Regional education service centers must notify, assess, and help with cooperative shared services arrangements, and the commissioner may require certain districts or charter schools to enter such arrangements if stated conditions are met.
Sec. 11.003. ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY. (a) Expired. (b) Each regional education service center shall: (1) notify each school district served by the center regarding the opportunities available through the center for cooperative shared services arrangements within the center's service area; and (2) evaluate the need for cooperative shared services arrangements within the center's service area and consider expanding center-sponsored cooperative shared services arrangements. (c) Each regional education service center shall assist a school district board of trustees in entering into an agreement with another district or political subdivision, a regional education service center, or an institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, for a cooperative shared services arrangement regarding administrative services, including transportation, food service, purchasing, and payroll functions. (d) The commissioner may require a district to enter into a cooperative shared services arrangement for administrative services if the commissioner determines: (1) that the district has failed to satisfy a financial accountability standard as determined by commissioner rule under Subchapter D, Chapter 39; and (2) that entering into a cooperative shared services arrangement would: (A) enable the district to enhance its performance on the financial accountability standard identified under Subdivision (1); and (B) promote the efficient operation of the district. (e) The commissioner may require an open-enrollment charter school to enter into a cooperative shared services arrangement for administrative services if the commissioner determines, after an audit conducted under Section 12.1163, that such a cooperative shared services arrangement would promote the efficient operation of the school. Added by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 (H.B. 1), Sec. 2.03, eff. May 31, 2006. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 (H.B. 3), Sec. 6, eff. June 19, 2009.