By Dunnam, et al. H.B. No. 3313
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to elementary class size limits in public schools.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 25.112(d), Education Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 (d) On application of a school district, the commissioner
1-7 may except the district from the limit in Subsection (a) if the
1-8 commissioner finds the limit works an undue hardship on the
1-9 district. An exception expires at the end of the semester for which
1-10 it is granted, and the commissioner may not grant an exception for:
1-11 (1) more than one semester at a time; or
1-12 (2) more than two consecutive semesters, except that
1-13 this limitation does not apply to:
1-14 (A) a school district in which the average daily
1-15 attendance has increased by 10 percent or more in the preceding
1-16 two-year period; or
1-17 (B) a school district with fewer than 1,000
1-18 students in average daily attendance.
1-19 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
1-20 amended by adding Section 25.113 to read as follows:
1-21 Sec. 25.113. NOTICE OF CLASS SIZE. (a) A campus or district
1-22 that is granted an exception under Section 25.112(d) from class
1-23 size limits shall provide written notice of the exception to the
1-24 parent of or person standing in parental relation to each student
2-1 affected by the exception. The notice must be in conspicuous bold
2-2 or underlined print and:
2-3 (1) specify the class for which an exception from the
2-4 limit imposed by Section 25.112(a) was granted;
2-5 (2) state the number of children in the class for
2-6 which the exception was granted; and
2-7 (3) be included in a regular mailing or other
2-8 communication from the campus or district, such as information sent
2-9 home with students.
2-10 (b) The notice required by Subsection (a) must be provided
2-11 not later than the 31st day after:
2-12 (1) the first day of the school year; or
2-13 (2) the date the exception is granted, if the
2-14 exception is granted after the beginning of the school year.
2-15 SECTION 3. Section 39.183, Education Code, is amended to read
2-16 as follows:
2-17 Sec. 39.183. REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL REPORT. The agency
2-18 shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
2-19 the speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the
2-20 legislature, the Legislative Budget Board, and the clerks of the
2-21 standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
2-22 primary jurisdiction over the public school system a regional and
2-23 district level report covering the preceding two school years and
2-24 containing:
2-25 (1) a summary of school district compliance with the
2-26 student/teacher ratios and class-size limitations prescribed by
2-27 Sections 25.111 and 25.112, including:
3-1 (A) the number of campuses and classes at each
3-2 campus [districts] granted an exception from Section 25.112; and
3-3 (B) the performance rating under Subchapter D of
3-4 each campus granted an exception from Section 25.112;
3-5 (2) a summary of the exemptions and waivers granted to
3-6 school districts under Section 7.056 or 39.112 and a review of the
3-7 effectiveness of each campus or district following deregulation;
3-8 (3) an evaluation of the performance of the system of
3-9 regional education service centers based on the indicators adopted
3-10 under Section 8.101 and client satisfaction with services provided
3-11 under Subchapter B, Chapter 8; [and]
3-12 (4) an evaluation of accelerated instruction programs
3-13 offered under Section 28.006, including an assessment of the
3-14 quality of such programs and the performance of students enrolled
3-15 in such programs; and
3-16 (5) the number of classes at each campus that are
3-17 currently being taught by individuals who are not certified in the
3-18 content areas of their respective classes.
3-19 SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
3-20 school year.
3-21 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
3-22 vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-23 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-24 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-25 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.