TEA to improve, simplify education rules

Less is more. In the effort to better enforce the rules, there is a critical sub-effort to better evaluate the results and effectiveness of those rules --- and revise or eliminate the rules that don[t help.

I'd think this would be a good opportunity for local boards to push back against unfunded mandates and micromanagerial intrusions.

TEA today article:

Government officials are experts at adding but they rarely know how to subtract. Law and regulations are constantly added but rarely do they eliminate or reduce any. Commissioner of Education Robert Scott thinks it is time for this to change.

That is why he announced that the Texas Education Agency will be reviewing all education regulations known as commis­sioner rules. These cover a wide range of topics, such as charter school operations, teacher incentive programs, financial account­ability ratings systems, various pilot programs and much more. The review will also examine how TEA implemented the rules.

“I am convening a series of stakeholder meetings so I can gather direct feedback from those affected most. I want to know what rules are obsolete or burdensome or just aren’t needed any­more,” Scott said.

State sunset law requires that any rule be reviewed every four years. This formal process will continue, but Scott wants to conduct an informal review this year. “If there are changes or updates that need to be made and that I have the authority to make, I will do so. If those changes require legislative approval, I will present a list of potential changes to the Texas Legislature for review when it next convenes in January 2011,” Scott said.

Please take a look at the commissioner rules located at http:// ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/home/ and provide your thoughts on how we can improve and simplify our regulations. You can send feedback to commissioner@tea.state.tx.us.