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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.0561 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.0561. TEXAS HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM. |
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(a) In this section, "consortium" means the Texas High Performance |
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Schools Consortium established under this section. |
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(b) The Texas High Performance Schools Consortium is |
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established to inform the governor, legislature, and commissioner |
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concerning methods for transforming public schools in this state by |
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improving student learning through the development of innovative, |
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next-generation learning standards and assessment and |
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accountability systems. |
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(c) From among school districts and eligible |
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open-enrollment charter schools that apply using the form and in |
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the time and manner established by commissioner rule, the |
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commissioner may select not more than 20 participants for the |
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consortium. The districts selected by the commissioner must |
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represent a range of district types, sizes, and diverse student |
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populations, as determined by the commissioner in accordance with |
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commissioner rule. To be eligible to participate in the |
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consortium, an open-enrollment charter school must have been |
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awarded an exemplary distinction designation under Subchapter G, |
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Chapter 39, during the preceding school year. |
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(d) The number of students enrolled in consortium |
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participants may not be greater than a number equal to five percent |
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of the total number of students enrolled in public schools in this |
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state according to the most recent agency data. |
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(e) The application process under Subsection (c) must |
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require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools |
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applying to participate in the consortium to submit a detailed plan |
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designed to both support improved instruction of and learning by |
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students and provide evidence of the accurate assessment of the |
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quality of learning on campuses. The plan submitted by a school |
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district may designate the entire district or one or more district |
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campuses as proposed consortium participants. The plan submitted |
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by a district or open-enrollment charter school must include: |
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(1) a clear description of each assessed curricular |
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goal included in the learning standards adopted in accordance with |
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Subsection (f)(2); |
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(2) a plan for acquiring resources to support teachers |
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in improving student learning; |
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(3) a description of any waiver of an applicable |
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prohibition, requirement, or restriction the district or charter |
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school would want to apply for; and |
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(4) any other provisions required by the commissioner. |
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(f) In consultation with interested school districts, |
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open-enrollment charter schools, and other appropriate interested |
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persons, the commissioner shall adopt rules applicable to the |
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consortium, according to the following principles for a next |
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generation of higher performing public schools: |
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(1) engagement of students in digital learning, |
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including engagement through the use of electronic textbooks and |
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instructional materials adopted under Subchapters B and B-1, |
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Chapter 31, and courses offered through the state virtual school |
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network under Subchapter 30A; |
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(2) emphasis on learning standards that focus on |
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high-priority standards identified in coordination with districts |
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and charter schools participating in the consortium; |
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(3) use of multiple assessments of learning capable of |
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being used to inform students, parents, districts, and charter |
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schools on an ongoing basis concerning the extent to which learning |
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is occurring and the actions consortium participants are taking to |
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improve learning; and |
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(4) reliance on local control that enables communities |
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and parents to be involved in the important decisions regarding the |
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education of their children. |
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(g) The commissioner shall convene consortium leaders |
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periodically to discuss methods to transform learning |
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opportunities for all students, build cross-district and |
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cross-school support systems and training, and share best practices |
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tools and processes. |
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(h) The commissioner or a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school participating in the consortium |
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may, for purposes of this section, accept gifts, grants, or |
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donations from any source, including a private entity or |
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governmental entity. |
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(i) To cover the costs of administering the consortium, the |
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commissioner may charge a fee to a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school participating in the consortium. |
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(j) With the assistance of the school districts and |
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open-enrollment charter schools participating in the consortium, |
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the commissioner shall submit reports concerning the performance |
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and progress of the consortium to the governor and the legislature |
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not later than December 1, 2012, and not later than December 1, |
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2014. The report submitted not later than December 1, 2012, must |
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include any recommendation by the commissioner concerning |
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legislative authorization for the commissioner to waive a |
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prohibition, requirement, or restriction that applies to a |
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consortium participant. That report must also include a plan for an |
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effective and efficient accountability system for consortium |
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participants that balances academic excellence and local values to |
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inspire learning and, at the state level, contingent on any |
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necessary waiver of federal law, may incorporate use of a |
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stratified random sampling of students or other objective |
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methodology to hold consortium participants accountable while |
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attempting to reduce the number of state assessment instruments |
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that are required to be administered to students. The commissioner |
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shall seek a federal waiver, to any extent necessary, to prepare for |
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implementation of the plan if enacted by the legislature. This |
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subsection expires January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the |
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commissioner of education shall adopt rules as required under |
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Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than March 1, 2012, the commissioner of |
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education shall make available to school districts and |
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open-enrollment charter schools the application forms required |
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under Section 7.0561, Education Code, as added by this Act. The |
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commissioner of education shall require school districts and |
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open-enrollment charter schools that intend to apply to participate |
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in the Texas High Performance Schools Consortium to submit |
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applications not later than June 1, 2012. |
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(c) Not later than July 1, 2012, the commissioner of |
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education shall formally select participants for the Texas High |
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Performance Schools Consortium established under Section 7.0561, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. The consortium must begin |
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operating not later than the beginning of the 2012-2013 school |
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year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the Senate on |
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May 3, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1557 passed the House on |
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May 23, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, one |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |