C.S.H.B. 673 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 673 By: Madden Public Education Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND In 2002, Congress enacted the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB)Act. This act requires any school receiving federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I, Part A funding to notify parents regarding teachers that do not meet the NCLB Act's definition of "highly qualified." Currently, the Texas Education Code essentially duplicates the NCLB Act requirements. PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 673 amends the Education Code by exempting school districts from provisions which essentially duplicate those in the NCLB Act concerning parental notification of uncertified teachers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 673 amends the Education Code relating to the requirement of school districts to provide parental notification when assigning an inappropriately certified or uncertified teacher to the same classroom for more than 30 consecutive instructional days during the same school year (Section 21.057). The bill provides that if a school, in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act is required to provide notice to a parent regarding a teacher who is not highly qualified, that school is exempt from Section 21.057, Education Code. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 673 modifies the original version by removing language that repeals Section 21.057 and adding a provision that exempts certain school districts from Section 21.057.