April 2015 Committee on School Initiatives Item 5

Update on the Long-Range Plan for Public Education

April 16, 2015

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: Members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Long-Range Plan for Public Education will provide updates on preparations to create a new long-range plan for Texas public schools.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.102(c).

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The board created the nine-member Ad Hoc Committee on the Long-Range for Public Education in September 2014 and asked the committee to study the viability and utility of developing a long-range plan for public education. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Long-Range Plan for Public Education met October 20, 2014 and voted unanimously to recommend to the State Board of Education that a new long-range plan for public education be developed. On February 13, 2015, the board agreed to ask the commissioner to seek a $150,000 appropriation to cover the cost of producing a long-range plan. Since the February board meeting, the Ad Hoc Committee met March 30 and is scheduled to meet April 16, prior to this meeting. The Committee on School Initiatives will receive an update on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee from its Chair Marty Rowley and other members of the committee.

FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: The Ad Hoc Committee is expected to consider issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to hire a facilitator to oversee the development of the plan.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The board last approved a long-range plan in November 2000. That report was called the Long-Range Plan for Public Education, 2001-2006. In November 2006, the board approved the Long-Range Plan for Technology, 2006-2020. The 2014 Progress Report on the Long-Range Plan for Technology was submitted to the Texas Legislature in December 2014.

FISCAL IMPACT: The Ad Hoc Committee estimates that it will cost about $150,000 to hire an outside facilitator to oversee the project, hold meetings around the state and print the final report.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Students and the public would benefit from a plan that creates long-term goals for the public school system.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: The procedural and reporting implications for public schools are unknown at this time.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: The Ad Hoc Committee on the Long-Range Plan will meet at 4 p.m. April 14 in the William B. Travis Building in Austin.

Staff Members Responsible:
Gene Acuna, Director
Division of Communication and SBOE Support

Debbie Ratcliffe, Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications and SBOE Support