Bill Text: TX HB3261 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-12 - Left pending in committee [HB3261 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB3261-Introduced.html
82R9484 T | ||
By: Strama | H.B. No. 3261 |
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relating to the establishment of the Texas High Performance Schools | ||
Consortium. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 7.0561, Education Code, is added to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 7.0561. TEXAS HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM. | ||
(a) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is created for | ||
the purpose of informing the governor, legislature, and | ||
commissioner about ways to transform public schools to improve | ||
student learning through the development of innovative, | ||
next-generation learning standards and assessment and | ||
accountability systems. | ||
(b) One or more school districts, up to a maximum of 20, may | ||
apply to the commissioner to be included in the consortium of school | ||
districts. The districts selected shall include a representative | ||
range of district types and sizes and diverse student populations. | ||
The commissioner may select upon application an exemplary | ||
open-enrollment charter school to participate in the consortium. | ||
(c) The commissioner may waive one or more requirements, | ||
restrictions, or prohibitions under | ||
(1) Subchapter B, Chapter 28; | ||
(2) Sections 31.1011 and 31.073(b)(1) (state textbook | ||
credits); and | ||
(3) Chapter 39. | ||
(d) With input from interested school districts and other | ||
stakeholders, the commissioner shall adopt rules to create the | ||
consortium, according to the following principles for a next | ||
generation of higher performing public schools: | ||
(1) engagement of students in digital learning, | ||
including the use of electronic textbooks and instructional | ||
materials adopted under Subchapters B and B-1, Chapter 31, and | ||
courses offered through the state virtual school network under | ||
Subchapter 30A; | ||
(2) emphasis on learning standards that focus on | ||
high–priority "power standards" identified in coordination with | ||
districts participating in the consortium; | ||
(3) use of multiple assessments for learning that have | ||
meaning and importance and that continuously inform students, | ||
parents, campuses, and districts about the extent to which learning | ||
is occurring and what schools are doing to improve; | ||
(4) an effective and efficient accountability system | ||
that: | ||
(A) balances academic excellence and local | ||
values to inspire learning; and | ||
(B) at the state level, uses a stratified random | ||
sampling of students or other objective methodology to hold | ||
districts and schools accountable while reducing the number of | ||
state assessments that students are required to take; and | ||
(5) local control that enables communities and parents | ||
to be involved in the important decisions regarding the education | ||
of their children. | ||
(e) The application shall include a detailed plan for | ||
assessments and accountability, which will both support improved | ||
instruction and learning and provide evidence of the accurate | ||
evaluation of the quality of the campuses, and which shall include: | ||
(1) a thorough plan for accountability for student | ||
learning, including issues regarding compliance with federal law; | ||
(2) clear descriptions of each assessed curricular aim | ||
in the "power standards"; | ||
(3) a plan for resources to support teachers in | ||
improving student learning; and | ||
(4) other provisions that may be established by the | ||
commissioner. | ||
(f) The commissioner shall convene consortium leaders | ||
periodically to discuss ways to transform learning opportunities | ||
for all students, build cross-district support systems and | ||
training, and share best practice tools and processes. | ||
(g) The commissioner or a school district that participates | ||
in the consortium may accept gifts, grants, or donations from any | ||
source, including a foundation, private entity, or governmental | ||
entity for the implementation of this section. | ||
(h) To cover administration costs, the commissioner may | ||
charge a fee to a school district or open-enrollment charter school | ||
that is selected to participate in the consortium. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) The commissioner shall adopt rules under | ||
Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than | ||
December 1, 2011. The commissioner shall seek a federal waiver, if | ||
needed, for implementation. | ||
(b) The commissioner shall make the application available | ||
not later than January 1, 2012, for school districts to apply not | ||
later than March 1, 2012 and to begin the consortium not later than | ||
the 2012-13 school year. | ||
(c) With the assistance of the consortium, the commissioner | ||
shall submit progress reports to the Legislature by December 1, | ||
2012, and December 1, 2014. | ||
SECTION 3. 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, 2011. |