2015S0340-1 02/26/15
By: Seliger S.B. No. 916
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a program to improve public education
through partnerships between certain public school campuses and
public universities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.106(f), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
if the commissioner determines that a campus for which an
intervention is ordered under Subsection (a) is not fully
implementing the campus intervention team's recommendations or
targeted improvement plan or updated plan, the commissioner may:
(1) approve a university partner, as defined by
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or
improving the campus; or
(2) order the reconstitution of the campus as provided
by Section 39.107.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 39.107, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 39.107. RECONSTITUTION, REPURPOSING, UNIVERSITY
PARTNERSHIP, ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT, AND CLOSURE.
SECTION 3. Sections 39.107(d), (e), and (e-2), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(d) If the commissioner determines that the campus is not
fully implementing the updated targeted improvement plan or if the
students enrolled at the campus fail to demonstrate substantial
improvement in the areas targeted by the updated plan, the
commissioner may [order]:
(1) order repurposing of the campus under this
section;
(2) order alternative management of the campus under
this section; [or]
(3) approve a university partner, as defined by
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or
improving the campus; or
(4) order closure of the campus.
(e) If a campus is considered to have an unacceptable
performance rating for three consecutive school years after the
campus is reconstituted under Subsection (a), the commissioner,
subject to Subsection (e-1) or (e-2), shall [order]:
(1) order repurposing of the campus under this
section;
(2) order alternative management of the campus under
this section; [or]
(3) approve a university partner, as defined by
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or
improving the campus; or
(4) order closure of the campus.
(e-2) For purposes of this subsection, "parent" has the
meaning assigned by Section 12.051. If the commissioner is
presented, in the time and manner specified by commissioner rule, a
written petition signed by the parents of a majority of the students
enrolled at a campus to which Subsection (e) applies, specifying
the action described by Subsection (e)(1), (2), [or] (3), or (4)
that the parents request the commissioner to order or approve, the
commissioner shall, except as otherwise authorized by this
subsection, order or approve the specific action requested. If the
board of trustees of the school district in which the campus is
located presents to the commissioner, in the time and manner
specified by commissioner rule, a written request that the
commissioner order or approve specific action authorized under
Subsection (e) other than the specific action requested in the
parents' petition and a written explanation of the basis for the
board's request, the commissioner may order or approve the action
requested by the board of trustees.
SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.360 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.360. SCHOOL TURNAROUND EDUCATION PROGRAM:
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS (STEP UP). (a) The School Turnaround
Education Program: University Partnerships (STEP UP) is created.
(b) The purpose of the program is to raise student
performance at public school campuses through partnerships with
universities. The program offers an opportunity to avoid school
reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure.
(c) In this section:
(1) "University partner" means each university system
and Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin State
University, Texas Southern University, and Texas Woman's
University.
(2) "University system" has the meaning assigned by
Section 61.003.
(d) Each university partner shall establish a task force for
the improvement of public school campuses.
(e) The task force shall conduct research and construct
models to identify best practices for school improvement to assist
school districts in this state with more effective management and
operation of campuses.
(f) A school district board of trustees, on behalf of a
campus, and a university partner that it selects may enter into a
contract for school improvement initiatives or for a local
partnership as approved by the commissioner of education under
Section 39.106 or 39.107.
SECTION 5. 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, 2015.