S.B. No. 1383
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to an appraisal and professional development system for
  public school principals.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 21.354, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.354.  APPRAISAL OF CERTAIN ADMINISTRATORS.
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.354, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  This section does not apply to the appraisal of the
  performance of a principal.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.3541 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.3541.  APPRAISAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
  SYSTEM FOR PRINCIPALS. (a)  The commissioner by rule shall
  establish and shall administer a comprehensive appraisal and
  professional development system for principals.
         (b)  The commissioner may establish a consortium of
  nationally recognized experts on educational leadership and policy
  to:
               (1)  assist the commissioner in effectively
  researching and developing the comprehensive appraisal and
  professional development system described by Subsection (a); and
               (2)  evaluate relevant research and practices and make
  recommendations to the commissioner to improve the quality of the
  training, appraisal, professional development, and compensation of
  principals.
         (c)  If the commissioner establishes the consortium, the
  commissioner shall select a presiding officer of the consortium.  
  The presiding officer:
               (1)  must be an expert on educational leadership and
  policy;
               (2)  must have a demonstrated ability to lead a
  statewide school leadership reform initiative; and
               (3)  may not be employed by a school district in this
  state.
         (d)  The commissioner shall establish school leadership
  standards and a set of indicators of successful school leadership
  to align with the training, appraisal, and professional development
  of principals.
         (e)  In carrying out the commissioner's powers and duties
  under this section, the commissioner may use only money available
  from private sources that may be used for that purpose.
         (f)  In appraising principals, each school district shall
  use either:
               (1)  the appraisal system and school leadership
  standards and indicators developed or established by the
  commissioner under this section; or
               (2)  an appraisal process and performance criteria:
                     (A)  developed by the district in consultation
  with the district-level and campus-level committees established
  under Section 11.251; and
                     (B)  adopted by the board of trustees.
         (g)  Each school district shall appraise each principal
  annually.
         (h)  Not later than December 1 of 2012 and 2014, the
  commissioner shall submit a written report to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
  presiding officer of each standing legislative committee with
  primary jurisdiction over public education of:
               (1)  any action taken under this section; and
               (2)  any recommendations for legislative action
  concerning the training, appraisal, professional development, or
  compensation of principals.
         (i)  Subsection (h) and this subsection expire January 1,
  2015.
         SECTION 4.  Section 21.451, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) through (d) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The staff development provided by a school district to
  an educator other than a principal must be:
               (1)  conducted in accordance with standards developed
  by the district; and
               (2)  designed to improve education in the district.
         (a-1)  Section 21.3541 and rules adopted under that section
  govern the professional development provided to a principal.
         (b)  The staff development described by Subsection (a) must
  be predominantly campus-based, related to achieving campus
  performance objectives established under Section 11.253, and
  developed and approved by the campus-level committee established
  under Section 11.251.
         (c)  For staff development under Subsection (a), a [A] school
  district may use district-wide staff development developed and
  approved through the district-level decision process under Section
  11.251.
         (d)  The staff development:
               (1)  may include training in:
                     (A)  technology;
                     (B)  conflict resolution; and
                     (C)  discipline strategies, including classroom
  management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
  conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37; and
               (2)  subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541
  and rules adopted under that section, must include training based
  on scientifically based research, as defined by Section 9101, No
  Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:
                     (A)  relates to instruction of students with
  disabilities; and
                     (B)  is designed for educators who work primarily
  outside the area of special education.
         SECTION 5.  Subsection (e), Section 21.354, Education Code,
  is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  Notwithstanding Sections 21.354 and 21.451,
  Education Code, as amended by this Act, until an appraisal and
  professional development system for principals under Section
  21.3541, Education Code, as added by this Act, is implemented,
  public school principals shall be appraised under Section 21.354,
  Education Code, as that section existed before amendment by this
  Act, and the staff development of principals is governed by Section
  21.451, Education Code, as that section existed before amendment by
  this Act.
         SECTION 7.  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.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1383 passed the Senate on
  April 26, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1383 passed the House on
  May 25, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor