Lt. Governor David Dewhurst recently announced Interim Charges relating to the Senate Committees on Higher Education, Criminal Justice, and State Affairs.
Higher Education
TEACHER PREPARATION. Lt. Governor Dewhurst instructed the Higher Education Committee to examine and make recommendations regarding improvements in teacher preparation and certification programs to address any misalignment with school district shortages and problems with retaining new teachers.
COURSEWORK. Lt. Governor Dewhurst instructed the committee to review and make recommendations regarding the use of dual credit coursework and other secondary school programs for college credit, including the academic rigor of such programs and predictive value for college success.
COLLEGE READINESS. Lt. Governor Dewhurst also asked the committee to examine and make recommendations regarding alignment between high school coursework and expectations in freshman level college coursework. Additionally, he called on the committee to study the impact of particular coursework, specifically mathematics (including Algebra II) and science courses, as predictors of college readiness and success.
State Affairs
STATE PENSION AND HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS. Lt. Governor Dewhurst asked the State Affairs Committee to monitor the actuarial and financial conditions of the pension and health care programs administered by the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and the Employees Retirement System (ERS).
CURRENT LEGISLATION. Lt. Governor Dewhurst also instructed the committee to monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on State Affairs, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation.
Criminal Justice
JUVENILE SPECIALTY COURTS. Lt. Governor Dewhurst instructed the Criminal Justice Committee to compile an inventory of all the juvenile specialty courts in the state, the juvenile population served, and the courts' program guidelines and practices. He also instructed the committee to identify gaps in services, geographically, by issue area, and juvenile population and study the efficacy of each court through an analysis of recidivism rates and cost effectiveness and make recommendations regarding the best practices of juvenile specialty courts.
JUVENILE SENTENCING. Lt. Governor Dewhurst also asked the committee to study and make recommendations regarding sentencing of youth under 18 accused of committing serious crimes.
View all Senate 83rd Interim Charges