The State Board of Education (SBOE) has proposed amendment to 19 TAC §61.1, concerning school district boards of trustees. The section specifies requirements for continuing education for school board trustees. The proposed amendment would require coverage of specific topics during local school district orientation and continuing education and would clarify the requirements of certain trainings.
The Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159, Member Training and Orientation, requires the SBOE to provide a training course for school board trustees. Section 61.1 addresses this statutory requirement. School board trustee training under current SBOE rule includes a local school district orientation session, a basic orientation to the TEC, an annual team-building session with the local school board and the superintendent, and specified hours of continuing education based on identified needs. A member of the SBOE requested that the rule be updated after receiving feedback from local school board members and administrators.
The proposed amendment to 19 TAC §61.1 would add language requiring the local school district orientation session to include training on specific topics, establishing that the training must be at least three hours in length for each new board member, and clarifying that any sitting board member may attend or participate in the local district orientation. The proposed amendment would also add language addressing the minimum length of hours for the basic orientation to the TEC, including the timeframe during which the TEC orientation must be received by newly elected or appointed board members, and would clarify that the TEC orientation is open to any sitting board member who chooses to attend. In addition, the proposed amendment would specify that the annual team-building session include a review of the roles, rights, and responsibilities of a local board as outlined in the framework for governance leadership. The proposed amendment would also add the requirement that the announcement regarding completion of the annual required continuing education include a statement that the continuing education is a basic obligation and expectation of any sitting board member.
Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Rulemaking, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 475-1497. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-5337. A request for a public hearing on the proposed amendment submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 14 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register.
