TITLE 19.EDUCATION

Part 2. TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

Chapter 61. SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Subchapter BB. COMMISSIONER'S RULES ON REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

19 TAC §61.1025

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes new §61.1025, concerning Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data standards. The proposed new section provides standards that specify data collection and submission procedures for school districts and charter schools. Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.006, authorizes the commissioner of education, in reviewing and revising the PEIMS, to develop rules to ensure that the PEIMS meets the requirements specified in TEC, §42.006(c)(1)-(3).

The proposed new section establishes the standards by which school districts and charter schools are to submit required information. The proposed new section specifies that the standards are published annually in an official TEA publication. The official publication is the PEIMS Data Standards . A preliminary version of the PEIMS Data Standards publication applicable to the next school year is published on the TEA website each December. One copy of the final version is mailed to each district and published on the TEA website each March. If necessary, an addendum to the PEIMS Data Standards is mailed to each district and published on the TEA website each August/September. The proposed new section also delineates the procedures for adding, deleting, or modifying data elements. Given the statewide application of the PEIMS data standards and the existence of sufficient statutory authority for the commissioner of education to adopt rules related to PEIMS, legal counsel with the TEA has recommended the adoption of the new section as part of the Texas Administrative Code .

Ed Flathouse, associate commissioner for finance and support systems, has determined that for the first five-year period the section is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the new sections.

Mr. Flathouse and Criss Cloudt, associate commissioner for accountability reporting and research, have determined that for each year of the first five years the section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be the increased knowledge by the public of the existence of standards that specify data collection and submission procedures for the school districts and charter schools. There will not be an effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed new section.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Criss Cloudt, Accountability Reporting and Research, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701, (512) 463-9701. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 475-3499. All requests for a public hearing on the proposed section submitted under the Administrative Procedure Act must be received by the commissioner of education not more than 15 calendar days after notice of the proposal has been published in the Texas Register .

The new section is proposed under the Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.006, which authorizes the commissioner of education, in reviewing and revising the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS), to develop rules to ensure that the PEIMS meets the requirements specified in TEC, §42.006(c)(1)-(3).

The new section implements the Texas Education Code, §42.006.

§61.1025.Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) Data Standards.

(a)

Standards. The Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data standards, established by the commissioner of education under Texas Education Code (TEC), §42.006, shall be used by school districts and charter schools to submit information required for the legislature and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to perform their legally authorized functions. The PEIMS data standards shall be annually published in an official TEA publication. This publication shall be widely disseminated and include:

(1)

a description of the PEIMS data reporting requirements;

(2)

descriptions of data elements and the codes used to report them;

(3)

detailed responsibilities of school districts, education service centers, and the TEA in connection with the data submission process, including each deadline for submission and resubmission; and

(4)

descriptions of the data submission requirements, including submission record layout specifications and data edit specifications.

(b)

Review process. The Policy Committee on Public Education Information (PCPEI) is a commissioner's policy advisory group that provides an oversight role for addressing policy issues related to PEIMS data collection. PCPEI membership is composed of representatives of school districts, education service centers, state government, and educational associations. The Information Task Force (ITF), a subcommittee of PCPEI consisting of technical experts, representatives from user groups, and TEA staff, provides timely and impartial review of requested changes or addition to PEIMS. The procedure for adding, deleting, or modifying data elements described in paragraphs (1)-(5) of this subsection provides consistency in updates to the PEIMS data standards. The commissioner may approve changes to the PEIMS data standards outside this process if necessary to expedite implementation of data collection.

(1)

Prepare proposal. A written proposal is prepared to add, delete, or modify a PEIMS data element. The proposal provides justification for the data collection, determination of data availability, and definitions of critical attributes and required analyses of requested data elements.

(2)

Conduct research. Survey a sampling of districts to update and refine cost estimates, assess district burden, and determine any benefits from a pilot of the data collection.

(3)

Solicit feedback. The ITF and other appropriate agency committees review proposals and make formal, written recommendations to the PCPEI. The PCPEI reviews proposals and committee recommendations and makes recommendations to the commissioner for approval, modification, or rejection of the proposed changes.

(4)

Collect data. The PEIMS data standards and edit software made available to districts online are updated annually, implementing changes to data submissions requirements.

(5)

Reevaluate data requirements. All PEIMS data elements are reviewed by ITF and PCPEI on a three-year cycle as part of an ongoing sunset process. The sunset process is designed to ensure that the PEIMS data standards meet the requirements specified in TEC, §42.006(c)(1)-(3).

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on March 12, 2001.

TRD-200101449

Criss Cloudt

Associate Commissioner, Accountability Reporting and Research

Texas Education Agency

Earliest possible date of adoption: April 22, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 463-9701