OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1990 UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO AN EFFICIENT PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM In its opinion in Edgewood vs. Kirby, the Texas Supreme Court called for an efficient system of public education in Texas. Spending more on our poorer schools is necessary. However, to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in education as required by the court, Texas must enhance local control and accountability. This can be accomplished by the following: 1. Performing schools, evaluated on the basis of student achievement, should be rewarded by being relieved of a substantial number of state regulations 2. Principals should have the authority to hire, fire and inspire on their campuses. 3. With the greater flexibility, principals should also be held accountable for the results achieved in their schools. Principal appraisals should be based primarily on student academic performance gains on their respective campuses. 4. School districts and individual campuses should be graded just like pupils. Their report cards should reflect success in attaining local objectives as well as how they stack up against certain performance indicators, including TEAMS test scores, dropout rates and attendance. 5. Future state aid should not be limited to outright grants of money. Rather, a certain percentage should be reserved for incentive funding, to be based on gains in performance. 6. Beginning in the fourth grade, students should be given a national, standardized test. The TEA-developed Texas Assessment of Academic Skills, which assesses minimum skills, should continue to be given in odd-numbered grade years. 7. For state funding purposes, students should be counted at the end of the school year, thus encouraging schools to keep youngsters in class. This would be in addition to the current counting schedule. 8. The governor, with the approval of the Texas Senate, would -)( appoint the commissioner of education. The commissioner would have authority to set rules and regulations for local schools.