By Dunnam H.B. No. 3313
77R6865 ESH-D
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 more than one semester at a time or for more than two consecutive
1-12 semesters at any one campus.
1-13 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
1-14 amended by adding Section 25.113 to read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 25.113. NOTICE OF CLASS SIZE. (a) A campus or district
1-16 that is granted an exception under Section 25.112(d) from class
1-17 size limits shall provide written notice of the exception to the
1-18 parent of or person standing in parental relation to each student
1-19 affected by the exception. The notice must:
1-20 (1) specify the class for which an exception from the
1-21 limit imposed by Section 25.112(a) was granted;
1-22 (2) state the number of children in the class for
1-23 which the exception was granted; and
1-24 (3) be included in a regular mailing or other
2-1 communication from the campus or district, such as information sent
2-2 home with students.
2-3 (b) The notice required by Subsection (a) must be provided
2-4 not later than the 31st day after:
2-5 (1) the first day of the school year; or
2-6 (2) the date the exception is granted, if the
2-7 exception is granted after the beginning of the school year.
2-8 SECTION 3. Section 39.183, Education Code, is amended to read
2-9 as follows:
2-10 Sec. 39.183. REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL REPORT. The agency
2-11 shall prepare and deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
2-12 the speaker of the house of representatives, each member of the
2-13 legislature, the Legislative Budget Board, and the clerks of the
2-14 standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
2-15 primary jurisdiction over the public school system a regional and
2-16 district level report covering the preceding two school years and
2-17 containing:
2-18 (1) a summary of school district compliance with the
2-19 student/teacher ratios and class-size limitations prescribed by
2-20 Sections 25.111 and 25.112, including:
2-21 (A) the number of campuses and classes at each
2-22 campus [districts] granted an exception from Section 25.112; and
2-23 (B) the performance rating under Subchapter D of
2-24 each campus granted an exception from Section 25.112;
2-25 (2) a summary of the exemptions and waivers granted to
2-26 school districts under Section 7.056 or 39.112 and a review of the
2-27 effectiveness of each campus or district following deregulation;
3-1 (3) an evaluation of the performance of the system of
3-2 regional education service centers based on the indicators adopted
3-3 under Section 8.101 and client satisfaction with services provided
3-4 under Subchapter B, Chapter 8; and
3-5 (4) an evaluation of accelerated instruction programs
3-6 offered under Section 28.006, including an assessment of the
3-7 quality of such programs and the performance of students enrolled
3-8 in such programs.
3-9 SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002
3-10 school year.
3-11 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
3-12 vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
3-13 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
3-14 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
3-15 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.