consortium
participants that balances academic excellence and local values to
inspire learning and, at the state level, contingent on any
necessary waiver of federal law, may incorporate use of a
stratified random sampling of students or other objective
methodology to hold consortium participants accountable while
attempting to reduce the number of state assessment instruments
that are required to be administered to students. The commissioner
shall seek a federal waiver, to any extent necessary, to prepare for
implementation of the plan if enacted by the legislature. This
subsection expires January 1, 2018.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the
commissioner of education shall adopt rules as required under
Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2012, the commissioner of
education shall make available to school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools the application forms required
under Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act. The
commissioner of education shall require school districts and
open-enrollment charter schools that intend to apply to participate
in the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium to submit
applications not later than June 1, 2012.
(c) Not later than July 1, 2012, the commissioner of
education shall formally select participants for the Texas High
Performance Schools Consortium established under Section 7.0561,
Education Code, as added by this Act. The consortium must begin
operating not later than the beginning of the 2012-2013 school
year.
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.