Source: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter097/ch097ee.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 18:36:34
Document Index: 723784991

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19 TAC Chapter 97, Subchapter EE
§97.1051. Definitions.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1051 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1051 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective November 23, 2008, 33 TexReg 9462; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452.
§97.1053. Purpose.
(a) The provisions of Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapters 39 and 39A, and this subchapter shall be construed and applied to achieve the purposes of accreditation statuses assigned under TEC, §39.051 and §39.052, and the purposes of accreditation sanctions, which are to:
(c) The provisions of TEC, Chapters 39 and 39A, and this subchapter apply in the same manner to an open-enrollment charter school as to a district.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1053 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1053 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective November 23, 2008, 33 TexReg 9462; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452.
§97.1055. Accreditation Status.
(C) For any district subject to this paragraph, the commissioner may lower the district's accreditation rating to Not Accredited-Revoked at any time if the commissioner determines that the district is not making acceptable progress to correct its academic or financial performance and that closure and annexation is necessary to achieve the purposes of TEC, §39.051 and §39.052, unless the district has earned an Accredited status absent the application of subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph.
(D) For purposes of this subsection, the period of appointment of the board of managers includes any school year in which any member of the board of managers serves, including the school year during which the appointment of the board of managers expires.
(4) A district shall have its accreditation revoked if, notwithstanding its performance under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the commissioner determines this action is reasonably necessary to achieve the purposes of TEC, §39.051 and §39.052. Such action is generally required by the following circumstances:
(i) the district's programs monitored under §97.1005 of this title exhibit serious or persistent deficiencies that require revocation of the district's accreditation; or
(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, a district's accreditation shall be revoked if the commissioner determines this action is reasonably necessary to achieve the purposes of TEC, §39.051 and §39.052.
(6) The commissioner's decision to revoke a district's accreditation may be reviewed under Chapter 157, Subchapter EE, of this title (relating to Informal Review, Formal Review, and Review by State Office of Administrative Hearings). If, after review, the decision is sustained, the commissioner shall appoint a management team or board of managers to bring to closure the district's operation of the public school.
(7) Issuance of an accreditation status of Not Accredited-Revoked does not invalidate a diploma awarded, course credit earned, or grade promotion granted by a school district before the effective date of the annexation of the district.
(e) Legal compliance. In addition to the district's performance as measured by ratings under §97.1001 and §109.1001 of this title, the accreditation status of a district is determined by its compliance with the statutes and rules specified in TEC, §39.052(b)(2). Notwithstanding satisfactory or above satisfactory performance on other measures, a district's accreditation status may be assigned based on its legal compliance alone, to the extent the commissioner determines necessary. In making this determination, the commissioner:
(1) shall assign the accreditation status that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the applicable provisions specified in §97.1053(a) of this title;
(3) shall lower the status assigned and/or impose additional accreditation sanctions as necessary to achieve compliance with the statutes and rules specified in TEC, §39.052(b)(2).
(f) Required notification of Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, or Not Accredited-Revoked status.
(1) A district assigned an accreditation status of Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, or Not Accredited-Revoked shall notify the parents of students enrolled in the district and property owners in the district as specified by this subsection.
(B) appear in a newspaper of general circulation, as defined in §97.1051 of this title (relating to Definitions), in the district for three consecutive days as follows:
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1055 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.052, 39.056-39.058, 39.0823, and 39.102-39.115.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1055 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective November 23, 2008, 33 TexReg 9462; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012; amended to be effective October 18, 2018, 43 TexReg 6833.
§97.1057. Interventions and Sanctions; Lowered Rating or Accreditation Status.
(a) The provisions of Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapters 39 and 39A, and this subchapter shall be construed and applied to achieve the purposes of accreditation sanctions, which are specified in §97.1053 of this title (relating to Purpose).
(c) Regardless of whether the commissioner lowers a district's status or rating under subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner may take action under TEC, Chapters 39 and 39A, or this section if the commissioner determines that the action is necessary to improve any area of performance by the district or campus.
(e) Subject to subsections (h)-(k) of this section, once the commissioner takes action under this subchapter, the commissioner may impose on the district or campus any other sanction under TEC, Chapter 39 or 39A, or this subchapter, singly or in combination, to the extent the commissioner determines is reasonably required to achieve the purposes specified in §97.1053 of this title.
(f) In determining whether to impose a particular sanction under TEC, Chapters 39 and 39A, or this subchapter, the commissioner may consider the costs and logistical concerns of the district, but shall give primary consideration to the best interest of the district's students. The sanction selected shall be reasonably calculated to address the district's or campus' deficiencies immediately or within a reasonable time, in the best interest of its present and future students. The following shall be considered as being contrary to the best interests of the district's students:
(2) failure to adequately account for funds;
(3) receipt of a substantial over-allocation of funds for which the district has failed to plan prudently in light of its obligation to repay the funds under TEC, §42.258; and
(g) In determining whether to impose a particular sanction under TEC, Chapters 39 and 39A, or this subchapter based on resource allocation practices as authorized by TEC, §39.0821 and §39.057(a)(12), (d), and (e), the commissioner shall consider the factors specified in §97.1053 of this title.
(h) The commissioner shall notify the school district or open-enrollment charter school in writing of a sanction imposed under this subchapter or §100.1023 of this title (relating to Intervention Based on Charter Violations). The notice must state the basis for finding that the district or open-enrollment charter school does not satisfy the applicable criteria as indicated in this subchapter or §100.1023 of this title. The finding(s) may be made in the notice or in a final investigative report or based on a final investigative report.
(i) If a finding is made for the first time in the notice required by subsection (h) of this section, the Texas Education Agency shall comply with Chapter 157, Subchapter EE, Division 1, of this title (relating to Informal Review) with respect to the new finding.
(j) A determination under this section must be made in writing and may be included in a written notice under subsection (h) of this section. The determination may be made in the notice or in a final investigative report or based on a final investigative report. A determination under this section may be based on a report on the progress of a prior action under this subchapter.
(k) The commissioner shall annually review a sanction imposed under subsection (h) of this section and shall increase the sanction, as required by TEC, §39A.901. The commissioner shall quarterly review the need for a conservator or a management team imposed under this subchapter, as required by TEC, §39A.003. If reviews are required under both TEC, §39A.901 and §39A.003, a quarterly review under TEC, §39A.003, may satisfy the annual review under TEC, §39A.901. An annual or quarterly review is not subject to the requirements of this section.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1057 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1057 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452.
§97.1059. Standards for All Accreditation Sanction Determinations.
(b) In making a determination under subsection (a) of this section, the commissioner shall consider the seriousness, number, extent, and duration of deficiencies identified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and shall impose one or more accreditation sanctions on a district and its campuses as needed to address:
(F) the results of an investigative report under Chapter 157, Subchapter EE, of this title (relating to Informal Review, Formal Review, and Review by State Office of Administrative Hearings); complaint investigation; special education due process hearing; or data integrity investigation, including an investigation of assessment or financial data;
(H) other information related to subparagraphs (A)-(G) of this paragraph.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1059 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1059 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452.
§97.1061. Interventions and Sanctions for Campuses.
(a) If a campus's performance is below any standard under Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.054(e), the campus shall engage in the Texas Accountability Intervention System (TAIS) continuous improvement process.
(b) The commissioner shall assign members to a campus intervention team (CIT) as outlined in §97.1063 of this title (relating to Campus Intervention Team) and TEC, §39.106.
(c) The campus shall establish a campus leadership team (CLT) that includes the campus principal and other campus leaders responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of the targeted improvement plan.
(d) The campus intervention team shall:
(1) conduct a data analysis related to areas of low performance;
(2) conduct a needs assessment based on the results of the data analysis, as follows.
(A) The needs assessment shall include a root cause analysis.
(B) Root causes identified through the needs assessment will be addressed in the targeted improvement plan and, if applicable, campus turnaround plan;
(3) assist in the creation of a targeted improvement plan, as follows.
(A) Input must be gathered from the principal; campus-level committee established under TEC, §11.251; parents; and community members, prior to the development of the targeted improvement plan, using the following steps.
(i) The campus must hold a public meeting at the campus. The campus shall take reasonable steps to conduct the meeting at a time and in a manner that would allow a majority of stakeholders to attend and participate. The campus may hold more than one meeting if necessary.
(ii) The public must be notified of the meeting 15 days prior to the meeting by way of the district and campus website, local newspapers or other media that reach the general public, and the parent liaison, if present on the campus.
(iii) All input provided by family and community members should be considered in the development of the final targeted improvement plan submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
(B) The completed targeted improvement plan must be presented at a public hearing and approved by the board of trustees.
(C) The targeted improvement plan must be submitted to the commissioner of education for approval according to TEA procedures and guidance; and
(4) assist the commissioner in monitoring the implementation of the targeted improvement plan. The campus will submit updates to the TEA as requested that include:
(A) a description of how elements of the targeted improvement plan are being monitored; and
(B) data demonstrating the results of interventions from the targeted improvement plan.
(e) If a campus is assigned an unacceptable rating under TEC, §39.054(e), for a second consecutive year, the campus must engage in the processes outlined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section, and the campus must develop a campus turnaround plan to be approved by the commissioner as described in §97.1064 of this title (relating to Campus Turnaround Plan).
(f) If a campus is assigned an unacceptable rating under TEC, §39.054(e), for a third or fourth consecutive year, the campus must engage in the processes outlined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section, and the campus must implement the commissioner-approved campus turnaround plan as described in §97.1064 of this title (relating to Campus Turnaround Plan).
(g) If a campus is assigned an unacceptable rating under TEC, §39.054(e), for a fifth consecutive year, the commissioner shall order the appointment of a board of managers to govern the district or closure of the campus.
(h) If a campus was assigned an unacceptable rating in the prior year but met standard in the current year, the campus will continue to engage in TAIS activities outlined in subsection (a) of this section with the following exceptions:
(1) the campus may release its CIT based on criteria set annually by the TEA; and
(2) the campus that developed a turnaround plan may modify that plan as described in §97.1064 of this title.
(i) Based on a campus's progress toward improvement, the commissioner may order a hearing if a campus's performance is below any standard under TEC, §39.054(e).
(j) Interventions and sanctions listed under this section begin upon release of preliminary ratings and may be adjusted based on final accountability ratings.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1061 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.052, 39.056, 39.104, 39.106, 39.107, 39.109, and 39.112.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1061 adopted to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012.
§97.1062. Applicability of Intervention Pause under District Partnerships or Mathematics Innovation Zones.
(a) A campus under this section does not include a campus of an open-enrollment charter school unless specifically indicated when applying an intervention pause under Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.174. A campus under this section includes a campus of an open-enrollment charter school when applying an intervention pause under TEC, §28.020.
(b) A campus shall not qualify for an intervention pause pursuant to TEC, §11.174(f), unless during the school year prior to the operation of a partnership as provided by §97.1077(a) of this title (relating to School Year Under Contract to Operate a District Campus), the campus received an unacceptable performance rating, except as provided by §97.1077(e) of this title.
(c) A campus that qualifies for an intervention pause pursuant to TEC, §28.020(c), starting with the school year for which the campus received an unacceptable performance rating that followed a school year for which the campus received an acceptable rating, will be subject to any intervention arising from the first unacceptable performance rating and, subject to the campus remaining eligible for the intervention pause, will be provided a one-year intervention pause for interventions that arise from a second consecutive year of unacceptable performance ratings.
(d) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will not withdraw or postpone issuing any orders or determinations required or authorized that arise due to the performance rating from the school year prior to the school year in which the campus qualifies for the intervention pause, and any order or determination will resume upon expiration of the intervention pause under subsection (e) of this section.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by this section and unless extended by the commissioner of education, the TEA will cease to enforce the interventions under TEC, §§39A.101-39A.111, until conclusion of the second consecutive school year of operation under:
(1) a partnership as defined by §97.1077(a)(2), (b), or (c) of this title; or
(2) designation as a mathematics innovation zone under TEC, §28.020, and applicable rules.
(f) Any intervention or sanction not covered by subsection (e) of this section shall continue.
(g) If a campus ceases to qualify for the intervention pause at any point during a school year, the TEA will resume previously ordered interventions and sanctions, order interventions and sanctions based on the rating from that school year, and count that rating for purposes of consecutive years of performance.
(h) The TEA will not pursue interventions under TEC, §§39A.101-39A.109 and 39A.111, for a campus eligible for an intervention pause if one of the school years eligible for an intervention pause results in an acceptable or higher overall rating.
(i) If, after the expiration of the intervention pause, a campus receives an unacceptable rating, the TEA will apply the requisite interventions that apply to the consecutive year that corresponds to the campus's actual number of consecutive years of unacceptable performance minus the number of intervention pause years and, if applicable, accounting for the modification under subsection (c) of this section.
(j) If a campus qualifies for an intervention pause for a school year after the conclusion of the school year in which an order is authorized under TEC, §39A.111, the intervention under TEC, §39A.111, will not pause.
(k) A campus that receives an intervention pause will still receive an accountability rating for that school year.
(l) Performance of students at a campus that receives an intervention pause shall be considered in the accountability rating of the school district or the open-enrollment charter school, and the application of an intervention pause to a campus shall not pause or alter any intervention applicable to the school district, open-enrollment charter school, or other campuses.
(m) A determination under this section that arises from the application of TEC, §28.020, is final and may not be appealed.
(n) The provisions of this subsection expire on September 1, 2023. A partial school year that results in an intervention pause under §97.1077(b) or (c) of this title constitutes one full year of a pause.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1062 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§11.174, 28.020, 39.001, and 39A.115.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1062 adopted to be effective November 18, 2018, 43 TexReg 7459.
§97.1063. Campus Intervention Team.
(a) The campus intervention team (CIT) shall perform the duties outlined in Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.106 and §39.107, and oversee the activities outlined in §97.1061(a) of this title (relating to Interventions and Sanctions for Campuses) and §97.1064 of this title (relating to Campus Turnaround Plan).
(b) The CIT must include:
(1) a professional service provider (PSP); and
(2) a district coordinator of school improvement (DCSI). The DCSI must submit qualifications to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for approval.
(c) The CIT shall perform the duties referenced in subsection (a) of this section in collaboration with the campus leadership team (CLT) as outlined in §97.1061(a) of this title and §97.1064 of this title.
(d) CIT members as defined in subsection (b) of this section and the campus principal shall attend TEA-sponsored trainings on interventions and sanctions.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1063 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.052, 39.056, 39.104, 39.106, 39.107, 39.109, and 39.112.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1063 adopted to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012.
§97.1064. Campus Turnaround Plan.
(a) If a campus is assigned an unacceptable rating under Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.054(e), for two consecutive years, the campus must develop a campus turnaround plan to be approved by the commissioner of education in accordance with TEC, §39.107.
(b) A charter campus subject to this section must revise its charter in accordance with §100.1033 of this title (relating to Charter Amendment). The governing board of the charter performs the function of the board of trustees for this section.
(c) The district may request assistance from a regional education service center or partner with an institution of higher education in developing and implementing a campus turnaround plan.
(d) Within 60 days of receiving a campus's preliminary accountability rating the district must notify parents, community members, and stakeholders that the campus received an unacceptable rating for two consecutive years and request assistance in developing the campus turnaround plan.
(1) The district shall notify stakeholders of their ability to review the completed plan on the district website at least 30 days before the final plan is submitted to the board of trustees as described in TEC, §39.107(b-3).
(2) All input provided by family, community members, and stakeholders must be considered in the development of the final campus turnaround plan submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
(e) The district shall provide the following groups an opportunity to review and comment on the completed plan before it is submitted for approval to the board of trustees:
(1) the campus-level committee established under TEC, §11.251. If the campus is not required to have a campus-level committee under TEC, §11.251, the district shall provide an opportunity for professional staff at the campus to review and comment on the campus turnaround plan;
(2) teachers at the campus;
(4) community members.
(f) A campus turnaround plan must include:
(1) a detailed description of the academic programs to be offered at the campus, including instructional methods, length of school day and school year, academic credit and promotion criteria, and programs to serve special student populations;
(2) a detailed description of the budget, staffing, and financial resources required to implement the plan, including any supplemental resources to be provided by the district or other identified sources;
(3) written comments received from stakeholders described in subsection (e) of this section; and
(4) the term of the charter, if a district charter is to be granted for the campus under TEC, §12.0522.
(g) Upon approval of the board of trustees, the district must submit the campus turnaround plan electronically to the TEA by March 1 unless otherwise specified.
(h) A campus may implement, modify, or withdraw its campus turnaround plan with board approval if the campus receives an academically acceptable rating for the school year following the development of the campus turnaround plan.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1064 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.052, 39.056, 39.104, 39.106, 39.107, 39.109, and 39.112.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1064 adopted to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012.
§97.1065. Commissioner Determinations for Decisions Preceding Alternative Management, Campus Closure, or Board of Managers.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1065 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1065 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective July 17, 2012, 37 TexReg 5268; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452.
§97.1066. Campus Closure.
(a) Closure ordered under §97.1065 of this title (relating to Commissioner Determinations for Decisions Preceding Alternative Management, Campus Closure, or Board of Managers) will take effect at a date determined by the commissioner of education.
(b) A closed campus may still be used if the campus:
(1) serves a majority of grade levels not served at the original campus;
(2) serves a majority of students who did not attend that campus the previous year; and
(3) offers a distinctly different academic program.
(c) Any student assigned to the closed campus must be allowed to attend any other campus in the district.
(d) The commissioner may grant an exemption allowing students assigned to a closed campus to attend the repurposed campus if there is no other campus in the district at which the students may enroll.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1066 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.052, 39.056, 39.104, 39.106, 39.107, 39.109, and 39.112.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1066 adopted to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012.
§97.1067. Alternative Management of Campuses.
(a) By January 1 of the school year for which alternative management of a campus is ordered under §97.1065 of this title (relating to Commissioner Determinations for Decisions Preceding Alternative Management, Campus Closure, or Board of Managers), the school district shall:
(1) execute a contract, not to exceed five years, in compliance with this section; and
(2) relinquish control over the campus to a service provider approved under §97.1069 of this title (relating to Providers of Alternative Campus Management).
(1) relinquish all authority to perform the duties and responsibilities of a principal under Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.202(b)(1)-(6), with respect to the campus;
(2) comply with TEC, §39.107(m)-(o); this section; and the requirements and performance measures established by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under §97.1069 of this title;
(A) the campus is assigned an unacceptable rating under the state academic accountability system for two consecutive school years; or
(B) the commissioner of education orders campus closure under §97.1065 of this title;
(2) The commissioner may implement additional sanctions under this subchapter and consider such reports under TEC, §39.108 and §39.107(n), as well as §97.1065(b) of this title.
(e) A campus operated by a service provider under this section remains a campus of the district. Educators and staff assigned to work at the campus are district employees for all purposes. The campus is not subject to TEC, §11.253.
(f) The commissioner shall order closure of a campus when alternative management of the campus was ordered under this section and:
(1) the district resumed operation of the campus under TEC, §39.107(n); and
(g) A district subject to this section shall comply fully with TEA requests for information for the purpose of evaluating implementation of the contract, student performance, and management of the campus.
(h) A district that violates the terms of its contract under this section is subject to further sanctions under this subchapter.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1067 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.052, 39.056-39.058, 39.0823, and 39.102-39.115.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1067 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective July 17, 2012, 37 TexReg 5268; amended to be effective November 17, 2016, 41 TexReg 9012.
§97.1069. Providers of Alternative Campus Management.
(a) Each school year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will issue a request for qualifications (RFQ) to solicit proposals from qualified non-profit management entities to assume the management of campuses identified for sanction under §97.1067 of this title (relating to Alternative Management of Campuses). The commissioner of education may solicit proposals from qualified for-profit entities to assume management of a campus subject to this section if a non-profit entity has not responded to the RFQ.
(1) To be approved as a provider of alternative campus management services, a non-profit entity must meet the requirements of Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.107, and any additional qualifications and procedural requirements specified by the TEA in the RFQ.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1069 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.052, 39.056-39.058, 39.0823, and 39.102-39.115.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1069 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523.
§97.1070. Increasing Intensity of Interventions and Sanctions.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1070 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39A.251, 39A.252, and 39A.901.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1070 adopted to be effective December 5, 2018, 43 TexReg 7761.
§97.1071. Special Program Performance; Intervention Stages.
(a) The commissioner of education shall assign a school district to an intervention stage based on performance levels under §97.1005 of this title (relating to Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System) according to the following general criteria:
(b) In addition to performance levels determined under §97.1005 of this title, the commissioner may consider any other applicable information, such as:
(d) The commissioner may use graduated stages of intervention to address student performance, program effectiveness, and/or data quality deficiencies referenced in §97.1005 of this title. In addition to any sanction authorized by Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 39, such intervention may require a district to implement and/or participate in:
(f) Intervention actions taken under this section are intended to assist the district in raising its performance and/or achieving compliance under §97.1005 of this title and do not preclude or substitute for a sanction under another provision of this subchapter.
(2) A decision to impose other sanctions shall be based on the accreditation and compliance performance of the district, as determined under §97.1057 of this title (relating to Interventions and Sanctions; Lowered Rating or Accreditation Status) and this subchapter, and not on the level of intervention chosen under this section.
(5) denial of requests under TEC, §7.056 and/or §12.114;
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1071 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.052, 39.056-39.058, 39.0823, and 39.102-39.115.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1071 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437.
§97.1072. Residential Facility Monitoring; Determinations, Investigations, and Sanctions.
(a) Students with disabilities residing in residential facilities (RFs) are a unique and vulnerable population that often has limited access to family members who can advocate for their educational needs. Accordingly, the commissioner of education hereby establishes the Residential Facility Monitoring (RFM) system, through which the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will meet its federal and state special education monitoring obligations under 34 Code of Federal Regulations §300.149 and §300.600 and Texas Education Code (TEC), §29.010, for this population. The definition of an RF for purposes of the RFM system will be included in the Residential Facility Monitoring (RFM) Manual provided in subsection (f) of this section. Districts serving students with disabilities residing in RFs located within the districts' geographic boundaries and/or jurisdictions will be subject to the RFM system. These districts are referred to as RF districts.
(b) RF districts shall report data, as directed by the TEA, in a data collection system accessible through the TEA secure website.
(c) The commissioner shall determine which RF districts will be subject to RFM activities based on a review of available information according to the following general criteria or other factors set forth in the Residential Facility Monitoring (RFM) Manual:
(1) the degree to which the district's data reflect a need for monitoring and intervention, as indicated by the number of RF students with disabilities enrolled in the district; the presence of new RFs within the district; and the district's performance on certain critical indicators related to compliance with special education program requirements;
(3) a review of the district's longitudinal performance;
(4) the availability of state and regional resources to intervene in all districts exhibiting a comparable need for intervention; and
(5) the length of time since the district was last subject to RFM activities.
(d) In addition to the criteria under subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner may use random district selection as a method of system validation and/or may consider any other applicable information such as:
(4) monitoring results under §97.1071 of this title (relating to Special Program Performance; Intervention Stages);
(5) the degree to which the district has achieved timely correction of previously identified noncompliance with program requirements;
(6) longitudinal intervention history; and
(e) The commissioner may use graduated monitoring and intervention activities to implement the RFM system. In addition to any investigation, intervention, or sanction authorized by TEC, Chapter 39, or §89.1076 of this title (relating to Interventions and Sanctions), such intervention may require an RF district to implement and/or participate in:
(2) reviews of district program effectiveness;
(6) corrective action planning.
(f) The specific criteria, standards, and procedures for implementing the RFM system are described in the Residential Facility Monitoring (RFM) Manual, dated August 2011, provided in this subsection. The specific criteria, standards, and procedures used in the RFM manual adopted for use prior to 2011 remain in effect for all purposes with respect to the applicable period of adoption.
Figure: 19 TAC §97.1072(f)
(g) RFM activities under this section are intended to assist the RF district in achieving compliance with federal and state special education requirements and do not preclude or substitute for a sanction under another provision of this subchapter.
(1) The TEA will implement sanctions authorized under TEC, Chapter 39, or this subchapter as necessary to promote timely and complete correction of identified noncompliance.
(2) A decision to impose sanctions shall be based on the accreditation and compliance performance of the district, as determined under §89.1076 of this title, §97.1057 of this title (relating to Interventions and Sanctions; Lowered Rating or Accreditation Status), and this subchapter.
(h) RFM actions taken under this section do not preclude or substitute for other responses to or consequences of program ineffectiveness or noncompliance identified by the TEA such as:
(1) assignment of required professional services, paid for by the district;
(2) required submission of an improvement and/or corrective action plan, including the provision of compensatory services as appropriate, paid for by the district;
(3) expanded oversight, including, but not limited to, frequent follow-up contacts with the district, submission of documentation verifying implementation of intervention activities and/or a corrective action plan, and submission of district/program data;
(4) public release of RFM review findings;
(5) issuance of a public notice of deficiencies and planned corrective actions to the district's board of trustees;
(6) denial of requests under TEC, §7.056 and/or §12.114;
(7) appointment of a monitor, conservator, management team, or board of managers under TEC, Chapter 39, and/or §97.1073 of this title (relating to Appointment of Monitor, Conservator, or Board of Managers);
(8) reduction, suspension, redirection, or withholding of program funds;
(9) lowering of the district's special education monitoring status; and/or
(10) lowering of the district's accreditation status.
(i) As a system safeguard, the TEA will conduct desk review or on-site verification activities through random or other means of selection to verify system effectiveness and/or district implementation of RFM requirements, including, but not limited to, accuracy of data reported through the data collection system accessible through the TEA secure website and other data reporting, timely and sufficient implementation of monitoring and intervention activities, implementation of corrective action plans, and continued district compliance after completion of a corrective action plan.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1072 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§29.010, 39.052, 39.056-39.058, 39.0823, and 39.102-39.115, and 34 Code of Federal Regulations §300.149 and §300.600.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1072 adopted to be effective December 22, 2010, 35 TexReg 11231; amended to be effective August 2, 2011, 36 TexReg 4800; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437.
§97.1073. Appointment of Monitor, Conservator, or Board of Managers.
(b) The commissioner may appoint a monitor under Texas Education Code (TEC), §39A.002, when:
(A) the deficiencies identified under §97.1059 of this title (relating to Standards for All Accreditation Sanction Determinations) require a monitor to participate in and report to the commissioner on the activities of the district's board of trustees and superintendent;
(B) the deficiencies identified under §97.1059 of this title are not of such severity or duration as to require direct Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversight of district operations;
(C) the district has been responsive to and generally compliant with previous commissioner sanctions and TEA interventions; and
(D) stronger intervention is not required to prevent substantial or imminent harm to the welfare of the district's students or to the public interest.
(c) The commissioner may appoint a conservator or management team under TEC, §§39A.002, 39A.003, 39A.006, and 39A.102, when:
(3) the nature or duration of the deficiencies require that the TEA directly oversee the operations of the district in the area(s) of deficiency;
(4) the district has not been responsive to or compliant with TEA intervention requirements; or
(5) such intervention is needed to prevent substantial or imminent harm to the welfare of the district's students or to the public interest.
(d) The decision whether to appoint a conservator or management team under subsection (c) of this section may be based on logistical concerns, including the competencies required and the volume of work involved. The addition of a conservator to form a management team or the addition of additional members to the management team is not a new sanction and does not entitle the district to an additional review.
(e) The commissioner may appoint a board of managers under TEC, §§39A.004, 39A.006, 39A.102, 39A.107, 39A.111, 39A.256, or 12.116(d)(1), as applicable, when:
(3) the commissioner has initiated proceedings to close a campus, and such intervention is needed to cease operations of the campus;
(4) such intervention is needed to prevent substantial or imminent harm to the welfare of the district's students or to the public interest;
(1) An individual elected to the board of trustees at an election ordered under this subsection assumes and may exercise all powers and duties of that office at the first official board meeting where the replacement of the member of the board of managers with the elected board of trustees member occurs and after satisfying all legal and procedural prerequisites to take office.
(5) Upon the appointment of a board of managers to a school district, the commissioner will designate the sequence in which the board of managers' member groups and eligible board of trustees' member groups, the number of which constitutes, as closely as possible, one-third of the membership of the board of trustees, will be replaced by an equal number of elected board of trustees members. The commissioner may modify the composition or number of members constituting those groups at any time during the period of the appointment.
(6) The commissioner may at any time remove and/or replace a member of the board of managers and may expand or reduce the number of the board of manager members at any time during the appointment of the board of managers.
(A) In the event that the number of trustees elected in the first election exceeds one-third of the total board of trustees membership, the board of managers shall determine by lot which of those trustees shall be selected to initially replace members of the board of managers and assume positions on the board.
(C) In the event that the total number of previously elected trustees who have not yet assumed positions on the board exceeds one-third of the total board of trustees membership, the trustees elected at the first election ordered under this paragraph shall receive priority in the order of placement on the board, followed by trustees elected at the second election, who shall be selected by lot by the board of managers.
(h) The training in effective leadership strategies required under TEC, §39A.205, shall be provided by TEA-approved authorized providers of school board training to each individual appointed by the commissioner to a board of managers, including board of trustees members appointed under subsection (g)(4) of this section, and, following the expiration of the appointment of the board of managers, to the board of trustees of the school district.
(i) A board of trustees member appointed under subsection (g)(4) of this section must complete the training required in subsection (h) of this section prior to or within 10 days of the appointment. Failure to do so may result in the removal of the board of trustees member from the board of managers.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1073 issued under the Texas Education Code, §§39.051, 39.057, 39.102, 39A.001-39A.007, 39A.051-39A.063, 39A.101-39A.115, 39A.151-39A.161, 39A.201-39A.209, 39A.251-39A.260, 39A.301, and 39A.901-39A.907.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1073 adopted to be effective January 6, 2008, 33 TexReg 150; amended to be effective July 28, 2010, 35 TexReg 6523; amended to be effective February 5, 2015, 40 TexReg 437; amended to be effective February 29, 2016, 41 TexReg 1442; amended to be effective January 28, 2018, 43 TexReg 452; amended to be effective February 4, 2019, 44 TexReg 477.
Division 2. Contracting to Partner to Operate a District Campus
§97.1075. Contracting to Partner to Operate a Campus under Texas Education Code, §11.174.
(b) Definitions. For purposes of this division, the following words and terms shall have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(10) an assurance that the district has consulted with campus personnel regarding the provisions included in the performance contract and that the rights and protections afforded by current employment contracts or agreements shall not be affected by this contract as required by TEC, §11.174(c); and
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1075 issued under the Texas Education Code, §11.174 and §42.2511.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1075 adopted to be effective April 4, 2018, 43 TexReg 1993.
§97.1077. School Year Under Contract to Operate a District Campus.
(b) The provisions of this subsection expire on September 1, 2022. Notwithstanding any other provision, if a partnership agreement is executed prior to the first day of the 2018-2019 school year, the campus will be eligible for an exemption under TEC, §11.174(f) and (g), from applicable sanctions or actions under TEC, §39A.101(a) or §39A.111, based on failure to satisfy the academic performance standards during the 2017-2018 school year if:
(1) the campus and the partnership to operate the campus meet all applicable requirements;
(2) the partnership agreement is executed prior to April 30, 2018; and
(3) the campus is operated under the partnership agreement during a portion of the 2017-2018 school year.
(c) The provisions of this subsection expire on September 1, 2023. Notwithstanding any other provision, if a partnership agreement is executed prior to the first day of the 2019-2020 school year, the campus will be eligible for an exemption under TEC, §11.174(f) and (g), from applicable sanctions or actions under TEC, §39A.101(a) or §39A.111, based on failure to satisfy the academic performance standards during the 2018-2019 school year if:
(2) the partnership agreement is executed prior to November 30, 2018; and
(3) the campus is operated under the partnership agreement during a portion of the 2018-2019 school year.
(d) A school year under subsection (a)(2) of this section must include, at a minimum:
(2) all the days for which the instructional workforce of the campus that provides educational services for students under paragraph (1) of this subsection was employed.
(e) While the performance of a campus operated under a partnership for less than a school year as described by subsections (a)(2) and (d) of this section may not qualify for an exemption from applicable sanctions or actions under TEC, §11.174(f), it may be used to meet the threshold necessary to receive the exemption for the following two school years of operation under a partnership.
(f) Upon request of the commissioner of education, a school district shall provide information to substantiate a school year for the campus.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1077 issued under the Texas Education Code, §11.174.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1077 adopted to be effective April 4, 2018, 43 TexReg 2006.
§97.1079. Determination Processes and Criteria for Eligible Entity Approval under Texas Education Code, §11.174.
(a) Applicability. This section applies only to independent school districts that intend to contract to partner to operate a campus and receive benefits under Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.174(a)(2).
(1) Eligible entity--This term has the meaning assigned in TEC, §12.101(a).
(2) Campus--This term has the meaning assigned in §97.1051(3) of this title (relating to Definitions).
(3) Applicant--This term refers to an independent school district seeking approval to receive benefits for an eligible entity to contract to partner to operate a campus.
(4) Proposed operating partner--This term refers to the eligible entity seeking approval in coordination with an independent school district to contract to partner to operate a campus.
(c) Institutions of higher education. This subsection applies to entities meeting the definition of an institution of higher education as described in TEC, §61.003.
(1) For applicants seeking eligibility approval of an institution of higher education, which has been granted a charter in accordance with TEC, Chapter 12, Subchapter E, as the proposed operating partner, the commissioner of education will treat the institution of higher education as an open-enrollment charter school under TEC, §11.174(a)(1).
(2) The commissioner may approve an eligibility approval request under this section if the commissioner determines that the approval of the eligibility approval request will improve student outcomes at the campus.
(d) Private or independent institutions of higher education that are not described in subsection (c) of this section, non-profits, and governmental entities. This subsection applies to entities meeting the definitions described in TEC, §12.101(a)(2), (3), and (4).
(1) Prior to each eligibility approval cycle, the commissioner shall approve an eligibility approval request form for submission by applicants seeking eligibility approval as specified in TEC, §11.174. The eligibility approval request form may contain, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A) the timeline for eligibility approval;
(B) scoring criteria and procedures for use by the review panel selected under paragraph (4) of this subsection; and
(C) eligibility approval criteria, including the minimum score necessary for approval.
(2) The Texas Education Agency (TEA) shall review eligibility approval requests submitted under this section. If the TEA determines that an eligibility approval request is not complete and/or the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria in TEC, §11.174, the TEA shall notify the applicant and allow ten business days for the applicant to submit any missing or explanatory documents.
(A) If, after giving the applicant the opportunity to provide supplementary documents, the TEA determines that the eligibility approval request remains incomplete and/or the eligibility requirements of TEC, §11.174, have not been met, the eligibility approval request will be denied.
(B) If the documents are not timely submitted, the TEA shall remove the eligibility approval request without further processing. The TEA shall establish procedures and schedules for returning eligibility approval requests without further processing.
(C) Failure of the TEA to identify any deficiency or notify an applicant thereof does not constitute a waiver of the requirement and does not bind the commissioner.
(D) A decision made by the TEA to deny, remove, or return an eligibility approval request is a final administrative decision of the TEA and may not be appealed under TEC, §7.057.
(3) Upon written notice to the TEA, an applicant may withdraw an eligibility approval request.
(4) Applicants with complete eligibility approval requests shall be reviewed by an external eligibility approval request review panel selected by the commissioner. The panel shall review eligibility approval requests in accordance with the procedures and criteria established in the eligibility approval request form. Review panel members shall not discuss eligibility approval requests with anyone except TEA staff. Review panel members shall not accept meals, entertainment, gifts, or gratuities in any form from any person or organization with an interest in the results of an eligibility approval request review. Members of the review panel shall disclose to the TEA immediately the discovery of any past or present relationship with an applicant, including any current or prospective employee, agent, officer, or director of the eligible entity, an affiliated entity, or other party with an interest in the approval of the eligibility approval request.
(5) No recommendation, ranking, or other type of endorsement by a member or members of the review panel is binding on the commissioner.
(6) All parts of the district's eligibility approval request are releasable to the public under the Texas Public Information Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, and will be posted to the TEA website. Therefore, the following must be excluded or redacted from an eligibility approval request:
(A) personal email addresses;
(B) proprietary material;
(C) copyrighted material;
(D) documents that could violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by identifying potential students of the partnership school, including, but not limited to, sign-in lists at public meetings about the school, photographs of existing students if the school is currently operating or photographs of prospective students, and/or letters of support from potential charter school parents and/or students; and
(E) any other information or documentation that cannot be released in accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 552.
(7) TEA staff may interview applicants whose eligibility approval requests received the minimum score established in the eligibility approval request form, may specify individuals required to attend the interview, and may require the submission of additional information and documentation prior or subsequent to an interview.
(8) The commissioner will consider criteria that include the following when determining whether to approve an applicant.
(A) The criteria described in this subparagraph apply to all campuses. Each applicant must demonstrate:
(i) evidence of a high-quality district charter authorizing process as required by TEC, §12.058, which may include the following:
(I) the district's adoption and implementation of an authorizing policy;
(II) the district's adoption and implementation of a local campus charter application, including the evaluation of:
(-a-) the qualifications, backgrounds, and histories of individuals and entities who will be involved in the governance, management, and educational leadership of the proposed operating partner; and
(-b-) any operating and academic performance history of the proposed operator; and
(III) the district's adoption and implementation of codified procedures for monitoring and reviewing in-district charters;
(ii) evidence that the applicant and proposed operating partner meet the requirements to contract to partner to operate, as outlined in §97.1075 of this title (relating to Contracting to Partner to Operate a Campus under Texas Education Code, §11.174); and
(iii) an assurance that the governing body of the operating partner shall remain independent of the independent school district. This may include the following:
(I) an assurance that the governing body of the operating partner is not and shall not be comprised of any members of the independent school district's board of trustees, the superintendent, or staff responsible for granting the contract to partner to operate or overseeing the performance contract;
(II) an assurance that the majority of the governing body of the operating partner is not and shall not be comprised of district staff;
(III) an assurance that no member of the governing body of the operating partner will be related within the first degree of affinity or consanguinity with any members of the independent school district's board of trustees, the superintendent, or staff responsible for granting the charter or contract to partner to operate or overseeing the performance contract;
(IV) an assurance that all members of the governing body of the operating partner have passed and will continually pass the district's conflict of interest checks; and
(V) an assurance that the district has not appointed a majority of the members of the governing board of the operating partner; and
(iv) an assurance that the operating partner has the staff capacity, including at least one full-time equivalent employee, necessary to oversee the operation of the campus.
(B) The criteria described in this subparagraph apply to a campus whose last preliminary or final overall performance rating was unacceptable. In addition to the criteria described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the commissioner will consider the following:
(i) evidence that the proposed operating partner has the capacity to operate the campus, including the following:
(I) an education plan;
(II) the capacity of the operating partner's board and leadership team; and
(III) if applicable, the operating partner's previous history operating campuses; and
(ii) evidence or an assurance that the operating partner has or will have dedicated staff capacity to operate or oversee the operation of a campus.
(C) Notwithstanding this subsection, the commissioner will treat a campus granted a charter under TEC, Chapter 12, Subchapter C, as an open-enrollment charter school under TEC, §17.174(a)(1), if the Subchapter C charter was granted by a high-quality district authorizer. A high-quality district authorizer is a district that has successfully completed a state-approved professional development program in high-quality authorizing and has operated at least four Subchapter C campuses that are eligible for benefits under TEC, §11.174, in the prior year with at least 75% of those campuses performing at or above an agency-identified threshold for each campus's School Progress Domain.
(e) Decision finality. Notwithstanding any other provisions, the commissioner may approve an eligibility approval request under this section if the commissioner determines that the approval of the eligibility approval request will improve student outcomes at the campus. The approval or denial of the eligibility approval request is a final administrative decision by the commissioner and not subject to appeal under TEC, §7.057.
Statutory Authority: The provisions of this §97.1079 issued under the Texas Education Code, §11.174 and §42.2511.
Source: The provisions of this §97.1079 adopted to be effective April 4, 2018, 43 TexReg 1993.