Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________________ E DUCATION/Public
DUCATION/Public
77 th Texas Legislature
Requires the commissioner to develop an Algebra I end-of-course exam and authorizes the commissioner
to require school districts to administer it.
Dropout Issues
Requires a school district’s performance report to include a dropout rate and a completion rate for grades
nine through 12 and the performance record of its graduates in the first academic year of enrollment in
colleges and universities.
Requires each school district to have its dropout figures audited annually by an outside public accountant
as prescribed by the commissioner, submit the report, with trustees approval, or letter stating why the
trustees did not approve the report, to TEA for review and commissioner’s response, which could include
civil or criminal prosecution by the appropriate authorities, if warranted.
Accountability
Requires the commissioner, by June 2002, to develop a gold performance-rating program for school
districts that improve student performance to apply to the 2001-2002 district accountability ratings.
Authorizes the commissioner, regardless of a district’s accreditation rating, to appoint a board of managers,
if it has had a master or management team for one or more years, to operate the district in place of the
board of trustees, for up to two years. Provides for an election to be held to create a new board of trustees.
Master Technology Teacher Certification - H.B. 1475
by Representative Kitchen, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Ellis
Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish a master technology teacher (MTT)
grant program.
Authorizes the commissioner, from funds appropriated for this purpose, to make grants to school districts to
pay stipends to MTTs who teach at high-need campuses.
Establishes a district’s right to receive the stipend payments for the succeeding two years if it continues the
terms of the grant as well as the teachers right to the stipend. Provides that a property right to a grant or a
stipend is not created and authorizes the commissioner to decide how to distribute grants when the state
appropriation is not sufficient to fully fund the grant program.
Requires the State Board of Educator Certification to establish a MMT certificate.
Senate Research Center 97