113 S1010 IS: Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act
U.S. Senate
2013-05-22
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Commission on Effective Regulation and
Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act
.
2.Commission on
Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools
(a)The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
<enum>X</enum><header>Commission on
Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools</header>
<section id="IDcf0a2eadb56148fd88e4395ee58d2a40"><enum>10001.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph id="IDc27fa488d5894beba1e8a6dd0538157c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The
term <term>Chairperson</term> means the Chairperson of the Commission.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID107251e8dead4638a76f9fa1e841387b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Commission</header><text>The
term <term>Commission</term> means the Commission on Effective Regulation and
Assessment Systems for Public Schools.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDb9343012eac24c3da3cdc35b7e87202b"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Relevant
committees</header><text>The term <term>relevant committees</term> means the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the
Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of
Representatives.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="IDf77cfa8d64b34f7285d361dc5e0b2140"><enum>10002.</enum><header>Establishment
of Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public
Schools</header>
<subsection id="IDefcd5744ece34a3cb3dce7e90fb556ef"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Commission on Effective Regulation and
Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act</short-title>, the Secretary shall
establish a commission to be known as the <term>Commission on Effective
Regulation and Assessment Systems for Public Schools</term>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID295a3dfc8b084593a59068852d5f42cd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
Commission shall—</text>
<paragraph id="idF12E3CC11E7D47B8BDA43A9165B3EBF8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>examine Federal,
State, and local regulatory requirements on elementary and secondary
education;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id54C4B5EE668141759E6E86FA0F4AD313"><enum>(2)</enum><text>make
recommendations on how to align and improve such Federal, State, and local
requirements to improve performance and innovation;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id6055E8A64679496181DEEE99E16454E3"><enum>(3)</enum><text>examine the
quality and purpose of current Federal, State, and local assessment
requirements; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID53a263494aa6404bae3d779bff28e4f4"><enum>(4)</enum><text>make
recommendations to improve and align assessment systems to provide quality and
meaningful information for parents, teachers, and students to improve student
achievement, teacher performance, and innovation.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDa8f9941bc9644dc881e53db3a4274a41"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Membership</header>
<paragraph id="ID68ddb70df0a644cda6158b0e473f3740"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Composition</header><text>The
Commission shall be composed of—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID494d1e16692d41a8b6b22b93e14c48cd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>4
Governors;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID5c98175998d244e189c615ba2cb93cac"><enum>(B)</enum><text>6 State
legislators;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID46903e85d0004782a0809ef1010dff88"><enum>(C)</enum><text>2 Chief State
school officers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDcc25ed82c24a419494c1bfbf25d18583"><enum>(D)</enum><text>2 State officials
responsible for administering Federal education programs;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID6623bd068ce949f589bfcaa6da0d352f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>4
superintendents;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID0988e37cac2e49559a47a6185b76c11a"><enum>(F)</enum><text>2
principals;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID32886ba0afe04b869172b63bf11a142a"><enum>(G)</enum><text>2
teachers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3C0165BDE04B4855B42BB500FAF8BED0"><enum>(H)</enum><text>2 assessment
experts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA4AD1F07F61645F59B9C4944793039D1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>2 teacher and
principal effectiveness experts.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDbf98384e6f2d49258962a3b9478fd8a9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Recommendations</header><text>The
Secretary shall solicit input and nominations for appointing members of the
Commission from—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID1858e83bfd6a4235bb26fb2583f9c8eb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Governors;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDc457cc4c95df404190b768021f18533c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>members of
Congress;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDe110dfcfa1504cc6ad2bf73630660074"><enum>(C)</enum><text>State
legislators;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDae322e4ac87d4ea9a44b50f3b793742b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>superintendents,
principals, teachers, and other members of the education community; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDccfc52a6c25248ddab2615a85ab70964"><enum>(E)</enum><text>parents,
students, and other members of the general public.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="IDb410abba449d44ec93395188cf56467a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Determination</header><text>The
Secretary shall determine the membership of the Commission after considering
recommendations submitted under paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID66aad9fdf8d548a997b9c69068ecacab"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The
Secretary shall designate a Governor as the Chairperson of the
Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID1698714ca4e34aa8a87fbbff6dcb4611"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>The
Commission shall hold, at the call of the Chairperson, at least 1 meeting every
6 months. All such meetings shall be open to the public. The Commission may
hold, at the call of the Chairperson, such other meetings as the Chairperson
sees fit to carry out this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID9c481d2858e2474a92c9c6e12d9729e4"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Quorum</header><text>A
majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a
lesser number of members may hold hearings.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID5d0c992dda5b49959aaaa6644d822911"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Initial
meeting</header><text>The Commission shall hold its first meeting not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of the
<short-title>Commission on Effective Regulation and
Assessment Systems for Public Schools Act</short-title>.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID45101c070fca4759b163ba3db226d2f2"><enum>10003.</enum><header>Powers of
the Commission</header>
<subsection id="ID5246838af8584d1d9e7ef93cd25d8388"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hearings</header>
<paragraph id="ID7e2e72fa3604447cbcccc4c4cddb22f4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Commission shall hold such hearings, sit and act at
such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the
Commission determines appropriate to carry out this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID911debd92abd4c2a8b657c46d185e7c6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Participation</header><text>In
hearings held under this subsection, the Commission shall consider inviting
witnesses from, among other groups—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID4b4b537cda4648b58d04af7ca4cd9b40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>teachers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1a82a8e49f464c2483d68f2eda7c9d55"><enum>(B)</enum><text>parents;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID33efdd01ad6b451fbaea725d5bf220d8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>principals;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDa9bbfe5c96da488b8fef8237dc2191f6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>superintendents;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID730c6c48b83d44fc8c8045ea14b83d27"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Federal, State,
and local educational agency personnel;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDe7c91b6a86fb4ad99e5506b9196ec714"><enum>(F)</enum><text>researchers and
other experts; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID2ffef8566a884cd787c655f162b0fdc4"><enum>(G)</enum><text>any other
individuals determined appropriate by the Commission.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDf53ddaa9793b40fb8abb829d37ef173c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Information
from Federal agencies</header><text>The Commission may secure directly from any
Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers
necessary to carry out this title. Upon request of the Chairperson, the head of
such department or agency shall furnish such information to the
Commission.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID46119ef5e5a24f2f9d31b42482c877d9"><enum>10004.</enum><header>Duties of
the Commission</header>
<subsection id="ID543e0cee8ca941b3a0a7674c8d2f41db"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Duties</header>
<paragraph id="ID3a2d2035499842acae809029b5b5254d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Commission shall take such actions as it determines
necessary to gain a full understanding of the issues of effective regulation
and assessment systems for public schools.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID660262533d244f888430dfcfc4cf2681"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Areas of
emphasis</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission shall
focus—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID84377577212f4de6a6b7d3cfbc9c93bd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in examining the
over-regulation of public schools, on—</text>
<clause id="IDe9a8f71ec09348438ffeb7b898f84115"><enum>(i)</enum><text>examining
Federal, State, and local regulations governing public schools;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID34dcf90b259d4e219d21bc50a287eb0f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>differentiating
between financial, programmatic, general education, special education, and
civil rights requirements;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID8c110f7fc49f4e8d9f4e476f7cba7ec4"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>identifying
which government entity requires each regulation;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDc1a370eb4cd84383a0a9533de2f471c5"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>measuring the
cost of compliance in terms of funds spent on compliance and time in hours and
personnel;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDc97285b4ab37453193a495a4d7105673"><enum>(v)</enum><text>identifying
duplicative, redundant, or unnecessary regulations at each governmental level;
and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID397f9ce3d9964a81ab43a3b1b2fbcbcc"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>investigating
how Federal, State, and local interpretations of laws and regulations create
additional or unnecessary burden and are used as rationale for imposing
requirements that are not actually mandated by law; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="IDa5f766c9ecee48b0884ea735445f80d7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in examining the
effective testing of public schools, on—</text>
<clause id="ID1221455e17834c20be47ffc1ee7db786"><enum>(i)</enum><text>examining
Federal, State, and local testing and standardized assessment requirements for
public elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID47ec25c527c8484297cf38e0317d8c54"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>determining the
purpose and intent of each such test or assessment, including whether it is
intended to measure student achievement and growth, teacher and principal
effectiveness, or system accountability;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID0ca4a234a41149cf97c71429fad2296e"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>determining the
frequency, length, and scheduling of such tests and assessments, and measuring,
in hours and days, the student and teacher time spent on testing;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID0c7d8ad9ee464838a37fad1a1fa82a04"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>examining
standardized assessments required by Federal, State, or local requirements,
excluding teacher-created tests and quizzes and formative assessments;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID1a64bd12a4fb4a3f89550def27810d89"><enum>(v)</enum><text>reporting on the
quality of standardized assessments;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID05332214c601437184c1e202cffb0c4d"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>examining
reporting practices of test results and the degree to which the results are
returned in a timely manner with sufficient quality to be useful to parents,
teachers and principals, and students to inform and improve their work,
including targeting instruction to student needs, grading student work, and
evaluating teacher and principal effectiveness;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDb67d75aa24b44fbe9a410ec6e06f0a3b"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>analyzing the
ability of quality assessments to measure whether a student is prepared to
graduate from high school and pursue college or a career without the need for
academic remediation;</text>
</clause><clause id="ID7451fc167d814ad485842e9745695732"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>examining what
factors most contribute to quality assessments and the extent to which
high-quality assessments can advance student learning;</text>
</clause><clause id="IDd469b2036bb84b96a25a0e41b654d351"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>determining the
technology infrastructure required for next generation assessments; and</text>
</clause><clause id="ID01a678c1d9634e3eb3975a9aaee5ac28"><enum>(x)</enum><text>identifying
opportunities to improve assessment practices to better promote parent, teacher
and principal, and student understanding of progress toward college and career
readiness and public understanding of school performance and educational
productivity.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id46E91D65273449DF9597367B32961C1C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Samples</header><text>In
conducting its work under this title, the Commission may rely on samples of
States and local school districts for examples of regulations and testing
requirements.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID2416960478004491a7e5f92bbbf70ce0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Reports</header>
<paragraph id="IDf63ccc064d18439a93c5f768686e1b1a"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the Commission shall provide
regular reports in a manner and form of the Commission's choosing to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id04D6E0F6EBDD46F69C5134C7CEAC644C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2CC5ABA7E8B24BABAF26168713D9DE49"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the members of
the relevant committees.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ID38733649cc4e441b81447b50779e7604"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Annual
report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of the first meeting
of the Commission, and annually thereafter, the Commission shall issue a report
to—</text>
<subparagraph id="id54D9F46EFFBB4FC68C0191BA7F4E9B55"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8397BD1ABC7740038F7DA6CEFD5FCA7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the members of
the relevant committees.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="IDeaca2d6a415a403cbc66be9e6cc23f44"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Public
report</header><text>The Commission shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="id7B557B1B4F5641858C2685EA1CE7EDEB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>prepare a
report—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="idB14439B1F52E4B2798EE7B636C49E6D2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>analyzing
findings of the Commission; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="id2F83A106FBAB439FAF0648D78E722DD0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>making
recommendations for Federal, State, and local policy makers; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id7E54DC8F908F498DAC315A42BF9A6375"><enum>(B)</enum><text>broadly
disseminate such report to the general public.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID741d6eb280664b3aa4fae2d542d6d420"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Testimony</header><text>The
Chairperson shall annually provide testimony to the relevant committees.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID821ada0a4ca24f0ca1d2eb4582470a1a"><enum>10005.</enum><header>Commission
personnel matters</header>
<subsection id="ID5c95a4fb281247f392438a3841f278a3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Compensation of
members</header><text>Each member of the Commission shall serve without
compensation in addition to any such compensation received for the member's
service as an officer or employee of the United States, if applicable.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID79be07f77e204f39a73610a52f300b8c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Travel
expenses</header><text>The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/57">chapter 57</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the
performance of services for the Commission.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="ID9a01a02fa2434179856872b4c92a3b22"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Assistance</header>
<paragraph id="ID48b72199957840b39417301af436eb15"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary
Education shall provide assistance to the Commission, upon request of the
Commission, without reimbursement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="IDdbada208f5b94aa987167df2dd444106"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Detail of
government employees</header><text>Any Federal Government employee may be
detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be
without interruption or loss of civil service status or
privilege.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>.
(b)The table of contents in section 2 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the
following:
Title X—Commission on Effective Regulation and Assessment Systems
for Public Schools
Sec. 10001. Definitions.
Sec. 10002. Establishment of Commission on Effective Regulation
and Assessment Systems for Public Schools.
Sec. 10003. Powers of the Commission.
Sec. 10004. Duties of the Commission.
Sec. 10005. Commission personnel
matters.
.