November 2015 Consent Agenda

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
November 20, 2015

(1) Approval of Costs of Administering the 2015-2016 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) Assessments to Private School Students
(Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund)

Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.033, provides for the voluntary assessment of Texas private school students with the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) and the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) assessments. The State Board of Education (SBOE) is charged with determining the per-student cost to private schools, which may not exceed the cost of administering the same assessment to a student enrolled in a public school district. This item requests approval of these costs for the 2015-2016 school year. Statutory authority for this action is the TEC, §39.033.

(2) Ratification of the Purchases and Sales of the Investment Portfolio of the Permanent School Fund for the Months of August and September 2015
(Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund)

This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to consider approval of the purchases and sales of investments executed in the portfolio of the Permanent School Fund for the months of August and September 2015. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).

(3) Adoption of Review of 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules
(Adoption of Review)
(Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund)

Texas Government Code, §2001.039, establishes a four-year rule review cycle for all state agency rules, including State Board of Education (SBOE) rules. This item presents the adoption of the review of 19 TAC Chapter 33, Statement of Investment Objectives, Policies, and Guidelines of the Texas Permanent School Fund, Subchapter A, State Board of Education Rules. The rules being reviewed establish definitions, requirements, and procedures for the investment of the Permanent School Fund (PSF). The statutory authority for the rule review is the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 33 is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§7.102(c)(31) and (33), 43.0031-43.004, and 45.051-45.063; the Texas Government Code, §2263.004; and the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).

(4) Decision on Real Estate Investments
(Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund)

This item provides an opportunity for the committee and board to review and consider possible real estate investments. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).

(5) Decision on Absolute Return Investments
(Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund)

This item provides an opportunity for the board to review the absolute return portfolio and consider a contract extension with Mesirow Advanced Strategies. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Constitution, Article VII, §5(f).

(6) Recommendation for Appointment to the Lackland Independent School District Board of Trustees
(Committee on School Initiatives)

This item provides an opportunity for board consideration of an appointment to the board of trustees of the Lackland Independent School District. The appointment is necessary due to the vacancy of office for one board member. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352, and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §61.2.

(7) Recommendation for Appointment to the Randolph Field Independent School District Board of Trustees
(Committee on School Initiatives)

This item provides an opportunity for board consideration of an appointment to the board of trustees of the Randolph Field Independent School District. The appointment is necessary due to the vacancy of office for one board member. Statutory authority for this action is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.352, and 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §61.2.