September 2017 Committee on School Initiatives Item 6

Update on the Long-Range Plan Steering Committee

September 14, 2017

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

SUMMARY: This item provides the committee with an update on the creation of the Long-Range Plan Steering Committee and a report on the first meeting of the committee.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.102(c)(1).

TEC, §7.102(c)(1), requires the State Board of Education to “develop and update a long-range plan for public education.”

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: The board in September 2016 approved a work plan crafted by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the board’s consultant, that outlines the process to be followed in creating a Long-Range Plan for Public Education. The board in November 2016 approved a Long-Range Plan Steering Committee selection process that allows 10 board members to nominate three people each and grants the five board members serving on the steering committee the authority to select committee members from those nominees.

In June, the board elected members Marty Rowley, Tom Maynard and Georgina Pérez to serve on the steering committee, along with board Chair Donna Bahorich and Barbara Cargill, chair of the Committee on School Initiatives, which has oversight over the long-range plan. At the request of the board, the heads of three agencies appointed one staff member each to serve on the committee. Those appointments are:

• Rebecca Shah, strategy delivery specialist at the Texas Education Agency, appointed by Commissioner of Education Mike Morath
• David Gardner, deputy commissioner of academic planning and policy at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, appointed by Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes; and
• Reagan Miller, deputy director of workforce solutions at the Texas Workforce Commission, appointed by Texas Workforce Commission Chair Andres Alcantar

On July 14, the board began soliciting public nominations from those who would like to serve on the steering committee. More than 600 Texans submitted applications. The 10 board members who are themselves not serving on the steering committee reviewed the nominations and recommended three people each for appointment. The five board members serving on the steering committee reviewed these recommendations and appointed the following stakeholders to the steering committee:

• Adeeb Barqawi, a former teacher who runs the non-profit ProUnitas Inc. of Houston
• Rikki Bonet, a veteran elementary teacher in the Dallas Independent School who has first-hand experience with dyslexia
• Avery Bullock, a Weatherford High School senior in Weatherford ISD
• Sheri Doss, the president-elect of the Texas PTA who is from North East ISD in San Antonio
• Stacey Edmonson, dean of the College of Education at Sam Houston State University
• Lanet Greenhaw, vice president of education and workforce at the Dallas Regional Chamber
• Carol Harle, a current school board member in San Antonio’s Northside ISD and a former teacher and administrator
• George Kazanas, superintendent of Midway ISD in the Waco area and a former Region 12 Superintendent of the Year
• Gonzalo Salazar, superintendent of Los Fresnos Consolidated ISD
• Ruth Lopez Turley, director of the Houston Education Research Consortium and a professor of sociology at Rice University

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The board last approved a long-range plan in November 2000. That five-year report was called the Long-Range Plan for Public Education, 2001-2006.

As it began to consider creating a new plan, the board agreed to a two-phase approach. The first phase developed the methodology to be followed in creating a new plan. Phase II, involving the actual creation of the plan, is now under way. The Long-Range Plan Steering Committee is to meet for the first time on Sept. 12. A report on the kick-off meeting for the steering committee will be provided at the Committee on School Initiative’s meeting.

The steering committee will meet at least four more times to formulate recommendations for the long-term education goals. A survey and community meetings are being planned to also help gather input.

FISCAL IMPACT: The Texas Education Agency, The Texas Comprehensive Center (TXCC) at American Institutes for Research (AIR), and the Meadows Foundation are providing in-kind or financial assistance for Phase II of the project. The fiscal impact to districts will not be known until the long-range priorities are established.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Students and the public will benefit from a long-range plan designed to provide a high-quality education program.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: This project will result in a new long-range plan report.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

Staff Members Responsible:
Jennifer Carle, Executive Director
Division of State Board of Education Support

Debbie Ratcliffe, Director of Media Relations
Division of State Board of Education Support