Subject search results

7 Document(s) [ Subject: Early childhood education ]

Committee:	Senate Education
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Academically unacceptable schools | Charter schools | Dallas County Schools | Districts of innovation | Early childhood education | Education Agency, Texas | Educational accountability | Educational technology | Harris County Department of Education | High school graduation requirements | Internet | Middle school students | Middle schools | Scholarships | School boards | School choice | School counselors | School finance | School vouchers | Special education | Teacher retention | Teacher training | Teacher-student relationships | Technology education | Video cameras and recordings |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 Ed83
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [50 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	School Choice: 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.
2.	Charter School Approval, Expansion, Revocation: Study the approval, expansion, and revocation of public charter schools in Texas, including the implementation of SB 2, 83rd R.S. and other legislation. In particular, examine the issues surrounding the disposition of state property when charters are revoked, non-renewed, or cease to operate. Make recommendations regarding policies to ensure an efficient and effective transfer and disposal of state property that preserves state interest while ensuring that certain investment capital and the bond market supporting charter construction remains robust. In addition, make recommendations if needed to clarify policies regarding expansion of existing high-quality charter schools in Texas. Additionally, examine facility funding for charter schools in other states and make recommendations on facility funding assistance for charter schools in Texas.
3.	Teacher Preparation, Retention, Shortages: Study teacher shortage and retention issues in Texas and evaluate educator preparation programs to determine if these programs are preparing educators for the rigors of the 21st century classroom. In particular, examine the shortages of ELL, special education, and STEM educators across the state and identify the issues creating a shortage. Make recommendations to improve educator preparation throughout the state and increase certification rates. (Joint Charge with Senate Higher Education)
4.	Efficiency/Productivity Review: 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.
5.	Broadband Access: 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 Page 2 of 5 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.
6.	Teacher-Student Relationships/Student Safety: Study the recent rise of inappropriate teacher-student relationships, the impact of social media interaction between teachers and students, and examine the current efforts by the Texas Education Agency, schools, law enforcement, and the courts to investigate and prosecute any educator engaged in inappropriate relationships. Determine what recommendations, if any, are needed to improve student safety, including increasing agency staff, adjusting penalties, and strengthening efforts to sanction educators' certificates for misconduct. Study and address the issue of prevention through training and education of school employees.
7.	County School Systems: 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.
8.	School Board Governance, Low-Performing Schools: 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 educate 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).
9.	Monitoring Charge: 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: 1) 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; 2) Initiatives to build a high-quality pre-kindergarten grant program; 3) Legislation to raise standards of teacher preparation programs and establish a more consistent, high-quality accountability system; 4) Program to require the placement and use of video cameras in self-contained classrooms or other settings providing special education services to students; 5) Legislation to address training support for counselors, and advising courses for middle school students; and 6) Legislation to establish criteria for alternative measures of assessments to meet high school graduation requirements.
Committee:	House Public Education
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Databases | Distance education | Early childhood education | Educational technology | Elementary education | Secondary education | Teacher quality | Teacher retention | Teacher training |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 Ed84h
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [47 pages  File size: 4,601 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study best practices in instructional technology, including online course delivery, professional development, and supplementary instruction and course support. Examine the costs and benefits of these applications versus traditional delivery models.
2.	Review the functions of the agencies and boards under the committee's jurisdiction. Evaluate the capacities of these agencies and boards versus their appropriate roles in supporting instruction in public schools.
3.	Evaluate early childhood education programs in public schools and study the impact of different instructional and funding models on students' school-readiness and schools' operational efficiency.
4.	Research and evaluate state-supported policies and programs designed to attract, train, and support effective teachers and instructional leaders, including programs designed to recruit and retain teachers in hard-to-staff schools.
5.	Monitor the implementation of legislation passed by the 79th and 80th Legislatures.
6.	Study innovations in state educational data systems. Develop recommendations for a comprehensive state educational system that will ensure the best available information for educators and policymakers, include unique student records that may be transferred easily among authorized institutions, minimize duplicative or onerous reporting requirements, and meed federal privacy requirements in a manner consistent with the practices of leading states. Recommend statutory changes necessary to facilitate the implementation of the new data system and to eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements. (Joint Interim Charge with the House Committee on Higher Education.)
7.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Education
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Senate Committee on Education report to the 79th Legislature.
Subjects:	ACT test | Advanced Placement programs | Child care | Corporate sponsorships | Early childhood education | Educational accountability | Educational test preparation | No Child Left Behind Act | Scholastic Assessment Test | School dropout statistics | School dropouts | School ratings | Teacher certification | Teacher incentive plans | Teacher quality | Teacher salaries | Teacher shortages | Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills | Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills | Textbooks |
Library Call Number:	L1836.78 Ed83
Session:	78th R.S. (2003)
Online version:	View report [69 pages  File size: 1,172 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the implementation of SB 186, 78th R.S., (relating to the computation of public school dropout and completion rates) and make recommendations for improvements to current statutes and programs. Explore opportunities for maximizing current resources and identifying additional state, federal, and privately-sponsored programs for at-risk students that offer innovative delivery of educational services that encourage students to finish school. Focus on mentoring programs, including, but not limited to Communities in Schools, and the use of technology to provide instruction.
2.	Study the performance of high school students on TAKS, the new state assessment instrument. Make recommendations to improve any performance deficiencies that are identified by the review, including alternative school schedules, mentoring programs, technology-based applications, and other innovative solutions.
3.	Study progress of implementation of SB 76 (relating to the provision of subsidized child-care services). Evaluate and make recommendations on opportunities for Texas to increase the educational component of the Head Start program. Examine and make recommendations relating to access to quality early education, including estimated costs, teacher availability, learning requirements, and access to services for students with special needs.
4.	Evaluate opportunities and make recommendations on increasing the supply of qualified teachers and improving their working conditions. The evaluation and recommendations should focus on preparation, recruitment, certification, and retention of qualified teachers, while not restricting alternative certification. Conduct an assessment of the impact of teacher incentives, including mentoring programs and other creative options for retaining teachers, and develop recommendations for implementing incentive programs.
5.	Study and make recommendations relating to the effectiveness of the current process of selecting, funding, and distributing textbooks. Identify areas where the current process can be made more cost efficient, including recommendations relating to innovative methods of providing instruction such as online distance learning, and the use of interactive software to address the specific challenges of remedial students and advanced readers. Identify costs and benefits of using technology to provide current and innovative instructional materials, including staffing and hardware requirements.
6.	Study the TEA's implementation of the state's new accountability system and make recommendations to resolve any problems found. Examine the impact of the federal No Child Left Behind law on the state's accountability system and make recommendations for changes to state law to meet the federal legislation. Examine the ability of the current PEIMS database to meet future information needs and recommend changes, if necessary. Review and make recommendations on innovative alternatives for tracking student performance.
7.	Study successful partnerships between school districts and the business community and make recommendations for maximizing the use of effective partnerships, improving the delivery of education services, and enhancing educational opportunities for Texas students, especially at-risk students.
Committee:	Senate Education
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the 77th Legislature / Senate Committee on Education.
Subjects:	College preparedness | Early childhood education | Education | Higher education | Math education | School dropouts | School finance | Teacher certification | Teacher salaries | Teacher shortages | Teachers |
Library Call Number:	L1836.76 ed83
Session:	76th R.S. (1999)
Online version:	View report [92 pages  File size: 5,055 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the involvement of institutions of higher education in the state's public K-12 schools related to: (1) preparing students for college, and (2) creating greater access to college. The Committee shall identify successful practices and the necessary legislative role (if any) in expanding or enhancing such partnerships.
2.	Study the issues of teacher shortages and teacher utilization, including: projected public school student enrollment growth; recruitment strategies and resources for the production of teachers by universities or other providers; university-based and other teacher preparation program production levels; the impact of alternative teacher certification programs; the sufficiency of preparation of beginning teachers, particularly as it relates to growth in at-risk student populations; the benefits of creating additional state-funded teacher stipend programs in the areas of math and science; and strategies for attraction and retention of teachers, including the impact of competitive salaries and benefits, performance pay, and master teacher and critical shortage area incentives.
3.	Study issues related to the state's current method for reporting public school dropouts and the accuracy of the information provided by these methods. The Committee shall identify possible criteria to be considered by state and local agencies in ensuring the accuracy of such data.
4.	Monitor the implementation of the following bills enacted during the 76h R.S.: SB 4, 76th R.S., relating to appropriations regarding public school finance, property tax relief, and public education; SB 103, 76th R.S., relating to state assessments of public school students; SB 104, 76th R.S., relating to keeping school campuses open after school hours for recreational purposes, latchkey programs, and tutoring; SB 875, 76th R.S., relating to the financial accountability of school districts; SB 955, 76th R.S., relating to pre-reading instruction for certain children; HB 2075, 76th R.S., relating to the public notice required to be provided by a school district before adopting a proposed budget and tax rate; and HB 2307, 76th R.S., relating to assistance to certain low-performing public school districts. Particular attention should be paid to SB 4, 76th R.S., with emphasis on evaluating the legislation's impact on changes in teacher compensation and benefits; the effect on fast growth school districts; the overall impact on school finance system equity; the effect of the instructional facilities allotment and Tier 3; the initial implementation of provisions related to ending the practice of social promotion; and the enhancement of pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and ninth grade programs.
Committee:	Joint Preschool Education Standards
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	A report to the 62nd Legislature as authorized by S.C.R. 65, 61st Legislature, 1969.
Subjects:	Child care | Child welfare | Children with disabilities | Early childhood education |
Library Call Number:	L1836.61 P92
Session:	61st R.S. (1969)
Online version:	View report [36 pages  File size: 1,643 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Make a thorough study of public and private day care and educational services in Texas for children under six. The committee shall be called the Committee on Preschool Education Standards, and it shall conduct its investigations looking toward the development of a system of standards applicable to day care facilities, headstart programs, nursery schools and kindergartens in the three areas of (1) educational services and personnel to provide such services; (2) social services, and corresponding personnel; and (3) health services, and health personnel.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Joint Preschool Education Standards
Title:	Transcripts, Exhibits, and Testimony, June 10 and September 17, 1970
Library Catalog Title:	Minutes
Library Call Number:	L1836.61 P92M
Session:	61st R.S. (1969)
Online version:	View document [237 pages  File size: 298,318 kb]
Committee:	Senate Poverty in Texas
Title:	Interim Report
Library Catalog Title:	Report to the 61st Legislature / by the Senate Interim Committee Studying Poverty in Texas.
Subjects:	Career and technical education | Contracts for deed | Early childhood education | Poverty |
Library Call Number:	L1836.60 p869
Session:	60th R.S. (1967)
Online version:	View report [25 pages  File size: 1,569 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Study poverty in Texas - the education, values, needs, aspirations, attitudes about change and the relationship to society of the 28.8 percent of Texas families now living in poverty, on annual incomes of less than $3,000.

Information on this website is provided as a public service by the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislative Reference Library makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy and makes no warranty in regard to its use. Users assume all risk of reliance on the information included on this site.