Sec. 7.009. BEST PRACTICES; CLEARINGHOUSE

(a) In coordination with the Legislative Budget Board, the agency shall establish an online clearinghouse of information relating to best practices of campuses, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools. The agency shall determine the appropriate topic categories for which a campus, district, or charter school may submit best practices. To the extent practicable, the agency shall ensure that information provided through the online clearinghouse is specific, actionable information relating to the best practices of high-performing and highly efficient campuses, districts, and open-enrollment charter schools and of academically acceptable campuses, districts, and open-enrollment charter schools that have demonstrated significant improvement in student achievement rather than general guidelines relating to campus, district, and open-enrollment charter school operation. The information must be accessible by campuses, school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and interested members of the public.

(b) The agency shall solicit and collect from the Legislative Budget Board, centers for education research established under Section 1.005, and school districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools examples of best practices as determined by the agency under Subsection (a).

(c) The agency shall contract for the services of one or more third-party contractors to develop, implement, and maintain a system of collecting and evaluating the best practices of campuses, school districts, and open-enrollment charter schools as provided by this section. In addition to any other considerations required by law, the agency must consider an applicant's demonstrated competence and qualifications in analyzing campus, school district, and open-enrollment charter school practices in awarding a contract under this subsection.

(d) The commissioner may purchase from available funds curriculum and other instructional tools identified under this section to provide for use by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.

Added by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 , Sec. 2.02, eff. May 31, 2006. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1058 , Sec. 1, eff. June 15, 2007. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 , Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.