| 1 | 1 | | By: Herrero H.B. No. 3260 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to a study and report regarding the use of open-source |
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| 7 | 7 | | instructional materials at public schools. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 31, Education Code, is |
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| 10 | 10 | | amended by adding Section 31.006 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 31.006. A STUDY ON USE OF OPEN-SOURCE INSTRUCTIONAL |
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| 12 | 12 | | MATERIALS. (a) The commissioner shall select a center for |
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| 13 | 13 | | education research authorized by Section 1.005 to conduct a study |
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| 14 | 14 | | regarding the use of open-source instructional materials at public |
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| 15 | 15 | | schools. The study must include: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) an analysis of any impact that the use of |
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| 17 | 17 | | open-source instructional materials has on: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (A) the cost of other instructional materials; |
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| 19 | 19 | | (B) the operating costs for schools; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (C) teacher autonomy in the classroom; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (D) instructional materials choice. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (2) any difference in the quality of content or effect |
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| 23 | 23 | | on the learning process between open-source instructional |
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| 24 | 24 | | materials and other instructional materials; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) an evaluation of information from other states |
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| 26 | 26 | | that have implemented the use of open-source instructional |
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| 27 | 27 | | materials at similar schools regarding: |
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| 28 | 28 | | (A) the benefits realized and costs incurred from |
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| 29 | 29 | | the use of those materials; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | (B) best practices for the use of those |
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| 31 | 31 | | materials. |
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| 32 | 32 | | (4) an analysis of potential contributors in creating |
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| 33 | 33 | | open-source instructional materials including, but not limited to: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (A) institutions of higher education; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (B) school districts; and |
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| 36 | 36 | | (C) independent non-profit organizations. |
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| 37 | 37 | | (b) Not later than September 1, 2016, the agency shall |
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| 38 | 38 | | submit to each legislative standing committee with primary |
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| 39 | 39 | | jurisdiction over public education the results of its study under |
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| 40 | 40 | | this section and recommendations for legislative or other action. |
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| 41 | 41 | | (c) This section expires September 1, 2017. |
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| 42 | 42 | | S |
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| 43 | 43 | | ECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 44 | 44 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 45 | 45 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 46 | 46 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 47 | 47 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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