SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, Sec. 26.014. EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AGREEMENT

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to an educational involvement agreement setting forth the
1-3 respective responsibilities of students, parents, teachers, and
1-4 principals in public schools.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Section 26.014 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 26.014. EDUCATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AGREEMENT. (a) The
1-9 agency shall adopt an educational involvement agreement form for
1-10 use by school districts to be signed by a student, the student's
1-11 parent, each of the student's teachers, and the principal of the
1-12 student's school. The agreement must state the respective
1-13 responsibilities of the student, parent, teacher, and principal. A
1-14 school district shall provide the agreement to each individual who
1-15 is required to sign the agreement not later than the 14th day after
1-16 the first day of instruction for a school year or the 14th day after
1-17 the date a student enrolls in the school, as applicable. A school
1-18 district must provide a parent with a reasonable opportunity to
1-19 sign the agreement.
1-20 (b) The educational involvement agreement must include
1-21 descriptions of:
1-22 (1) the parent's responsibilities regarding the
1-23 student's education, which may include:
1-24 (A) reading to the student, if appropriate for
2-1 the student's grade or reading level;
2-2 (B) reviewing and checking the student's
2-3 homework; and
2-4 (C) contributing at least five hours of the
2-5 parent's time to the school each school year by:
2-6 (i) attending school-related activities;
2-7 (ii) attending parent-teacher association
2-8 meetings;
2-9 (iii) attending parent-teacher
2-10 conferences;
2-11 (iv) volunteering at the school; or
2-12 (v) chaperoning school-sponsored events;
2-13 (2) the responsibility of a student to:
2-14 (A) read each day before or after school, if
2-15 appropriate for the student's grade or reading level;
2-16 (B) use school equipment and property in a safe,
2-17 appropriate manner;
2-18 (C) follow the instructions of school staff;
2-19 (D) complete and submit homework in a timely
2-20 manner; and
2-21 (E) act in a respectful manner; and
2-22 (3) the responsibility of each teacher and principal
2-23 to:
2-24 (A) provide each student with proper
2-25 instruction, supervision, and interaction;
2-26 (B) maximize the educational and social
2-27 experience of each student;
3-1 (C) perform professional responsibilities in a
3-2 manner that is in the best interest of each student; and
3-3 (D) be available to parents to discuss concerns.
3-4 (c) A school district may revise the educational
3-5 involvement agreement form adopted by the agency to include
3-6 information in addition to the information required under this
3-7 section.
3-8 (d) The educational involvement agreement provided to a
3-9 student's parent must be accompanied by information regarding:
3-10 (1) the manner in which a parent may contact the
3-11 student's teacher or principal;
3-12 (2) the curriculum for each course in which the
3-13 student is enrolled or standards for the student's grade level,
3-14 including a calendar that indicates the dates that assessment
3-15 instruments will be administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39,
3-16 and the due dates of significant projects, if those dates are known
3-17 at the time the information is provided to the parent;
3-18 (3) homework and grading policies;
3-19 (4) directions for locating resource material for the
3-20 courses in which the student is enrolled or for the student's grade
3-21 level, as applicable;
3-22 (5) methods for assisting the student with school work
3-23 at home;
3-24 (6) dates of scheduled conferences between teachers or
3-25 administrators and the parent;
3-26 (7) details on how reports of the student's progress
3-27 will be sent to the parent and how a parent may request a progress
4-1 report;
4-2 (8) classroom rules and policies;
4-3 (9) dress code;
4-4 (10) the availability of assistance to a parent of
4-5 limited English proficiency;
4-6 (11) information on free and reduced-price meals; and
4-7 (12) opportunities for parents to become involved in
4-8 the student's education or volunteer at the school.
4-9 (e) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary to
4-10 implement this section.
4-11 SECTION 2. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective
4-12 date of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall adopt an
4-13 educational involvement agreement form for use by school districts
4-14 as required by Section 26.014, Education Code, as added by this Act.
4-15 (b) Each school district shall use the educational
4-16 involvement agreement form in the manner required by Section
4-17 26.014, Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the
4-18 2008-2009 school year.
4-19 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
4-20 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
4-21 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
4-22 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
4-23 Act takes effect September 1, 2007.