Senate Committee on Education Chair Senator Larry Taylor has called meetings on interim charges listed below on the following dates:
- August 3, 2016
- August 16, 2016
- September 13, 2016
- September 14, 2016
August 3, 2016, 9:00 AM, E1.028
The Senate Committee on Education will meet to hear invited and public testimony on the following items:
Conduct a comprehensive performance review of all public schools in Texas, examining ways to improve efficiency, productivity, and student academic outcomes. Study performance-based funding mechanisms that allocate dollars based upon achievement versus attendance. Identify any state mandates which hinder student performance, district and campus innovation, and efficiency and productivity overall.
Examine the structure and performance of the two remaining county-based school systems, Harris County Department of Education and Dallas County Schools. In particular, study the efficiency of these entities and determine whether those services are duplicative with education service centers or could be absorbed by education service centers.
Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or compete implementation. Specifically monitor the following:
- Legislation to require a minimum number of minutes of instruction for each school year.
Public testimony will be limited to 2 minutes.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/schedules/html/C5302016080309001.HTM
August 16, 2016, 9:00 AM, E1.028
The Senate Committee on Education will meet to hear the following interim charges:
Examine current school board governance policies and practices and make recommendations that could improve the focus, attitudes, and outcomes of Texas school boards, districts, and students. Study existing board training requirements for public schools and make suggestions to education school board trustees of policies that could achieve better student outcomes, particularly within the framework set for low-performing schools in House Bill 1842 (HB1842)(84R).
Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
- Initiatives to build a high-quality pre-kindergarten grant program; and
- Legislation to raise standards of teacher preparation programs and establish a more consistent, high-quality accountability system.
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/schedules/html/C5302016081609001.HTM
September 13, 9:00 AM, E1.028
The Senate Committee on Education will meet to take up the following interim charges:
Evaluate digital learning opportunities in classrooms and examine existing barriers to schools' ability to provide a digital learning environment. In particular, study the availability of affordable broadband access to school districts across Texas. Examine different options for improving access to broadband service in all areas of the state, for districts and student homes. Make recommendations on a statewide plan for building the necessary infrastructure to provide a competitive, free-market environment in broadband service.
Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
- Legislation to establish criteria for alternative measures of assessments to meet high school graduation requirements.
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/schedules/html/C5302016091309001.HTM
September 14, 9:00 AM, E1.028
The Senate Committee on Education will meet to take up the following interim charges:
Study school choice programs enacted in states across the nation, examining education savings account and tax credit scholarship programs in particular. Examine the implementation process used in other states and what impact these programs have had on student academics and state and local district budgets Make recommendations on which choice plan could best serve Texas students.
Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
- Legislation establishing state intervention procedures for public schools with academically unsuccessful ratings of at least two consecutive school years; and providing school districts the ability to be designated as a district of innovation.
Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/schedules/html/C5302016091409001.HTM