Texas 2017 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1535 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/08/2017

                    85R12558 KKA-D
 By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 1535


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to school districts of innovation.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  A local innovation plan must:
 (1)  provide for a comprehensive educational program
 for the district, which [program] may include:
 (A)  innovative curriculum, instructional
 methods, and provisions regarding community participation, campus
 governance, and parental involvement;
 (B)  modifications to the school day or year;
 (C)  provisions regarding the district budget and
 sustainable program funding;
 (D)  accountability and assessment measures that
 exceed the requirements of state and federal law; and
 (E)  any other innovations prescribed by the board
 of trustees; [and]
 (2)  identify requirements imposed by this code that
 inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be
 exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004; and
 (3)  include a detailed explanation of the manner in
 which each requirement identified under Subdivision (2) inhibits
 the goals of the plan.
 SECTION 2.  Section 12A.004(a), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (a)  A local innovation plan may not provide for the
 exemption of a district designated as a district of innovation from
 a provision of this chapter or the following provisions of this
 title:
 (1)  a state or federal requirement applicable to an
 open-enrollment charter school operating under Subchapter D,
 Chapter 12;
 (2)  Subchapters A, C, D, and E, Chapter 11, except that
 a district may be exempt from Sections 11.1511(b)(5) and (14) and
 Section 11.162;
 (3)  Chapters 21 and 22;
 (4)  elementary school class size limits under Section
 25.112;
 (5)  state curriculum and graduation requirements
 adopted under Chapter 28;
 (6)  Chapter 37; and
 (7) [(4)]  academic and financial accountability and
 sanctions under Chapter 39.
 SECTION 3.  Sections 12A.003 and 12A.004, Education Code, as
 amended by this Act, apply only to a local innovation plan adopted
 or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act. A local
 innovation plan adopted or renewed before the effective date of
 this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the plan was
 adopted or renewed, and the former law is continued in effect for
 that purpose.
 SECTION 4.  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, 2017.