Volume 21, No. 13 FINAL REPORT

Legislative Attacks on Educators, TEA Likely to Continue Increasing TEA Membership Is More Important Than Ever!

“We are now showing what we can do. This year was just an appetizer. Next year, and

in the years to come, you will see the main course.” -- TEA critic and Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey (May 25, 2011)

Disingenuously couching their actions as “education reform”, the 2011 General Assembly launched a full attack on teacher rights and the Education Association. Early in the session, a major overhaul of the Tennessee Teacher Tenure Law was passed. While having minimal impact on teachers who achieved tenure prior to July 1, 2011, the new law provides for using an unproven evaluation system for future high stakes personnel decisions. It could also substantially prevent the majority of teachers from ever achieving tenure status. At the very end of the session, the legislative majority voted to repeal the 1978 Education Professional Negotiations Act and replace it with a process called “collaborative conferencing.” Ironically, the Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act (PECCA) calls for “collaboration” but was developed behind closed doors without any input from TEA. The process outlined in PECCA will allow for virtually endless “collaboration” with no way to bring the process to any real conclusion. Although time will tell, the prospects for success of this new law are minimal.

In separate blatant attacks on the TEA, the legislature voted to remove TEA’s elected representatives from the Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System and replace them with political appointees. Protection of OUR retirement system is going to be a battle yet to be fought! The legislature continued its onslaught by drastically reducing the rights of the education support personnel (ESPs). As though this was not enough, the General Assembly basically wrote a “blank check” to charter schools, greatly expanding enrollment eligibility and removing caps on the number of schools which could be established. Maybe even more problematic was the passage of a “virtual” school law which could allow a student to attend a so-called “public” school for pre-K through 12 without ever setting foot in a brick-and-mortar school building! As we look toward 2012, what can we do to protect public education and ourselves as public school employees?

. Find out how your legislators voted and hold them accountable! You can easily check voting records by going to the legislature’s website at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/. Type in the bill number – tenure “reform” (HB 2012/SB 1528); negotiations repeal (HB 130/SB 113); TCRS attack (HB 565/SB 102). If you have trouble finding these voting records, contact TEA Government Relations by e-mailing [email protected]. . Use every means possible to tell your colleagues and the public that these attacks cannot continue! Write letters to the editor, speak to civic groups, talk with your friends and neighbors – be involved – it’s your future at stake. . Spread the word that “accountability” is not a one-way street. Students, parents, and legislators are accountable, TOO! . Get engaged in the political process. It is obvious that we are not going to change some minds, so we have to change some people! . Help us grow TEA membership. Educators need a strong voice now more than ever! Those who want to destroy TEA’s voice are seeking to destroy YOUR voice. TEA Legislative Report Page 50

SUMMARIES OF SELECTED 2011

EDUCATION RELATED LEGISLATION

State Budget/Appropriations Bill – sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) -- Makes appropriations for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 473.

Tenure/New Law – sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Mark Norris (R- Collierville) – Makes substantial changes to tenure law for teachers who achieve tenure after July 1, 2011. Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 70.

Collaborative Conferencing (PECCA) – sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) and Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) – Enacts the “Professional Educators Collaborative Conferencing Act of 2011.” Amends TCA 5-23-107 and Title 49. Effective June 1, 2011. Public Chapter 378.

TCRS/Board of Trustees Composition – sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) – Changes the method of selection of trustees of TCRS representing teachers and retired teachers from election by the representative assemblies of the Tennessee Education Association and the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association respectively to appointment by the speakers of the senate and the house; authorizes professional education employees' organizations to recommend persons to the speaker of each chamber of the general assembly for appointment to teacher trustee positions for TCRS. - Amends TCA Section 8-34-302 and Section 8-34-303. Effective May 27, 2011. Public Chapter 280.

TCRS “Housekeeping” Legislation– sponsored by Charles Sargent (R-Franklin) and Sen. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) HB 707 – Revises various provisions governing the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System; requires that counsel for treasury department serve as attorney for the chair of TCRS and treasury with regard to deferred or tax-sheltered compensation plans. - Amends TCA Section 8-24- 104(c); Title 8, Chapter 25, Part 1; Section 8-25-111; Title 8, Chapter 25, Part 3; Title 8, Chapter 34, Part 2; Section 8-34-203; Section 8-34-302(a)(6); Section 8-34-319; Section 8-34-321; Title 8, Chapter 35, Part 2; Section 8-35-201(d); Section 8-35-218(a); Section 8-36-208(b) and Section 8-36-212. Effective May 2, 2011. Public Chapter 140.

Non-Licensed Personnel/Dismissal – sponsored by Rep. (R-Athens) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) – Specifies that persons who are employed by an LEA in a position for which no teaching license is required must be hired at the will of the director of schools; requires local boards of education to develop policies for dismissing employees in positions for which no teaching license is required. - Amends TCA Section 49-2-301. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 335.

Students/Dual Enrollment – sponsored by Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma) and Sen. Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere) -- Revises laws relative to dual enrollment. Effective June 6, 2011. Public Chapter 427.

Students/Truancy – sponsored by Rep. Phillip Johnson (R-Pegram) and Sen. Tim Barnes (D- Clarksville) – States that a parent, guardian or other person who has control of a truant student commits educational neglect. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 30. Effective May 20, 2011. Public Chapter 220.

Students/Remedial Instruction – sponsored by Rep. Phillip Johnson (R-Pegram) and Sen. Tim Barnes (D-Clarksville) – States that attendance laws shall apply to remedial instruction for students who are determined to require such instruction, including summer school and after school programs. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 6. Effective May 20, 2011. Public Chapter 219.

Students/Early Graduation – sponsored by Rep. Lois DeBerry (D-Memphis) and Sen. Jim Kyle (D- Memphis) – Enacts the “Move on When Ready Act. Effective June 16, 2011; July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 488. TEA Legislative Report Page 51

Students/Social Promotion – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey) -- Specifies that beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, a student in the third grade may not be promoted to the next grade level unless the student has shown a basic understanding of curriculum and ability to perform the skills required in the subject of reading as demonstrated by the student's grades or standardized test results; such student may be promoted if the student participates in an LEA approved research-based intervention prior to the beginning of the next school year; act does not apply to any student who has an IEP pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. - Amends TCA Title 49. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 351.

Parental Involvement – sponsored by Rep. Mike Turner (D-Nashville) and Sen. Jim Kyle (D-Memphis) – Urges employers to develop programs under which their employees with children in school can take time off to volunteer in their children’s schools. Amends TCA, Title 49. Effective May 23, 2011. Public Chapter 241.

Cyber-bullying – sponsored by Rep. Charles Curtiss (D-Sparta) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) – Defines cyber-bullying and requires schools to implement policies against cyber-bullying. Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 251.

Teachers/Code of Ethics – sponsored by Rep. (R-Bartlett) and Sen. Joe Haynes (D- Goodlettsville) – Requires the State Board of Education to post the Teacher Code of Ethics on its web site. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 10. Effective May 20, 2011. Public Chapter 214.

Teachers/Termination Notice – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) – Removes requirement that written notice of termination of teacher contain a statement that such notice was authorized by a majority vote of the local board of education with the name of the teacher receiving such note being recorded in the minutes of the board. Amends TCA 49, Section 49-5-409. Effective May 23, 2011. Public Chapter 255.

Teachers/Leaves of Absence – sponsored by Rep. John Mark Windle (D-Livingston) and Sen. Charlotte Burks (D-Monterey) -- Prohibits charging a teacher with a day of leave for any day on which the teacher's school or school district is closed because of natural disaster, inclement weather, serious outbreak of contagious illness or other unexpected event. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5, Part 7. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 284.

Teachers/Transitional Licensure – sponsored by Rep. Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) and Sen. Jim Summerville (R-Dickson) -- Requires the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review current policies, rules and regulations pertaining to transitional licensure options and make recommendations relative to certain items. - Amends TCA Title 49. Effective June 1, 2011. Public Chapter 380.

Teacher Evaluation Committee/Termination – sponsored by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) -- Terminates the teacher evaluation advisory committee. – Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 304.

Teacher Training Programs/Access – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Jim Summerville (R-Dickson) – Requires public institutions of higher education that provide teacher training programs to allow equal access to any domestic professional educators’ organization. Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 5; Title 49, Chapter 7; TCA 49, Chapter 8 and Title 49, Chapter 9. Effective May 2, 2011. Public Chapter 135.

Substitute Teachers/Private Contractors – sponsored by Rep. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville)– Allows substitute teachers to be employed by local education agency or third party public or private employer through agreement with the LEA; states that substitute teachers employed by third party shall be subject to same unemployment benefit eligibility conditions as those employed by LEAs. Amends TCA, 49-5-709. Effective May 20, 2011. Public Chapter 202.

Curriculum/Civics – sponsored by Rep. (R-Mountain City) and Sen. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) – requires the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review the current elementary and secondary curriculum standards for the subject of United States and Tennessee government. - Amends TCA Title 49. Effective May 30, 2011. Public Chapter 372. TEA Legislative Report Page 52

Curriculum/Civics – sponsored by (D-Memphis) and Sen. Beverly Marrero (D- Memphis) --- Directs the state board of education, in consultation with the department of education, to review the curriculum standards for civics education to determine whether the course of instruction in all public schools is designed to effectively and rigorously educate children in local, state and federal government. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 1 and Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10. Effective May 27, 2011. Public Chapter 293.

Curriculum/Financial Literacy – sponsored by Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett) and Sen. Doug Overbey (R- Maryville) – Requires that State Board of Education mandate revisions to financial literacy education, including as component on certain achievement tests, after recommendations made by financial literacy commission. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3 and Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 3. Effective May 20, 2011. Public Chapter 212.

Curriculum/Physical Activity – sponsored by Rep. Gary Moore (D-Joelton) and Sen. Roy Herron (D-Dresden) – Requires the office of coordinated school health, in the department of education, to report to the general assembly by August 1, 2012, on the implementation of the requirement of each LEA to integrate at least 90 minutes of physical activity per week into the instructional school day for elementary and secondary school students. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 245.

School Safety/Defibrillators – sponsored by Rep. (R-Maryville) and Sen. Doug Overbey (R-Maryville) – Requires the first AED received by a school to be placed in a location that can be readily accessed and particularly a location that can be readily accessed from areas used for physical education or activity. Amends TCA, Section 49-2-122. Effective May 5, 2011. Public Chapter 179.

Special Education/Restraints – sponsored by Rep. (D-Nashville) and Sen. Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere) – Enacts the “Special Education Behavioral Supports Act,” amending current restrictions on isolation and restraint in special education. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 10, Part 13. Effective June 10, 2011. Public Chapter 457.

Special Education/Definitions – sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) -- Redefines "developmental disability.” - Amends TCA Title 2; Title 4; Title 5; Title 8; Title 10; Title 12; Title 13; Title 33; Title 37; Title 40; Title 48; Title 49; Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68 and Title 71, Chapter 6. Effective May 5, 2011. Public Chapter 158.

Charter Schools/Revisions to Law – sponsored by Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville) and Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville) – Makes various revisions to existing charter school statutes. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 507.

Charter Schools/Facilities – sponsored by Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville) and Sen. Jamie Woodson (R-Knoxville) -- Requires LEAs to establish a transparent and uniform method of calculating all terms and costs related to any lease, lease-purchase agreement, or other contract or agreement executed between the LEA and a charter school for the use of the LEA's educational facilities; establishes certain requirements regarding underutilized and vacant property; specifies uses of capital outlay funds by charter schools. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 13. Effective June 10, 2011. Public Chapter 465.

Charter Schools/Expansion – sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) -- Revises various provisions regarding charter schools, including provisions governing students eligible to attend; removes caps on number of public charter schools. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 13. Effective June 10, 2011. Public Chapter 466.

“Virtual Schools” – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R- Somerville) – Enacts “The Virtual Public Schools Act.” Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 492.

“Virtual Schools” – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Jamie Woodson (R- Knoxville) -- Removes the provision whereby only students in K-12 who were enrolled in and attended a public school during the previous school year are eligible to participate in a virtual public education program. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 16. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 288.

Home Schools – sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Mike Bell (R-Riceville) – Makes various changes to home school requirements. Amends TCA, Section 49-6-3050. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 499. TEA Legislative Report Page 53

Reporting Requirements – sponsored by Rep. Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R- Somerville) -- Deletes certain education-related reporting requirements; requires that certain reports be provided periodically instead of annually. - Amends TCA Title 49. Effective May 27, 2011. Public Chapter 297.

LEA Consolidation – sponsored by Rep. (R-Collierville) and Sen. Mark Norris (R- Collierville) – Prescribes procedures to govern the abolition of certain special school districts; requires comprehensive transition plan; lifts ban on creation of municipal and special school districts in any county to which this act applies. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 2. Effective February 11, 2011. Public Chapter 1.

LEAs/Mental Health Facilities – sponsored by Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R- Shelbyville) – Requires a local board of education to allocate funding in an amount equal to the per pupil state and local funds received by the LEA to state licensed residential mental health facilities on a prorated daily basis for the student's length of stay, provided certain criteria have been met. - Amends TCA Title 33; Title 37; Title 41 and Title 49. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 426.

Unemployment Compensation – sponsored by Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin) and Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) – Revises provisions governing eligibility for unemployment compensation for certain persons who provide certain services for an educational institution or its students. Amends TCA Section 50-7-302. Effective May 23, 2011. Public Chapter 248.

TEA Appointments – sponsored by Rep. (R-College Grove) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R- Somerville) – Removes TEA appointee to state-level safety team under the SAVE Act. Effective June 6, 2011. Public Chapter 428.

Commission on Children & Youth – sponsored by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) -- Extends the Commission on Children and Youth to June 30, 2015. - Amends TCA Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 37, Chapter 3, Part 1. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 227.

Directors of Schools/Contracts – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Andy Berke (D-Chattanooga) – Requires notice of termination of director of schools to comply with same requirements as notice of extension of a director’s contract; requires termination of contract of director of schools to be first item on the agenda of the board meeting at which such action is to be considered. Amends TCA, Section 49-2-203. Effective May 2, 2011. Public Chapter 138.

Education Reform/Reports – sponsored by Rep. Jim Coley (R-Bartlett) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R- Murfreesboro) – Requires Office of Research and Education Accountability to compile activities and recommendations of statewide education reform initiatives and report to governor and education committees as requested. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 1. Effective May 23, 2011. Public Chapter 259.

Oversight Committees/Abolishment – sponsored by Rep. Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) and Sen. Ron Ramsey (R-Blountville) -- Abolishes certain statutorily created, legislative oversight committees and assigns certain responsibilities to certain legislative standing committees. - Amends TCA Title 3; Title 4; Title 9, Chapter 4; Section 36-5-112; Title 37; Section 39-13-530; Section 40-34-107; Title 41; Title 49; Title 50; Title 68 and Title 71. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 410.

School Facilities/Liability – sponsored by Rep. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R- Murfreesboro) -- Removes a statutory reference to notice provisions of the Governmental Tort Liability Act that are no longer in existence; establishes certain immunity for local board of education and school official in regard to entry or use of school property by others outside of regularly scheduled school activities. - Amends TCA Title 29, Chapter 20. Effective May 30, 2011. Public Chapter 368.

Special School Districts/Bonds – sponsored by Rep. (D-Memphis) and Sen. Beverly Marrero (D-Memphis) – Permits a city and a special school district with coterminous boundaries to specify by contract that city funding for the district shall be used half for district operations and half for issuance of bonds and, upon agreement of the city legislative body and the school board at the time that the bonds are issued, proceeds of any such bond issue shall be used for maintenance and construction at schools existing at the time the bonds are issued. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 3, Part 3. Effective May 30, 2011. Public Chapter 347. TEA Legislative Report Page 54

Special School Districts/Tax Rate – sponsored by Rep. Charles Sargent (R-Franklin) and Sen. Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) – Requires the board of education of a special school district to publish its intent to exceed the certified tax rate for the district prior to requesting enabling legislation from the General Assembly. Effective January 1, 2012. Public Chapter 155.

Leaves of Absences/Military – sponsored by Rep. Kevin Brooks (R-Cleveland) and Sen. Eric Stewart (D-Belvidere) – Provides an unpaid leave of absence for members of the Tennessee state guard and civil air patrol. Amends TCA, Title 8, Chapter 33, Part 1. Effective June 1, 2011. Public Chapter 390.

School Boards/Vacancies – sponsored by Rep. John Mark Windle (R-Livingston) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) – Specifies that temporary absence of a member of a county board of education to serve in the military does not constitute a vacancy in office and is not subject to provisions of the code requiring a temporary replacement. Amends TCA, Section 49-2-202. Effective June 10, 2011. Public Chapter 464.

Sexual Offenses/Authority Figures– sponsored by Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) -- Creates the Class A misdemeanor offense of sexual contact by an authority figure. Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 13, Part 5 and Title 40, Chapter 39. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 88.

Sex Offender Registry – sponsored by Rep. Debra Maggart (R-Hendersonville) and Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Collierville) – Requires registration with the sex offender registry by a juvenile between the ages of 14 and 18 who is adjudicated delinquent for any violent juvenile sexual offense committed on or after July 1, 2011. - Amends TCA Title 37; Title 40; Title 49 and Title 55. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 483.

Department of Education/Extension – sponsored by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) – Extends termination date for the department of education to June 30, 2013. Amends TCA, Title 4, Chapter 29, Part 2 and Title 4, Chapter 3, Part 8. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 476.

State Board of Education/Extension – sponsored by Rep. Jim Cobb (R-Spring City) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) – Extends termination date for the State Board of Education to June 30, 2013; directs the division of state audit in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury to provide its findings to the House and Senate Government Operations Committees by July 1, 2013 on the State Board of Education’s responses to the findings and recommendations in the January 2011 performance audit of the State Board of Education. Amends TCA, Title 4, Chapter 29 and Title 49, Chapter 1, Part 3. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 43.

Union Elections – sponsored by Rep. Steve McDaniel (R-Parkers Crossroads) and Sen. Bill Ketron (R- Murfreesboro) – All employees and employers in this state, when seeking to designate an exclusive bargaining representative through an election permitted by state or federal law, have the right to make such designation by secret ballot, when secret ballot is permitted by such law; under such circumstances, no alternative means of designation shall be used in this state as convincing evidence of employee majority support. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 502.

Higher Education/Audiology Services – sponsored by Rep. Harry Brooks (R-Knoxville) and Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) – Revises laws relative to audiology services at public institutions of higher education. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 291.

Higher Education/HOPE Scholarships – sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick (R-Chattanooga) and Sen. Mark Norris (R-Collierville) – Enables students who first received the Tennessee HOPE scholarship, HOPE access grant or HOPE scholarship for nontraditional students in the fall semester 2009 or thereafter, to receive such lottery-funded scholarships and grants in the summer semester, in addition to the fall and spring semesters; revises the law on terminating events for the HOPE scholarship or access grant. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4. Effective June 8, 2011. Public Chapter 437.

Higher Education/Sports Agents – sponsored by Rep. Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) and Sen. Jim Tracy (R- Shelbyville) – Changes various requirements for registration of athlete agents, providing notice of athlete agent activities to higher education institutions and penalties for violations of Athlete Agent Reform Act of 2011. Amends TCA, Title 49, Chapter 7, Part 21. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 424.

TEA Legislative Report Page 55

Higher Education/Foundations – sponsored by Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) -- Authorizes the University of Tennessee to enter into certain agreements with foundations that support the university. - Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 9, Part 1. Effective April 11, 2011. Public Chapter 59.

Higher Education/Safety – sponsored by Rep. Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville) and Sen. Dolores Gresham (R-Somerville) – Requires background checks for employees having access to dorm rooms. Amends TCA, Title 49. Effective July 1, 2011. Public Chapter 506.

Resolution/School Consolidation – sponsored by Rep. G. A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) -- Directs the Comptroller of the Treasury, in conjunction with the department of education, to study present statutes relating to the consolidation or merger of school districts.

Any TEA member who desires more information -- or a copy of a particular public chapter -- should contact the TEA Government Relations Division at 1-800-342-8262 or E-mail [email protected]

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This is the last issue of the TEA Legislative Report for the 2011 session of the 107th General Assembly. It is being sent at this time in order to reach TEA leaders close to the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. The Legislative Report is published on a weekly basis when the General Assembly is in session. In addition to local association presidents, it is mailed to all association representatives. We ask association reps to share each issue with the members in their school. This report is also available on the TEA website at www.teateachers.org.