SRC-JRN S.B. 425 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 425
By: Barrientos
Education
3-30-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, while no legislation exists for intensive reading programs for
students, statistics indicate that approximately 180,000 students in
grades K-3 will fail the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) test.
Some believe that intensive reading intervention programs are cost
effective and help the state in improving student performance on the TAAS
test.  This bill creates an intensive reading program for certain public
school students in need of such instruction. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 425 creates an intensive reading program for certain
public school students in need of such instruction. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the commissioner of education in
SECTION 1 (Section 29.354, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Subchapter J, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER J.  INTENSIVE READING PROGRAMS

Sec. 29.351. DEFINITION.  Defines "student in need of intensive reading
instruction." 

Sec. 29.352. INTENSIVE READING PROGRAM GRANT ACCOUNT.  Provides that the
intensive reading program grant account consists of money appropriated for
intensive reading programs in public schools under this chapter.
Authorizes the Texas Education Agency (agency) to accept private donations
for the account.  Requires the agency to administer the account. 

Sec. 29.353. GRANTS.  Requires the commissioner of education
(commissioner) to make grants from the intensive reading program grant
account to eligible school districts. Authorizes a district to use a grant
only to provide intensive reading instruction to students needing the
instruction. 

Sec. 29.354. ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATION.  Requires a school district, to be
eligible for a grant, to submit an application to the commissioner for
funding of an intensive reading program meeting certain guidelines.
Requires the commissioner to adopt research-based guidelines and sets
forth requirements for a school district applying for a grant.  Requires
the commissioner to encourage innovation in developing and applying the
guidelines, and prohibits the guidelines from prescribing a particular
reading methodology or curriculum. Requires the commissioner to approve or
disapprove each application and to notify the school district of the
commissioner's decision. 

Sec. 29.355. AMOUNT OF GRANT.  Sets forth a formula for a grant for a
district whose application is approved.  Defines variables of the grant
formula. 

 Sec. 29.356. GRANT RENEWAL.  Authorizes the commissioner to renew a grant
for the following school year.  Authorizes the commissioner to renew a
school district's grant only under certain conditions. 

Sec. 29.357. PROGRAM EVALUATION.  Requires the agency to annually evaluate
the effectiveness of intensive reading instruction programs that receive
grants under this subchapter.  Requires the agency to disseminate
information to school districts showing which intensive reading
instruction programs are the most effective. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 39.182(a), Education Code, to require the agency
to prepare and deliver to certain officials a report containing, among
other information, an evaluation of intensive reading programs for which
grants are made under Chapter 29J, Education Code.  Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 39.185, Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.