Bill Text: TX SB916 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a program to improve public education through partnerships between certain public school campuses and public universities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-09 - Referred to Education [SB916 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB916-Introduced.html
2015S0340-1 02/26/15 | ||
By: Seliger | S.B. No. 916 |
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relating to the creation of a program to improve public education | ||
through partnerships between certain public school campuses and | ||
public universities. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 39.106(f), Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, | ||
if the commissioner determines that a campus for which an | ||
intervention is ordered under Subsection (a) is not fully | ||
implementing the campus intervention team's recommendations or | ||
targeted improvement plan or updated plan, the commissioner may: | ||
(1) approve a university partner, as defined by | ||
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or | ||
improving the campus; or | ||
(2) order the reconstitution of the campus as provided | ||
by Section 39.107. | ||
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 39.107, Education Code, | ||
is amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 39.107. RECONSTITUTION, REPURPOSING, UNIVERSITY | ||
PARTNERSHIP, ALTERNATIVE MANAGEMENT, AND CLOSURE. | ||
SECTION 3. Sections 39.107(d), (e), and (e-2), Education | ||
Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(d) If the commissioner determines that the campus is not | ||
fully implementing the updated targeted improvement plan or if the | ||
students enrolled at the campus fail to demonstrate substantial | ||
improvement in the areas targeted by the updated plan, the | ||
commissioner may [ |
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(1) order repurposing of the campus under this | ||
section; | ||
(2) order alternative management of the campus under | ||
this section; [ |
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(3) approve a university partner, as defined by | ||
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or | ||
improving the campus; or | ||
(4) order closure of the campus. | ||
(e) If a campus is considered to have an unacceptable | ||
performance rating for three consecutive school years after the | ||
campus is reconstituted under Subsection (a), the commissioner, | ||
subject to Subsection (e-1) or (e-2), shall [ |
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(1) order repurposing of the campus under this | ||
section; | ||
(2) order alternative management of the campus under | ||
this section; [ |
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(3) approve a university partner, as defined by | ||
Section 51.360, as a locally selected partner in operating or | ||
improving the campus; or | ||
(4) order closure of the campus. | ||
(e-2) For purposes of this subsection, "parent" has the | ||
meaning assigned by Section 12.051. If the commissioner is | ||
presented, in the time and manner specified by commissioner rule, a | ||
written petition signed by the parents of a majority of the students | ||
enrolled at a campus to which Subsection (e) applies, specifying | ||
the action described by Subsection (e)(1), (2), [ |
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that the parents request the commissioner to order or approve, the | ||
commissioner shall, except as otherwise authorized by this | ||
subsection, order or approve the specific action requested. If the | ||
board of trustees of the school district in which the campus is | ||
located presents to the commissioner, in the time and manner | ||
specified by commissioner rule, a written request that the | ||
commissioner order or approve specific action authorized under | ||
Subsection (e) other than the specific action requested in the | ||
parents' petition and a written explanation of the basis for the | ||
board's request, the commissioner may order or approve the action | ||
requested by the board of trustees. | ||
SECTION 4. Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.360 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.360. SCHOOL TURNAROUND EDUCATION PROGRAM: | ||
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS (STEP UP). (a) The School Turnaround | ||
Education Program: University Partnerships (STEP UP) is created. | ||
(b) The purpose of the program is to raise student | ||
performance at public school campuses through partnerships with | ||
universities. The program offers an opportunity to avoid school | ||
reconstitution, repurposing, alternative management, or closure. | ||
(c) In this section: | ||
(1) "University partner" means each university system | ||
and Midwestern State University, Stephen F. Austin State | ||
University, Texas Southern University, and Texas Woman's | ||
University. | ||
(2) "University system" has the meaning assigned by | ||
Section 61.003. | ||
(d) Each university partner shall establish a task force for | ||
the improvement of public school campuses. | ||
(e) The task force shall conduct research and construct | ||
models to identify best practices for school improvement to assist | ||
school districts in this state with more effective management and | ||
operation of campuses. | ||
(f) A school district board of trustees, on behalf of a | ||
campus, and a university partner that it selects may enter into a | ||
contract for school improvement initiatives or for a local | ||
partnership as approved by the commissioner of education under | ||
Section 39.106 or 39.107. | ||
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, 2015. |