85R5756 KKA-F
By: Parker H.B. No. 2014
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to designation of mathematics innovation zones by the
commissioner of education and to the establishment of pay for
success programs to provide necessary funding.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.020 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.020. MATHEMATICS INNOVATION ZONES. (a) The
commissioner may:
(1) on application of a school district or
open-enrollment charter school, designate a campus of the district
or school as a mathematics innovation zone; and
(2) from funds appropriated or donated for purposes of
this section, award a grant to support implementation of innovative
mathematics instruction at the campus in accordance with this
section.
(b) A campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone
must:
(1) implement with fidelity an innovative mathematics
instructional program approved by the commissioner for purposes of
this section that addresses the essential knowledge and skills of
the mathematics curriculum required by Section 28.002;
(2) comply with objectives, metrics, and other
mathematics innovation zone requirements imposed by the
commissioner through rules adopted under Subsection (g); and
(3) provide all data relating to the mathematics
innovation zone requested by the agency.
(c) A campus designated as a mathematics innovation zone is
not subject to interventions under the state accountability system
described by Section 39.107(a) or (e) for the first two years of the
designation, provided that the campus implements the instructional
program with fidelity and complies with each mathematics innovation
zone requirement to the satisfaction of the commissioner. The
period that a campus is exempt from interventions as provided by
this subsection is not:
(1) included in calculating consecutive school years
under Section 39.107(a) or (e); or
(2) considered a break in consecutive school years of
unacceptable ratings for purposes of determining the need for
intervention under Section 39.107(a) or (e).
(d) The commissioner may revoke designation of a campus as a
mathematics innovation zone and suspend associated grant funding if
the commissioner determines that the campus has failed to implement
the instructional program with fidelity or comply with any
requirement imposed under this section.
(e) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
use a pay for success program approved by the commissioner under
Section 44.904 to pay costs associated with designation of a campus
as a mathematics innovation zone.
(f) The commissioner may accept gifts, grants, or donations
from any public or private source for purposes of this section.
(g) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
administer this section.
(h) A decision or determination by the commissioner under
this section is final and may not be appealed.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 44, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 44.904 to read as follows:
Sec. 44.904. PAY FOR SUCCESS PROGRAMS. (a) In this
section, "pay for success program" means a program involving
private financing under which payments are dependent on achievement
of measurable outcomes.
(b) The commissioner may:
(1) structure and approve pay for success programs for
use by a school district or open-enrollment charter school;
(2) evaluate and approve the following participants in
a pay for success program:
(A) a private investor;
(B) an education service provider; and
(C) a third-party evaluator; and
(3) require an approved participant to comply with the
objectives, metrics, and other pay for success program requirements
prescribed by the commissioner.
(c) In evaluating a potential participant under Subsection
(b)(2), the commissioner may:
(1) verify the availability and liquidity of the
investment funds of a private investor;
(2) evaluate the credentials and effectiveness of an
education service provider; and
(3) evaluate the credentials and independence of a
third-party evaluator.
(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a school district or
open-enrollment charter school that uses a pay for success program
approved by the commissioner is not subject to state procurement
requirements that would otherwise apply to the activity funded
through the program.
(e) The commissioner, the agency, and agency employees are
immune from liability for actions associated with the structuring,
approval, or implementation of a pay for success program.
(f) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.