Tim Crane

The meeting focused on grounding the work in the mission and core principles of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) related to improving student achievement and ensuring student safety in Texas. Key discussion items included updates from the September SBEC meeting, such as the approval of new programs for the Texas Teacher Residency preparation route, adoption of updates to accountability system rules (Chapter 229), and discussions around educator personnel assignment rules (Chapter 231). A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to policy considerations for educator misconduct rules (Chapter 247 and 249) and rulemaking for educator preparation programs (Chapters 228, 227, and 230) to implement House Bill 2 requirements. Updates were also provided on the continuing approval review redesign process and the development of the Texas test for educator proficiency. The main focus for stakeholder input was the pre-service alternative certification pathway, specifically discussing proposed requirements for clinical training hours (140 hours recommended), required and priority experiences like co-teaching (where a minimum threshold is sought), and the consideration of paraprofessional service counting toward clinical practice.

The proceeding was a public hearing concerning proposed rule amendments to 19 TAC 102.1601 regarding supplemental special education services and instructional materials program for certain public school students receiving special education services. The speaker opened the floor for public testimony, outlining procedures for speakers, including stating and spelling names, identifying organizations, and adhering to a three-minute speaking limit. Subsequently, the public comment session was closed as no individuals signed up to testify.

The Commissioner of Education for the State of Texas, a former School Board member, emphasized the critical role of school board members in governing local school districts and serving Texas Public Schools. The discussion centered on the A-F rating system used to evaluate school performance based on student proficiency and growth, noting that the system has been consistent since 2017. Due to the requirement to continuously increase cut scores, the A-F rating system is being refreshed this year, meaning new ratings will not be directly comparable to previous years. To assist, preliminary 'what-if' ratings using the new system metrics against last year's data will be published to allow for meaningful year-over-year performance comparisons.

This document outlines the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology (LRPT), designed to guide individual districts in creating their own technology plans. It details Strategic Goal 5, 'Collaborative Leadership,' and specifically Focus Area 2, 'Shared Services.' The plan focuses on expanding IT services within and among organizations to optimize delivery, achieve cost savings, and enhance operational efficiency. Key actions include leveraging existing shared services, developing new models based on business values, and securing executive support for IT governance, ultimately aiming to improve customer relations and enable IT leaders to focus on core mission objectives.

The Texas Covid Learning Acceleration Supports (T-CLAS) initiative provides a targeted set of supports designed to accelerate learning and address educational setbacks. This strategic framework, particularly 'Decision 8: Strong Summer Supports,' emphasizes leveraging summer learning through evidence-based strategies. Key elements include funding for technical assistance from approved vendors, support for hiring dedicated project managers and steering committees, and operational funding to enable Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to extend instructional calendars to 180 days. The goal is to implement high-quality summer programs (free, 25-30 days, certified teachers, daily academics and enrichment, with covered logistics) to achieve significant academic gains and improve overall student outcomes.