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Seal of the Senate of the State of Texas
Welcome to the official website for the
Texas Senate
 
Senate Committee on Education
NOTE: This is archived committee information from the 82nd Legislative Session.

Committee Information

CHAIR
Dan Patrick


MEMBERS
John Carona
Wendy Davis
Mario Gallegos
Steve Ogden
Kel Seliger
Florence Shapiro
Leticia Van de Putte
Royce West

 

CLERK:
Holly Mabry

TEL:
(512) 463-0355

LOCATION:
Sam Houston Building, 440

Video/Audio — Archives

82nd Session Interim

82nd 1st Called Session

82nd Regular Session

Written Testimony Submissions and Handouts

October 30, 2012

• Agenda

Interim Charge #8: "Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following: SB 6, relating to the establishment of the instructional materials allotment; SB 8, relating to the flexibility of the board of trustees of a school district in the management and operation of public schools; HB 1942, relating to bullying in public schools; The implementation of legislation related to the state's accountability system and other reforms enacted by HB 3, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, and SB 1031, 80th Legislature, Regular Session."

Panel 1: Implementation of Legislation from the 82nd Legislature

  • Anita Givens, Associate Commissioner, Standards & Programs, Texas Education Agency
        SB 6: (File 1, File 2, File 3, File 4)
        SB 1557: (File 1, File 2, File 3)
  • Von Byer, Deputy General Counsel, Texas Education Agency
        SB 8: (File 1)
  • Laura Taylor, Associate Commissioner, Accreditation and School Improvement, Texas Education Agency
        SB 738: (File 1, File 2)
  • Monica Martinez, Managing Director, Office of Curriculum, Texas Education Agency & Janice Lopez, Director, Education Standards & Certification, Texas Education Agency
        SB 866: (File 1, File 2, File 3)

Panel 2: Assessment & Accountability

Public Testimony

October 30, 2012 — Joint hearing with the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice

• Agenda

Interim Charge #7: "Conduct a comprehensive review of school discipline practices. Specifically, review and make recommendations on: The effectiveness of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP) in reducing student involvement in further disciplinary infractions and in promoting positive educational achievement; Disproportionate school discipline referrals, including suspension, expulsion, and Class C misdemeanor citations; The issue of "Zero Tolerance" in secondary education school discipline, the use of alternative education campuses, and the barriers to graduation. Also include the role that specialized school police departments play in these systems. Consider the impact on the juvenile justice system and the adult prison system; The number of students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) referred to juvenile or municipal courts, suspended, expelled, and placed in Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP). Examine data-sharing practices between DFPS, TEA, and local education agencies, and make recommendations to increase communication between schools and DFPS to increase educational outcomes for children in foster care; Evidence based models used for addressing juvenile delinquency prevention that is targeted to non-adjudicated, but at-risk youth, in the school disciplinary system. (Joint Charge with Senate Committee on Criminal Justice)"

Panel 1: Invited Testimony

Public Testimony

October 8, 2012

• Agenda

Interim Charge #3: "Study the growing demand for virtual schools in Texas. Review the benefits of virtual schools, related successes in other states, and needed changes to remove barriers to virtual schools."

Panel 1: Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN) Overview

Panel 2: National Perspectives on Quality Virtual Learning

  • Heather Staker, Senior Research Fellow, Innosight Institute (File 1, File 2)
  • Matthew Wilka, Research Consultant, FSG (File 1, File 2, File 3)
  • Dr. Luis Huerta, Associate Professor of Education & Public Policy, Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis, Teachers College - Columbia University (File 1, File 2, File 3)
  • Dr. Michael Barbour, Assistant Professor, Instructional Technology, College of Education, Wayne State University (File 1, File 2, File 3)

Panel 3: Texas Virtual Learning: Demand; Benefits; and Barriers

Panel 4: Other Barriers to Maximizing Virtual Learning

Public Testimony

September 13, 2012

• Agenda

Interim Charge #4: "Study the impact of extended learning time on school success. Evaluate the different programs offered, best practices, school implementation, and incentives for building community partnerships that allow a variety of academic and career-related learning opportunities. Examine the effect of after-school programs on academic performance, school attendance, behavior, and promotion to the next grade level, and the relationship between the availability of after-school programs in an area and the high school dropout rate."

Panel 1: Research and Background

Panel 2: School Turnaround & Dropout Prevention

Panel 3: College & Career Readiness For At-Risk Students

Panel 4: Learning Time

Public Testimony

August 24, 2012

• Agenda

Interim Charge #6: "Study the impact of school choice programs in other states on students, parents, and teachers. Explore the use of education tax credits and taxpayer savings grants, and examine potential impacts on state funding."

Panel 1: School Choice Overview

Panel 2: Education Tax Credits/Taxpayer Savings Grants

Interim Charge #5: "Study the performance and accountability of charter schools, best practices of high-performing charter schools, and barriers to replication. Review policies and practices for authorizing high-quality charters and closing poor-performing charters. Study the benefits of and costs related to increasing the number of charters, as well as establishing additional authorization boards to grant new charters."

Panel 1: Overview of Charter Schools

Panel 2: Policies and Authorization Boards

Panel 3: Best Practices

Public Testimony

July 17, 2012

• Agenda

Panel 1: Urban Education Service Centers and School Districts

Panel 2: Rural Education Service Centers and School Districts

Panel 3: Funding of Regional Education Service Centers

Panel 4: Shared Services

Public Testimony

May 18, 2012

June 6, 2011

June 2, 2011

May 19, 2011

May 17, 2011

May 10, 2011

May 5, 2011

April 26, 2011

April 14, 2011

April 12, 2011

April 7, 2011

April 5, 2011

• Agenda

SB 291

SB 975

SB 1349

SB 1788

Additional Testimony

March 31, 2011

March 29, 2011

• Agenda

SB 4

SB 6

SB 27

SB 54

SB 217

SB 1214

SB 1383

Additional Testimony

March 22, 2011

• Agenda

SB 127

SB 205

SB 242

SB 290

SB 518

SB 597

SB 738

SB 949

March 8, 2011

• Agenda

March 1, 2011

February 1, 2011

Reports

The following reports are available for download:

Interim Charges

  • Study public school management practices, including the use and options for shared services for both academics and operations. Examine the role of Regional Education Service Centers. Specifically, review the types of services being provided and their ability to assist school districts with improving efficiencies.
  • Study educator and principal preparation programs through colleges of education and alternative certification. Make recommendations to improve these programs. Examine strategies to improve recruitment of high-quality teachers. Examine alternative approaches to improving teacher retention. Study the benefits of comprehensive induction and mentoring programs.
  • Study the growing demand for virtual schools in Texas. Review the benefits of virtual schools, related successes in other states, and needed changes to remove barriers to virtual schools.
  • Study the impact of extended learning time on school success. Evaluate the different programs offered, best practices, school implementation, and incentives for building community partnerships that allow a variety of academic and career-related learning opportunities. Examine the effect of after-school programs on academic performance, school attendance, behavior, and promotion to the next grade level, and the relationship between the availability of after-school programs in an area and the high school dropout rate.
  • Study the performance and accountability of charter schools, best practices of high-performing charter schools, and barriers to replication. Review policies and practices for authorizing high-quality charters and closing poor-performing charters. Study the benefits of and costs related to increasing the number of charters, as well as establishing additional authorization boards to grant new charters.
  • Study the impact of school choice programs in other states on students, parents, and teachers. Explore the use of education tax credits and taxpayer savings grants, and examine potential impacts on state funding.
  • Conduct a comprehensive review of school discipline practices. Specifically, review and make recommendations on:
    • The effectiveness of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP) in reducing student involvement in further disciplinary infractions and in promoting positive educational achievement;
    • Disproportionate school discipline referrals, including suspension, expulsion, and Class C misdemeanor citations;
    • The issue of "Zero Tolerance" in secondary education school discipline, the use of alternative education campuses, and the barriers to graduation. Also include the role that specialized school police departments play in these systems. Consider the impact on the juvenile justice system and the adult prison system;
    • The number of students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) referred to juvenile or municipal courts, suspended, expelled, and placed in Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP). Examine data-sharing practices between DFPS, TEA, and local education agencies, and make recommendations to increase communication between schools and DFPS to increase educational outcomes for children in foster care;
    • Evidence based models used for addressing juvenile delinquency prevention that is targeted to non-adjudicated, but at-risk youth, in the school disciplinary system. (Joint Charge with Senate Committee on Criminal Justice)
  • Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:
    • SB 6, relating to the establishment of the instructional materials allotment;
    • SB 8, relating to the flexibility of the board of trustees of a school district in the management and operation of public schools:
    • HB 1942, relating to bullying in public schools:
    • The implementation of legislation related to the state's accountability system and other reforms enacted by HB 3, 81st Legislature, Regular Session, and SB 1031, 80th Legislature, Regular Session.
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