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September 2021 Committee on School Initiatives Item 3

Approval of Special Purpose School District Advisory Board Members for The University of Texas at Austin High School  

September 3, 2021

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the board to consider nominees from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin High School to serve as members of the district advisory board UT Austin High School.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.351.

TEC, §11.351 permits the State Board of Education (SBOE) on the recommendation of the commissioner and after consulting with the school districts involved and obtaining the approval of a majority of those districts in each affected county in which a proposed school district is located, to establish a special-purpose school district for the education of students in special situations whose educational needs are not adequately met by regular school districts. The SBOE is permitted to impose duties or limitations on the school district as necessary for the special purpose of the district.

The SBOE is required to grant to the districts the right to share in the available school fund apportionment and other privileges as are granted to independent and common school districts.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In September 2020, the SBOE adopted 19 TAC §61.101 to outline applicability of state law for special purpose school districts. Section 61.101(d) requires each university to submit nominees for approval by the SBOE to serve as special purpose school district advisory board members. The superintendent may not participate in the nomination process for the advisory board. The advisory board is required to hold public meetings that comply with appropriate notice requirements for governmental bodies. The superintendent and advisory board are required to ensure information required to be made available to the public is made available on the special purpose school district's website. Each university must also develop an advisory board training program that provides the relevant board training required under Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159, and submit to the SBOE the training requirements by September 1 of each odd-numbered year.

UT Austin has submitted the following nominees to serve as special purpose school district advisory board members:

  • Dr. Debi Cantu, UT Austin Principalship Program Assistant Professor of Practice, Dept. Educational Leadership and Policy, UT-Austin
  • Dr. Cinthia Salinas, Ruben E. Hinojosa Regents Professor in Education, Dept. of Curriculum and Instruction, UT-Austin
  • Dr. Sherry Field, Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Educator Preparation, UT-Austin
  • William Bae, PhD Student, College of Education, UT-Austin
  • Matt Giani, Director of Research and Data Science, Office of Strategy and Policy, UT-Austin

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Approve the appointment of nominees submitted by UT Austin High School to serve a two-year term of office from September 3, 2021 to September 3, 2023, on the UT Austin high school advisory board.

Staff Members Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services

 

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