2017S0453-1 03/09/17     By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 2063     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to eligibility for designation as and to accountability   for districts of innovation.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 12A.001, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read   as follows:          (a)  Subject to Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (d), a   school district may be designated as a district of innovation in   accordance with this chapter.          (b)  A school district is eligible for designation as a   district of innovation only if the district's most recent   performance rating under Section 39.054 reflects at least   acceptable performance and the district satisfies the eligibility   standards established by the commissioner under Subsection (d).          (d)  The commissioner shall establish objective eligibility   and performance standards in addition to those required under   Subsection (b), including academic performance standards and   financial accountability standards. The agency shall post the   eligibility standards established under this subsection on the   agency's Internet website.          SECTION 2.  Section 12A.003(b), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  A local innovation plan must:                (1)  provide for a comprehensive educational program   for the district, which program may include:                      (A)  innovative curriculum, instructional   methods, and provisions regarding community participation, campus   governance, and parental involvement;                      (B)  modifications to the school day or year;                      (C)  provisions regarding the district budget and   sustainable program funding;                      (D)  accountability and assessment measures that   exceed the requirements of state and federal law; and                      (E)  any other innovations prescribed by the board   of trustees; [and]                (2)  identify requirements imposed by this code that   inhibit the goals of the plan and from which the district should be   exempted on adoption of the plan, subject to Section 12A.004; and                (3)  establish performance objectives for the district   under the plan.          SECTION 3.  Sections 12A.005(a) and (c), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The board of trustees may not vote on adoption of a   proposed local innovation plan unless:                (1)  the final version of the proposed plan has been   available on the district's Internet website for at least 30 days;                (2)  the board of trustees has notified the   commissioner of the board's intention to vote on adoption of the   proposed plan; [and]                (3)  the district-level committee established under   Section 11.251 has held a public meeting to consider the final   version of the proposed plan and has approved the plan by a majority   vote of the committee members, provided that the meeting required   by this subdivision may occur immediately before and on the same   date as the meeting at which the board intends to vote on adoption   of the proposed plan; and                (4)  the commissioner has notified the board that the   district satisfies all eligibility standards adopted by the   commissioner.          (c)  On adoption of a local innovation plan, the district:                (1)  is designated as a district of innovation under   this chapter for the term specified in the plan, subject to Section   12A.006;                (2)  shall begin operation in accordance with the plan;   [and]                (3)  is exempt from state requirements identified under   Section 12A.003(b)(2); and                (4)  shall notify the commissioner that the district   has adopted a local innovation plan.          SECTION 4.  Sections 12A.008(a) and (c), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The commissioner may terminate a district's designation   as a district of innovation if the district [receives for two   consecutive school years]:                (1)  receives an unacceptable academic performance   rating under Section 39.054;                (2)  receives an unacceptable financial accountability   rating under Section 39.082; or                (3)  for two of the preceding three school years, fails   to satisfy any eligibility standard established by the commissioner   under Section 12A.001 [an unacceptable academic performance rating   under Section 39.054 for one of the school years and an unacceptable   financial accountability rating under Section 39.082 for the other   school year].          (c)  The commissioner shall terminate a district's   designation as a district of innovation if the district receives   for two of the preceding three [consecutive] school years:                (1)  an unacceptable academic performance rating under   Section 39.054;                (2)  an unacceptable financial accountability rating   under Section 39.082; or                (3)  any combination of one or more unacceptable   ratings under Subdivision (1) and one or more unacceptable ratings   under Subdivision (2).          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, 2017.