EDUCATION CODE

TITLE 2. PUBLIC EDUCATION

SUBTITLE A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 4. PUBLIC EDUCATION MISSION, OBJECTIVES, AND GOALS


	§ 4.001.  PUBLIC EDUCATION MISSION AND 
OBJECTIVES.  (a)  The mission of the public education system of 
this state is to ensure that all Texas children have access to a 
quality education that enables them to achieve their potential and 
fully participate now and in the future in the social, economic, and 
educational opportunities of our state and nation.  That mission is 
grounded on the conviction that a general diffusion of knowledge is 
essential for the welfare of this state and for the preservation of 
the liberties and rights of citizens.  It is further grounded on the 
conviction that a successful public education system is directly 
related to a strong, dedicated, and supportive family and that 
parental involvement in the school is essential for the maximum 
educational achievement of a child.
	(b)  The objectives of public education are:                                   
	OBJECTIVE 1:  Parents will be full partners with educators in 
the education of their children.
	OBJECTIVE 2:  Students will be encouraged and challenged to 
meet their full educational potential.
	OBJECTIVE 3:  Through enhanced dropout prevention efforts, 
all students will remain in school until they obtain a high school 
diploma.
	OBJECTIVE 4:  A well-balanced and appropriate curriculum will 
be provided to all students.
	OBJECTIVE 5:  Educators will prepare students to be 
thoughtful, active citizens who have an appreciation for the basic 
values of our state and national heritage and who can understand and 
productively function in a free enterprise society.
	OBJECTIVE 6:  Qualified and highly effective personnel will 
be recruited, developed, and retained.
	OBJECTIVE 7:  The state's students will demonstrate exemplary 
performance in comparison to national and international standards.
	OBJECTIVE 8:  School campuses will maintain a safe and 
disciplined environment conducive to student learning.
	OBJECTIVE 9:  Educators will keep abreast of the development 
of creative and innovative techniques in instruction and 
administration using those techniques as appropriate to improve 
student learning.
	OBJECTIVE 10:  Technology will be implemented and used to 
increase the effectiveness of student learning, instructional 
management, staff development, and administration.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.  
Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 82, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


	§ 4.002.  PUBLIC EDUCATION ACADEMIC GOALS.  To serve as a 
foundation for a well-balanced and appropriate education:
		GOAL 1:  The students in the public education system 
will demonstrate exemplary performance in the reading and writing 
of the English language.
		GOAL 2:  The students in the public education system 
will demonstrate exemplary performance in the understanding of 
mathematics.
		GOAL 3:  The students in the public education system 
will demonstrate exemplary performance in the understanding of 
science.
		GOAL 4:  The students in the public education system 
will demonstrate exemplary performance in the understanding of 
social studies.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.            


	§ 4.003.  STATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVISION OF PUBLIC 
EDUCATION.         

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 201, § 2 added this section effective 
September 1, 2004, provided the legislature enacts a law that 
creates a comprehensive school finance system before this date.
	(a)  It is the policy of this state that the provision of 
public education is a state responsibility and that a thorough and 
efficient system be provided and substantially financed through 
state revenue sources so that each student enrolled in the public 
school system shall have access to programs and services that are 
appropriate to the student's educational needs and that are 
substantially equal to those available to any similar student, 
notwithstanding varying local economic factors.
	(b)  The public school finance system of this state shall 
adhere to a standard of neutrality that provides for substantially 
equal access to similar revenue per student at similar tax effort, 
considering all state and local tax revenues of districts after 
acknowledging all legitimate student and district cost 
differences.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 201, § 2.