Here is info on HB1 which passed during the last special legislative session and which you can access on the TEA website. There's lots of pieces to it so it merits a close read.
Another thing. I just found this pdf file from the TEA website of a presentation that by the looks of it was made at a State Board of Education meeting. If you scroll down, you'll see some pretty good recommendations in it for how to address the lack of preparedness (or conversely, making college ready), our youth.
Also, scroll down in this article in order to fast forward to the college readiness portion of the bill that is going to certainly gain more steam come September.
-Angela
TEA's House Bill 1 Information Site
Contact TEA Governmental Relations Division: (512) 463-9682
Contact us by email at HB1@tea.state.tx.us
Texas Education Agency · 1701 North Congress Avenue · Austin, Texas, 78701 · (512) 463-9734
July 30, 2006
HB1 Programs
Here TEA will publish various information regarding its plans for implementation of House Bill 1, specific to the programs listed below.
Three documents will be created for each program: Rulemaking Information, RFP Status, Stakeholder Meeting Information, and the RFP document itself. These documents will be published as information becomes available, so check back often for the Program titles below to become enabled links.
As of July 26, there are new documents available in the High School Allotment section and the Agency Review of ISD Accounting Systems section!
Please review the information accessible through the menu at left, and sign up for the HB1 Listserv!
High School Allotment
Provides $275 per high school student to districts to prepare students to go on to higher education, encourage students to take advanced academic course work, increase the rigor of academic course work, align secondary and postsecondary curriculum and support promising high school completion and success initiatives in grades 6 though 12. The commissioner shall adopt rules relating to the permissible uses of these funds.
Agency Review of ISD Accounting Systems
Presently, there is no standard requirement for such systems other than a system that enables adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the general statutory language of Texas Education Code section 44.007 (set out in agency rule under the Financial Accountability System Resource Guide). Under the terms of the proposed RFP, the proposer must conduct a comprehensive review of the accounting systems used by school districts and charter schools.
Establishment of education research centers
Texas colleges and universities are eligible to submit a Request for Proposal for the establishment of an Education Research Center. Up to three centers may be established. The centers shall conduct research for the benefit of education in Texas, including research relating to the impact of state and federal education programs, the performance of educator preparation programs, public school finance, and the best practices of school districts with regard to classroom instruction, bilingual education programs, special language programs, and business practices..
Public access to PEIMS data and agency web site re-design
The redesign of the Texas Education Agency website will significantly improve user awareness of and access to various data reports available on the TEA web site. The goal is for consumers of these reports to more easily navigate, find and retrieve the appropriate reports, including the ability to download data as appropriate. This project will take into consideration recommendations made by the Commissioner’s Advisory Panel on Public Access to PEIMS (as directed by TEC 7.008(b)), before developing a request for proposal.
Establishment of education and finance “Best Practices Clearinghouse"
The Best Practices Clearinghouse is an online resource with accessible information describing the best practices of high-performing and high efficient campuses and school districts. The Clearinghouse will include best practices in the areas of instruction, public school finance, resource allocation and business practices.
Agency evaluation of standardized accounting software for school districts
Any software application used by a district must support the standards for accounting systems defined by Texas Education Code section 44.007 and must be able to accommodate the standard forms required by the agency under Texas Education Code section 44.009. However, a software application implemented by a school district or charter school is not subject to approval by the agency and no official standards exist for such applications. Under the terms of the proposed RFP, the proposer must conduct a feasibility study for providing standardized accounting software to school districts and charter schools.
Agency shared services arrangements study
School districts and charter schools use a wide variety of shared service arrangements to accomplish organizational goals. Usually these arrangements pool the resources of numerous school districts under a single fiscal agent, most often a Regional Education Service Center (ESC). Under the terms of the proposed RFP, the proposer must conduct a study of the use of shared service arrangements and purchase of service contracts among school districts and charter schools.
Development of systems for calculating spending targets for ISDs
School district expenditure targets will be selected and defined based on best practices information and the unique characteristics of school districts. Expenditure targets will include costs in the areas of instruction, central administration, and district operations. Once these expenditure targets have been defined and selected they will be published for annual review on the agency website. School boards for school districts not meeting the published expenditure targets will be required to adopt and pass a resolution to substantiate the reason(s) for not meeting the published targets.
Electronic Student Records Exchange System
Proposers are eligible to submit a Request for Offer for the development of an electronic student records system that permits the transfer of student records between Texas school districts and the transfer of records from Texas school districts to Texas colleges and universities. The electronic student records system is to be implemented no later than the 2007-08 school year.
Principal Leadership Program
This program is designed to instruct principals in improvement of leadership skills, student achievement, graduation rates and teacher retention. The program is for anyone interested in becoming a principal or for principals interested in further professional development. The program is mandatory for principals of academically unacceptable campuses.
College Readiness: vertical teams and curriculum development
Vertical teams composed of public school and higher education faculty will be established by the commissioners of education and higher education to: 1) recommend college readiness standards and expectations; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of the TEKS in preparing students for college; 3) recommend strategies for aligning curricula; and 4) develop instructional strategies; professional development and online support materials.
Texas Governor's Schools
A summer residential program, approved by the commissioner of education, which offers curriculum focused on mathematics, science, humanities, or leadership and public policy for high-achieving high school students. The commissioner of education may offer grants up to $750,000 each year to public higher education institutions to administer a Governor’s School program.
Optional Flexible School Day
A program approved by the commissioner of education to provide flexible hours and days of attendance for students in grades 9-12, who are at risk of not graduating or are participating in an approved early college high school plan or are attending a campus implementing an innovative redesign under a plan approved by the commissioner of education.
Teacher Mentoring
The mentoring program allows a school district to assign a mentor teacher to each classroom teacher with less than 2 years teaching experience. Mentor teachers must complete a mentoring and induction training program that meets qualifications determined by the Commissioner. School districts can apply for grants to fund mentor teacher stipends, additional meeting time for mentors and teachers and mentor training.
Contact TEA's Governmental Relations Division at (512) 463-9682 or by email at HB1@tea.state.tx.us with any questions you may have.
This page last updated July 26, 2006
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