Bill Text: TX SB1318 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: 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.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-01 - Effective on 9/1/17 [SB1318 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB1318-Enrolled.html
 
 
  S.B. No. 1318
 
 
 
 
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.
         (a-1)  The total amount of grants awarded under this section
  during the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2019, may not
  exceed $12.5 million.  This subsection expires December 1, 2019.
         (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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1318 passed the Senate on
  May 4, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1318 passed the House on
  May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor
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