BBD(LEGAL) - BOARD MEMBERS: TRAINING AND ORIENTATION

Open Meetings Act Training

The attorney general may provide the training and may also approve other acceptable sources of training.

The board shall maintain and make available for public inspection the record of its members' completion of the training. The failure of one or more members of the board to complete the training does not affect the validity of an action taken by the board.

Gov't Code 551.005

Public Information Act Training

Not later than the 90th day after taking the oath of office, each board member shall complete training of not less than one and not more than two hours regarding the responsibilities of the board and its officers and employees under Government Code Chapter 552 (Public Information Act). A board member may designate a public information coordinator to satisfy the training for the board member if the public information coordinator is primarily responsible for administering the responsibilities of the board member or board under the Public Information Act. [See GBAA regarding public information coordinator training] Gov't Code 552.012

SBOE-Required Training

A trustee must complete any training required by the State Board of Education (SBOE). Education Code 11.159

The continuing education required under Education Code 11.159 applies to each member of the board and consists of orientation sessions, an annual team-building session with the board and the superintendent, and specified hours of continuing education based on identified needs. To the extent possible, an entire board shall participate in continuing education programs together. 19 TAC 61.1(b), (i)

The SBOE's framework for governance leadership [see BBD(EXHIBIT)] shall be distributed annually by the board president to all current board members and the superintendent. 19 TAC 61.1(a)

No continuing education shall take place during a board meeting unless that meeting is called for the delivery of board member continuing education. Continuing education may take place before or after a legally called board meeting in accordance with Government Code 551.001(4) (definition of "meeting"). 19 TAC 61.1(c)

Annually, the SBOE shall commend those board-superintendent teams that receive at least eight hours of continuing education in the continuing education specified at Team Building and Annual Continuing Education below as an entire board-superintendent team.

Annually, the SBOE shall commend those board-superintendent teams that effectively implement the commissioner of education's trustee improvement and evaluation tool developed under Education Code 11.182 [see BG] or any other tool approved by the commissioner.

19 TAC 61.1(k), (l)

Reporting

At the last regular board meeting before an election of trustees, the board president shall announce the name of each board member who has completed the required continuing education, who has exceeded the required hours of continuing education, and who is deficient in meeting the required continuing education as of the anniversary of the date of each board member's election or appointment to the board. The announcement shall state that completing the required continuing education is a basic obligation and expectation of any board member under SBOE rule. The minutes of the last regular board meeting held before an election of trustees must reflect whether each trustee has met or is deficient in meeting the training required for the trustee as of the first anniversary of the date of the trustee's election or appointment. The president shall cause the minutes to reflect the announcement and, if the minutes reflect that a trustee is deficient in training as of the anniversary of his or her joining the board, the district shall post the minutes on the district's internet website within ten business days of the meeting and maintain the posting until the trustee meets the requirements. 19 TAC 61.1(j); Education Code 11.159(b)

Orientation

Local District Orientation

Each new board member shall participate in a local district orientation session within one year before or 120 days after the board member's election or appointment. The purpose of this orientation is to familiarize new board members with local board policies and procedures and district goals and priorities. The orientation shall be at least three hours in length for each new board member and, in addition to topics chosen by the district, shall address local district practices in curriculum and instruction, business and finance operations, district operations, superintendent evaluation, and board member roles and responsibilities.

Any sitting board member may attend or participate in the local district orientation.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(1)(A)

Education Code Orientation

A sitting board member shall receive a basic orientation to the Education Code and relevant legal obligations. The orientation shall have special but not exclusive emphasis on statutory provisions related to governing Texas school districts. The orientation shall be delivered by regional education service centers and shall be no less than three hours in length. Topics shall include Chapter 26 (Parental Rights and Responsibilities) and Education Code 28.004 (Local School Health Advisory Council and Health Education Instruction).

New Members

A newly elected or appointed board member shall receive the Education Code orientation within the first 120 days of service.

Current Members

The Education Code orientation shall be open to any sitting board member who chooses to attend.

19 TAC 61.1 (b)(1)(B)

Legislative Updates

After each session of the Texas Legislature, each board member shall receive an update to the basic orientation to the Education Code from a regional education service center or any registered provider. A board member who has attended a basic orientation session given by a service center that incorporates the most recent legislative changes is not required to attend an update. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(1)(C)

Team Building

Annually, the entire board, including all board members, shall participate with their superintendent in a team-building session facilitated by a regional education service center or any registered provider. The team-building session shall be at least three hours in length.

The purpose of the team-building session is to enhance the effectiveness of the board-superintendent team and to assess the continuing education needs of the board-superintendent team. The session shall include a review of the roles, rights, and responsibilities of the board as outlined in the framework for governance leadership. The assessment of needs shall be based on the framework for governance leadership [see BBD(EXHIBIT)] and shall be used to plan continuing education activities for the governance leadership team for the year.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(2)

Annual Continuing Education

In addition to the continuing education requirements at Orientation and Team Building above, each board member shall receive additional continuing education on an annual basis in fulfillment of assessed needs and based on the framework for governance leadership. [See BBD(EXHIBIT)] The continuing education may be provided by a regional education service center or other registered provider. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(3)

At least 50 percent of the continuing education shall be designed and delivered by persons not employed or affiliated with a board member's school district. No more than one hour of the required continuing education that is delivered by the district may use self-instructional materials. 19 TAC 61.1(h)

First Year

In the first year of service, a board member shall receive at least ten hours of continuing education in fulfillment of assessed needs. Up to five of the required ten hours may be fulfilled through online instruction, provided the training is designed and offered by a registered provider, incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner, and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(3)(A)

Subsequent Years

After the first year of service, a board member shall receive at least five hours of continuing education annually in fulfillment of assessed needs. A board member may fulfill the five hours of continuing education through online instruction, provided that the training is designed and offered by a registered provider, incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner, and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(3)(B)

Board President

A board president shall receive continuing education related to leadership duties of the board president as some portion of the annual requirement. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(3)(C)

Evaluating Student Academic Performance

Each board member shall complete continuing education every two years on evaluating student academic performance.

The purpose of the training is to provide research-based information to board members that is designed to support the oversight role of the board of trustees outlined in Education Code 11.1515. [See BAA]

19 TAC 61.1(b)(4)

Authorized Provider

An authorized provider for training on evaluating student academic performance is a provider who is registered pursuant to 19 Administrative Code 61.1(f) and has demonstrated proficiency in the content required [see Contents, below]. 19 TAC 61.1(b)(4)(C)

The training on evaluating student academic performance shall be at least three hours in length and include, at a minimum, the following:

Instruction in school board behaviors correlated to improved student outcomes with emphasis on inputs, outcomes, and collaborative student outcome goal setting;
Instruction in progress monitoring to improve student outcomes with emphasis on progress monitoring practices, formative assessments, interim assessments, and summative assessments; and
Instruction in state accountability with emphasis on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, state assessment instruments administered under the Education Code Chapter 39, and the state accountability rating system.

If the training is attended by an entire board and its superintendent, includes a review of local school district data on student achievement, and otherwise meets the requirements described at Team Building above, the training may serve to meet a board member's obligation to receive training described at Team Building and at Evaluating Student Academic Performance, above, as long as the training complies with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(4)

Identifying and Reporting Abuse

The SBOE shall require a trustee to complete every two years at least one hour of training on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children.

Time for Completion

A candidate may complete the training on evaluating student academic performance or identifying and reporting abuse up to one year before the candidate is elected.

A new trustee shall complete the training within 120 days after the date of the trustee's election or appointment.

A returning trustee shall complete the training by the second anniversary of the completion of the trustee's previous training.

Education Code 11.159(c)(2), (c-2)

Training Provider

A trustee or candidate may complete the training on evaluating student academic performance or identifying and reporting abuse at a regional education service center or through another authorized provider. Education Code 11.159(d)

Note: For cybersecurity training requirements, see CQB(LEGAL).

Klein ISD

BBD(LEGAL)-P

UPDATE 114

DATE ISSUED: 11/14/2019