Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2063 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 03/10/2017

                            2017S0453-1 03/09/17
 By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2063


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to eligibility for designation as and to accountability
 for districts of innovation.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 12A.001, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read
 as follows:
 (a)  Subject to Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (d), a
 school district may be designated as a district of innovation in
 accordance with this chapter.
 (b)  A school district is eligible for designation as a
 district of innovation only if the district's most recent
 performance rating under Section 39.054 reflects at least
 acceptable performance and the district satisfies the eligibility
 standards established by the commissioner under Subsection (d).
 (d)  The commissioner shall establish objective eligibility
 and performance standards in addition to those required under
 Subsection (b), including academic performance standards and
 financial accountability standards. The agency shall post the
 eligibility standards established under this subsection on the
 agency's Internet website.
 SECTION 2.  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)  establish performance objectives for the district
 under the plan.
 SECTION 3.  Sections 12A.005(a) and (c), Education Code, are
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The board of trustees may not vote on adoption of a
 proposed local innovation plan unless:
 (1)  the final version of the proposed plan has been
 available on the district's Internet website for at least 30 days;
 (2)  the board of trustees has notified the
 commissioner of the board's intention to vote on adoption of the
 proposed plan; [and]
 (3)  the district-level committee established under
 Section 11.251 has held a public meeting to consider the final
 version of the proposed plan and has approved the plan by a majority
 vote of the committee members, provided that the meeting required
 by this subdivision may occur immediately before and on the same
 date as the meeting at which the board intends to vote on adoption
 of the proposed plan; and
 (4)  the commissioner has notified the board that the
 district satisfies all eligibility standards adopted by the
 commissioner.
 (c)  On adoption of a local innovation plan, the district:
 (1)  is designated as a district of innovation under
 this chapter for the term specified in the plan, subject to Section
 12A.006;
 (2)  shall begin operation in accordance with the plan;
 [and]
 (3)  is exempt from state requirements identified under
 Section 12A.003(b)(2); and
 (4)  shall notify the commissioner that the district
 has adopted a local innovation plan.
 SECTION 4.  Sections 12A.008(a) and (c), Education Code, are
 amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The commissioner may terminate a district's designation
 as a district of innovation if the district [receives for two
 consecutive school years]:
 (1)  receives an unacceptable academic performance
 rating under Section 39.054;
 (2)  receives an unacceptable financial accountability
 rating under Section 39.082; or
 (3)  for two of the preceding three school years, fails
 to satisfy any eligibility standard established by the commissioner
 under Section 12A.001 [an unacceptable academic performance rating
 under Section 39.054 for one of the school years and an unacceptable
 financial accountability rating under Section 39.082 for the other
 school year].
 (c)  The commissioner shall terminate a district's
 designation as a district of innovation if the district receives
 for two of the preceding three [consecutive] school years:
 (1)  an unacceptable academic performance rating under
 Section 39.054;
 (2)  an unacceptable financial accountability rating
 under Section 39.082; or
 (3)  any combination of one or more unacceptable
 ratings under Subdivision (1) and one or more unacceptable ratings
 under Subdivision (2).
 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, 2017.