C.S.H.B. 381 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 381
By: Dutton
Public Education
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES),
the dropout rate for Texas high school students in the 1999-2000 school
year was calculated at 5%.  However, for the same period, the Texas
Education Agency (TEA) calculated the dropout at 1.3%.  Under current law,
dropout rates are not required to be computed in accordance with NCES
standards.  The discrepancy in methods of calculation can result in
misleading data. C.S.H.B 381 requires that dropout rates be computed in
accordance with standards and definitions adopted by the National Center
for Education Statistics. 


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, agency, department, or
institution. 


ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 381 amends the Education Code to include among the performance
indicators adopted by the State Board of Education, dropout rates computed
in accordance with standards and definitions adopted by the National
Center for Education Statistics of the United States Department of
Education.  This provision applies beginning with the 2005-2006 school
year. 
     

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 381 modifies the original version by changing the school year
that the Act begins to apply from 2003-2004 to 2005-2006. 


EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2003.