Office of the Superintendent of Schools
Office of Academics
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Authority To Establish A Cooperation Agreement With The Southwest University Of Political Science And Law To Establish A Confucius Institute
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A cooperation agreement with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL) will allow for collaboration toward the establishment of a Confucius Institute in the Houston Independent School District (HISD), where students will receive instruction centered on Chinese language and culture.
Partnership Scope of Work
• The agreement establishes a board of directors with the SWUPL president and HISD superintendent or designee named as “Chinese Chair” and “HISD Chair”, respectively.
• HISD will be responsible for the daily operation and management of the program and the Confucius classrooms. Its responsibilities include:
o Providing fixed office space and appropriate teaching and activity facilities for the program;
o Providing necessary administrative personnel (part-time or full-time) for the program and the Confucius classrooms, and covering the related costs;
o Providing necessary and appropriate working conditions, and appropriate visa support to visiting Chinese teachers under a separate annual agreement;
o Developing annual program plans for the program and the Confucius classrooms, and paying for the program director’s salary, teacher salaries, and language-classroom-related rents as local annual funding support of the program;
o Consulting and negotiating with SWUPL on the program’s annual assessment.
• SWUPL is responsible for fulfilling the following obligations:
o Jointly formulating the development plan and raising funds for the institute with HISD;
o Providing qualified teaching staff selected from SWUPL or other sources upon HISD’s request;
o Receiving visiting delegations from other Confucius Institute locations and providing assistance in organizing visits by Chinese teachers and students to Texas schools in annual exchange programs;
o Providing assistance to students of the institute in applying for institute scholarships;
o Providing teaching resources and other supports to the institute upon HISD’s request.
• Each year, HISD shall apply to SWUPL for program funding that will cover non-salary program expenses. Annual program funds are allocated and paid by SWUPL directly to HISD for the Confucius Institute and classrooms.
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COST/FUNDING SOURCE(S): |
None |
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STAFFING IMPLICATIONS: |
None |
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THIS ITEM DOES NOT ESTABLISH, MODIFY, OR DELETE BOARD POLICY.
recommendation
RECOMMENDED: That the School Board authorizes the superintendent of schools or a designee to negotiate and execute an agreement with SWUPL for a Confucius Institute at HISD, effective April 12, 2024.