SRC-JJJ C.S.S.B. 576 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 576
76R10889 CAS-FBy: Armbrister
Education
4/22/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Education Agency and school districts report campus
and district-wide class averages which do not provide the public with an
accurate accounting of actual class size among grade levels, subject area
and programs.  The reporting of accurate class size ratios, between
students and employees, is important for making informed decisions about
education quality, facility issues, and student success.  C.S.S.B. 576
would require school districts to include the actual number of students
enrolled per class by grade level, subject, or special program, and for
information to be included on the campus report card delivered to parents. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 576 requires a school district to report class size
in public schools. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 25D, Education Code, by adding Sections 25.113
and 25.114, as follows: 

Sec. 25.113.  REPORT TO AGENCY CONCERNING CLASS SIZE.  Requires each school
district to report to the Texas Education Agency the number of students
enrolled in each class, for kindergarten through grade 12, by grade level,
subject, and special program, as applicable. 

Sec. 25.114.  NOTICE TO PARENTS CONCERNING CLASS SIZE.  Requires each
school district to give a parent written notice of the number of students
enrolled in each class or subject in which the parent's child is enrolled. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 39.052(b) and (c), Education Code, to delete
reference to student/teacher ratios.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
            Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  

Amends Chapter 25D, Education Code, by adding Sections 25.113 and 25.114,
regarding reporting to the agency concerning class size and notice to
parents concerning class size. Deletes proposed SECTION 1.   
 

 SECTION 3.  

Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000 school year,
rather than the 2000-2001 school year.